How many of you have done this?

[Elise H]

I am grooming a very difficult Pom this afternoon that I have to mostly scissor. She doesn't tolerate the clippers very well, and HATES having her feet handled! I'd started her back with a guard comb for as long as she let me...then went for a try on her paw pads. Pretty much no luck. So I started scissoring some more, and after a bit she was nice and calm...so I decided that I'd try to sneak the clipper for a couple of quick swipes. OMG I bet most of you can guess what I did, right? I guess someday I'll laugh about this...definitely not today. I ran the clippers down her back, and holy *&^t! I'd forgotten to put the guard comb back on!!!! #40 blade right down the middle of her shoulders!! I'm still a newbie, and was clueless as to how to fix this. I just tried to blend it as best as I could. Thankfully, her owner seemed gracious about it. Even made a joke about keeping the bandana over the "stripe"!
I sure hope I never do that again! All you experienced groomers out there...what are my chances???

[pooh13]

The chances of you doing this again are still with you lol.I would love to say slim to none but I would be lying .it has happened to several of us .OK I can honestly say I don't know when or if I have even done this one ,but that's not to say I haven't done it at one time or another.just means I don't remember ever doing it.lol
don't beat yourself up over it the owner was a good sport things happen. the best thing that can happen is that you always remember this and try to avoid it in the future .

[odette]

pooh that cracked me up! most off us have done something similar, ask santa for a second clipper, one for the face,feet blade the other for the rest of the body, that dog got off light, somone on here kept having guards fell off, and zip!!!!!!!

[Dawn125]

I think it could happen to anybody regardless of whether you are a newby or old timer. You fixed it the best way with a little blending and I'm assuming an apology to the owner. No major harm done. Nothing to lose sleep over.

[rainingcats&dogs]

yup has happened to me a couple of times and just last week with my own dog,hes a cairn who can be quite the butthead to groom so i bathe him weekly but hardly ever cut hime well last week he was looking so cute and i did a stripe all the way down his back,its a reverse mohawk.at least the client took it really well

[KarlaSnyder]

Yep, can happen to anyone. Even after 36 yrs, and I use 2 clippers, if I'm doing a lot of blade changes, I think I have blade x on the clipper and it's blade y. Ooops! Nothing quite as drastic as a 40 blade stripe tho. Hair does grow back.

[Mollyclizbe]

Don't stress it, I was told its something that happens.
Be happy the customer was okay

[stewiedog]

When I did it I got WAY lucky. It was close to christmas, and I had a great groomer there with me (I had only been grooming a couple years) I put a line on the dogs rump with a #40 not because I took the snap on off, but because it popped off. The groomer I worked for turned it into holly berries, the owner LOVED that we decorated her dog for christmas.
I also accidently took a 40 down a cockers cheeks, I don't really know how I did it, since I don't even use a 10 on cocker faces. Live and learn

[keyray]

Just think of it as your initiation. I think all groomers have to do this once (or twice). Really isn't anything you can do, other than pray for a kind owner.

[mylady]

Done it, MORE than once LOL

[Smart-n-Pretty]

BTDT.

[janelle]

I was using a lift comb on a Bichon and was using it on the hip area and looked up to watch breaking news onTV and the comb fell off with out my knowlege I took 2 swipes down the hip each about a blade width wide.Tehn I looked and and freeked out ...saying many "choice" words
Lesson learned always when looking up at the TV step away from the dog ROFL

[Canopener Sally]

Many years ago when I was new, I took a #30 to the top of a Shih Tzu's head. It was a short face with a shavedown but still. I just gasped and started sweating! Little bit of the thinners and it wasn't terribly noticeable. After that I developed a habit of checking or feeling my blades before it touches the dog.

[Helly]

Just like everyone else, BTDT. More than once. I think it's one of those things all groomers do. Part of paying your dues? Anyway, whether we want to admit it or not, we've all done it, and we've all survived. So did the dogs, LOL. And honestly, it could have been worse. At least there was no blood involved.

[muddy dog]

Oh yes! When I started out, I used a 10 blade on the back of a westie! It had very thick coat, so I had no choice but to do all of him in a number 10. I had to do a alot of blending, but it look ok afterwards. I just told the owner that I went shorter on him because it was the summer and his coat could take it!