My first biter!

[mylady]

well, in the mobile. I have done plenty of biters over the years, but I've been lucky, have not had one dog that was a biter yet in the mobile, until last night. LOL
I wrote about this in another thread about whether or not I should automatically book the biters for myself. Well, Paco is a 10 year old Chihuahua owned by an 80 year old woman. She cannot leash him, put a collar on him, or kennel him without getting bitten. When I got there she handed me heavy gloves, a muzzle, and two beach towels and had him between two gates in the hallway. I went in to see Killer, I mean Paco, to face this terrifying 3 pound dog that had his mom in a tizzy! So I scoop him up, boy was he surprised! Didn't try to bite me though. Then we get to the van and I start with the nails. Then I see his true colors. This boy has been allowed to rule the roost and things his poo has no scent! he starts the growling, then the "viscious attack" biting. As he's trying to get me I can see he only has 4 teeth and they are barely anything more than nubs! I started laughing at this poor old man. he thinks he's SO tough. I just wrapped him in the towel and pulled out a paw at a time to do his nails. Washed him up with the recirc, another towel wrap, he HATED his face toweled LOL and actually "bit me" through the towel once, of course it was all gums! I had him done in about 20 minutes. Even cleaned his ears! Another thing he was not so fond of. But when I brought him back in and put him down, he tried to cuddle up next to my leg.
So, if I have to groom a biter, I can only hope they are like Paco. 3 pounds and toothless!

[Arrooh]

Long ago

I groomed a totally toothless old Poodle who snapped any old time. I still jumped even though no holes in me. It was always kind of fun, sort of like Nyaa Nyaa Nyaa Nyaa Nyaa.

I don't groom biters yet a handful have snuck into my client list. Keeps my skills up and makes me appreciate those absolute sweetie would never never bite darlings more.

[pawsitivepetgrooming]

I used to groom a toy poodle who had only one snaggle tooth. His mom would say, Oh he can't hurt you he's only got one tooth. Well, guess what, he knew exactly how to place that tooth right into your finger. I have a Chi who's a biter also, she not only bites while doing her nails but cries in this horribly high pitched sound. Yes, I know that is the sound of panic and NOTHING calms her down. I've tried the towel wrap to no avail. I have quite a few biters that come, I guess I find them challenging, or I'm totally touched in the head. I groom one Papillon though that, along with the help of the behaviorist specialist his mom & dad hired, and all of us working hard with him, I'm proud to say is becoming a well behaved gentleman.

[mylady]

Paco was definitely not panicking. I was worried about that, especially with his age. He was trying to show me who was boss. I really think this old man and I can become buds once he realizes he can't get over on me like he can his mom. I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully helping his mom out in the process!

Oh and his mom called me yesterday to tell me how happy she was (I also did her Yorkie). She said she didn't know what I used to wash them with but it must be something much different than any other groomer has used because he's never felt so good to touch. That was nice. Also told me I was worth what I had charged her plus some and she was so happy she found me. I love those kind of phone calls!

[Hello Kitty FTW]

She said she didn't know what I used to wash them with but it must be something much different than any other groomer has used because he's never felt so good to touch. That was nice. Also told me I was worth what I had charged her plus some and she was so happy she found me. I love those kind of phone calls!

If only more of our clients did that. It would totally rock!

[doggydivas]

If only more of our clients did that. It would totally rock!

I agree! I have a handful of clients that say nice things like that. Every time I have a less than appreciative client I think of that handful of people.

[MydogMissy]

I wish clients would be honest and TELL me when their dog's a biter instead of me having to find out on my own (first hint: "I hope he does okay for you!") Grrrr. It's scary when you put a dog on the table and the first thing you see is a full set of canines grinning at you and you are cornered in your van. Fortunately it was only a Jack Russell, but I actually had my back in the corner and was able to get into my overheads for a muzzle. Scary! What a day, I have a pair of leather gloves for the worst shih-tzu in the world.....even sedated. I also keep a face shield on hand and use it whenever I feel I'm dealing with an unpredictable situation.

[babbrook]

Oh that poor baby. I hate seeing agressive chihuahuas. My chi chi's are overly friendly. They may lick someone to death . Temperment is one of the most hereditary things when breeding animals. Sad to hear there are still mean chihuahuas out there. Last mean one I groomed, came from hong kong. Nice head. Good size. halfway decent conformation but bit on the nails.

[Chuck]

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

Dear MyLady,

First let me say I am sorry for your pain. Get well soon. I had to post this for others reading your post.

Imagine a Sheppard or a Husky like your toothless Chihuahua but with all their pearly whites in their prime and full of spit and vinegar every day on a regular basis. Bigger shops get their share of biters everyday. The trick is surviving the "Day from Hell" when it seems like all the dogs and cats are possessed.

The luxury of mobile is you get to be a little more choosey on whom you take. Some busy shops take whatever comes in. The numbers are what keep everyone working. Only the actual lions and tigers are refused.

Most pets are untrained which is about 99% of all pets. Most are not bite inhibited. You get big and hairy dogs, strong uncooperative dogs, fragile dogs, elderly dogs and cats which most groomers won't even touch.

Some established shops lose an average amount of their clientele due to normal attrition while picking up the same amount or more of new customers. It's the new customers that you learn to evaluate on the first groom. My bathers, preppers, and groomers meet 30-40 dogs and cats a day. Many are 1st timers.

I hope that this toothless Chihuahua is the toughest grooming you ever have to do and I think that you should share the fun of grooming the tough ones, if this is as tough as they get.

Do any of you come to work everyday to meet whatever comes in or is on the books unaware of the land sharks awaiting you?

How do you face the day when all the dogs are not on their best behavior?

How do you spell [b]relief [/b]?

Chuck

[yvonne]

I deal...

I just handle mean dogs and get it done. But a lot of them are like Paco, my mother's mini poodle included, you just have to show them who's in charge.

Awesome that he had no teeth, love the aggressive ones with no teeth, it makes me giggle inside...

One of the groomers I work with went to pick up a standard schnauzer and he bit her in the face, two punctures and a trip to the hospital (conviently located across the street) this was about a week ago...too bad at 12 yrs old he still had teeth....

Happy Grooming

[sheilabgroomer]

Oh that poor baby. I hate seeing agressive chihuahuas. My chi chi's are overly friendly. They may lick someone to death . Temperment is one of the most hereditary things when breeding animals. Sad to hear there are still mean chihuahuas out there. Last mean one I groomed, came from hong kong. Nice head. Good size. halfway decent conformation but bit on the nails.

Sorry, I have to disagree w/hereditary being the reason that so many chi's are mean. The reason they are so ornery is because their owners don't treat them like dogs or discipline them like dogs or exercise them like dogs need to be exercised. They treat them like little breakable babies who have to be carried everywhere and they think it is cute when they growl and when they start to bite they don't know how to correct it.

I have noticed that the little dogs that walk in on leashes are usually well behaved. The ones that come in cuddled to mommies bosom are the ones to watch out for.

Mylady, glad that your first biter didn't have much in the way of weapons in his arsenal....lol... I have had a few toothless biters in the past and it is kinda amusing even though they always make me jump too!

[Chuck]

Some probably think they have become a third bosom. LOL

I have noticed that the little dogs that walk in on leashes are usually well behaved. The ones that come in cuddled to mommies bosom are the ones to watch out for.

Dear SheliaB,

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I cringe when I see a groomers reaching for a dog in their mommie's bosom as this dog is ready to protect their mommie's bosom with their lives.

Put the dog down on a leash and hand the leash to the groomer. This and never put your face in the dogs face (other peoples dogs not your own) to kiss them are "professional safety techniques" to prevent being bitten.

What are other techniques that will prevent the handler from being bitten? Can you all name a few other then muzzles, e-collars, bite gloves, kennel leads or rabies poles, Groomers Helper, crosstieing in the tub, etc. etc.

Chuck

[babbrook]

One of the best Chihuahuas I groomed was always carried. A dog bred with a good temperament can over come any form of bad raising. Assuming all bad dogs are the result of their owners would make for a lot of bad owners.

Example to any skeptical groomer would be certain breeds many groomers agree they have problems with. And certain Breeds all groomers prefer doing because of good temperament.. This is because of inherited temperament. The most inherited thing on all domestically bred animals.


The belief there are no bad dogs just bad owners. Is far from the truth. A well bred temperament dog can survive the worse of the worse of dogs owners.
Dogs that walk on leash or not. We the groomer are not just stylist but responsible for the safety and training ( table training and excepting grooming) of the dogs we groom.

If the owners could groom them as we do. We would have no jobs. We put dogs in positions the owners have no need to do. When I have a difficult dog. I view it as my job to make comfortable. Very rarely will I refuse a dog. I also never blame the owner. I may give suggestions to the owner to make the dog better for grooming. But I never blame them. Because unless I walked in their shoes I would never know the absolute truth as to why the dog behaved the way they do. To assume can cause ridiculous assumptions . Being kind to the owners can assure the dog will be back and receive the proper grooming training. And learn to have a better experience.

There are cases of dogs with extreme temperament issues. I have groomed a dog a vet diagnosed schizophrenic. Was that the owners fault? It was an extreme mix of unknown heritage. There was no real purposeful breeding behind the dog. If you ever groom families of dogs. Or dogs of the same lines. You will find temperament similarities in the dogs owned by different people.

There is an interesting study About Fox raised on a fur farm. Fox were selectively bred for the ease of being handled in the day to day handling it took to raise these animals. Over time they noticed the fox started having piebald colorations and floppy ears. http://www.floridalupine.org/publica...-fox-study.pdf

I know it is popular thought in these times. To believe there is no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners. But I strongly disagree with it. I have more faith that the glass of dog ownership is half full. I believe the majority love their pets and treat them very well.

[suzy6469]

oh if only the little chihuahua that comes in to my shop was toothless, but no MR Bigs really hates everyone, he didn't use to be like this I've groomed him for years and he was never like this. Until mommy wanted to save some money and took him to a cheap shop and he came back and a bear trap on four tiny legs. Daddy brings him in puts him on the table while I stand back with my back turned and he puts his e collar on him so my fingers so don't get to be chew toys.

if only he didn't have teeth....

[HoundLover]

ah...them chihuahuas! last shop i worked at a lady came in with 4 of the lil cujos! not one of them was nice! the meanest one was the smallest....even the smallest muzzle we had wouldnt fit cuz his head was so darned tiny! i always needed help doing chihuahua nails LOL. except for my favorite two a lil blk female and her brother....oh and the one that looked like a lil husky and his sister as well. so i had 4 chi's that were good and the rest were monsters lol. where im at now the only ones ive done are lil angels! so it all depends on how the owner treats them AND breeding.
a shih i always do came in today....well her daddy was carrying her and i went up front to get her and i said Krinks! comeon sweetie and she turned away from her dad and leaned towards me so i could grab her! what a doll! love that dog LOL. she can be a lazy PITA sometimes but she is such a sweetie LOL.
Hound