Refusing a client?

[Mitch73]

A lady brought in a Cocker today, new dog, full grown. He looked like he had, had a clip at some point but she said he had never been groomed. She just wanted a trim. I feel the dog and he was matted to the skin. Then he snaps at me. I told her that, if I was even able to groom him, he was too matted to be brushed out and needed to be shaved. Of course she didn't want that. I went through the whole mat speech. She say's (with an attitude.) "Well I don't want him shaved. I'll just take him home." Like it was my fault. So this brings me to my question. Do any of you refuse dog's that you may think will bite or be too much to handle?

[odette]

Of course! You did the right thing, No amount of money is worth getting chewed on and loosing your livlyhood. Matted is a shave and no one can talk me into abusing the dog.

[Jenneversage64]

Absolutely!

Especially after yesterdays bite! You should never feel guilty for refusing a dog. Dogs come and go,but you have to stay healthy day to day week to week year to year. No dog, no amount of money is worth a risk.

[PuppyFluffer]

Yep. I send em to Helly...

[k9cosmetologist]

absolutely 100%
I had a big hairy hundren pound mix come in, all scared to death, dropping terds out the back, slipsthe collar and the girl is affraid to leash him back up. She said it was her mothers dog and never left the yard. I sais he just wasn't suitable for grooming, looped the leash around the neck and handed it to her. Wishing her luck. NO WAY! I'm not a magician! The other girl in the shop thanked me sooo much for refusing the dog, who needs that.
For a prospective client to come in and see you with a basket case it just looks back for you, you are not doing your reputation any service by doing the dogs unaccustomed to grooming.

[itsgot2bme]

Heck yes! Your safety and well-being is far more important than one neglectful owner's happiness. I don't blame the dog for reacting poorly to being touched if he's never been groomed before and is completely pelted, but the owner needs to take responsibility. Personally, I would hold on to her info, and any other groomers in the area that you know should be warned of the situation. That dog needs to be shaved and possibly sedated to do so.

[kdickerson]

I usually do pretty well with weird dogs, and I've noticed that they behave better when mom and dad are not around. I had one chi mix that would attack like crazy if I tried to touch him/pick him up/take him from mom. We got into the routine that she would calmly set him on the floor and hand me the leash. If I took him out of view of her, he would let me pick him up and do anything I wanted.

If a dog seems to have behavior problems, I stress to the parents that I will do what I can. I refuse to do anything to unnecessarily stress the dog (ie, I won't demat one that already has problems). I tell them that everything might not get done on the first visit, and gauge whether or not they are willing to work on desensitizing the dog. If they are, I give it a shot. I tell them I will try, and that they need to be around to pick up their dog ASAP if necessary for the first groom or two, until I get a handle on the dog.

I was able to safely groom one last week that had been 86'd from two grooming shops for aggression. Dad picked up, and was kind, tipped etc. Mom called the next day crying at how pretty Missy looked I was proud.

[Nadu]

Yup and don't even bat an eye. Your safety and well-being is way more important than dealing with someone else's problem dog.

[HOTW]

YEAP! LOL It is your perogative. I had one person tell me years ago when I sent home her dog that was unmanagable and a biter that I got paid to get bit. I told her that $36 was not enough compensation for $8,000 in plastic surgery if her dogs really got a hold of me. She got pretty huffy at thta and that was the end of it.

[celebpet]

Yes, but in this case you didn't refuse to do the groom, she just wanted what she wanted, got made and decided to try else where.

[windfall4]

I don't need money that bad...

I wouldn't do the dog. If it's snapping at you while you're just trying to feel the matts, imagine what it would do when you try to clip them off. For me, it's just not worth it...i don't need money that bad. I'd rather keep my fingers and lose a few bucks.

[Mitch73]

Yes, but in this case you didn't refuse to do the groom, she just wanted what she wanted, got made and decided to try else where.

Yeah, I didnt refuse it. It was her choice. I was just curious what you guy's thought about this topic. I have worked in shop's that will take in anything and do whatever they have to, to get it done. I have no problem refusing or sending a dog home.

The groomer that trained me told me a story. It was her very first day of work grooming. A poodle attacked one of the groomers. The dog ended up dead and the groomer, due to his injuries, wasn't able to groom ever again. When I encounter a questionable dog that story is always in the back of my mind.

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Yep. I send em to Helly...

ROTFLMBO! WTHeck?!?!

[puppy love]

Heck yes! Your safety and well-being is far more important than one neglectful owner's happiness. I don't blame the dog for reacting poorly to being touched if he's never been groomed before and is completely pelted, but the owner needs to take responsibility. Personally, I would hold on to her info, and any other groomers in the area that you know should be warned of the situation. That dog needs to be shaved and possibly sedated to do so.

I agree! And tell the owner with the snotty attitude to not let the door hit her in the butt on the way out! Poor dog, it's not his fault he has a neglectful owner & those matts may be very uncomfortable on him, (hence the snap) but it's not your problem to have to deal with it either...at this point shavedown is the only humane option for the dog, most likely sedation shavedown.

[kwpgrooming]

You have the option as your own boss to turn away any dog for any reason. Don't be surprised in a week when she shows back up asking you to shave him, because I doubt she will find a groomer willing to comb it out. Then I would charge her double for getting an attitude.