Who are we to judge?

[Reader]

Ever had a crazy dog on the table and wonder why it was so poorly trained? The other day I did this wild German Shepard and I even asked the other groomer what the owners were doing wrong at home with it.

Well, about a year ago I lost a customer doing that. I used to think (well I still do) that dogs shouldn't jump on people. A client came in and her dogs jumped on me and I said, "Get off," and shook my leg. She called the owner that afternoon and accused me of kicking her dogs. The owner believed my explanation, but the client never came back. Since then I always act happy when dogs jump on me, even though I believe it's a sign of poor training.

Ever have a biter and figure it's the owners fault for stopping brushing them because they bit? Or a dog that barks all day and maybe it can get away with that at home? Or a dog that's scared of everything because it's poorly socialized?

Any other examples? I haven't started a controversial topic lately, so I am asking, "Who are we to judge these owners on their training skills?"

[RoosMom]

Oh, this one's easy.<G> It's the owner's responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure their animal does not pose a danger to others when they take it out in public. What do you think would happen if that German Shepherd jumped up on an elderly person? That little Shih Tzu bit a small child that accidentally pulled it's hair?

I do NOT allow any but the smallest of my client's dogs to jump up on me. I gently push them down, with a cutesy "No-no", so that I don't make the owner think I don't like their dog. Since I do some training, I have to be careful which 'hat' I have on with my grooming clients. I don't know of any I've actually lost because I won't tolerate horrible behavior, but if I have, that's not the kind of client I want, anyhow.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

If it's a large dog, I grab the two front feet as it jumps up and I start "dancing" with it. The dogs hate it and after doing this a few times, they stop jumping. It's amazing.

Tammy in Utah

[Crystal]

I dont' like having to deal with dogs who are not disciplined, but it just seems like part of dealing with the public and their unsocial dogs without any manners or boundaries. I have seen people encourage the jumping many times, and it does aggitate me. But it's not the dogs fault, it's the owners. Many don't do any training or take any time to teach them to act nicely. I just correct the dog when jumped on, and say no no. Some do nothing at all, and some will then decide it's time to start disciplining their dog.

[pretty_green_quaker]

Ugh, my dog is one of those jumpers. I have been training her and she's getting better but I feel horrible when someone walks up to her in my house or anywhere else and she jumps on them.

[kaitash]

We all need to remember that dogs in a grooming shop act totally different then they do at home. My own personal dogs are a good example of this. I have a GSD, BC mix and 2 Cockers. At home they are mostly well behaved. They don't jump and act like idiots, they don't bark (unless they have something to bark about). Now when I take them to my shop they are totally different. All over the place, barking, jumping, one even bites when I groom her feet. Just because dogs are poorly behaved at the groomers does not mean they act that way at home. I never judge a dog on their behavior at the shop. It's a scary place with lots of noise and other dogs. It makes me crazy sometimes....I totally understand how the dogs feel.

[Chicken]

We all need to remember that dogs in a grooming shop act totally different then they do at home. My own personal dogs are a good example of this. I have a GSD, BC mix and 2 Cockers. At home they are mostly well behaved. They don't jump and act like idiots, they don't bark (unless they have something to bark about). Now when I take them to my shop they are totally different. All over the place, barking, jumping, one even bites when I groom her feet. Just because dogs are poorly behaved at the groomers does not mean they act that way at home. I never judge a dog on their behavior at the shop. It's a scary place with lots of noise and other dogs. It makes me crazy sometimes....I totally understand how the dogs feel.

This is a good point.

I don't mind the jumping, but I do mind the toy breeds who act like raving lunatics because they have never heard the word "NO" in their lives. The folks who think their little dog can do whatever it wants because it's little and cute. I think good manners should extend to both large & small breeds... though certainly a 120lb dog is harder to handle than a 3lb dog!

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

I don't mind the jumping, but I do mind the toy breeds who act like raving lunatics because they have never heard the word "NO" in their lives. The folks who think their little dog can do whatever it wants because it's little and cute. I think good manners should extend to both large & small breeds... though certainly a 120lb dog is harder to handle than a 3lb dog!

I agree. If I caught Spike acting like that, he'd be in big trouble for his tiny 5 lbs.! He is not allowed to beg or jump or act like a "raving lunatic" anywhere. Thankfully, he's really not prone to do that.

Tammy in Utah

[Dawn125]

I am annoyed with customers that say their dog won't let them brush them and then when I brush them they scream bloody murder. I feel like explaining to every passer by that "I am not hurting this dog, it's owner has just trained her to scream to get us to stop brushing her". And the jumping up thing doesn't really bother me because it's not my dog and I don't have to deal with it that long. However yesterday we had a poodle in that the owner has to go thru this long goodby where she encourages the dog (standard poodle) to jump up on her and she stands their kissing it FOREVER while I wait to take it back and then it is so excited that it jumps all over the place knocking things off the counter. Grrrr. Ok, maybe it does bother me when they jump up.

[pugnacious]

Dogs do act differently at the groomers. Our pug has been bathed every week since she was 9 weeks old, I shave her hair once a month and grind her nails everyweek. We have worked together, her and I for over 2 years and she is still horrid! Everything is a battle, she hates her feet held, she hates the blow dryers, and she hates the clippers. At home, Pixie is a constant companion for us, learning new things all the time, she knows at least 20 cute tricks and 40 to 50 words. I can write a note, tell her to take it to my husband and she will find him anywhere in a large house and stick the note in his hand! My point being, she is a fantastic, smart dog and STILL cannot learn to be groomed properly! I have dogs that never bark at home and bark the whole time they are at my shop and vice-versa. I try to remember, that I also act out of character sometimes when you take ME out of my "element" ! LOL

[redbird]

My worst dog

Is mine!

A little min pin we rescued a year ago!
Sweet sweet dog in every way but......... grooming.

I have learned (after two, to the bone bites) that when he starts struggling
its all over, your going to get bit. Don't even try it, its not worth it.
When he bites, its for all the marbles. He is not going to just nip you.
He is paniked over water, and anything to do with feet.
I have worked and worked with him. Taken him in the shop, fed him on the
table, petted him there, fed him treats, even in the sink.
Let him be there while others are groomed, he just sleeps.
If you turn on the water, and you are holding him, watch out!
Just best to put the muzzle on before you even take him in there.
Over quicker for him and me.

[Arrooh]

Good points

Pugnacious that was quite a reminder that they might just be terrible in certain envireonments. I have a dog that is a bit hard to control when dogs bark at him, otherwise a well behaved angel. He gets macho like and pretty wild.

And Dawn 125 Hmmmm, 125? well, I have gotten so I don't want to show people how to brush, because they don't control their dog, sometimes stopping when the dog whimpers or gets slightly snappy and ta da they create a horrible grooming dog. Actually seen that a few times, saying "What happened to Fifi, She's now acting nuts when I brush her". "Oh Fifi Won't let me brush her legs at all" the owner says. Sigh.

[Plexi]

I was watching Oprah the other day when she had her dog trainer on there and she showed how to stop a dog that jumps up on you.
Really may only work on your own!! As the dog starts to jump up you turn around in a circle and as you face the dog again (treat in hand) say SIT, dog sits and doesn't jump on you..
( needs to know sit)

[rapuzzled]

My own dog is a butthead at work. She is very quiet at home (and yes she's a beagle) but she howls nonstop at work. She also does not answer to basic commands...sit, etc. even though she knows them very well and answers to them at home. Just not at the shop!

As for dogs jumping on me, it bugs me too, but oh well, not my place to correct them.

I can see what you are saying about how we assume that it's the owner's fault about the bad habits. I generally assume the same, lol. Usually I think it is, but I know there are those rare cases that really it isn't there fault. You just can't break some habits.

[Reader]

Yes, my dog is different at the groomers, too. He is one of those that barks incessantly when he's in the dryer. He's quiet at home and quiet when I put his leash on a hook in the floor, but barks for the dryer.