Small clipper scratches

[DAPER DAWG]

What is most people's policy when you are shaving a dogs privates and he sort of jumps into your clippers and creates just the smallest of scratches not even a nick. (kinda like one your fingernail might make)??? Where I work the boss -10 from the groom price. Just wondering if this is a standard practice at most places. It's not as if the groomer has done anything wrong.

[diamienono]

What is most people's policy when you are shaving a dogs privates and he sort of jumps into your clippers and creates just the smallest of scratches not even a nick. (kinda like one your fingernail might make)??? Where I work the boss -10 from the groom price. Just wondering if this is a standard practice at most places. It's not as if the groomer has done anything wrong.

I don't deduct anything. Not my fault the dog jumped into it. That is like saying you getting your hair cut and you spin your head just as they are snipping. Should they take money off?! If I do something that is MY fault, then I would offer a discount. Being that I am perfect (hehe) and never make a mistake, I don't have that problem. (Put on your hip boots it is getting deep)

[Helly]

I don't discount for small scratches, nicks, irritation. I only discount if I can't finish a groom. Then I only charge for a bath/brushout.

I always point out the problem to the owner, compare it to a paper cut (which is about how serious these things are), advise them to keep an eye on it for a couple of days. If they want to, they can apply a dab of Vasoline or antibiotic ointment, but it's usually not necessary.

It's really not an issue of the groomer doing anything wrong, IMO. It's an issue of making a mountain out of a mole hill. Make that ant hill. It's just a nothing. If you did it to yourself, you wouldn't think about it at all.

[pamperedpups]

My policy is the same as Helly's. -$10. would add up fast for something that's almost always a non-issue!

[Fur Elite]

I agree with the above

I can't imagine discounting for such a thing. I have thus far only discounted when something hideous happens to the groom itself that is MY fault....like when I took a 40 blade and created a bald patch on a dogs back thinking it was another blade (oops). I gave a $10 discount on that one I think. But that is the only time. The few times I have injured a dog so that I thought it "might" have to go to the vet or that the client might take it to the vet even though I was pretty sure it didn't need to go....., I charged full price but told them I would reimburse any vet bills. I still did all the work so I feel i should be paid. It isn't like we are injuring dogs on purpose. Accidents happen.

[rapuzzled]

No way. We only no charge if its a big cut and we feel the client is going to freak. Other than that, they pay...Helly's right it's really about the equivalent of a paper cut.

[diamienono]

I don't discount for small scratches, nicks, irritation. I only discount if I can't finish a groom. Then I only charge for a bath/brushout.

I always point out the problem to the owner, compare it to a paper cut (which is about how serious these things are), advise them to keep an eye on it for a couple of days. If they want to, they can apply a dab of Vasoline or antibiotic ointment, but it's usually not necessary.

It's really not an issue of the groomer doing anything wrong, IMO. It's an issue of making a mountain out of a mole hill. Make that ant hill. It's just a nothing. If you did it to yourself, you wouldn't think about it at all.

Even if I can't finish a dog due to the dog being naughty, I still charge full price. Not my fault and I am not losing money. I have only had this happen once. The lady was very appolagetic and even gave me a tip. She said she knows the dog has a "grooming" problem.

[toomuchfunbnme]

No deduction

I would not deduct anything for something like that. And $10 is a huge deduction! Ouch! Giving a deduction seems to imply that you actually did something wrong if you ask me.

[K9Klips]

I agree. If you deduct money you are basically saying you did something wrong. We are working on moving targets a lot of the time and accidents are bound to happen. I always inform the client what happened and why and I always compare it to a scratch or a paper cut. Fortunately, (knock on wood), I have never seriously cut a dog so that it had to go to the vets (Thank God). I would be devastated, but little nicks are bound to happen here and there and I always make sure to not make a big deal out of it to the client, just inform them very matter of fact and away they go. I very rarely have anyone get mad.

[plushpuppy]

No deductions but I do let the owner know what happened

[Helly]

Even if I can't finish a dog due to the dog being naughty, I still charge full price. Not my fault and I am not losing money. I have only had this happen once. The lady was very appolagetic and even gave me a tip. She said she knows the dog has a "grooming" problem.

Basically, I charge for the time I spent. If all I could accomplish is a bath, I charge for a bath.

If it's a situation where I've warned the owner in advance that I'll only do what I can do, I charge full price. And if a dog is really naughty enough that I can't groom, I only charge a bath/brushout.

I don't charge for work I didn't do.

[DAPER DAWG]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's not right. I was on my day before vacation and it made me cry cause the boss goes I don't even know how you scratched him cause there's still some hair under his belly. I of course said I didn't continue to shave after he kept throwing himself into the clipper for fear of more scratches all in all the belly was pretty clean with a few stray straggly hairs. He was also extremely matted under there. The lady rescued him from the Humane Society and thought this was the way he was supposed to look. What???? He was a very sweet dog, just very nervous about the surroundings. I love the hip boot comment.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Let owner know what happened and don't make a big deal out of it. End of story right there. We're working on moving targets, not statues, otherwise that would change the rules right there.

Even my husband's hairdresser has knicked him TWICE.

Tammy in Utah

[Grinch]

I wouldn't deduct anything either. Most of the time when dogs like that are bouncing around I end up with more scratches then they do, lol.

[amysue2638]

Recently a groomer in my shop "nicked" a 2.5 lb. yorkie puppy with a #10 while shaving his sanitary area. He moved suddenly right into the clipper blade and ended up with a 1/2" long slice on his skin, it looked like it had just sliced right open. I had never seen anything like it...the only thing I could think of was it was because he was so tiny and his skin was very thin. It happened on the upper inside of his rear leg and there was little fat or muscle there, almost just skin on bone. Anyway, I felt that he should go to the vet to have it checked out, so I didn't charge her for the groom and I ended up paying for her vet visit. He ended up fine, but obviously I felt terrible about it.