Different than last time

[dmdogcare]

Hi guys, I have a question that might be kinda dumb...

So this woman brought her shih tzu to me back in March & loved the way he came out. She brought him in again about 2 days ago. The last time she came in, I wrote down the cut and I took a picture of how he looked like before and after, like I always do. Well, this time, she's claiming that he doesn't look the same and that he "looks quite different than the first time." I used the same exact blades and scissors and everything so I'm not really understanding. I compared the two pictures and I guess they look different? I explained to her that like humans, dogs have good and bad hair days. This dog is also very restless and screams in the tub and hates getting dried. It has also been raining for the past week and a half and it's kind of awkwardly chilly/humid so maybe that's got something to do with it? I feel bad, but I don't know what to do. She said that she'd come back in 5-6 weeks and explain more, but I feel awkward.

Advice?

[Brit]

I have learned that sometimes there is no explaining some things customers say. But if the pet is clean and you know it was groomed the same, and she is coming back, well that's good. Let's see what others think.

[dmdogcare]

I have learned that sometimes there is no explaining some things customers say. But if the pet is clean and you know it was groomed the same, and she is coming back, well that's good. Let's see what others think.

my grooming instructor always said, "if they come back, you won."

[andromedaslove]

I had the exact same problem about 5 weeks ago. Used the exact same guard comb and everything and the dogs coat looked so much different than the first time. I even took pics and posted them here to see if anyone had an idea....


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[HoneyandChewiespal]

Love the above responses.
Did you show her the pictures? Did the look different or the same?
When that happens I try to get the owner to specifically show me WHERE they think it looked different. The one time it happened I smiled and told them that they were right and that I'd tried a different te hnique to get a different look - and that I'm sorry then didn't like it. ( all baloney on my part but they felt so good that they could spot the difference). Then. E plain to them that unlike humans dogs may occasionally look different because of --- and then fill in the blank.
Find it easier to flatter first then teach - they listen better. Good luck

[dmdogcare]

First two pics are from March and the 3rd is from May 2nd

[dmdogcare]

Oh, and another thing. When she picked up her dog I asked a couple times if everything was OK or if she wanted me to fix something or if it just wasn't ok altogether but she said it looked great, tipped me, and went on her way.... She told me 2 days later that it wasn't right

[cockerlvr]

The top of the head looks a lot shorter to me.

[dmdogcare]

Yeah that's what I'm seeing too, but I did what I wrote down from the time before... Maybe I didn't use a 2 on the top of the head & I just scissored it? Wish I could go back in time to tell lol but she's coming back in about a month and a half so I'll listen to what she has to say

[Moses]

Yes face area is different. That's what they see first. Really only difference as far as I am concerned

[Moses]

First pic is a softer looking face third picture Is a cleaner tighter look

[dmdogcare]

Does the third picture look bad though?

[Cyn]

The top of the head is too short in both pics, imo....but 3rd pic it is shorter than first pic. I would have used no shorter than a 1 or a 0.

[dmdogcare]

The top of the head is too short in both pics, imo....but 3rd pic it is shorter than first pic. I would have used no shorter than a 1 or a 0.

hmm, ok. I'll do that for next time. it's just that she said puppycut and i always thought that meant same length for everything?

[Cyn]

hmm, ok. I'll do that for next time. it's just that she said puppycut and i always thought that meant same length for everything?

In theory yes, but a longer rounder head will look more balanced (not so flat on top). You are doing fine, your eye will start to catch where some things need to be left a bit longer or taken shorter...sometimes it depends on the dogs coat.