Bathing a Lab

[Raggs]

This guy walks in today to pick up one of our boarding dogs to take him for a hike. He brought his lab with him to drop off for a bath. He knew he was coming but didn't make an appointment. My work takes walk-ins, but will tell them next time to make an appointment. This guy came in a couple days ago and my boss told him to make an appointment. Still didn't.. Grr some people... But he said his dog was extremely friendly and gets bathed all the time. Just on the way inside he tried to attack another Lab that was leaving, sure the dogs friendly... LOL... Then in the bath, this dog kept trying to walk out of the tub and kept hanging his head over the front, like so many dogs like to do. Kept trying to climb on me, yada yada. Then started to dry him with the HV. I would pick up a paw to dry his leg and he'd try to bite me. Again, remember this dog is friendly. So he started freaking out enough that I decided to stop and just cage dry him. Put him in the cage and he just started barking, non stop. This loud deep, annoying bark. Then the owner calls about 5 minutes later says he's on his way to pick up his dog. I started the dog right away. No pauses, nothing. Owner left, dog went in the tub. The dog was still wet. He'd only been there for 30 minutes. Which pissed me off. I told him I'd call and he said not to bother that he'd be back when he was done taking the dogs for a hike. Then he said that his hikes last 2 hours and not to expect him before then. Cause 30 minutes is 2 hours. So I pulled him out and started to brush him with the Zoom Groom. As much hair that came off this dog, lead me to think that he had never been brushed, ever. I used the Zoom Groom on him, then another rubber brush, then the pumice stone, then a slicker, then a comb. This dog had a tail of a Husky when he came in and a normal Otter tail of a Lab when I was done. The hair just kept coming out. It wasn't even showing a sign of reducing. I must have filled up half of my 13 gallon trash can. Then the guy walks in, we tell him his dog is still wet, he said he didn't care because he was taking him for a hike anyways and he was just going to get dirty. Ok, wet dog, plus it had just snowed plus it was 7 degrees outside. That doesn't add up to being anything good. That guy is never allowed to walk in again, and is not allowed to pick up his dog until we call him. Or else I wont do the dog and he can go to another groomer that will allow him to walk all over them.

[diamienono]

I hear ya. I had one today. Lady called me earlier in the week so make an appt for her senior germ. shep. I ask the usual, did he ever bite, it he agressive. She said no no he is a doll. So I am backing in the drive and there is a golden in the drive barking. I call the lady to make sure I am at the right house. She said yes, that is the neighbors dog. He comes to visit all the time. Try to lift the shep to get hom in the trailer, he tries to bite me. So she helps me get him in and on the table. Then says, I better stay and help you do his nails. I said, I am sure he will be ok. She said, no he will attack you. He tried to kill the vet. Great. No this dog never would hurt a fly. I was only able to dremel the nails. I could not lift the paws. So, I put my hand under them and let him stand on me raising him enough to get the dremmel in there. She was like, make them short, I said lady, they are as short at they are going to get. So then we get him in the tub. She said, I go inside now. He will not bite you now. Whatever. He was being good I washed him and was HV in the tub, just moved him to the table. Hair was flying. I mean gobs of it. She comes back in, the dog is now acting like a retard. She is giggling. Meanwhile the neighbors dog decides to start scratching at my door he wants in. UGH!!!! They are so lucky he did not scratch the paint. Then when I am leaving she is trying to convince me to come back again just to do his nails, they only like to give him a bath in the summer. Oh, I forgot to mention that this was a half a million dollar house. I said, I don't think so. If I am at your neighbors, that is one thing. Then, I run to Applebee's to get curbside dinner for us. My phone rings and hubby tells me neighbor that we take care of locked himself out and the cat got out. It took me over an hour to get this stupid cat out from under a pine tree. My dinner was cold, my kid was screaming.. Sorry for the vent.

[rapuzzled]

Oh boy, guys, I feel for you both...I hate days like that!

[pamperedpups]

Some people just don't get it... and sadly, never will.

I hope that poor Lab doesn't suffer any ill effect from being wet on a cold hike!

[RevWind]

Wow, rough day to say the least! Tomorrow's a new day.

[stacie-gotg]

You girls need a drink. No, No for these dogs ever again. This work is hard as it is for bad owners and dogs to boot.

[plushpuppy]

Oh don't you just love it. I wish of of these customers was a professional doctor, lawer etc or something so we could just walk in and be seen that might teach them

[Angie]

Wow, can we say TGIF! LOL
Love them kind of days, and clients!

[Pixie]

Boy, I feel for you girls. Just love clients like that.

[bow_wow_wheels]

IME *some* Labs don't have the gray matter for about 2-3 years that allows them to behave I've also found that dogs who do the hanging their head over the side of the tub and generally trying to strangle themselves are a) not leash trained and b) handled very infrequently.

Remember that Labs were bred to retrieve fishing nets from the sometimes semi-frozen North Atlantic so a little hike in the cold shouldn't hurt them

Then in the bath, this dog kept trying to walk out of the tub and kept hanging his head over the front, like so many dogs like to do. Kept trying to climb on me, yada yada. Then started to dry him with the HV. I would pick up a paw to dry his leg and he'd try to bite me. Again, remember this dog is friendly. So he started freaking out enough that I decided to stop and just cage dry him. Put him in the cage and he just started barking, non stop. This loud deep, annoying bark.

Ok, wet dog, plus it had just snowed plus it was 7 degrees outside. That doesn't add up to being anything good. That guy is never allowed to walk in again, and is not allowed to pick up his dog until we call him. Or else I wont do the dog and he can go to another groomer that will allow him to walk all over them.[/QUOTE]

[Helly]

Why is it some groomers seem to have a wet noodle where their spines should be? I just don't get it. If an owner told me the dog tried to kill the vet (even if it's an exaggeration), why continue?

Yes, I know all the reasons. I've said the same thing myself. I've also asked myself a million times why I ever got the idea that I should let the owner have that much control over what I do. And the answer I've come up with is simply, I don't.

Clients who show no respect for me, my time, or my safety are clients I don't need. I don't need people who think the rules apply to everyone else, but not them. Clients who expect me to put their pet's health at risk by doing something as asinine as to let them walk out in freezing weather when they're soaking wet are clients I don't need.

[petstylist]

Well said Helly!!

[diamienono]

My lab loves an icy pond if there is something to retrieve in there. I have been to my hunt test where it was snowing and the waster was really icy. She did not care. Of course as soon as we were done, I towled her off and put her in the warm car. Makes no sense to pay for the dog to have a bath, not get dry so the coat won't take on so much dirt then hike through the mud.

Helly,
I only did the dog because she was holding his head. Not once while doing him did he try to bite. The only time he did was when I first tried to pick him up. He has arthritis and hip displaysa.

[irish23]

I love the client who you ask if they have had any problems being groomed before they say "oh no never.".. and the dog either tries to either knock your head off by trying to leap off the table or out of the tub, or try to mawl you.
I only do labs when my husband works with me b/c after doing 3 labs that nearly knocked my head off after breaking restraints.. I am all set with the wrestle.. not worth it to me.
Why don't they tell the truth??? Out of fear you will turn them away I guess. Doesn't matter I end up kicking them off the list after that.

[pamperedpups]

I have to say, I think that only doing a dog by letting the owner "help" puts THEM in a dangerous position, as well. The dog may not try biting the owner, but in trying to get to you could easily snag "mommy or daddy."