01/03/2022
An open letter from a Pet Groomer
For those dog owners & particularly Doodle owners that blame their groomers for the dog's need to be shaved due to matting. For all the owners who "just want an inch or 2 off" of their severely matted dog that they swear isn't that bad and they just "brushed him last night" or, "we were out of town last week, thats why its so bad." Even more for the selfish dog owners who care more about their own vanity and how the dog looks than his/her comfort and safety. This one, is for you:
Im a dog groomer, have been for over 15 years, and I assure you severe matting does not in this universe or any other happen over night. Groomers dont shave dogs unless they have to. We are not lazy, we are not doing it just for fun. Most importantly we do NOT get paid to torture animals!! Which is exactly what dematting a dog is. It's torture.
We all got into this business because we love animals and want to help. Dealing with owners who care more about appearances than the wellbing of their supposedly beloved pet, is ruining the industry for us. Doodles, are ruining the industry. Doodle owners, not all but an overwhelming majority, are ruining the industry for us. No one should ever purchase a dog that they are not fully educated on and prepared to care for properly. This includes any kind of needed regular grooming. Instead every day we see (mostly) doodles, severely matted, filthy, untrained, and brought in by an owner who swears they brush them, but either dont or dont know how to do it properly, then lose their minds when we have to shave them. Getting online after blaming and bashing the groomer. Hate to break it to you, but you are the bad guy, not us.
So let me explain matting in a way everyone might understand since so many dog owners seem oblivious to how incredibly painful it is. Imagine I grab a fist full of your hair. Right at the scalp. And every day I twist it a little tighter. And tighter and tighter. Bc that's exactly what matting at the skin is. Every day it gets worse. Every time it gets wet, tighter. Every movement hurts. If it was YOU you wouldnt likely want to sit through 3+ hours of torment to get it out. Imagine being the dog, who cannot understand why this stranger is hurting them. How heartbreaking it is for us to hurt them this way. All bc the owner is too prideful to have a shaved dog and too lazy to actually educate themselves on the proper upkeep of their wannabe "fancy dog" before BUYING them much less do the work once they have them.
Do you actually care more about your dog than how his/her haircut makes you look? Great, here is what you do. Buy a dematting rake & a metal greyhound comb on Amazon. You can get them both for less than $30. 🙄 then get on youtube and learn how to use them both. Keeping in mind the rake is razor blades and must be handled properly. Better than youtube, ask your likely wonderful compassionate and very frustrated groomer to teach you. He/she will be thrilled you are taking responsibility instead of being neglectful and then blaming him/her. Then follow through. Every few days. And if you think I'm being harsh or dramatic, I dare you to take your dog in and watch while your groomer dematts her/him. See how awful it is. Maybe then, you will understand our frustration. If that doesn't open your eyes nothing will.
This is for every doodle owner everywhere. As well as any other pet owners who neglect their dogs coat and expect us to literally work magic.
Signed,
A VERY frutrated Groomer.
Ps. If your doodle looks like the one in the picture, for the LOVE OF GOD, go get that dog shaved down, start over, and educate yourself.
