09/15/2023
"My last groomer shaved my dog to the skin!"
This is a comment every groomer hears probably once a month if not more frequently.
It's a common misconception that "close shaves" are just a sign of a "lazy groomer" that wants to "take the easy way out".
The fact is... most of the time when an animal is shaved very close to the skin, even when the customer adamantly insists that the dog not be "shaved"... there's a reason behind it.
While it may be true that a rogue groomer shaves every dog he or she gets... most of us are highly trained and really enjoy doing customized, breed standard cuts or getting creative and designing something just for your dog.
Often times dogs with any of these types of coats... thick, curly, frizzy, double coated, wavy or straight and long... can experience one of the various types of matting.
Typically when we speak to a new customer groomers across the board ask a few specific questions.
1. The breed of the dog?
2. The weight of the dog?
3. Is the dog matted?
4. Are there any medical or behavioral issues?
Typically owners do great until we get to number 3. Is the pet matted? Typically the answer is no... unfortunately the answer is sometimes incorrect.
While some customers have experience with grooming some pet owners don't understand that matting doesn't mean the entire dog is one big huge dreadlock, or multiple hanging dead locks. This couldn't be further than the truth!
If you cannot take a metal comb through EVERY inch of hair on the dog from nose to toes. Groomers consider this matting.
The best way to prevent a shaved dog, is for the owner to brush the dog. And when they've brushed every inch of the dog... comb through it.... DAILY!
Another problem is owners who believe their dog only has a few mats. Typically if your dog has a few mats, more than likely the entire dog has matting in other areas you haven't noticed.
A lot of clients believe "it's the groomers job to brush the matting from my dog". False. Our job is to bathe and dry, clip nails, and give your dog a quality professional haircut. We are not, and many will absolutely refuse...to dematt entire areas or an entire dog. That's is NOT our job.
Mat removal hurts! Especially tight close to the skin matting.
You as the owner have EVERY right to refuse for a groomer to shave your dog. But that means you will be taking your dog home, and figuring out a way to remove the matting yourself. As groomers there are a few reasons why we DON'T DEMAT DOGS.
1. Dematting is extremely painful.
2. Dematting can cause skin lacerations, bruising, scrapes, friction burns and can irritate areas of the dog that are tightly matted.
3. Dematting is stressful. We depend on our jobs, and cannot risk a bite from a stressed pet that is in pain. Matting is not easy to remove normally.
4. We don't have time. We allow a standard amount of time to groom your dog based on their size and breed. So if it takes us an extra hour to dematt. We have to charge. And most clients don't want to pay the standard grooming fee to begin with, and dematting fees are typically $1.00 per MINUTE.
5. We do not want to cause pain or injury on the first groom with any pet.
6. For dogs we have been grooming for awhile, we don't want to jeopardize our trust and bond with your dog. They need to feel safe and comfortable.
I hear frequently "my dog will look stupid shaved". And most groomers have the same reaction to this comment. "Humanity over vanity". We will not inflict pain on any animal so they look good... if the client was that worried about the dogs appearance, they simply would have brushed and maintained the dog instead of allowing it to become matted.
Parasites are a huge cause of matting. Dogs that are infested with fleas... scratch. When they scratch, the hair gets tangled. Over a free days that turns into tight mats...a few weeks...an entire matted dog. Flea medications are IMPERATIVE to keep your dog from getting matted.
You the owners are absolutely allowed to refuse to let a groomer shave your dog, but you will most likely be required to pay a cancellation fee for the groom before rebooking. You can take your dog home and brush the matting out and reschedule anytime you want. No one is ever "FORCED" to have their dog shaved. But in the same token...a groomer cannot be "FORCED" to remove that matting.
"Shaving.... the easy way out".....
When removing matting using clippers, the only humane way to remove serious matting, there are MANY risks. Some groomers refuse to service animals that are matted because of the time, risk, and issues that come from mat removal.
Q. Why do you have to shave so close though? Can't you just do it longer?
A. No. To remove matting we must use a blade small enough to go between the base of the matting and the skin. Depending on how tight the matting is...determines how close we shave. So if you can't see the dogs skin under the matting...you'll definitely see it after! This isn't a choice and we try to use the longest possible blade that will go through the hair as possible.
Q. Can't you just shave where its matted?
A. We can. The cost to do this will still be higher and the risks still exist. Only instead of having a smooth neat looking shave, you'll have noticeable chunks.
Q. Before you got two mats out of her ears without shaving them. Why can't you do that all over?
A. Splitting and removing specific matting is a technique that not every groomer has experience with. When I do this on your pet...I will do a maximum of 4 mats.
Q. Do you have to shave the tail and head?
A. Not always. When I'm (me specifically)doing a matted dog...I always try to salvage the head, ears and tail so the animal still has a little style. In some cases this isn't possible. I always do my best to try though.
Q. Shaving it is easy...you don't have have to use scissors so what's the risk all about?
A. Shaving matted hair is NOT as easy as it sounds.
1. Dogs are much more reactive. The clippers still pull the hair and still cause pain. The dog may try to bite, jump around, pull away and ask if these things can cause nicks, scrapes or irritation and bruising.
2. When hair pulls the skin as the clipper is going forward there is ALWAYS a risk a few hairs are tighter to the skin and when the clipper pulls the hair up over the blade...the skin attached to the hairs that are more tight in that area, can easily be pulled into the blade and cause a nick on the skin.
3. When we remove matting there can be sores, infections, parasites, or other medical ailments that couldn't be seen with the hair covering the area.
4. Clipper irritation (commonly described as clipper "burn") this is not in fact a "thermal injury from heat". It's mislabeled by many people that don't understand the cause. Clipper irritation (the correct wording) typically happens in areas where the skin is sensitive...belly, ge****ls, inner thighs, ears, face, neck, armpits. This happens when the sensitive skin has the hair pulled towards the clipper and the clipper being extremely close to the skin can cause the skin to be raw, red, have blood speckles, or scrape the the teeth of the blade. Dogs do not have to be matted to experience this. Some dogs with more sensitive skin are prone to this happening but it's much more common with matted dogs.
5. Bruising. Extremely matted dogs are more prone to bruising from the skin being pulled and the clipper pushing through to remove the matting. This is common and unfortunately normal with extremely matted dogs.
6. Hematoma. Any area, especially the ears, are very vulnerable to hematomas! This can happen up to a week to two weeks AFTER the grooming. When the area that's matted has hair so tight it affects the blood flow a sudden rush of blood can cause hematomas. A freshly shaved dog will also feel itchy. And they will shake their heads, and grind them into carpets, furniture, clothing and objects trying to scratch the areas. Rapid continuous shaking of the head can cause bleeding in the ear tips. There are ways to prevent this..but the owner must be diligent.
7. Scratches and slices in the skin. A lot of times the dog will appear fine when they come home from the groomer. But the next day...you notice that the dog has scratches or slices on their face, back, head or ears. This is usually noticed the second day for good reason. The groomer did not do this. The dog has been scratching, and during the night, created these areas. Dogs have also appeared with "razor or clipper burn on their face " later on. This is typically from the dog grinding their face into couch cushions,carpeted areas or any area that can cause a friction burn. So when you see your dog get the zoomies and ruin through the house shaking and rubbing on everything....beware of what might come to light the next day.
There are ways to prevent some of these side effects. Using sports wrap on your dog's paws covering sharp nails is very helpful. Just do not wrap them tightly. Secondly. Using the same sports bandaging you can wrap the dogs ears around the head against the side of the face. (Not tight).
The best way to prevent these issues is buying the right brush and comb and keeping your animal on flea preventative.
Daily maintenance will keep you from facing these challenges.
The last question I get is...
Q: WHY DO YOU CHARGE MORE IF YOU ARE JUST SHAVING IT TO THE SKIN?
A. You can't wash matted hair. So we have to shave them dirty. The blade we use on your dog will be destroyed by the end of the groom. Dirt oil and matting destroy blades from the first swipe. Our blades range from 30-100 dollars depending on the brand and type of blade. It takes experience and skill to remove matting. It takes longer to do the dog. We use double the product to do the dog. And in my care...your dog gets preshaved, and after clean and dry a second haircut. So I'm doing two full haircuts, destroying equipment, using twice the amount products, risking bites, and hoping that we don't find any serious issues under the coat. Customers are never happy their dog has a short haircut and people don't want to pay a higher price. I also can do 2-3 other dogs that aren't matted in that time frame. But, I can only do yours so fast, so I lose out on revenue from another groom. Removing matted coats is a specialized skill set, and not all salons offer the service.
