Chagall's mom

I REALLY appreciate that you listen to what the owner wants, and accommodate her wishes!! It was actually a groomer's failure to do likewise that motivated me to become a home-groomer. I once asked the groomer to put Chagall in a Miami and he gave me such "bag of suds" about it, telling me how he hates the trim and how it looks "stupid" growing in and makes a poodle look all out of whack. I decided right then and there to learn how to groom Chagall myself. I do understand a groomer offering his or her suggestions, or even declining to do something they feel is ill-advised, but to dismiss a customer's choice of style entirely--well, that doesn't sit well with me at all. BTW, I have been mighty happy with my home-done Miami on Chagall, so ha! to that groomer for being deaf to my request. He would otherwise have had a customer for life.

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Just be nice.
Cabryn Chagall, CGC

msminnamouse

I wanted to make myself clear in case what I wrote is misrinterpreted. My comment about that clip wasn't a judgement on your grooming abilities. You did it well but no matter how well executed, it just looks funny to me.

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liljaker

msminnemouse - I know what you mean. I also believe that a dog's build determines which clip will look best, proportional, etc. and that is the indication of a good groomer. Now, I don't have a favorite clip, but definitely know if it doesn't look right to me. My groomer is a pro, and I mean that literally -- she is from Scotland and groomed at Crufts, etc., years ago and did show her own dogs (scottie's). That said, I will always defer to Stacy if I ask for a this or that, and she says, "nope, won't work on Sunny, etc." and I don't second guess her. Stacy grooms as if it's a piece of art, and it is proportional and brings up the best features of the dog, IMO. For instance, Chagall looks great in his miami -- but he has nice long legs. A dog with shorter legs or broader torso might not look good in that clip. I think a good groomer will consider what the client wants and explain why they think it will look good (or not); but at the end of the day, the one writing the check makes the decision. (Even though I always defer to my groomer, but have been going to her for 15 years, so totally trust her suggestions.)

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caroline429

Fluffyspoos, is the clip on the white poodle called a "lamb" clip? That's the direction I'm trying to go with Cali. Would you mind if I copied your picture to show my groomer?

Marcie

OMG! What can I say, OMG! Speechless!

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GiGi 2012 PRH Alumni & Sasha 2009 PRH Alumni.

MaryLynn

EDIT what the... I went to make a new thread and I dc'd and it posted everything here... Sorry!!

critterclipper

I just wanted to add that not all corporate groomers do hack jobs :-) I have been grooming 5 years and have won competitions on terriers and poodles and have show spoos myself. I also value my quality over quantity and its up to me how many dogs I do in a shift. They give us a goal but don't berate us for not meeting it.. Just a "do your best to drive business" kind of mentality. So do call around, ask about each groomers specific strengths and weaknesses. Btw I am in the Chattanooga area if anyone is looking :-)


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Fluffyspoos

Yup! Just a lamb clip, though that's different for a lot of groomers. For Toy here, I do a #5 on her body, and do sort of a schnauzer pattern on her back legs and blend that in really good (no thunder thighs)

Here's a view from behind


And I doodled this up really fast, this is kinda the pattern I follow. Whether or not I leave a crest depends on if the owners leave collars on the dogs, and if they brush them.


If your groomer doesn't do the job you wanted the first time, do give them another chance, bring references in and charts on how you want it done. Here's a whelsh terrier the first time I groomed her without references.


And the second time I did her after mom brought in a sheet telling me the blade lengths and the correct patern



This is also pretty similar to how I do my poodle patterns, except I don't leave the skirt on the chest and belly like I do with the W.Terrier.

VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure to tell your groomer to SCISSOR the legs, using a blade will NOT get these results! You may have to pay extra.

This same pattern on a lhasa, her front legs are horribly deformed (feet point almost backwards) and this clip helps hide it. This is a #3 on body, 5/8" guard comb on legs, then scissor finish. I cleaned up that piece of hair on her inner thigh after I took the picture. doh!

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Fluffyspoos

Same clip on two other poodles I do, but they get teddy heads.

#5 bodies, scissor blend legs.



Sorry! I'll stop filling the thread with grooms now!

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caroline429

I love looking at pictures of grooms. Your pictures have been a real help. I'm going to copy a few and take them with me the next time Cali goes to the groomer.