[Blue Fox]

It really is beyond me how a kennel can manage to turn out filthy, smelly dogs. Do they hose down the kennels with the dogs in them? We have had a Lab with us for almost 10 weeks, she has been brushed but not bath as she hasn't needed one in the whole time she has stayed with us. If the kennels are kept clean (we only do ours twice daily) and they are on concrete runs with grass for play time I just can't see how they get the dogs so feral!

Anyway that's my rant for today :smile: Glad you had a good time just the same CurlyDog.

 

[CurlyDog]

I'm glad it's not just me. We don't board that often and don't know what the norm is. They do offer a pre-pick-up bath but after I just spent a small fortune on grooming, I couldn't justify it. I figured they'd be a bit dusty and I'd brush them out. Abbie must have been really bad cuz they gave her a complimentary bath but Max stank! Our dogs have never smelled so bad. Oh well. They're safe and healthy and back home now. Time to let it go!

 

[IPP]

Ugh...how annoying! Wonder if they would like to pick their CLEAN dog up from the vet covered in poop one time?

I mean if it isn't right for other animal establishments (like a vets office or doggy day care) to let the animals get dirty, why is it okay for a boarding place to let their customers' dogs get filthy?

I would be mad too!:banghead:

It is always nice to be home, huh?:high5:

 

[Pamela]

So I splurged and spent $180 w/tip to have the dogs clean and fluffy for our drive to VA. Got to my parents house and Max wouldn't leave their Schipoo alone. Then threw up on my mothers carpets 4 times (just excited and drinking water too fast) and jumped on the sofa. So day two we had to take them to a kennel. When I picked them up they were FILTHY and smelled awful. Needless to say I spent the first part of our short visit with my inlaws hunched over the tub! I wanted to scream!

My MIL was a good sport about it though. All in all still a nice trip. We're pulling off the turnpike now. Almost home.

Oh my gosh! what a bummer!:banghead:

 

[WonderPup]

Yeah, thats doesn't sound like fun.

I used to hate to work at ummm we'll say a natioanaly know pet superstore, and the vet in the store did boarding. It was DISCUSTING! When they checked in the clinic for , (even though she wasn't supposed to), they were told to come and make a grooming appointment over in the salon. The day they went home the techs would bring the dog to us for grooming before mom and day could see them. We would get these dogs covered in pee and poo and matted, EWWWWWW!!! Then groom them all up so by the time momma came to pick up little fluffy he was nice and clean and she wasn't any the wiser how awful the boarding at the vet clinic was. We WEREN'T allowed to say a word about it because they were affilated with the store. I hated it.

 

[CurlyDog]

Wow. That's awful. I'm not terribly surprised. I've had some grooming disasters at Petsmart. I've also had jobs well done. It varies wildly. I think the good groomers work there temporarily and move on when a better job comes up.

I had one that called me when my collie was to be finished only to tell me that the only option was to shave him. I said no thank you and picked him up. He was not in his best shape since I was traveling and my husband missed an appointment but he wasn't matted. It was a big job and I told them I would pay accordingly. I took him to a mom and pop kind of place and for the same price as Petsmart, he was beautiful. She said he was no problem at all! I'm guessing the staff at Petsmart that day was busy and didn't know how to deal with a rough collie.

 

[WonderPup]

Wow. That's awful. I'm not terribly surprised. I've had some grooming disasters at Petsmart. I've also had jobs well done. It varies wildly. I think the good groomers work there temporarily and move on when a better job comes up.

I had one that called me when my collie was to be finished only to tell me that the only option was to shave him. I said no thank you and picked him up. He was not in his best shape since I was traveling and my husband missed an appointment but he wasn't matted. It was a big job and I told them I would pay accordingly. I took him to a mom and pop kind of place and for the same price as Petsmart, he was beautiful. She said he was no problem at all! I'm guessing the staff at Petsmart that day was busy and didn't know how to deal with a rough collie.

LOL, awww how did you know it was petsmart You are right about good groomers working there and then moving on. For the most part thats what happens. It's a great place to start, they'll send anyone to grooming school, but if you really want to learn more than just the bare minimum you usualy do have to move on. I was lucky enough to be in a training store where the salon manager/ acadamy instructor really knew her stuff and passed it on. She quit though before I was completely finished with school because a higher management position became availiable. Just the way it goes I suppose. I also had the benifit of the help of several professional handlers from the time I was 10 or 11, so I really went to school just to learn the pet versions of the cut and to say I did.

I have found though that almost any place where you can board your dog's and then have them groomed is less than ideal. Though I am sure there are good places out there, just not in my area. It's my feeling that the owner should see, or smell, the dog before the bath/groom. Not to mention, espeicaly with poodles, a dog who comes in all brushed out may be matted by the time it goes home and the owners dont understand WHY I had no choice but to shave a dog that in there mind wasn't matted... the last time they saw it.