If you have any questions you would like addressed here or one-on-one, please contact me at: tammy@k9designsbytammy.com Thank you!
1. How long will it take for my dog to be groomed?
This depends on your dog's breed and size, the type of coat and condition of coat, as well as the type of trim. My average is about 1.5 hours per dog.
2. When should I get my puppy groomed for the first time?
I prefer to start a puppy's grooming at around 12-16 weeks. I do NOT recommend a haircut the first time---it is asking a lot of the groomer to use scissors and clippers on a wiggly puppy. It's also a lot to ask of a puppy, with their short attention spans. I recommend bringing the puppy in once a month for the first 4 grooms. This will help get your puppy comfortable with the usual sounds he will hear in a grooming salon; clippers, scissors, dryers, etc. It will also help him remember who I am, and that I am not going to hurt him. I would also be happy to go over brushing, combing and handling techiniques with you so that your puppy will become not only comfortable with the grooming process, but will actually enjoy the grooming process.
3. Can I stay and watch you groom my dog?
If you would like to watch the grooming process, I would be happy to have you watch me groom a dog that is not your own. When I am grooming a dog, they see me as the one in charge. When you are present during your dog's groom, he will see you as the one in charge and will try to go to you, to jump from the tub to you, he wants you to "save" him from the groomer. It is very hard to work on a dog when their owner is present. I have nothing to hide, and would be happy to have you come and visit while I am grooming another person's dog.
4. Why can't you give me an exact quote over the phone?
Have you ever noticed that even though your dog may be a common breed (like a shih tzu), that he or she may be smaller, bigger, heavier, thicker/thinner coated, more easy going or less tolerant to grooming than other dogs of the same breed? Also, it takes me a lot longer to groom a dog that is groomed less frequently. For these and other reasons, I cannot give an exact quote over the phone.
5. What if my dog is matted? Will you demat him?
Well, that depends. I will not demat any dog if it takes longer than 20 minutes. Although I have special tools for this, it takes time and patience, and it is not humane to demat a dog for very long. Humanity always trumps vanity!
6. Every time I take my dog to get groomed, the groomer "shaves him bald." WHY?
Well, I wasn't there so I can't say for sure, but it could be a number of things: It could be your dog is matted and the groomer had to shave your dog, or it could be the groomer is only comfortable shaving dogs. When you come to my salon, I would be happy to give you a free consultation. I will go over your dog's skin and coat with you, and talk about options that will fit your pet, and your lifestyle. Keep this in mind if your dog is matted: the closer the mats are to the skin, the shorter the haircut will have to be. Groomers have to clip UNDER the mats, not through them or over them. Sometimes a dog wont "feel" matted, even when it is. Sometimes, a lack of skill can cause a groomer to take the easy route and buzz the hair off with the blade that will go through the hair the fastest: The short blade!
7. Should I feed my dog before bringing him/her for grooming?
Yes, but I would feed a smaller amount. Dog's on an empty stomach can become hypoglycemic. If the dog is nervous and vomits, that's ok. I would rather clean up after your pet than have a dog become hypoglycemic. Your dog's comfort and safety are HUGE priorities for me.
8. How are you different from any other groomer out there?
Well, first of all, there are many good, kind, and talented groomers out there, so I'll let YOU be the judge. I tend to focus on your dog, and only your dog. I don't bathe one dog, while another one is in a kennel drying. My goal is to groom your pet, with as little stress and time away from home as possible. After all, they'd rather be at home, with YOU!
I am a NCMG (See #9 Below), and an award winning pet stylist. I enter grooming competitions all over the country. But what does this have to do with you? I apply the skills I learn in the competition ring to each and every dog I groom at my salon. I research grooming and the latest in styles, tools, and techniques, and apply these to your pet!
Many groomers only bathe a dog once, and dry them in a kennel. I bathe a dog until the water rinses clear---even if that means 4 shampooings. It is very unusual for a dog to come clean after one shampooing. As far as drying goes, dogs with pug noses such as shih tzus, pugs, boxers, and bulldogs, should NEVER be kennel dried, regardless of whether the groomer uses heat or not in their kennel drying! (See question #11 below). Hand drying gives a better quality finish to the trim.
Many groomers prefer to do 8-12 dogs a day, but I only do 5. I prefer quality over quantity.
I do not "pre-clip" any dog (unless it's severely matted) to "save drying time." DIRT is part of what holds mats together! I've found if I bathe the dog first, and get him very clean, the mats will often break apart into smaller mats when I dry it. Or, the dryer can blow those mats away from the skin and I can get a longer clipper blade underneath those mats. It is rare for me to have to 'skin' a dog due to mats.
9. What is a NCMG?
NCMG Stands for, "National Certified Master Groomer". There are only about 10 of us here in the state of Utah. It is a voluntary certification program through the Nat'l Dog Groomers Assoc. of America. The certification process involves a lot of research, study, and breed knowledge. I had to learn the AKC Breed Standard for all of the breeds in each breed group (ie: Terrier group, working group, Sporting Group, Non-sporting group, herding group, toy group, etc...), as well as information about pesticides, proper grooming procedures, coat types, temperament types and so forth. I took 3 tests of 100 questions each about Terriers, Sporting Breeds, and Non-sporting breeds. I had to actually groom 4 different dogs in front of numerous qualified judges, the top groomers in our industry, and then finally, a 400 question Master Exam, covering all the other breed groups, etc. It was difficult, expensive, and worth it. Since there is NO licensing or certification required in ANY state in the US for grooming, I took it upon myself to better myself, and to acquire knowledge that I wouldn't have otherwise had. To my knowledge I am the only NCMG in Northern Utah.
10. Do's and Don'ts when bringing your dog to K9 Designs by Tammy
PLEASE give your pet time to relieve itself before your arrival. I usually let my own dogs out first thing in the morning, feed them, and 10 minutes later let them out again. Dogs have a natural desire to relieve themselves when they are nervous, and it is easier on them if they have an "empty tank" upon arrival. Please don't allow your pet to potty at my home or on the neighbor's lawns. We are trying to stay as clean as possible, and polite to my neighbors. Thank you!
It is very normal for a dog to shake when it comes to the groomers. They are very smart and love to put on a "show" for their owners. They know the routine and are perfectly fine with me once the owner leaves. Dog's pick up on our anxiety and it makes it harder on them. Don't worry about your pup, he will be fine! If you are worried, feel free to call during the grooming, and I will give you an update on his status! Usually there is nothing to report, they stop shaking as soon as they realize they're just getting a haircut.
11. What if I am running behind? Can't I just drop off my dog a little late?
Because I do one dog at a time, I cannot make up the time lost waiting for a late arrival. It would be best to reschedule if you will be more than 5 minutes late. If I were to groom your dog late, it would push all of my other appointments behind. If you need to cancel, kindly give 24 hours notice.
12. What's wrong with cage drying (also called "kennel drying")?
Cage drying has its benefits, but to me, the drawbacks far outweigh the benefits. Dogs with short "pug" noses, such as shih tzus, bull dogs, boxers, pugs, etc, should never be dried in a kennel, regardless of warm or room temperature dryers. This causes a problem with their ability to breathe. This is also the reason they are not allowed to fly in cargo (check with all of the airline carriers). Some groomers feel that it's ok to use fans or dryers blowing room tempterature air. Room temperature air on a WET dog is cold! Older dogs and puppies should never be subjected to this. I have seen with my own eyes an old dog suffer some serious problems by being in a kennel dryer for only 20 minutes. Here is a clip from the Today Show, regarding dog dryers: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25966380/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/
Heat or no heat, cage dryers can be dangerous. They also don't give the same results as hand drying does. Many groomers, to save time, will cage dry a dog. Usually it's the feet and face that take the longest to dry, but in my opinion, hand drying on the face and feet of a dog is most important, as that is the first thing an owner sees when they pick up their dog. If the feet and face aren't dried properly, the haircut wont look as nice, and wont last as long.
I have heard of dogs dying in cage dryers, I've heard of a dog's eyes being burned from a cage dryer. I've heard of dogs having heart attacks in cage dryers without heat, apparently from stress.
Do your own search on the internet. Dog dryer deaths are something that should never happen. I don't take it lightly, it's just not worth the risk, and I feel I get better results from hand drying. It's worth the extra amount of time I spend. It's also a good way to find little lumps, bumps, scratches and spots on a dog because hand drying makes it so I can see all the way to your dog's skin. I once found a small red spot on a dog while hand drying it. I initially thought nothing of it because it was smaller than my pinky finger nail. Then I saw one more small spot on his belly. The vet looked at it, and it turned out to be a blood platelet problem! The vet said the dog was bleeding internally and could have bled to death over the weekend. I would never have seen those spots had I not taken the time to hand dry the dog. This dog is alive and well today, because I refuse to lower my standards, or take shortcuts.
