Doc Halligan Blogs: Ep. 10 - Green on the Go

June 13, 2009

My hat goes off to Huber who clearly pulled his weight in this week’s quick sniff challenge, which led to a big advantage for Lisa and Huber in the mobile grooming challenge! 

We were judging the groomers on time management, customer service and teamwork. Lisa was in her element with the mobile grooming and it showed how she really took charge and it was wise of Huber to take a back seat and not be competitive with her. Likewise, Danielle took charge of Ozzie the cat and did a great job considering that she had never groomed a cat before.

Last season, grooming cats really separated the pros from the pack and this season all four groomers took it in stride. I personally feel that the Groomer of the Year should be able to groom cats as well especially since there are 90 million cats in the United States compared with 88 million dogs!  I love both cats and dogs and I am an expert on Animal Planet's hit series Cats 101 and Dogs 101. The big myth that you can’t bathe a cat is completely false. I know because I have to groom or bathe cats all the time at the shelter so I’m glad the groomers had to bathe at least one cat this season!

Both teams had a lot of tension navigating the streets of Los Angeles and both were late, but Elizabeth seemed to be a very difficult client to please with Valentino. I was really impressed with Danielle’s ability to remember Valentino’s entire name. Unfortunately, Bill let Elizabeth’s constant worrying get to him when he should have just focused on the grooming. Because of that, he left significant undercoat in Valentino and was ultimately sent home.

I can promise you that next week’s episode gets very emotional and I was quite sad to have to send one of the top three home. Tune in to see all the drama and be sure to have a Kleenex! Talk to you next week!

P.S. Visit me at Virtual Vet!

Doc Halligan
“Rescue a pet, save a life!”
www.dochalligan.com

Comments

[Jessica I.]

Yes, groomers should also know how to groom cats. I myself don't, but have groomed a couple in the past. I do have to say in Lisa's defense, cutting the nails too close...happens! It's a fact of life in grooming. But you would know that, right? Being a vet??

[Kate & Zena]

I never had a cat but I do agree that groomers should know how to groom both felines and canines.

I'm very glad Zena has not had her nails trimmed to the quick yet. Our vet knows the best position to cut Zena's nails is a horse position or she'll whack you in the head! She also keeps them a little long in summer as Zena digs for rodents and she's a terrier.

I felt so bad when Bill had to leave! His retelling and explaining events was so funny! Huber deserved a massage after having to do all the bicycling as Lisa has a knee injury.

Oh boy, I better have two boxes of Kleenex ready for next week. My mom and I used half a box with the "Rescue Me" episode!

[Cathy]

I had the most respect for you, but after tonight, I lost all respect for even you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the only reason Artis won last year was because the fans loved him, including me. When I started seeing the runner up on TV I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!! A KNOT compared to a hurt animal, PLEASE!!! I almost broke my keyboard I am so furious!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joey Villani]

Cathy,
I feel I need to respond to this. What does Artist have to do with this challenge? If you wish to discuss grooming I would be happy to do that.
Judge Joey

[Kristin]

This comment is to all of you who are not groomers. Go be a groomer for a week before you judge any of these or any other groomer. It is a hard job. Quicking a nail is a very minor injury. Owners hurt their pets more than groomers ever will be feeding them junk until they are obese. Matting causes the pet much more discomfort than a quicked nail. Matts pull on the dogs skin and in severe cases can cut of blood circulation, so shut up if you don't know what you are taking about.

[Lis]

Kristin, while I agree with the substance buried in your comment (matting is much more serious than the occasional quicked nail), your comment as a whole is nasty, mean-spirited, and shows an attitude of someone I would never allow to so much as touch my animals, much less groom them. None of these pets was obese; my pets aren't obese, and you have no idea whether or not anyone else commenting here has obese pets. Do other people? Sure! But they're irrelevant to the discussion, as last year's contestants are irrelevant to this discussion.

(More to the point would be noting that Valentino's doting mommy LET him get that matted.)

As for pet owners having no business judging groomers--wake up and smell the coffee. Pet owners judge groomers every single time we have our pets professionally groomed, and the judgments of pet owners are what keep you in business--or not.

A pet whose nail is quicked will be over it in moments, and healed in a day or so. A pet who is left matted, has to be groomed again. That is WHY most pet owners would be more upset by the latter than the former, and in the end, that's what this contest is all about--who is the groomer who will give pets and pet owners the best care in all aspects of grooming--not who can do the neatest tricks that only impress other groomers.

[Joey Villani]

I am glad to see the reaction between the groomers and pet owners, but don't argue. As a groomer it is up to you to teach your client about the hazards of quicking and a matted pet along with many other things.

[Shelby]

I just want to say, I have watched this season as well as season 1, and I love it! I respect the judges decisions, and I hope to become a groomer someday, and it is my dream to be on this show. I am just wondering, judges, is the reason Kathleen (last season) was sent home because she didn't tell the owner that she quicked the nail in the mobil grooming challenge, or was it worse that she forgot the QwickStop, even though she improvised and used ear powder, or that she just didn't tell the owner?

[Shelby]

sorry I repeated myself in the question

[Leesa G.]

The owners are who keep me in business, so YES, the opinions they have are very important! I really think that had she been spoken to differently, Valentino's mommy would've been alot better to work with. I've noticed alot of sniping remarks about pet owners and I can't help but think, "Don't you have something that you are passionate, picky, whatever that other people might think you are strange?" As far as the fussing about how long it was taking, have you ever gone to a busy restaurant and then complained about how long it took? Same complaint she had. Doesn't make it easier to hear but maybe makes it more understandable. Next time, take the time to explain it takes time to wash, dry and style hair, pet or human. My clients that I take the time to help understand this, usually turn out saying "Take all the time you need. I didn't think about that." The ones that are still hard to deal with no matter what- as a wise person once told me- "Look at them, see the dollar sign on their forhead, and do what you can to make them happy. If you do that and you've done your best, and it's still not good enough, then probably noone could've made them happy.But you have the satisfaction of a job well done.".

[Kristin]

Lis, Maybe I did come off as mean to someone with now experience. I was not saying any of the dogs on the show were obese. My point is owners do all kinds of harmful things to their pets. Overfeeding, not brushing, etc. I groomed a dog today that had burs matted all in its hair. I spent an hour shaving this poor dog naked. I had to pull stickers out of her skin, and she had at least 10 abcess all over her body with puss and maggots running out of them. The poor thing was in pain, and the owner said she hadn't noticed. I guess she is use to her dog smelling like a dead animal. My point is it amazes me owners get all worked up over a little thing like a quicked nail, but overlook their own unhealthy habits when it comes to their pet. My customers love the way I treat their pets, and so do their pets. I love them and my job, but I do not put up with disrespect. Owners need to have a little more appreciation for what groomers do for them and their pets.

[Kristin]

And by the way, if you thought I was mean and nasty look at some of the comments on the other blogs. I read some of those before I posted here.

[Lis]

Kristin, you still don't get it.

"Owners" are not an amorphous mass. The fact that a particular owner brought in a dog in horrendous condition does not justify you in slagging off "owners." It justifies you in criticizing that owner. That one only.

Someone who brings in a dog in good condition, is not disqualified from being able to complain if you quick a nail and don't think it's important enough to mention (the mistake Kathleen and Artist made last season), or if you cause more razor burn than I would in doing a face and belly shave on my own dog. You can't rule out of court all criticism from any owner, simply by pointing to the obvious (but irrelevant) fact that some owners are bad owners.

And that bit about causing more razor burn than I would is not a made-up example. Two years ago, I got my current dog, then a year old, a Chinese Crested powderpuff. She was in full coat, but unaccustomed to being groomed regularly, and I had never groomed a powderpuff before. We had to learn together, and we did. But I made a mistake: she was especially sensitive about her feet, and I thought that they weren't a serious matting issue, and that I had time to gradually win her trust in that area. By the time I could handle her feet enough to groom them, I found they were too matted for me to undo the damage myself. I took her in for a professional grooming. Of course her feet got shaved; no problem there. Even though it's against the standard for Chinese Cresteds, in this case, it was necessary.

But she had more razor burn on her face and belly than I'd ever caused myself, and I was just one of your despised "owners", not a professional groomer!

Needless to say, my dog has never been back to that "professional" or the shop she works for. It's that whole "uppity owner daring to judge the professional" thing, you see.

[Leesa G.]

Lis, this is not meant as a criticism against you in any way so please don't take it that way. Did you explain to the groomer that your dog has sensitive skin and clipper burns easily? The groomer could have modified what he/she used and also used something to soothe the skin in the bath/conditioner area too. I have dogs that come to me that I have used a 10 blade instead of a 15, 30, or 40 because of a tendency to get irritated. In worse case senarios, such as 1 bichon I groom, I scissor @ her butt, vulva, belly and footpads because she is extremely sensitive. I'm fortunate in the fact that her owner had learned this and passed it on to me. In the case of a peke I groomed, both the owner and I learned the hard way. Poor dog was miserable. I have since modified my grooming to his needs. And the groomer's responsibility is to own up and pay for damages and offer to change to help you and your dog. Sometimes it may not be quite as neat looking as the other dogs, but it's the way it needs to be done. Again, no offense, but owners, groomers, and vets all have certain responsibilities in the care of pets. Rarely is it only 1 person's fault.

[K9 Care]

Hey Doc, A little late this week with my comment but here goes. I have quicked a nail or two for my customers, but have ALWAYS shown the owner which toe and told them what happened. Dogs & cats can & do struggle sometimes when their feet are handled for whatever reason. I'm sure there are groomers out there that have even cut a pad or two in grooming black dogs that have severely matted feet. THAT is horrific to stop bleeding! You try your best to not let this happen, but it is ultimately an accident. All of the folks that I groomed for were very appreciative of the care and feelings that I had for their dogs. I had one senior citizen who owned a Schnauzer that loved the way I did her dog so much, that when he passed away on Christmas morning for her, she waited to write me a letter that he would not be in for his regular groom in January. She didn't want to spoil my holidays by telling me that one of my very favorite dogs had died. He was a perfect gentleman to groom and I still have that letter to this day. She thanked me for caring so much for her dog that if and when she got another one she would be back to see me. In the end, she got a Scotty that I was thrilled to do also. He was a handful, but also a lot of fun!! Accidents can & do happen, just be honest about them, offer to take care of any vet bills, and hope the client understands. ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANIMAL'S SKIN AND ANY OTHER SENSITIVITIES BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING! It will save a lot of hassle for you!
People, please try to understand, these judges are just doing the jobs that they are VERY qualified to be doing! Unless you have all of their qualifications, don't gripe! We do not get to see what they do when they are doing their analysis each week. Time constraints on the contestants is part of the challenge! In your own shop you would schedule your appointments to your capabilities and how the owner wants the dog to look. TV shows have to have their limits. Remember, this IS A COMPETITION!

All the best to the final 3! Carol.

[Lis]

Leesa G., this is a very late reply so I don't know if you'll see it. Sorry!

Yes, I did tell the groomer that she has sensitive skin and to please be careful of that. However, I may not have put as much emphasis on that as necessary, because, frankly, I assumed part of my problem was not being experienced with the clippers. The only dog I'd clipped before was my cocker spaniel, and that was just to give her a shorter, more manageable cut for summer, not the bare belly and extremely close-trimmed face, neck, and ears of a Powderpuff Chinese Crested.

I thought that someone who groomed dogs every day would be just a lot more deft with the clippers than me, would be less likely to clipper burn the dog ANYWAY, and mentioning that she has sensitive skin and please be careful of it would be enough. They were going to do a better job than me anyway; the fact that I needed them to fix the problem I'd created with her matted feet, and the beautiful dogs I saw leaving that shop all the time was proof of that.

I was kinda irritated but not really that I had to spend a few minutes explaining what a full coat powderpuff Crested should look like after grooming. After all, I know this isn't a dog you see every day. Even most people who do have Cresteds, want the hairless, not the powderpuff. So I was prepared, with pictures of one of her full coat cousins.

And the thing is, on that part, they did a fantastic job. Except for the shaved feet, which was unavoidable, she looked exactly like her cousin in one of her BOB pictures. I was thrilled!

Until I got home and went over her in detail, and found the razor burns. More than I'd ever done, with no previous experience with this kind of clipping. And that made me very not happy.

[Leesa G.]

I'm glad that you did! Really! And like I said, NO CRITISM to you at all! Alot of pet owners just assune that we groomers are magic and can wave a magic wand and make the matted little shih tzu they bring us look like the one they saw on Westminster. In your case, you obviously took the time to explain your dog to the best of your ability! And I, as a groomer, appreciate that! I know that it doesn't make it better, but did she pay for the meds to help your little guy feel better? Just curious if she took her share of the responsibility.

[Lis]

Leesa, I have to say, it didn't occur to me to ask her to pay for the meds.:( And yet if it had been someone else and their dog, I would have told them to march straight back in there and make sure that happened! And if it happened now, I'd do that myself. But at the time, I was angry about what had happened, yes, but I blamed myself, because my inexperience had put her in the position of needing to go to the groomer. Does this make any sense? I don't think so, but at the time, I was as embarrassed as I was angry, and I just called the vet and asked what to do, and made sure no part of her ever got matted again.
The kicker, of course, is that I know perfectly well businesses can't fix what makes customers unhappy if the customers just go away and don't tell them what the problem is. :(

[Leesa G.]

Yeah, you make sense. And unfortunately, you did what alot of pet owners do (although I understand- Believe me, my pets are my babies and woe unto anyone who hurts them! LOL). But for future reference for you and anyone else reading this, groomers have the responsibility to pay for damages done (that sounds callous but you know what I mean) to pets. Sometimes it's unadvoidable, like the dogs that come once a year for a bath and a shave and you find the growth in the middle of a mat with a clipper blade. At least, even though the owner didn't take care of the dog, I feel responsible to take care of that kind of injury. There may be others who disagree.

[Jean Honsinger]

I agree with you Leesa. If someone wants to be able to call themselves a good groomer they have to face the music for a mistake they made even it was an accident. Taking responsability is part of the job and if you can't handle admitting a problem to a client you aren't as good as you think you are. But you as a client have the same responsability to tell the groomer of problems you found wrong.