Dog Grooming at Petco

[teverheart2002 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by appyday

Hey Tev..Can I ask what you made as a bather?

$6.00/hr. That was the other reason I quit, it was hard to work over 40 hrs a week and only get $200 after taxes. For someone during/right out of high school or not married and doing it for the love of it, it would probably work out great, but I am a college graduate with a double major and married, couldn't swing "for the love of it".

[Tomcat]

Usually wash the dog at home. Last winter I took her to Petsmart(or whatever the one in Waldorf is, behind Circuit City) only because we were going skiing for the week and needed it done quickly before we left. No problems but haven't gone back, or needed to.

[teverheart2002 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by appyday

Yeah drop your collie off and it will be dry and combed out in say 2 days. ..drop off your flea ridden dirty dog and let me wash it befor I clip it (I hate fleas jumping all over me and my room.) after it dries (dry as a bone as I will be putting clippers on it..ie electrical) Give me another 2 days for that...Damm Janey you work me hard..

Tev ok my girl is fine she gets more then 3 X that...

Lucky girl...maybe I should come see you when we move up that way.

[virgovictoria (Premo)]

Originally Posted by appyday

Yeah drop your collie off and it will be dry and combed out in say 2 days. ..drop off your flea ridden dirty dog and let me wash it befor I clip it (I hate fleas jumping all over me and my room.) after it dries (dry as a bone as I will be putting clippers on it..ie electrical) Give me another 2 days for that...Damm Janey you work me hard..

Tev ok my girl is fine she gets more then 3 X that...

Hey Appy! How much to bathe 2-75 pound Mutes??? You know, your favorite????

[spinner]

Thank you for all the input. I wasn't really worried about my regular customers but wondering how it will affect my ability to attract new ones. Petco is going to be more convient for some people then coming all the way out to Hollywood. So I am going to change my ad in the phone book a little and focus on the individual attention and no crate drying aspect. And I am going to do something about the website. Most of my customers are repeat business and referrals.
It was sad to read about the dogs dying while being cage dried, I agree that was poor training. Those cage dryers can get hot quickly, you have to be careful even in an open crate with them. If you have a metal grid or tray that the dog is sitting on it can get hot enough to burn them. And a short muzzled dog like a Pug or a Shih Tzu should never, ever go under a crate dryer. If I was looking for a groomer the first question I would ask is if they crate dry the dogs. But very few people ask. I don't care how well you can scissor or how good you equipment is, if the dog is not dried properly it is going to look like crap. I blow dry everybody in the tub and on the table, that is what works best for me.

[jjcmom]

spinner...what is the name of your shop? you sound like someone I would like for my baby.

[virgovictoria (Premo)]

Originally Posted by spinner

Thank you for all the input. I wasn't really worried about my regular customers but wondering how it will affect my ability to attract new ones. Petco is going to be more convient for some people then coming all the way out to Hollywood. So I am going to change my ad in the phone book a little and focus on the individual attention and no crate drying aspect. And I am going to do something about the website. Most of my customers are repeat business and referrals.
It was sad to read about the dogs dying while being cage dried, I agree that was poor training. Those cage dryers can get hot quickly, you have to be careful even in an open crate with them. If you have a metal grid or tray that the dog is sitting on it can get hot enough to burn them. And a short muzzled dog like a Pug or a Shih Tzu should never, ever go under a crate dryer. If I was looking for a groomer the first question I would ask is if they crate dry the dogs. But very few people ask. I don't care how well you can scissor or how good you equipment is, if the dog is not dried properly it is going to look like crap. I blow dry everybody in the tub and on the table, that is what works best for me.

I haven't taken any of my dogs for any grooming anywhere... The breed that has owned me doesn't get clipped and I can't even imagine putting them under a dryer ... My ex does take our Huskies periodically to Petsmart in VA, where he lives, for a bathe and brush. I don't know that I'd even do that, to Petsmart, that is.

Personally, I would go to you or Appy in a HEARTBEAT to have my girls bathed and brushed.. I would go to Petco or Petsmart for supplies, due to the larger selection, but my children would be handled by the locals with a true heart in the business.

[jjcmom]

Spinner and Abbyday......please tell me where your shops are. My regular groomer has been The Pampered Pooch in Mechanicsville...but due to illness she closed her shop last fall.

[jjcmom]

or email me at kingspointmom@yahoo.com

[RodRugg]

Petco might be fine but all's I can say is this: DO NOT use Suki's GroomGroom in Pomonkey! They will show up in a van and shave your dog's head off! Our neighbor used them to shave up their two beagles and they shaved them dogs down to the hide. Them dogs got infected and looked like they got tangled up in a hive of bees. I would not recommend that and them dogs hid under the back porch for weeks. One time I took my hampster to Petsmart and they haircutted it pretty good. They also cut its toenails.