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So, I just started a new job at a well known pet chain's salon, working as a bather - basically, I just wash and dry the dogs, do their nails, sanitary trims, ear cleaning and teeth, not the full cut and style. For the most part it's pretty cool, and I love working with animals all day. We even get to accept tips, and I've gotten some pretty good ones from a few customers happy with how good their dog looked and how happy they were when I handled them (Thank you vet training and lots of experience for teaching me how to properly handle animals!)
Of course, no job is perfect.
To the "My dog is an angel!" Lady....When I was trying to trim her nails, she started snapping, biting, and struggling enough that she was a danger not only to me, but to herself. That's why she went in the Cone of Shame. It was either that or we put her in the kennel without doing her nails and call you to get her right that moment, because we're not getting bitten by the dog you keep insisting is just the sweetest little cream puff ever.
Speaking of cream puffs, maybe cut back on them for the dog a bit. That kind of weight on a dog that size is not healthy. Anyway, don't throw a fit when you look in the salon window and see her in a cone when it's for her own - and our - safety.
To the owners of the 'junkyard dog' beagle...I don't care whether you just got him to guard your residence/junkyard or whatever, YOU DO NOT LEAVE A DOG IN FILTH UNTIL THEIR SKIN STARTS ROTTING OFF AND THEIR FUR LOOKS BLACK WHEN IT'S A TRICOLOR DOG. Yeah, you asked me about those weird bald patches on his ears, elbows and flanks? Well, that looked a lot like mange to me, and considering the state of the poor thing's eyes and ears (both infected, they insisted they weren't but I've had vet training and worked with rescues my whole life, I know what infection looks like) it wouldn't surprise me if he had it. It took three washings to get him clean, and there's no hope for his teeth. You were complaining about his breath? Yeah. Rotted-to-the-core teeth will do that to ya. I left a note in his file for them to get him to a vet, but I doubt they will. As little care as he's had so far (they're 'regulars' that evidently bring him in once or twice a YEAR, and he never gets bathed between those visits. No one else wanted to touch him, which was why he fell to me) I highly doubt they'd even consider a vet trip for the poor dear.
To the owners of several dogs: For heaven's sake, BATHE YOUR DARN DOGS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. Run a brush through their coats maybe once or twice a week, at least! Bringing them in after their fur has become matted all the way to the skin and their skin is starting to rot beneath it isn't enough! Brush them at home! Oh, and don't bitch about the price of de-matting them, you wouldn't be paying it if you took care of them. No, sorry, we can't just brush it out and leave the fur all on, matting like that has to be shaved off. If you didn't want a bald dog you should have freakin' brushed them and kept their coats clean!
Happier things:
EEEE CHOW PUPPY CHOW PUPPY HE WAS SO FLUFFY AND SWEET AND I WANTED TO HUG THE BIG COTTON BALL FOREVER.
Also had someone bring in a bunch of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to get their nails done, and even if the one I was taking care of (we split them up among the group to work faster) decided to lick my face while I was speaking to his owner and I got dog tongue in my mouth (not the first time, probably not the last), he was so sweet, stayed perfectly still so I could do his nails, didn't snap or growl or anything at all - they were all perfect little angels! We did have to remove a mat on the male Cavalier, but it was small and pretty normal for the breed and activity level. His owners will be bringing him back in a week or two for all of them to get trimmed up and bathed.
A lot of the dogs are total sweeties and wonderfully obedient (we get a lot of purebred show dogs), but we do get some that the owners clearly think tossing a few bucks once or twice a year to get someone else to bathe them is sufficient care. Nope, not even for a shorthaired dog. Take care of your animals, or don't get them.
Of course, no job is perfect.
To the "My dog is an angel!" Lady....When I was trying to trim her nails, she started snapping, biting, and struggling enough that she was a danger not only to me, but to herself. That's why she went in the Cone of Shame. It was either that or we put her in the kennel without doing her nails and call you to get her right that moment, because we're not getting bitten by the dog you keep insisting is just the sweetest little cream puff ever.
Speaking of cream puffs, maybe cut back on them for the dog a bit. That kind of weight on a dog that size is not healthy. Anyway, don't throw a fit when you look in the salon window and see her in a cone when it's for her own - and our - safety.
To the owners of the 'junkyard dog' beagle...I don't care whether you just got him to guard your residence/junkyard or whatever, YOU DO NOT LEAVE A DOG IN FILTH UNTIL THEIR SKIN STARTS ROTTING OFF AND THEIR FUR LOOKS BLACK WHEN IT'S A TRICOLOR DOG. Yeah, you asked me about those weird bald patches on his ears, elbows and flanks? Well, that looked a lot like mange to me, and considering the state of the poor thing's eyes and ears (both infected, they insisted they weren't but I've had vet training and worked with rescues my whole life, I know what infection looks like) it wouldn't surprise me if he had it. It took three washings to get him clean, and there's no hope for his teeth. You were complaining about his breath? Yeah. Rotted-to-the-core teeth will do that to ya. I left a note in his file for them to get him to a vet, but I doubt they will. As little care as he's had so far (they're 'regulars' that evidently bring him in once or twice a YEAR, and he never gets bathed between those visits. No one else wanted to touch him, which was why he fell to me) I highly doubt they'd even consider a vet trip for the poor dear.
To the owners of several dogs: For heaven's sake, BATHE YOUR DARN DOGS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. Run a brush through their coats maybe once or twice a week, at least! Bringing them in after their fur has become matted all the way to the skin and their skin is starting to rot beneath it isn't enough! Brush them at home! Oh, and don't bitch about the price of de-matting them, you wouldn't be paying it if you took care of them. No, sorry, we can't just brush it out and leave the fur all on, matting like that has to be shaved off. If you didn't want a bald dog you should have freakin' brushed them and kept their coats clean!
Happier things:
EEEE CHOW PUPPY CHOW PUPPY HE WAS SO FLUFFY AND SWEET AND I WANTED TO HUG THE BIG COTTON BALL FOREVER.
Also had someone bring in a bunch of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to get their nails done, and even if the one I was taking care of (we split them up among the group to work faster) decided to lick my face while I was speaking to his owner and I got dog tongue in my mouth (not the first time, probably not the last), he was so sweet, stayed perfectly still so I could do his nails, didn't snap or growl or anything at all - they were all perfect little angels! We did have to remove a mat on the male Cavalier, but it was small and pretty normal for the breed and activity level. His owners will be bringing him back in a week or two for all of them to get trimmed up and bathed.
A lot of the dogs are total sweeties and wonderfully obedient (we get a lot of purebred show dogs), but we do get some that the owners clearly think tossing a few bucks once or twice a year to get someone else to bathe them is sufficient care. Nope, not even for a shorthaired dog. Take care of your animals, or don't get them.
It just pisses me off to no end to see how horribly some people treat their animals. The level of neglect the OP is talking about is nearly as bad as outright physical violence. If they can't be bothered to give their animal basic care and grooming, why the hell did they adopt it in the first place?! 
... and when he got older he stopped grooming himself properly. I bit the bullet and took him to a groomer, and told the groomer, "He's not a show cat. If you have to shave him anywhere, do so." My current longhair will go the same route when he gets older. I do what I can with brushes and combs, but I'm not very good at it. and once matting starts, you need four hands -- two to keep the cat steady and two to cut the matting off.
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