UPDATE: They are cuts and a bruise. It's very clear now 24 hours later that they're scabbed up, and there are wounds all over her face. This is NOT normal. This man harmed my dog, and now he has nothing to say about it and has not once apologized. This is not acceptable. Stay away! Pics attached.
ORIGINGAL: I had really high hopes due to the positive reviews. I generally groom my dog myself as I was taught to by a pro that specializes in Poodles, but she needed a full body clip and I thought why not get a pro and see if they can do it better. She also needed her nails trimmed because I lost my dremel and nail clippers make me nervous. I'd bathed and brushed her without doing a blowout two days before, so she didn't have any mats, and I'd done her ears that morning because she tends toward ear infections and I do them every other day so I can give her meds. All he had to do was a wash, clip, brush, and nail trim. I do that with her once a week.
When I got her back, she looked ok at first glance, but on closer inspection, he'd shaved her down to the skin in patches on her face, missed whole chunks of hair at her ankles where it didnt look like he'd even brushed them much less trimmed them, her top knot was extremely uneven, she had a tangled patch by her neck where he didnt brush it after washing it, he hadn't done a sanitary trim around her genitals, her feet were patchy, and worst of all, she had bright red marks on her face. So not only was it a terrible cut that I have to go behind and fix, but she came back with red marks on her face. The only things that really looked good were her nails and the cute bows.
I was going to recommend him to my neighbors, but after really seeing how bad it looks and being concerned about his handling, I can't. Plus, he charged me at the highest end of his quoted range to do a job that looked like the first time I ever groomed her as an amateur. It definitely wasn't a professional job by any means. I've seen better from PetSmart. He may be good with short haired dogs, but I wouldn't recommend him for a Poodle, a long-haired one, or one who doesn't like being groomed.
REPLY TO COMMENT: I've clipped her face dozens of times w/o a guard and never left marks on her. I don't know you. All I know is my dog came back w/red marks that match up with fingers on her face after you had her alone. If I *wasn't* worried about the possibility that you'd been too rough with her, *that* would be concerning. She came back from a grooming with marks. That's important to share. Exactly how they got there may be speculation, but given that she has no skin conditions, there's no good reason for marks to be on her. Abrasions or burns from shaving may be your 'normal,' but they are not normal, and if you're satisfied with this quality, you should probably reconsider doing Poodles as they require skill to do right.
The only time her coat has ever been as patchy as it is was the first time I did it myself. She has several strips that are shaved to the skin and other places where it isn't. There's a completely bald strip by her mouth.
What I requested was that she keep the cut I had her in, that it look like she had leg warmers and flowy 60s hair, and that her face be clipped because she'd gotten a little gum on her nose. The basic shape was right, yes, but the cut itself is uneven, patchy, and choppy, her ankles have entire sections by her feet that were missed, and her tail and genital area isn't done at all. That's not '70s wild'; it's just a bad haircut. If I'm paying $125 for a grooming, I don't expect perfection, but I do expect it to be done right.
Also, my Yelp is under my first and married names. Kate O. is the name I gave you as it's my middle and maiden name. The only thing I've groomed professionally are horses over a decade ago, and I'd gladly support your business had the cut been satisfactory.
Again, given that you left marks on her, whether from rough handling or bad clipping, intentional or not, I'm concerned and not comfortable letting you touch my dog again. What I believe is you were in a rush because of the weather, did a subpar job, and handled her impatiently whether with hands or clippers. You did a crap job and don't even have the decency to acknowledge it and just apologize. Instead you choose to be rude and accuse me of nefarious purposes in reviewing your bad work.
I'm out of space to discuss further. I'm not trying to get anything from you. I don't want a refund or your return. I just won't be using you again. read more