May 2025:
I had high hopes for connecting my dog with a new…read moregroomer, someone that could create something special for my baby! Providing "something a little different" is what they stated they specialize in during their interview on CBS58. I made an appointment and when the day came, they showed up a bit early & let me know they were here. We discussed what type of cut & color I wanted for my dog. When they were finished, My dog looked cute. I was surprised however, the cut wasn't what we discussed at all but I let it go as I knew they had done a good job on her, just not what I was expecting. Then I thought, "maybe I wasn't clear on my wishes or description and they did a good (although plain) job on the cut, I was more excited about the color", the color and style was just what we discussed & they nailed it.
October 2025:
I made another appointment for grooming, this time I had pictures of other poodle mixes that had a similar coat to my dog. The pictures showed the length of the top of head and the shape of the face I wanted. Regarding the color, we discussed it specifically to be what they did the first time however a bit of a heavier application of the 'streaking' or 'Ombre' effect. I showed them a picture of what it looked like the day they groomed her the 1st time. We talked about adjusting the color slightly also. At the end of our conversation I was told, "okay, yeah, I get what you want" and "great, can you send me those pics to refer to"? I sent the pictures.
Not at any point did they say, a "fuller face cut won't work on her" or "I'm not sure how to do a full face cut". I wasn't told anything but "okay" when I asked them to just "trim the top of her head a 1/2 inch & even it out but leave the length" They never indicated they didn't know how to do that. My dog went in with the top of her head over 3 inches long (as I had measured it) when she came out of the grooming, it was just under 1 inch long!!!
I was surprised with her color this time also. There was no 'streaking' or "Ombre", it was solid color & so blotched up this time that she has an area at the top of her ear that's the size of a golf ball, like they just spilled a dollup of color on top of her head and left it there. When I discussed all of this with them, there were a couple excuses...I was told "I mentioned there was an accident with the color and we put a bow on that side to cover it up until it grows out".
OF NOTE: Of the 5 pictures I showed them of dog cuts, they were ALL of Maltese / Poodle or Bichon / Poodle mixes just as my dog is, a Maltese / Poodle mix. Two of the pics showed examples of a "fuller, squared off snout", not just a short, 'cut to the nose/snout' style, which is what my dog ended up with.
The next pic showed a Poodle with a long cut for the top knot of the head.
The last 2 pics were of the length of the tail I wanted. All of the pics were of breeds of dogs that were the same or very similar breed of my dog, Poodle mixes.
After the grooming, when I addressed my concerns, I was told "I'm sorry this groom wasn't what you expected, with different hair types and a variety of pictures of other dogs and coat types it is hard to replicate". They then responded that they would "take these notes and reflect them on the next groom if you'd like to continue!" Seriously???
I was just baffled at their response via text after I raised my concerns over grooming. I sent them another text, specifically pointing out that there were no pictures of "different hair types" and a "variety of coat types", that all the images I sent were of Poodles and/or Poodle mixes, just as my dog is. I also pointed out that she never mentioned during our conversation, or after she requested I send the pictures, or during the grooming that you were having a "hard time replicating" what I wanted my dogs groom to look like! After that, in the end, they just said "If you are unhappy with the grooms I have done, I don't think I am the right groomer for you" and "I'm sorry my grooming techniques aren't what you are looking for". That response was dismissive, devoid of responsibility and completely lacking accountability.
This was a very expensive lesson for me and my dog. I can get over the money, she now has to suffer the results for another 6 months until it grows out.