Almost...

over it.
Claudia has a good point (as Claudia always DOES!) asking whether Sandy is over it. I want to think she is. She shook it off (so to speak) but since I will never ever darken the door of that (or any other)Salon again, I guess I won't really know what her reaction to the experience encompasses.
so. The short (several weeks later, mostly calmed down) version:
I dropped her off at 9AM with the usual groomer, who is Fabulous and adores my little Princess.
She looked odd to me, and I thought briefly about cancelling the appointment...but I rationalized.
It is silly to feel that way about a poodle having a haircut.
Only a haircut. I couldn't convince myself.
I called at noon, to be sure she was *finished* before I zoomed over to pick her up...
no answer.
I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I rationalized.
I should never do that.
When I have a horrible feeling,
I should act on it IMMEDIATELY,
even if this means having to explain to the nice policeman later
why, exactly, I was breaking into a pet grooming salon on my lunch hour.
I tried to convince myself that people with Normal Syndrome do NOT
overreact when nobody picks up the phone at the pet grooming salon.
So, I drove over to the salon and the door was locked with a note in
Very Shaky handwriting
about being Right Back.
Later, I found out that she never came back
and that the owner arrived five minutes after I had been there, so the
Princess was only *ALONE* for about 20 minutes.
I also found out WHY she never came back and I am still praying
that she is okay. Thinking that suicide is the only way out of an abusive
situation requires prayer...you know?
So, the owner tried to do what she thought was right,
protect her employee's privacy, groom the doggies herself.....
and called me to say Sandy wouldn't be ready until 3pm.
I called at 3pm, still not ready.
To make a long story short, at 6pm I paid DOUBLE,
cash money, to take my poodle home.
Unfinished.
O.M.G.
Shaved except for her fluffy little head
because she tried to BITE the owner
who was TRYING to groom her.
I wrapped her in a towel and
cried all the way to the drive through
where the biscuit ladies made her a sausage egg and cheese
with a side of bacon.
She hadn't EATEN all day, either.
So, my first instinct is to learn to groom the poodle myself.
It's only a Haircut, right?
What dy'all think?

Comments

[Rachael]

Goodness, what a horrid day, for all involved! Bacon all around, says I.
xxxxx and a GREAT BIG HUG.

[Pubah]

I would never have imagined such an bizarro series of events. Well, Sandy just had her first grown up poodle adventure. They have lots of them and looks as though she came through fine, thank goodness. Looks as though she asserted herself too!

Certainly you can learn how to groom her, and you know, it could be an awful lot of fun. She's so tiny, it would not take time at all. Betcha you'll end up doing a better job anyway.

[Wendy]

Poor little Sandy, and poor YOU! I almost cried reading your tale of woe. I say go for it! Become a poodle stylist. You'll probably be fabulous at it and people will soon be throwing pots of money at you to get you to groom their little poodle princesses.

[Norma]

Oh Greta. Something similar happened to ME with Vincent. You're not going to believe me. But for me, the owner did not bother to try grooming him, thank goodness. She just called me about four hours later and said, "Jill never showed up," and proceeded, withOUT the confidentiality you mentioned, to tell me what a sl*t and 'ho' the groomer was -- that she had been out on a bender the night before and that SHE WON'T BE WORKING HERE ANYMORE - that her children had been taken away from her -- the whole nine yards. (She had always been wonderful and always been his groomer for over two years.) Long story short, I got all the grooming supplies, and he's never perfect, and sometimes I even have to resort to (almost) shaving him to get the mats out, but that's just the way it goes. I tried one other person. It lasted once. She clipped his toenails too short and cut him on the belly. All over. Thankfully Sandy is doing ok now.

[margene]

You can learn to do anything you choose. It will be a great experience and you know Sandy will be well cared for during the process. Hugs to you both!

[Daisy-Winifred]

If I can 'groom' myself and have not yet lost an ear or eyebrow me thinks Sandy will look like the princess she is after her Mum has got hold of clippers and scissors etc. Mr Bryn loves to watch whilst I use the clippers on me but he's a both and brush kind of dog so it's only me that gets my coat trimmed:0) I am sure Sandy will love all the attention from Mummy and she'll look wonderful. Hope the groomer that went awol does find a way to find a lighter way of being that doesn't include suicide will think of her.

[Sue]

Poor Girls! (yes, both of you). I'm sure Sandy will recover sooner than you will.

Of course you can learn to groom her yourself! She's bound to behave better than some of my beasties do, and they all (eventually) get sheared. And no matter how silly she looks when you are done, her hair will grow back.

I hope everything calms down for you for the rest of the holidays. Keep your chinup and enjoy the view!

[Jane]

What a horrible story! Poor Sandy and poor you. One word of advice on grooming - don't use the clippers without the guard. I found that out the hard way when my son was about 6. He wanted a buzz cut, and after spending a lot of money every week or so to have not much hair shaved, I figured I do it myself. All was fine until the guard broke and I tried to cut his hair anyway. Poor guy ended up looking like he had some dread hair and scalp disease. I don't know if I traumatized him or not, but he is now 24-years old and has hair down to the middle of his back (hee hee.) But I imagine Sandy would much rather have you grooming her than anyone else. Go for it!

[Melissa]

Oh, Greta...

Groom the poodle princess... the together time will be great for both of you.

How terrible a situation. Prayer is the best thing to do most points, this one especially. Take care.

[Bethany]

Absolutely, you can do it yourself, and it will more than likely be quicker and easier.

Professional words of warning (having worked at a vet's office): Be careful the first time. She may have a fear of the clippers, and she may forget that you are mommma for a minute. Let her see them, turn them on, see how she reacts. Also with many poochies, speed is a good thing, as they have a tolerance level, but go slow enough to make sure you don't pull on the hair, bringing the skin up to the clippers (easy to do if you're speeding). Hmmm, what else. Treats before, during, and after, of course, both for the princess and the brave groomer. You can totally do it.

[Stephanie VW]

Your story brought back memories of a groomer my schnauzer, Bentley, had when we lived in another province. After we moved away, friends with pooches reported that he had been heard yelling at a dog in the back... and that some sort of illicit things seemed to be going on with him and then one day the shop was just closed. He had always seemed like such a nice person. How is it that someone who spends their days with person-kind's best friend could be so miserable.?

I'm sorry about your groomer and Sandy's bad experience. Good luck with the at home grooming - I occasionally groomed Bentley at home. It's hard to get the hang of at first, but you'll be fine. Put Sandy on a counter or a table covered with a towel or sheet (of course, you won't leave her side while she's up there)... it's easier on your back and it makes the clean up easier. Be prepared to be covered from head to toe in doggy hair!

[debbie]

Goodness what an ordeal for the little darling!
Greta my grandfather used to clip his little black poodle with the kind of dog clippers you can easily pick up from any pet supply place.
He would just clip her short...no fancy stuff.
Maybe you could try it or...perhaps just find another salon.

Debbie

[claudia]

Of course you can groom Sandy. Jeez, you raised two kids to adulthood. What's harder than that?

[Ann]

And to think by "grooming trauma" I thought you meant she'd been overly poodle-ized.

The consensus is YES! You can! I cut the kid's hair; can Princess Fluffball out-wiggle him??

[Catherine]

Sure you can learn to groom her, we had poodles when I was growing up and my mom became the groomer after becoming frustrated with the local talent. She even invested in a grooming table and professional scissors, it's cheaper than paying for haircuts for multiple dogs. Alternatively, does your vet's office offer grooming? Mine does, and that's where Murphy goes now - we had bad experiences with a couple of shops, though nothing on the level you described. The groomer at the vet's is a nice woman and there's a full staff of people there at all times, which is comforting.

[alison]

Oh my goodness! (Greta, I love the idea of Normal Syndrome.)

Sandy will be fine, and you will cut her hair OR find somewhere else where you both feel totally comfortable.

[nancy]

I need help i took my baby to the groomer who come highly recommed. he is a tiny toy poodle , anyway i told her i just wanted a trim so he wouldnt be so hot. to make a long story short this woman shaved my sweet little boy all over he head hair. i went to pick him up i just cried when i looked at him. he was shaking all over scared , upset i took him home and just held him most of the night to try and calm him down. he looks like a shaved bird , does anyone know how long it will take to grow his hair back ? i am myslef going to learn how to groom him never again will i ever put him in the hands of another groomer.