Complaint Review: Top Dog Grooming - Pensacola Florida

 I saw the complaint regarding Top Dog. No good groomer shaves down a dog unless the dog was in an ungroomable condition. I am a groomer of twenty years and a celebrity pet stylist. I also groomed for regular everyday people, and I can tell you that many clients have no clue of their dogs condition. They see a fe matting here and there and is so delusional that the rest of the body is in good shape when it’s not. Then they turn around and give the groomer a bad name.

I am sick and tired of people like this who doesn’t take care of their pets , and is just as responsible for their pet as the groomer. I don’t know TopnDognGroomers , but that complaint is something I see on a daily basis. If you had maintained your dog it wouldn’t have been shaven. You are nothing but an animal abuser. If you can’t take care of you own pet’s well being. You are the last person that should own a dog.

 I have been grooming dogs for over 30 years and have never seen any groomer "drug"a dog! Not only would it be unethical, it is illegal. This is one of those urban myths that uneducated and ill infomed people perpetuate. Groomers work hard for their clients, human and furry, and often have to deal with unrealistic expectations from the owners and behavioral issues from the dogs, ( usually because of the owners own issues), yet we do it because it is a labor of love.

I have been using Debbie and Top Dog for 3 years now. I have been using groomers for approximately 25 years here in the Pensacola area, and I have to say that Top Dog is the best grooming business I've ever been to! They exceed my expectations every time. The complaintant sounds like someone who doesn't take very good care of his dogs if they were matted so bad and he's trying to put the blame on someone else. Do not hesitate to use Top Dog....they are the best I've ever used!!

IT'S ONE HAIRCUT, who cares?

as a multiple pet owner (pomeranian and poodles at that), an owner of a hair salon and a regular client of local pet grooming establishments, this is ridiculous. move on and quit spreading your misery onto others.

I am and have been a customer of Top Dog in Pensacola. Joe, the owner, takes pride in providing excellent service and most importantly is very caring in his treatment of the dogs. Unlike other groomers I have used in the past, he does not drug the dog. Nor does he allow his schedule to get so booked that the dogs must wait in cages for hours. He takes wonderful care of the dogs in his care and is the only groomer of the 4 I have tried in Penscola, that my dogs actually like to go to and I don't have to "push" them through the front door. Top Dog is perfect for people that care about the well-being of their dogs.

The 2 dogs in the picture are not the same dog. I don't know anything about the grooming shop in question or the complaint, but the nose shape, face shape and different coloring is obvious.

We just picked up our part golden retriever and part chow from the groomer. She did not have much of an undercoat as we frequently brush her. She has always looked beautiful when leaving the groomer, but we tried out a new one. She looks just like Bob's dog, just bigger. She looks ridiculous and I just held her and cried when my husband brought her home. BOB: did your dog's hair grow back? If so, did it look normal? I am terrified that my dog's hair is either not going to grow back or grow back and look horrible. I am currently in the process of reaching a manager or the company's headquarters to try to work this out.

Bob, why is it your dog was matted? Why didn't you keep up with that? You either keep up with the dog and have it groomer ready to maintain your desired cut, OR ELSE YOU BRING IT IN MORE FREQUENTLY. The mere fact that you have taken this dog to different groomers and flitted between them tells me that you do not do this dog on a regular basis. You do not keep up with this dog. You do not care enough about this dog to develop a stable relationship with one groomer. You care so much about the aesthetics of the dog that you don't care if the groomer has to rip the dog's hair and pull the dog's skin, eventually leaving it saggy and in poor health. They may have charged double the price of a previous groomer. Did you not ask up front about the price? And I believe you were notified about the mats and knots in advance. What groomer that's been in business wants to surprise a customer like that and hear the bitching? They wouldn't. If the groomer was going to pull a surprise like that, they wouldn't have waited years to pull this stunt. And the first time they pulled the stunt (if they ever did) the bitching customer would've broke them of that habit real quick. Is that dog in the 'before' picture a pic taken immediately after a grooming? I bet you don't have a pic of the dog right before you took to it to be groomed at Top Dog. I bet it looked like hell. And the forehead color differences on the dogs in the pics are considerably different. Even cutting away the top layer of hair on the after dog does not explain that. The top is darker on the before dog, while lighter on the after, and opposite on the center brow of the dogs. Not logical, if you have any experience in seeing a whole host of dogs 'before' and 'after' removal of the top hair layer. You may be trying to pull a fast one there. And I doubt Ms. Scott was going on the color of the dogs' bodies in her rebuttal. Anyone in the business knows the difference in the undercoat color and the ratty, dirty color of the topcoat on the dog you brought to her. I'm sure she noted the forehead differences, as I did. No groomer will hesitate to muzzle a dog if necessary. They will, however, refrain from yanking the skin of that dog just to pull a multitude of knots out. That will damage that dog for good. Cutting the hair will not. Hair will grow back, skin will not regain it's elasticity after being repeatedly abused because the owner will not maintain the dog. A good dog that is 'good' to groom will quickly turn into a difficult case that will have you paying more to get groomed if it is unnecessarily roughed up during the sessions. Its disposition to the experience will be soured for good. Get yourself a beagle if you can't keep up with your responsibility. You want to claim that you didn't bring Ms. Scot a dog in such horrible condition. No, clients such as yourself want to live in a fantasy world and believe groomers can work wonders, delivering on your every whim. If you brushed that dog the day before and were trying (trying) to get the knots out with no result, what did you expect that groomer to do? Why didn't you brush that dog before it got to that point? That goes to illustrate that you expect wonders from someone else after you throw your hands up. Do not compare grooming an unmatted, unknotted dog to shearing a sheep. Sheep are left outside with no maintenance until they are shorn. Pets should be kept up with, as much as needed. Poms should be able to be trimmed, not left to a twice a year appointment with a groomer with no in-between attention. A groomer is not trying to encourage customers to do better by charging double. They are trying to send the message: If you want this dog 'trimmed' in this condition, and not 'cut,' do not return to me. I will not do that to the dog. Some customers are not wanted, nor needed. I'll tell you this: If I trimmed your Pom, I would charge $20. I will also add that we mainly do mobile grooming (with the option of in-house if the customer is afraid of the hair in their home, or for whatever reason of convenience they have). If I did this primarily in my own facility, I would charge more. By being mobile, I cut my overhead. I would also clean the ears as required, cut or buff the nails, and express the anal glands for an extra $5, IF anything was produced. If it was knotted and matted, I would charge the same out of good faith to shave it, but would not attempt to put the dog through my attempts to detangle it. I wouldn't want to groom a dog again that I put through what should be an okay experience. I would not answer your calls, or, if you were persistent in calling, would have to tell you what's what. My price is different from someone's in Florida. We are in different areas, grooming is not my primary business (but it has been in the past, for over 20 years), and I do not pander to tough, whiny cases (maybe once, but not twice). Disappointing experiences with a groomer should be turned back on the customer. In most cases, the majority of groomers can deliver without a problem if the customer merely keeps up with their dog. Did you want that dog left with long hair on the ribs, the knots and mats scalped on the shoulder and a bald rump? What do you want? You stated: "I knew he had knots on his belly and behind his ears so I expected they would have to shave a little in those areas, but I made it clear that I wanted his long beautiful coat left uncut." Why did that dog have knots behind his ears and on his stomach and nowhere else? I believe it was knotted all over. Hair will grow at the same rate all over. You might as well cut er down if you're going to shave at all. You weren't taking care of the dog. If you were, it would've had knots nowhere, period. And no groomer would shave a Pomeranian unless it had to be done. I know how they are groomed; if they are in good shape, it is considerably less work to just maintain the cut with scissors and keep the clipper action to a minimum. Don't tell C from Kansas he knows nothing about your dog grooming habits, you filled him in on them very clearly. The dog had knots and mats. You don't keep up with the dog. No argument about your habits. When dogs are groomed in the business I am involved in, the owner is always welcome to be present and direct the procedure as necessary. If you don't like it, find a groomer who will accommodate you, or do it yourself, as you stated you have done before. If you don't pay $20 anymore for your grooming because people move, you shouldn't even bring up price differences in different areas. Everything varies in cost in different areas. Fay is absolutely right. You must set boundaries and not allow your dog to resist. I have a s**+-Tzu of my own, and have had her since her puppy hood. Grooming the first couple times was rough, but now she stays still and accepts everything as easy as a cow being milked. If she hadn't been thumped on the head once or twice, or jerked upright those first two times, she would have thought it was allowable to act as she did those first two times forever after. Then it would've been hard on both of us, forever after. Most non-professional owners want to baby their dogs through trying times, such as grooming or obedience lessons. Babying them is the same as rewarding them, and telling the dog it is okay to act out and give the groomer or person trying to walk them or do other things that it is okay to act out. I must quote Fay here: "Wise groomers are never so hungry for business to accept unwarranted risks. Do what is right for the pet, even if you lose the customer. Your only hope in these situations is to compel the owner to clearly empathize with their pet, and forget about worrying what people will think of them and their pet while the hair grows back."

I have taken my Cocker Spaniel "Dude" to Top Dog for quite some time now. They have always done an exceptional job on him...and I am very particular about his grooming. I too groomed and showed Cockers for many years. As an ex-groomer I am quite sure that they would not have put the extra work into the pomms' clip job unless it was necessary. De-matting is quite expensive at any grooming shop and is generally charged by the hour. The clip job in the photos actually indicates a nice job. Maybe the pomms owner show purchase a "universal slicker" type brush and use it often to remove the excess shedding of the undercoat.

I just so happen to stumble on this website. I know the prior issues are over a year old but I just had to say something. I have been bringing my dog to Top Dog for about 5 years. And they have been absolutely wonderful. My dog can sometimes be a little nippy, but I have never had a problem with him and Top Dog. Soup Bone is always happy going to and coming from Top Dog. So I know he is treated very well while he is there. Also, The service I get from Top Dog is great their prices are very reasonable and have never increased since I've been bringing Soup Bone. I also want to add that I am not a personal friend or family of any Top Dog associates, but they always treat me that way whenever me and my dog are there. Thanks, Katie H. Pensacola, Florida

I am a groomer and a dog owner I know what happens if you don't take care and brush your dog regularly..the groomer did what she had to why would she want to shave your dog bald if she didn't have too?and by the way I am booked 2 months in advanced and I charge 47.00 plus tax for a pomeranian in perfect condition..I would of charged 60.00 plus to shave a matted mess...

I replied earlier. i tried to post a pic of my puppymill pomeranian, who had SOME of her hair saved by my groomer, but apparently links are not allowed. In response to the recent comments about dogs having their hair brushed out , my pom did not have skin bruising after being brushed out. Nor does my poodle when I pick her up. There are hard mats, which have to be cut out, then there are soft mats which only needs to be brushed out. Sometimes trimming the hair allow mats to be worked out. My own hair and my 2 human children are waist length. Occasionally we get tangles. am I bad mother or abusive for combing out my kids tangles instead of chopping their hair off? Don't think so. Some dogs may be matted to the point where they have to be shaved. and even if that is the case, the groomer has no right to do it without the owner's permission. I have personally had experince where brushing was possible, yet the groomer chose to shave because of time constraints and have heard from other with the same problem. If you're trying to get out soft mats,its no more abusive than untangling a child's hair. and if you don't know the difference between soft and hard mats, you can't be too experienced of a groomer, in which case, go find a mentor or something or tell your customers you don't know what you're doing.

I have read this whole post and am speechless wondering why a pet owner would neglect they're pet and let it get into that condition in the first place. It is the OWNER of the dog's responsibility to maintain the coat on a regular basis so it never gets so severe it requires a clip down. Just how fair is it to this dog to subject it to all that brushing in one session and expect someone else to do the dirty work for them? I think it is INHUMANE to not keep it brushed and expect someone else to fix what the pet owner obviously neglected to do in the first place. The groomer was kind to the dog not to subject it to all that pain of brushing it out!

I am a relatively new groomer and I have to say thank you for all the groomers that gave thier advice. I had, today, a pom come in and was just reading this report when he walked in with what looked like a very well groomed, combed out pom. Taking the advice of the experts here, I placed the pom on the table and found tons of mats to the skin and advised the owner of what I would have to do. They agreed saying the hair would grow back. I did a 7 blade as that was the only blade that would go thru the coat and it looked just like the picture posted by the guy who complained. It was just too darned adorable! I charged $35. I live in SC and feel the price is very fair. I also took a few minutes to educate the customer on proper care of the coat if they wanted the pom in full coat. Which the son of the owner said would never happen and expected he would be bringing the pom back in a few months for the same shave! Anyway, thanks so much for all the expert advice. If nothing else comes of this complaint, someone, ME, learned a good lesson and a great deal about running my business properly and profesisonally! Dee

Being a professional groomer and just today grooming a badly matted Yorkie, I feel for Top Dog. When a dog is matted as badly as the owner stated themselves the ears and part of the body was , then they are going to have to spot shave which would be choppie and very unprofessional looking or if they tried to pick and or comb these mats out , I myself use mat breakers, you can literally tear the skin. I personally have let people leave when it was explained to them that the dog would have to be shaved the wife understood the husband wanted to have a fit, I told him that he could go else where that they wanted to be cruel to the pet I personally would not. It is hair it grow back the groom looked very professional for a pet groom as the dog was by no means show quality. Had the owner rather skin be bruised from combing . Also if the dog stresses when it is combed a lot due to mats then it was less stress to do the shaving, and if the pet owners have trouble keeping the pets combed then why should the groomer be expected to perform this duty that the pet obviously does not do well with. NOTE: I did not say this pet owner did not comb the pet, and the key word is comb a nice medium tooth comb not a brush or slicker brush. This groomer was thinking what was best for a pet that was under stress due to matting and what would be the best solution without being cruel to the pet. It is so much easier to do a pom groom if possible that is what I call a gimme a nice sweet easy pom groom . I am in a rural area and my charge is $35. and before any rude comments are made I have a very lucrative business and a wonderful clientele that knows I would do anything for them or their pet family. It also sounds like there was not a meeting of the minds as to how this groom would have to be done for the comfort of the Pom. Becky Paducah, Ky.

I sympathize with this dog's owner. I have also had dogs that were not badly matted "peeled"by groomers and left bald, instead of brushed out. Brushing out mats takes time,but if that is what the customer requests, that is what the groomer should do. and if they can't do it, they should say so, and get the owner's permission before doing anything else. The dog's owner is a customer, and you don't have the right to do anything to the dog without their permission. I have seen pictures of the poor, peeled pomeranianin above and would like to share my on of my puppymill rescue pomeranian after the first time I took her to the groomer. It demonstrates what a TRUE professional groomer can do. She was completely matted, down to the skin. MY groomer took the time to trim her then comb out the matts from her trimmed coat,so she still has a decent short coat left. and she asked my permission and let me know beforehand. she did a beautiful job, unlike the groomer apparently mentioned here. DON'T accept a sloppy job from your groomer! You are PAYING for it! My puppymill pom after her frist gromming visit,note she still has hair. CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

I have been a Groomer for many years now and know a matted dog when I see one.I have not seen Foxy the Pom. But I have a few suggestions for both sides. Unfortunately in our line of work we see many people that bring in dogs that have been abused. Abuse comes in many forms including and not limited to starved, overweight, beaten, negleted, uncared for, untrained. And yes even matted pets are the resault of abuse. I am not refuring that Foxy looked like those animals you see on Animal Planet. But matts do not happen over night. They are the result of not being properly combed out for weeks and even months. Poms have undercoat and should be brush out daily or even at least once a week. I have seen many owners not perform proper grooming habbits at home because they are afriad to hurt there "Baby". Owners are put off from combing their pets because they don't like to see them cry. Brushing your pet should not hurt them. It is ok if they cry or nibble at the brush. But you need to get over the "who's in charge". Dogs are a lot like kids. They play the same "pouting" games. It is easer to set boundaries when they are small. Let them know what is and isn't good behavior. Even when it comes to grooming. The owner of Foxy had said that they tried to brush him out the night before. What were your results? I had also read that Foxy tried to bite you. It sounds like he has a behavor issue with brushing. "Who is in charge?"...Foxy is. With that in mind like I had said before treat him like a puppy. Start over getting him used to being combed out. Make it a good experience. He needs to get used to being tugged and pulled on some times. Also, if you knew his temperament when being brushed, Did you metion it to the groomer? That is one of the most importain things to know when grooming an animal. His temperament and his behavor. Just as importaint as knowing any health problems. If Foxy was uncofortable with being brushed out and he was matted(to any extent)it is better to have him shaved. Even if its just a few spots or giving him a full "shave". If you read the experience that Cheryl of San Francisco, California wittnessed. Then you know why groomers don't incourage de-matting. As a professional groomer gains more experience they can tell right from the start whether de-matting is reasonable or not. It's one of the best reasons to perform a pre-grooming inspection before you accept the pet from the pet owner. You should also be aware that a professional groomer makes their judgment to require coat removal not only by the time it will take, but whether they believe the pet can reasonably endure de-matting. For example, aged, ill or disabled dogs, or very behavioral dogs, are not well-suited to endure extended periods of de-matting. But in most cases of de-matting it is to the customers demand that it be done. And they pay for it. Most people like Foxy's owner don't want to see a short length on there long coated pet. To those people it makes them feel like their pet has lost a bet with a lawn mower and reifer to the freshly groomed pet as "bald". If you have a good groomer they will explain all the risks in having a matted pet and what is involed with de-matting. And ALWAYS the groomer should look over the pet and feel its coat INFRONT of the owner, also known as pre-groom inspection. So that way if there is any questions about what is to be proformed they can be answered before any services have been started. And for the owner of Top Dog Grooming you should have a "Matted Pet Release". This is a form that is sighned before the owner of the pet drops off there animal. It should explain that they have brought a matted animal to your establishment. And that you are not responsibale for any health problems as a resault of the pets matted condition. It should also state that the best way to provent the matts from getting worse is to "Shave" them. Also go over the form with the pet owner and not just say "sign here". And to the groomer that worked on Foxy-Good Job. That is a common cut for a Pom and I think it looks wonderful. Even as good as a Pom that is left in full coat. Either way it is all over now, Foxy has sinced then grown out to his full beautifl coat. By the way he is a good example of a Pom before and after he was groomed. The cost of the groom was average for a "Full Groom": clean ears, cut nails, express anal glands, bath, blow coat, brush,and a full hair cut. About $40.00.And that is very fair to both sides. If Foxy came in for "Just a Bath": clean ears, cut nails, express anal glands, bath, blow coat, brush, trim feet, and shave sanitary area. About $20.00. And that sounds to be what your old groomer did and charged you. And to all of the groomers that feel like me, a little mistreated in this type of slander on our services: Wise groomers are never so hungry for business to accept unwarranted risks. Do what is right for the pet, even if you lose the customer. Your only hope in these situations is to compel the owner to clearly empathize with their pet, and forget about worrying what people will think of them and their pet while the hair grows back And to all of the people that have had or witnessed a bad experience from a grooming shop: I do not hide the fact that there has been many reports of abuse in a professional settings. You should pick your Groomer just like you would pick a daycare provider for your 2 year old child. Is the facility clean? Is the staff polite and helpfull? Are they getting your pet done in a reasonable amount of time? Do they even know what they are doing? Do you trust them? Those are some of the things that should be answered pryor to dromping off you loved one. I do not suggest that the owner stays with the pet every step of the way(unless other wise suggested by your groomer). Because we have not only your dog, but we also have as many or more than 8 animals in our care. A grooming takes about 2-3 house to complete. And that is with giving the pet a brake befor ever service is performed, while we are working on another. If we had all owners stay with their pet, while being groomed, it would force us to raise our already fair but coastly prices. The less we can do the more we have to charge.And not all pets should be handled too much at once. If you do not trust someone with your pet you should do a little reserch and find a facility and professional groomer you are confortable with.

Well here is my adult advice after reading what happened to the bad haircut the dog supposedly received. When I say supposedly I mean I wasn't there and I am not taking sides. I feel both are to be blamed. Basically 2 things should have happened. One is the owner should have stayed with the dog (Foxy) to make sure he received the proper haircut to the owners liking. Two the owner or the groomer of the shop(Top Dog Grooming) should have explained or shown pictures of exactly what she was going to do. I never would have left my pet for any reason at all in the hands of a stranger. Pets are like your children when you leave them in the hands of strangers a lot can happen that you may not like to have happen or approve of. I wanted to be a veterinarian and let me tell you I worked for one and abuse was going on by other doctors and employees who worked there. Never ever for any reason leave your pet and not be there with it. If your veterinarian/ any one else for that matter, can not accept you being there with your pet then find someone else. Live and learn. I feel both of you are at fault. She should have given you half of your money back to you, and she should have apologized for misunderstanding you. A good business owner would have done this. I worked for many companies and the customer is always right no matter what. That is if they want you to come back. I would stay away from this company and warn others seeing how you were treated and in her responses to you.Her responses are childish. She is unwilling to accept fault here. Her business will not be around much longer in how she has treated you, and in her effortless way of handling the situation.Who has suffered here? The dog Foxy. Sincerely

Actually, the person who posted that the Chinese don't care about animals is pretty much correct. China has a VERY long and storied history about commiting crimes against animals. They eat dogs in fact. Also, last month the Chinese government ordered its military to go out in the streets and beat to death hundreds of thousands of dogs -- including leashed pets -- following two confirmed cases of rabies. The Chinese are indeed horrible to animals. Also they commit countless human rights violations, but I'll save that commentary for another post.

Lori says I should have told the groomer that he was not to be cut when Foxy was brought in. I did so, in no uncertain terms. It was later that top dog called and told me that he'd have to be cut. Now, since he was combed out the day before we new exactly where the knots were. He was not matted before they washed him. The knots on his underside would not have even been visible if they would have left the sides. If his sides were matted, then they did it by letting him dry without combing him out after he was washed. You may wish to believe he was some matted mess when we brought him in because you don't want to hear about a fellow groomer doing a bad job, but the truth is Foxy had a fabulous coat whe we took him there. Lori from Warsaw, Indiana is telling you (whoever reads this post) that someone she never met dosen't brush a dog she has never seen in person. Why would you assume that I did not take proper care of the dog? How can someone in Warsaw determine that? Is a "groomer" of a ma & pa dog grooming shop more credible than an unsatisfied customer? By the way, we paid them $90 for 2 dogs, not $20. The reason I don't use my former groomer anymore is becasue they live 1500 miles away. People move. As for your dimwitted wisecrack about the "fluffy show dog look", it just shows how much you thought about your remarks before you started typing.

Lori says I should have told the groomer that he was not to be cut when Foxy was brought in. I did so, in no uncertain terms. It was later that top dog called and told me that he'd have to be cut. Now, since he was combed out the day before we new exactly where the knots were. He was not matted before they washed him. The knots on his underside would not have even been visible if they would have left the sides. If his sides were matted, then they did it by letting him dry without combing him out after he was washed. You may wish to believe he was some matted mess when we brought him in because you don't want to hear about a fellow groomer doing a bad job, but the truth is Foxy had a fabulous coat whe we took him there. Lori from Warsaw, Indiana is telling you (whoever reads this post) that someone she never met dosen't brush a dog she has never seen in person. Why would you assume that I did not take proper care of the dog? How can someone in Warsaw determine that? Is a "groomer" of a ma & pa dog grooming shop more credible than an unsatisfied customer? By the way, we paid them $90 for 2 dogs, not $20. The reason I don't use my former groomer anymore is becasue they live 1500 miles away. People move. As for your dimwitted wisecrack about the "fluffy show dog look", it just shows how much you thought about your remarks before you started typing.

Lori says I should have told the groomer that he was not to be cut when Foxy was brought in. I did so, in no uncertain terms. It was later that top dog called and told me that he'd have to be cut. Now, since he was combed out the day before we new exactly where the knots were. He was not matted before they washed him. The knots on his underside would not have even been visible if they would have left the sides. If his sides were matted, then they did it by letting him dry without combing him out after he was washed. You may wish to believe he was some matted mess when we brought him in because you don't want to hear about a fellow groomer doing a bad job, but the truth is Foxy had a fabulous coat whe we took him there. Lori from Warsaw, Indiana is telling you (whoever reads this post) that someone she never met dosen't brush a dog she has never seen in person. Why would you assume that I did not take proper care of the dog? How can someone in Warsaw determine that? Is a "groomer" of a ma & pa dog grooming shop more credible than an unsatisfied customer? By the way, we paid them $90 for 2 dogs, not $20. The reason I don't use my former groomer anymore is becasue they live 1500 miles away. People move. As for your dimwitted wisecrack about the "fluffy show dog look", it just shows how much you thought about your remarks before you started typing.

Lori says I should have told the groomer that he was not to be cut when Foxy was brought in. I did so, in no uncertain terms. It was later that top dog called and told me that he'd have to be cut. Now, since he was combed out the day before we new exactly where the knots were. He was not matted before they washed him. The knots on his underside would not have even been visible if they would have left the sides. If his sides were matted, then they did it by letting him dry without combing him out after he was washed. You may wish to believe he was some matted mess when we brought him in because you don't want to hear about a fellow groomer doing a bad job, but the truth is Foxy had a fabulous coat whe we took him there. Lori from Warsaw, Indiana is telling you (whoever reads this post) that someone she never met dosen't brush a dog she has never seen in person. Why would you assume that I did not take proper care of the dog? How can someone in Warsaw determine that? Is a "groomer" of a ma & pa dog grooming shop more credible than an unsatisfied customer? By the way, we paid them $90 for 2 dogs, not $20. The reason I don't use my former groomer anymore is becasue they live 1500 miles away. People move. As for your dimwitted wisecrack about the "fluffy show dog look", it just shows how much you thought about your remarks before you started typing.

I'd like to respond to the claims against Top Dog Grooming. The groomer gave the owner a heads up and he had the option of not having the dog groomed at that point. It seems to me that the groomer's only mistake was not making it clear enough how much was going to have to be taken off the dog. Or even better, run a comb through the dog while the owner was still there so he could see just how bad the coat was. The price seems like a non-issue to me. The owner had patronized this groomer before, he was aware of what her prices were and obviously accepted that. If the previous groomer had been charging half, then why did he switch in the first place? $20 is dirt cheap in any part of the country! If the owner was aware that the dog has some mats, he should have been clear from the start he ONLY wanted the mats shaved. Of course, this would have resulted in an uneven "chopped up" look, but if that what he wanted, he should have said so. Even better, if the owner wanted a fluffy show dog look, he should have maintained the dog properly by brushing regularly and the whole thing never would have happened.

To the owner of the grooming salon, if you are a professional you should know that Poms have a different color to them when shaved down, what do you think he has, a stunt double? From the before picture, it is obvious that the dog was not matted down "a la Animal Police on Animal Planet" that dogs hair did not come off in one matted clump! I call Bull****! Someone screwed up and shaved a dog that the owners did not want shaved. Say you are sorry, give him back his money and quit trying to blame the owner for your mistake.

To the owner of the grooming salon, if you are a professional you should know that Poms have a different color to them when shaved down, what do you think he has, a stunt double? From the before picture, it is obvious that the dog was not matted down "a la Animal Police on Animal Planet" that dogs hair did not come off in one matted clump! I call Bull****! Someone screwed up and shaved a dog that the owners did not want shaved. Say you are sorry, give him back his money and quit trying to blame the owner for your mistake.

To the owner of the grooming salon, if you are a professional you should know that Poms have a different color to them when shaved down, what do you think he has, a stunt double? From the before picture, it is obvious that the dog was not matted down "a la Animal Police on Animal Planet" that dogs hair did not come off in one matted clump! I call Bull****! Someone screwed up and shaved a dog that the owners did not want shaved. Say you are sorry, give him back his money and quit trying to blame the owner for your mistake.

To the owner of the grooming salon, if you are a professional you should know that Poms have a different color to them when shaved down, what do you think he has, a stunt double? From the before picture, it is obvious that the dog was not matted down "a la Animal Police on Animal Planet" that dogs hair did not come off in one matted clump! I call Bull****! Someone screwed up and shaved a dog that the owners did not want shaved. Say you are sorry, give him back his money and quit trying to blame the owner for your mistake.

You can't just say Chinese people are callous in their treatment to animals. There are many people, or all races in which you may find people who are uncaring to animals, and within that same group, you will find many people who are extemely affectionate to animals. So please don't make statements like that. Just because a groomer or grooming salon is owned by a Chinese person doesn't mean your animal will be mistreated. That can happen anywhere.

I just happened to see this post. A few months ago I was observing a pet groomer groom a dog for a while. He didn't know I was observing him. I was outside the store looking through the door, and they had their grooming stalls available for observation. What I saw was disturbing. They guy was very rough with the small cute dog. I felt he was unnecessarily rough treating the dog like a piece of meat and callous without regard for the trauma he was causing it. He was using the wire brush scraping off the hair and it looked painful. He wouldn't stop, he just kept going over the same spots for a long time. It seemed torture to the dog and the dog was struggling. What I saw disturbed me so I mentioned something to the woman at the register, that the guy was being too rough with the dog. He looked up, discovering I was watching him, and said the dog bites, and had to be muzzled. He said he's been doing the job for 40 years and knows what he's doing. He said the owner brought the dog in matted and so he had to do this. They had many dogs waiting to be groomed, there about 10 at the time. They were all set to make a lot of money that day off these dogs on their conveyor belt. A chinese lady owns the shop. Never take your dog to a Chinese owned shop, they are very callous people when it comes to how they treat animals! I just feel these grooming shops are out for your money and don't care about your dog much. Shaving a dog seems to be the fast way of getting rid of unwanted knots. These photos speak a million and I think you have a case. You take your dog to be groomed, washed, not completely shaved. That dog looked pathetic in the after photo. The before photo the dog looked well taken care of.

I do not have canine companions that have to be groomed so I am not aware of the prices for grooming in Kansas. I can tell you that "chop shops" are not careful about how they groom animals and I would worry about leaving my canine companion alone to be groomed by someone I did not know personally. My parents do have a dog that must be groomed. They tried once to have it done by someone else and their dog was very upset when they picked her up. They bought their own grooming tools and now do it themselves.

I do not have canine companions that have to be groomed so I am not aware of the prices for grooming in Kansas. I can tell you that "chop shops" are not careful about how they groom animals and I would worry about leaving my canine companion alone to be groomed by someone I did not know personally. My parents do have a dog that must be groomed. They tried once to have it done by someone else and their dog was very upset when they picked her up. They bought their own grooming tools and now do it themselves.

I do not have canine companions that have to be groomed so I am not aware of the prices for grooming in Kansas. I can tell you that "chop shops" are not careful about how they groom animals and I would worry about leaving my canine companion alone to be groomed by someone I did not know personally. My parents do have a dog that must be groomed. They tried once to have it done by someone else and their dog was very upset when they picked her up. They bought their own grooming tools and now do it themselves.

I do not have canine companions that have to be groomed so I am not aware of the prices for grooming in Kansas. I can tell you that "chop shops" are not careful about how they groom animals and I would worry about leaving my canine companion alone to be groomed by someone I did not know personally. My parents do have a dog that must be groomed. They tried once to have it done by someone else and their dog was very upset when they picked her up. They bought their own grooming tools and now do it themselves.

Get a life yourself, Kansas I'm suspicious that a dog groomer in Kansas would be trolling the internet and finding these posts. Could it be that you are a friend, family or otherwise associated with Top Dog? That might explain why you would assume that the Top Dog story is the truth. If my dog was as matted as they claim then why would I complain about them doing what needed to be done? I would too embarrassed and ashamed, if he was in that kind of condition. As you can see from the "before" photo, Foxy isn't some matted, flee infested, neglected dog that you might see on Animal Planet like Top Dog's description seems to portray. In their rebuttal, they even tried to claim that the "after" photo was a different dog, for crying out loud! The fact is, he was combed out just the day before. We tried to work a comb under the knots and Foxy tried to bite us when it pulled his hair. From your "years of experience" you know that it takes more time to work on a few knots than it does to take the sheep sheers and buzz the coat. I've known people from rural Kansas. They were good, honest, intelligent, hard working people. They had a lot of common sense and tended to be thrifty. I can't imagine them paying $50-$60 for a "routine" grooming of an 11 pound dog in a rural Kansas economy. We're not talking New York here. If you punish your customers by charging double ($100-$120) to groom a little dog then I can't imagine you having too much return business. Who, in their right mind, would return to a business run by someone who is so bitter and mean spirited that they would try to "encourage" their customers that way. Let me put what you claim you do in perspective. Let's say you went to a cafe and ordered a meal. You get you meal and it is burned. You can't eat it all. You don't say too much at the cash register, but they charge you extra because it took extra time and energy to burn your meal and they wanted to encourage you to clean your plate so as to make it easier on them the next time you come in. Would you return? I can see why you would have time to troll the internet looking for bad dog groomer complaints while you are waiting for return customers, if that's how you operate. As for the Top Dog price ($40), I wouldn't have minded if they had done a good job and didn't leave Foxy traumatized. In fact I just checked with xxxx and they are asking $38 for the works (including anal glands, ears and so forth). So, I'm not saying that $40 is completely out of the realm of reasonable pricing for a difficult job. All I said in the original post was that they charged double the amount that I paid my former groomer. If you follow the dog shows there is a good chance you've seen their marvelous work on Bichons. I will let them know that they are undercharging their customers. How dare you shame me? Shame on you for making the assumption and accusing me of not combing my dog! You don't have a clue. You have never met our dog so you don't know anything at all. Is it easy for you to make wild accusations and idiotic statements or do you have to work at it? Perhaps it comes easy to a bitter groomer like you who would double-charge their customers to "encourage them to be more diligent in grooming/combing". What kind of n**i thinking is that? We took Foxy to Top Dog on the recommendation of another Top Dog customer. That person has since quit using Top Dog. We found out that they, also, had a disappointing experience with this groomer. Our first time at Top Dog they were able to groom Foxy properly, so I know they are capable of doing better than they did this time. And, no, he was not in worse condition this time. Shame on you for not brushing your teeth more often. The hair will grow back, dude. I don't know anymore about your tooth brushing habits than you know about my dog grooming habits, so now you see how silly you sound.

I've been a dog groomer and a dog owner for years. PROFESSIONALY! The picture of Foxy after the grooming shows a good job done on the behalf of the groomer. *Why would a groomer take off all of Foxy's hair unless that was the only alternative?? From years of experience, I can honestly state that it's MUCH more work taking off the whole coat than to merely trim a few knots and bathe and blow dry. *As far as the price?? $40 bucks is a steal! My policy is that when the dog is that bad, they are charged double. Not only does that encourage the owner to be more dilligent in grooming/combing, but the dog gets used to being groomed on a frequent basis and thus easier to groom. Those who only bring a dog in for yearly grooming should be charged double! I live in Rural Kansas, and routine grooming is $50 - $60 bucks, so pipe down about the cost. Geeze! Shame on you for not combing your dog more often. The hair WILL grow back.

Ms. Scott make 4 points in her rebuttal that I will address. Ms. Scott speaks of the phone conversation where she told me that she would have to "cut down" the coat. Apparently, her idea of that was to cut down most of the coat and not just those few areas of concern. When I arrived to pick up my dogs it was clear hat Ms, Scott was exhausted and she complained to her husband that she didn't want him to schedule so many jobs for her in one day again. They knew up front that Foxy would bite if hurt, but they were proud to say that they previously groomed him without the need for a muzzle. I believe that in her attempt to work a comb under his knots, while being overly tired from a long day, she became frustrated when he nipped at her. From trying to groom Foxy myself I know where and to what extent he was knotted. He was not severely matted as she claimed, unless they didn't wash, comb or dry him properly which could explain how he could have become severely matted while under their care. If you read the Rip-Off report, then you see that I said, "They even had the nerve to charge double what my PREVIOUS groomer (a professional dog groomer) charged." I did not say that she charged double. The implied remark in that sentence is that a really good dog groomer (who produced excellent results every time) charged half of what Top Dog charged . That groomer can be reached for verification at (((ROR REDACTED PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY PUPOSES))) The pinkish areas seen on Foxy (in the before and after photos that Ms. Scott refers to) is the color his skin was when we took the photo. We watched him closely for a couple of weeks and, fortunately, he did not develop any medical conditions from the grooming. For Ms. Scott to suggest that we used another dog for the photo is absolutely ludicrous. Does she think we used a stunt double? I guess that Ms Scott could not recognize the dog after she worked on him either. The dog she groomed before was, indeed, the dog from the" before" picture. If she knew her business she would know that the undercoat is lighter and of different texture than the outer coat. If you have any doubt as to who is telling the truth just look at the photos. Trust me, NO HOLLYWOOD STUNT DOUBLES WERE USED IN THE PHOTOS:-) CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Ms. Scott make 4 points in her rebuttal that I will address. Ms. Scott speaks of the phone conversation where she told me that she would have to "cut down" the coat. Apparently, her idea of that was to cut down most of the coat and not just those few areas of concern. When I arrived to pick up my dogs it was clear hat Ms, Scott was exhausted and she complained to her husband that she didn't want him to schedule so many jobs for her in one day again. They knew up front that Foxy would bite if hurt, but they were proud to say that they previously groomed him without the need for a muzzle. I believe that in her attempt to work a comb under his knots, while being overly tired from a long day, she became frustrated when he nipped at her. From trying to groom Foxy myself I know where and to what extent he was knotted. He was not severely matted as she claimed, unless they didn't wash, comb or dry him properly which could explain how he could have become severely matted while under their care. If you read the Rip-Off report, then you see that I said, "They even had the nerve to charge double what my PREVIOUS groomer (a professional dog groomer) charged." I did not say that she charged double. The implied remark in that sentence is that a really good dog groomer (who produced excellent results every time) charged half of what Top Dog charged . That groomer can be reached for verification at (((ROR REDACTED PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY PUPOSES))) The pinkish areas seen on Foxy (in the before and after photos that Ms. Scott refers to) is the color his skin was when we took the photo. We watched him closely for a couple of weeks and, fortunately, he did not develop any medical conditions from the grooming. For Ms. Scott to suggest that we used another dog for the photo is absolutely ludicrous. Does she think we used a stunt double? I guess that Ms Scott could not recognize the dog after she worked on him either. The dog she groomed before was, indeed, the dog from the" before" picture. If she knew her business she would know that the undercoat is lighter and of different texture than the outer coat. If you have any doubt as to who is telling the truth just look at the photos. Trust me, NO HOLLYWOOD STUNT DOUBLES WERE USED IN THE PHOTOS:-) CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

My name is Debbie Scott and I am the owner of Top Dog Grooming. This customer was contacted and informed that due to the severe matting this particular dog had, the coat would have to be cut down, prior to the procedure. The owner of the pet admits that he was contacted and informed by us of this condition, and subsequently consented, as he stated in his letter to the Better Business Bureau. It should be noted here that the owner of the animal never made any attempt to contact our shop to address his concerns, and the only notice we ever received was a copy of a letter to the BBB. It should also be noted that the owner brought his pet to us on March 23, 2006. On this visit, we charged him $40.00. Prior to this visit, he brought the same dog in ten months earlier, with less severe matting, for which we charged $41.00. Therefore, this customer was obviously not charged "double" as stated in the complaint. Also, on the same day, this customer brought in his other dog, a Golden Retriever, which was also de-matted, for which the customer expressed his satisfaction. There was never any attempt made by the customer to contact us to express any discontent with the services rendered. If you are a groomer or potential customer reading this, please understand that a dog that has severe matting requires this type of cut to resolve the problem. The dog was not shaved to the skin, and a number seven blade was used, as it is the only blade that would go through the hair. The hair came off almost in one solid piece, similar to a rug. Our policy is to always receive permission from the client before taking the hair down to remove the mats. This permission was obtained verbally from this customer. It is also my opinion that the two dogs shown in the before and after pictures are in fact two different dogs. Note the color difference on the coat of the dogs in the picture. We have also groomed another dog owned by this customer which matches the before picture in question. Regardless, the dog was groomed appropriately for its condition and treated very well while in our shop, as all animals are while in our care. This rebuttal will also be sent to the BBB for completeness. Sincerely, Debbie Scott Owner Top Dog Grooming