Looking for groomer

[melz]

Heya,

I didn't know in which section to post this... thought this would be the best place.

In any case, I'm looking for a dog groomer in the Ottawa area for my guy.. Mozart - unfortunately my financial situation is pretty tight so I cannot afford what my current groomer charges. $60.

Can anyone provide references? Mozart's quite a mix .. lhasa/poodle/shihtzu/pom.

Melanie

[Prin]

You don't want to learn to do it yourself? That might be cheapest...

[Beaglemom]

What do you normally have done? To wash my beagle, Misty, and to trim her nails at a groomer here in Toronto would cost me approx $65 dollars. If you are going to have your pup trimmed, it would cost at least that. I know that PetSmart has groomers and they may be cheaper, but I don't know if I would recommend them. I know of only one person who has used them and she liked the results, but I personnally have never gone there.

I think Prin's suggestion of you learning to do it yourself is the best way to save money. It really isn't that difficult. I used to do my maltese terrier and my cockapoo (looked very much like a poodle). With practice, it is pretty simple. It can also be a good bonding experience. My dogs love to be groomed! They get a lot of attention and a massage!

[muckypup]

I would try here:

http://www.ruff-cuts.com

[Prin]

Wow, Beaglemom, $65 for a beagle?! They've got such short fur.

[muckypup]

$65 for a beagle is pricey! I charge $35 for a beagle and for a lhasa/poodle/shihtzu/pom lol about $45.

[susieqt]

Just pick up the phone book and call all the groomers in your area! One is bound to be much cheaper than that!!! Good Luck...
Doing it yourself can be much harder than you think, not counting the cost of the equipment......

[coppperbelle]

Many years ago I had a standard poodle. She needed to be groomed every three months. I was a stay at home mom and didn't have much money for dog grooming so I started doing it myself. I borrowed the clippers, put her up on the picnic table and clipped away. It took some practice and she was a patient dog but I was able to get the job done. It wasn't as pretty as the groomer but it was okay. I was careful to always use a guard and I didn't knick her anywhere. I have always clipped my dogs nails so that wasn't a problem. With the internet you can find instructions on how to do it properly.

[SnowDancer]

Beaglemom - Heck $65 is more than I pay for Eskimo and I go to a top groomer. I never had my 10 lb. short haired Dachshunds groomed - easy to pop into a tub, but Eskie is a different scenario - a bath is bad enough - never mind the double undercoat and the fact he doesn't blow his coat. So impossible for me. Our groomer also has a nail clip card - each nail clip costs $5.00 with the 5th one being free. The Eskie nails do not wear down on the sidewalk - they are like steel - so clipping is essential by someone experienced which is most definitely not me.

[Beaglemom]

Snowdancer, I thought that the price was quite high, so I didn't go there. I ended up washing and brushing her myself, the vet trimmed her nails for me. I think the groomer was charging me extra for trimming the nails which brought the price up that high.

I've saved a lot of money over the years doing all of my dogs' grooming myself. I actually enjoy doing it. I started when I was really little my first dog growing up. She too was very patient and would put up with my grooming styles!

[BernerLver]

Originally Posted by Prin

Wow, Beaglemom, $65 for a beagle?! They've got such short fur.

I agree, this seems high. I pay $40 each (so $80 in total) for both my berners. they get bathed, have their ears trimmed and their feet and nails tidied up.

This price every 6-8 weeks is worth it for me since they are just too big for me to groom properly at home.

[Beaglemom]

I too thought it was way too high, so I didn't end up going. I have never used a groomer before, I do everything myself. Good thing I didn't use this groomer, I would have been severly ripped off! She may have quoted me high because I mentioned that Misty hates having her nails trimmed ever since she broke her toe a while ago. She sometimes puts up a huge fuss, this is the reason why I can't do it myself. I usually get her vet to do them for me. It takes two of us to hold her steady and even then it isn't easy!