Customer Quirks

Anyone got a customer who has made an odd request???

hmmm, where does one start! LOL

I haven't had any really odd requests yet. However, I did have one customer who wanted me to pre-shave her dog, bath it and only towel dry it and send it home. She didn't want me to dry it completely then re-shave it afterwards to tidy it up. She didn't care about that, but I was worried because it was not a good advertisement of my grooming skills

OMG ,you're right.....not sure if i would have done it myself.....only for an elderly or problem dog

People can be so strange

I had one the other day, wanted me to just trim her dog, no brush or bath because he has dry skin and it would bother him. She wanted him trimmed all over because all his hair was poofing out. I told her I wasn't going to ruin my equipment cutting dirty hair, the dog hasn't been in since June. I know she is on a tight budget because she made a fuss the last time about paying, but still there is no way I was even going to attempt to trim this dogs hair without doing anything else to it.

We had a good one today, the Christmas crazy has begun. We haven't groomed these dogs since January. She wants to know if she can make an appointment for Dec. 21!!!! Sorry not going to happen, besides that day being booked solid since October, my Christmas appointments are for my good, regular clients.
Next.....

I had someone tell me not to bathe the dog because they naturally clean themselves (I think he was just cheap)

I had someone tell me not to trim the hair in front of the bearded collies eyes cause she didn't want him to go blind

I had someone tell me that shih tzus have naturally non-matting hair and the only reason her shih tzu got matted is because she has some terrier in her I just said "I've never heard of anything like that. Either way she'll need to be clipped down"

Just the other day I had a client request that I shave their scotty's tail..it's supposed to be carrot shaped. I know, not that weird, but I haven't had many weird clients yet (knock on wood).

I had a man come in awhile ago with an elderly Shih Tzu that obviously hadn't been groomed in months, hair about 3-4 inches long. He wanted the entire head/face/ears/neck shaved very short "so that you can see the skin" and the feet and legs shaved the same, "but leave the body hair long so he doesn't get cold".
Michelle

That must of looked lovely. Wouldn't you like to just hand them back in a paper bag and tell them not to tell anyone where they had the dog groomed. LOL

mjhounds... the reminds me of when I had to shave a husky cross very close on the legs and nothing else. I tried to convince them they didn't want that, but to no avail. I did it with a #5 and they LOVED IT!!! WEIRD!!!!!!!! strange, I haven't seen them in a year...

My mother always insists that her cat be shaved like a poodle! Every time I look at the poor thing I have to giggle! Her body looks so tiny and yet her head looks like a lion! Priceless, to say the very least!

So funny that I had mentioned my mom like's the "poodle" cut for her cat, because on Thursday I had a lady ask me to trim her orange barn cat in a similar way! Only, she prefered the look of the lion! He turned out simply beautiful and I regret not taking any pictures! I left his "mane" long and in a "V" and left longer fringes on the outsides of his legs. Then I blended the back of his head with the neck (to avoid the "fat-headed cat appearance) and with the tail I shaved to about the last three inches and left the "poof" for the lion-style tail. The owners were so pleased and impressed that they asked if I would become their regular groomer for all four of their cats. Truth to be told, I hated the lion-look idea at first, but I soon changed my mind when I seen the results! What may have looked very odd on my mother's silver tabby turned out to be the perfect style for that big barn cat!

I had one young girl (owner of shitzu puppy) requesting to shave poor dog with 1/4" all over body, but she wanted messy long hair for top knot she did not allow me to clean face or do anything to neck and ears. Dog looked so silly and when she wanted to book another appointment few months later I told her that I am booked solid. I realy did not want to work with customers like that. It is embarasing when they leave your place with package like that. The new groomer probably laugh out loud when it had a chance to view previous work. (that label we carry with us even when we do not groom same dogs anymore-but I just follow her wishes)
Second customer wanted lakeland with shaved tail (instead carrot) and skirt around like spaniel. I did as she requested although I did not like the final look. She loved it...
Sometimes I am not sure what to do to listen customers and make them happy or do what I think is better and make them unhappy?
One customer wanted long hair dog to be shaved (mix breed) on body, leave a long fan tail and shave top of the head and around the eyes. The dog ended up looking like it wore a Halloween mask on face.I did it too and they loved it "new summer look" for the poor dog. I thought that look so funny, but they loved it...What I could do?

We always try talking the owner into the best trim for the dog but you have to do what makes them happy. We have one dog that we only do the body because the owner likes to trimm the head herself (looks ridiculous)!! I always feel like asking her to put a paper bag over his head when she leaves the salon. As long as it isn't harming the dog I guess it is best to do what they want, just make sure you tell them not to tell their friends and neighbors where they had the dog groomed LOL