The Hard Conversations Pet Owners Avoid

WEBVTT
00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:12.320
Welcome to Tale Talk Grooming Chronicles with Health Therapy, the podcast where we talk all things pet grooming, daycare, academy, and more.
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.320
Hosted by Shannon and Tanya of Health Therapy, serving pet owners across North Texas.
00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:26.800
We're here to share expert tips, hilarious pet stories, and the inside scoop on keeping your furry friends happy and healthy.
00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:30.000
Our motto, humanity over vanity.
00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:32.479
And don't worry, we don't fight.
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:33.600
Let's get started.
00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:43.439
Some grooming topics are uncomfortable but necessary.
00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:53.359
Today, Shannon and Tanya walk us through the honest conversations that protect dogs, support groomers, and prevent avoidable problems.
00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:54.560
Welcome back, everyone.
00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:02.079
I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host and producer back in the studio with professional groomers at Hound Therapy, Shannon and Tanya.
00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.040
Hi, ladies, great to be back with you today.
00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:10.799
Now, let's talk about the hard conversations pet owners avoid.
00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:18.959
What are some of these conversations you wish owners would know sooner, would have sooner, and why do they matter so much?
00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.120
Well, I mean, let's start with your grimmer notices a lot of things that you may not.
00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:27.840
Um, we have an up close and personal view.
00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:37.280
Um, and things that are hard to hear is that your dog is in pain, or hey, your dog might be a little overweight, or your dog looks really skinny, or oh, your dog is very smelly.
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:38.799
Have you looked at his skin lately?
00:01:38.959 --> 00:02:00.239
You know, um some of the ways and things that we see may not come across as, you know, an easy conversation uh to have or to hear and and and may feel like you know, we're coming at you uh in in an indirect kind of a way or or trying to be, you know, rude or say that you're not doing something correct.
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:04.799
We're really just doing it for honest communication so that we can protect your dog.
00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.400
And I mean and we're not trying to judge you.
00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.039
Um that is the last thing that we want to do.
00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.479
We we handle your dog's entire body.
00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:17.759
So and usually pet owners don't.
00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.879
Um that's just not something people do day to day.
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:28.000
So we will notice changes in their that are hidden underneath the coat.
00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:32.560
So we will feel the lumps, the bumps, the warts, things like that.
00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:38.000
And usually we'll come to you and be like, hey, you might want to get this seen by, you know, your vet.
00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:38.319
Yeah.
00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:48.080
I mean, if we uh sometimes it's hey, we we we hit a mole, um, and you know, we took it, we didn't the mole wasn't there, you know, six six weeks ago, eight weeks ago.
00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:52.960
Um, the dogs that come on a regular basis more often, um, you know, they're a little bit easier.
00:02:53.039 --> 00:03:02.400
But even with those, if we notice uh an average, uh a more than average tear stain or goop between the eyes, you know, we'll say, hey, look, you might it's time for an allergy pill.
00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:03.840
You're like, oh gosh, you're right.
00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:06.400
I forgot to give, you know, my allergy pulse today.
00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.840
Uh or you know, it's it's we just we notice that.
00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.319
And it's if we say something, uh, if your dog has lost weight, you might be like, you know, well, I thought it did, but I look, you know, I see him every day.
00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.800
Well, it, you know, it's cause for alarm.
00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.080
Or even the flip side of your dog has gained a lot of weight.
00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.199
Um, that could equally just be as bad.
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:29.919
And it's never meant as an attack on you or your dog, it's simply to protect them.
00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:47.919
And and matting, you know, if we see matting or tangles, if if we see it every single time you come, we usually won't continuously educate you for um, but we do want you to understand what matting is, what tangling is and how they're different, um, what it is that we have to do to get it out, what your dog has to endure to get them out.
00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.280
You know, is it going to be excessive?
00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:50.879
Is it a minor problem?
00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:58.240
Um, so we believe that having those conversations with you is really more of an educational value because this is our job.
00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.439
It's not your job.
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:08.800
Uh, and we want you to be as informed as possible and give you some recommendations and things that you can do so that it can be easier for us, for you, and for your dog moving forward.
00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:12.639
So it's definitely it, they're definitely no, no judgments.
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:16.319
Um, it's just more of a, hey, we noticed this, we saw this.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:23.120
And sometimes we'll call and the forgot to tell you, my dog went to the vet uh and uh she almost died last week.
00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:26.399
So we had to we forgot to mention that.
00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:30.800
Well, uh we that would have been good information at check-in.
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:36.079
Uh we'll notice that the front paw has been shaved down and it looks like an IV.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:42.800
Sometimes it's just a tooth cleaning, but you know, if if something has happened, your groomer needs to know.
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:44.560
Yeah, let's communicate that both ways.
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:46.639
Communication works two ways.
00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:54.480
Um, dog's weight affecting our groom, you know, lifting up and down, those are things that, you know, that that will those are minor things.
00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:03.839
Lumps and bumps, cysts and moles, if they're in a bad spot or a location that you may not be checking, you know, around a rear in front of an eye, on a toe or joint.
00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.720
Um, if we see that the dog's having mobility problems, we might mention those things to you too.
00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:12.079
Um, even if they're small, we try to mention them to you.
00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:18.959
What about the most common hard truth owners struggle to hear about their dog's coat or behavior?
00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.160
Oh, that nobody likes to hear their dog's a biter.
00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:23.920
No, nobody likes that.
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:25.360
And there's no good way.
00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:31.199
Well, there's probably a nicer way to say it than I do, but I believe in honesty and I'm pretty upfront.
00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:36.160
And and I don't care that your dog bites uh or be he's nervous or scared.
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:40.959
I mean, I care because we want to do something about him, but um, we'll do it regardless.
00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.680
So it's it's we're not saying we can't do it.
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.959
We're just saying we might need to do this in a different way.
00:05:47.199 --> 00:06:00.879
But nobody, I I mean, nobody likes to hear uh or feel bad about dropping their dog off uh at your groomers or the vets, knowing that somebody might also have to go to the doctor after seeing you.
00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:07.439
Um so I that's probably I know if it were my dog, I'd be like, what do you mean she bit you?
00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.920
She's never, you know, she's the nicest dog.
00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.959
Well, you can have the nicest, sweetest dog at home.
00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.879
This is a different environment.
00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:22.560
And, you know, most things happen out of reaction uh for a dryer, another dog, an environment, you know, a location.
00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:28.800
There's a a lot of different things going on here that your dog may react to differently than they do at home.
00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:33.839
Um there are some genuine owners who I think don't know that.
00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:42.639
Uh, because groomers are afraid to say, hey, uh if you pick up your dog and you're a groomer every single time, it's just like, oh my god, your dog is so sweet.
00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.399
It was so that is a lie.
00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.759
If they were secretly in the back fighting with it the whole time.
00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:48.240
Right.
00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:57.680
Your dog is usually pretty good and nice, but every once in a blue moon, you'll your groomers should say, I don't know what's going on with your dog today, but she just wasn't feeling it.
00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:00.079
She just gets sitting down, she seemed really tired.
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:07.120
You know, they don't want to, they don't they don't really discuss that because nobody really wants to hear that, right?
00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:10.240
We do, um, just because we feel like it's good information.
00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:20.959
And if your dog is sitting down a lot more or more tired, there could be a really logical explanation, or it might be an underlying problem that's going on that you don't know about, or you might have noticed at home.
00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.399
So without the conversation, you know, we're never gonna know.
00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.680
And sometimes it may not be behavioral.
00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.480
Sometimes they could legitimately be in pain as well.
00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.040
Yeah.
00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:31.759
Yeah.
00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:41.519
Like we've noticed this, or we've noticed that, and uh, or we found uh, you know, a nail that was broken in the carpet, or you know, this nail has grown in, so be cautious of this particular foot.
00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:46.720
So I mean it's just there's a lot of a lot of things that that can be hard to hear.
00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.639
I would say biting is the number one.
00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.040
Yeah.
00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.560
Um, you know, like that nobody everybody feels bad.
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.160
Uh and then for us, you shouldn't.
00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.319
I mean, it's it's we take on that risk.
00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.519
It's something that we do.
00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.519
And dogs bite, all dogs bite.
00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.920
My dog, the sweetest dog in the entire world.
00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:03.279
She is capable of biting.
00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:03.839
She can bite.
00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:04.399
That's you know.
00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:06.480
I always tell people if it has teeth, it can bite you.
00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:09.600
Yeah, it's it it happens.
00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.319
Uh so we're we've signed up for it.
00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:12.959
It's good.
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:17.120
Um, and and and you have signed up for being as honest and truthful as possible.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:31.199
If I know your dog doesn't like something, I can approach your dog in a different way with other skills that I've learned to put your dog more at ease uh and to put you more at ease so that we don't have, you know, an issue and your dog has a good experience.
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:40.000
So, Shannon and Tanya, how can owners better communicate their dog's triggers or past experiences to you guys?
00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:48.720
I would say most people that um have had a problem before, they almost immediately they will say, Do you do this?
00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:51.759
And it's because they've been corrected before.
00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:57.039
Um, dogs that have it if it's a new puppy to you, you wouldn't know.
00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:00.639
Um if it's just a rescue dog, I usually those are keywords.
00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:02.000
I've just rescued my dog.
00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:08.480
My my next question then is last year, six weeks ago, or have you had the dog seven years?
00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.799
Because seven years is not a just rescued dog.
00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:10.960
No.
00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.559
That is a dog that is fully yours and should have well-behaved manners.
00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.879
But if you've just picked up an animal, most people are very forthcoming with that.
00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:25.360
They're a little shy about saying, hey, look, you know, my dog might have a problem with this or might have a problem with that.
00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.039
Is that something that you can handle?
00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:30.320
And, you know, our answer is you almost always, yes, it is.
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:39.840
Other people are just straight out out front and they're just like, so my dog was kicked out, and uh, I need to find a place that will accept him because he's a jerk.
00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:46.639
Um and I had a client that uh we actually do now, and his dog bit the groomer.
00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.919
They they kicked him out and then he he bit him a few days later.
00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:53.679
And he's like, they won't take him back, and I can't do this on my own.
00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:54.559
So can you take him?
00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.159
And no one's like, of course we can.
00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.080
He's actually not that bad of a dog.
00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:03.279
So, you know, usually it's it's most people are forthcoming.
00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:11.759
Um, and and whether they are forthcoming just super abruptly and direct, uh, my dog's been fired from five group shops, you know.
00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.120
Uh, you know, it's it's it's it is what it is.
00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.720
Uh, they've still got to get done.
00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.039
Uh, we would still try to do it without sedation.
00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.120
We would still try to do it without medication.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.960
Uh, you know, we're not a vet's office.
00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:28.080
Uh, we don't want to to add any kind of medical procedures if unnecessary.
00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:34.960
And uh we can 99% of the time do the dog uh and get them used to grooming.
00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:43.120
Uh and we usually can tell from an owner's being, I would say apprehensive way of asking.
00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:43.440
Yes.
00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:47.519
You know, they might, it could be uh, I don't know yet.
00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:59.919
Those are all answers to me that just say proceed with caution and then make notes, have that communicative conversation with the client on what we can do forward to make it a better experience for everybody.
00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.519
And that usually puts everyone at ease.
00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:06.879
So, do you have any final words of wisdom for our audience today?
00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:11.200
Best thing I can say is you're the best advocate for your dog.
00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.440
So, you know, do that advocate for your dog.
00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:22.639
If you're not feeling like you can speak up or have a clear communication with a groomer, not necessarily a manager or a receptionist, but the person who actually sees your dog.
00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:26.240
If you're feeling something is uh is off, it usually is.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:32.240
Um, so you know, maybe seek somebody else where you feel a little bit more comfortable about talking to them, or vice versa.
00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:46.879
Um, advocate for your dog and and don't be afraid to list all of the things that are wrong because as soon as you do that and somebody is hesitant to do it, those are the you don't want to set your dog and somebody else up for failure.
00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:50.320
So that's the best way to find the perfect groomer for you.
00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.120
Yes.
00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:52.639
Well, thank you both.
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:59.840
This conversation truly makes a difference in safety, trust, and long-term grooming success.
00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:02.559
We'll see everyone next time.
00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:10.080
That's a wrap for this episode of Tale Talk with Hound Therapy.
00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:14.320
Ready to book your pet's next groom daycare stay or grooming academy tour?
00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:18.639
Call us at 469-367-0009.
00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:23.120
That's 469-367-0009.
00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:32.879
To schedule an appointment or visit us online at www.houndtherapy.com, serving North Texas with expert pet care.
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:36.399
Until next time, keep those tails whacked.