I knew I shouldn't have gone in :(

I've been feeling a bit off since last Saturday - not really ill, just kind of iffy, and it's been the worst today - I almost called in sick, but I knew my boss wouldn't be able to get any cover in time so I went in anyway.

First thing she does is gives me a list of about 4 dogs that need grooming - here's me with my back the worst it's been for a long time (due to grooming, funnily enough) and my shoulders bad (bad sockets).  Ho hum.  So I brushed two out, and then trie to do a little collie X called Benji.  Ann'd already warned me that he doesn't like being groomed, so I was prepared for a difficult dog.  Difficult!  Flippin ec!

The first hint of trouble was when I picked him up - my hand went under him and he growled a little.  Nothing major, but I decided to lift him (carefully) by his collar and with my other arm udner him, so he couldn't nip me if he decided to try (note: he's an ickle collie X!).  Job done, he's on the table, and he was letting me brush his back leg out without a problem, just the odd sniff to see what I was up to.

Then I wanted him to stand up, and it all went to hell.  I had one hand on his collar anyway just in case, given Ann's warning.  I put my hand ever-so-gently under his belly to encourage him to stand up - and he went for me.  I did the only thing I could think of, and got my hand (the one on his collar) up under his chin quick and grabbed hair so he couldn't bite me - I'd never have got it out of the way in time.  He was trying his damndest to get me, and very almost did - I had to grab more beard hair with my other hand to stop him again.  But now I was stuck - he was on his back trying to bite me, with a wall behind him.  I wasn't doing anything, just standing there trying not to get bit - but you know that feeling when there's just no hope?

I waited a minute for him to calm down, which of course he didn't really do - he just went still, still with his teeth bared wide.  So I bit the bullet and tried to get my hands away as quickly as was humanly possible - and of course, he sank his teeth into my left palm.  Much pain, fair bit of blood, hell of a lot of stress and tears!

Needless to say I didn't try and groom him again, I had to shut him in the office while I went to find a first aid kit.  He's left a 3/4" slice in my hand - it doesn't look pretty :( Ann bandaged me up, but it bled through and I had to change it when I got home.  Luckily, Opi injured her paw a while back, so I had the stuff I needed!

So all in all, not a good week, and definitely a bad end to it.  I'm back in again tomorrow, but the dog is going in the morning :D.  He's not a bad dog really, and there's nothing wrong with him physically that any of us are aware of, but it does seem very OTT for him to injure me the way he did simply for me putting a hand under his belly.  I could understand maybe if it was very knotty and sore, but it wasn't at all.  Still, I won't be sad that he won't be there!

Sounds horrid Nikita.  Do you not have grooming dogs restrained so that they can't bite you??

Sending virtual tea and sympathy your way.  :-)

If I'm grooming at home, yes - I have a full h-frame and noose and belly strap to restrain them.  But at work, I get an old grooming table next to a wall, with a control arm that doesn't even fit the table properly (has been broken and re-welded at some point i think) - it won't hold a puppy, let alone this dog!  Very frustrating :(

So, I'm at home today and tomorrow as driving is off-limits.  Ho hum.  Still, it gives me more time to get on with my assignments for college lol!

Nikita, you must protect yourself!  You can tell that I'm a Mum, can't you! :rolleyes:
Get them to drill a couple of holes in the wall and fix a couple of large hooks.  With the table next to the wall, you can then tie fabric leads around the hooks to secure the head and a belly strap.  I honestly wouldn't be prepared to groom unknown dogs in such a dangerous way. :(
Sorry to sound bossy, but sometimes.....................;)

Nikita,

This boss is breaking Health and Safety Laws by expecting you to groom dogs without the proper equipment, and that includes having muzzles available for unpredictable and aggressive dogs :(   You would be well within your rights to refuse to groom without all the correct equipment, regardless of your age and employee status.  At the very least the dogs should be firmly attached to some rings in the wall, for your sake and theirs, what if one fell off the table and was injured? you would then be liable ;)

A quick emergency muzzle can be made by wrapping a soft lead around the back of the head and muzzle crossing under the muzzle (a bit like a halti ;) ) this gives great control over an aggressive dog, even one stronger than you ;) ;)

You know, I didn't even think of that?  Legalities of this whole thing never came to mind!  Most of the dogs I groom at work I groom on the floor anyway, the boarders at least - usually it's just a quick brush-over, so falling off the table isn't an issue because I don't need the dog in it.  The customers we get in specifically for grooming, I bring in my h-frame and straps for, but it's a pain bringing them in every time I'm in just in case!

In any case, it may not matter anymore - I am moving out soon, and probably moving to Yorkshire, some 5 hours from where I am now, so future issues with the grooming won't be an issue.  I'm actually going to give it up altogether I think - my back can't take it much more :(  What I will do is say to Ann what you guys have said to me about the health and safety stuff, so that if she employs another groomer in the future she'll be smarter about it - she didn't actually hire me as a groomer, it was kind of an added bonus for her!