hi just wondering what fellow groomers do when they have not seen a client for monthes do you ring the owners or send letters?

Hi again Mollaholland, first of all I'm not a groomer,nor do I take my dogs to a groomer, I do them myself. However it's a bit like your hairdresser contacting you to tell you it's time you had your hair cut ,or asking if you've been somewhere else to have it done.

I'd be tempted to say ''who do you think you are''.

I wonder if it's common practice for groomers to chase business. I'd be suprised if it was.:rolleyes:

Dawn R.

No.  Having trimmed their dog for the first time, and given them a written report and explain what I've done and why, I ask them to go home, look at their dog and if they are happy, then ring for an 8 weeks appointment.  Most ring back because they have been on the waiting list waiting for an appointment.  Those who don't and don't want their dog trimmed every 8 weeks are welcome to go elsewhere! :D

I appreciate what Dawn and Val are saying......but I don't take offence when the vet sends me a reminder about the dogs booster jabs, or the dentist lets me know am due a check up. OK so its a tad longer than the 8 weeks for a doggy trim, it would not bother me, on the contrary, I'd be chuffed they considered me........JMHO

Interesting one. ;)  The difference in my case is that I would make their next appointment each time they were in the parlour so it wouldn't arise after the first appointment.

But the dentist and vets don't PHONE, they send letters. :)

Yep and they are for health related check-ups   Although I suppose for some poor little dogs a visit to a good groomer could be regarded as being that too. 

I haven't the need for a dog groomer but I'd be thinking it seemed a bit desperate on the part of my personal groomer (OK hairdresser :D ) if she had to chase me up for appointments.

regards, Teri

Yes, once I get started I will hopefully get a sense of when each dog and each breed should come in, and try to get the appointment set up there and then. Of course if someone said 'I haven't got my diary, can you ring me when he's due again', I probably would try to! :-)

Lucy, if you don't get your clients in for regular appointments, they'll leave it too long (always a good excuse!! ;)) and the dogs will all turn up matted and you'll never turn them out looking as they should!  You'll hear plenty of groomers whinging "But I have to clip them off!".  No good for the dog and takes you longer and you're sending everything home clipped short!  Your business then has peaks and troughs.  If an owner with a matted dog can't have an 'urgent' appointment, because they've left their dog too long and it's matted, then they'll go elsewhere!

Get them in every 8 weeks, it suits most breeds.  The dogs are comfortable and in good condition.  You know the dogs, can keep the teeth descaled and will spot anything that changes and alert the owner that they need the Vet etc.  Dogs are happy, owners are happy, and you have a business with regular money coming in throughout the year!

Ditto Val couldn't agree more.

8 weeks ( 10 weeks Max cut off)  re-book and give them their new appointment before they leave.

If they don't come back they were not worth having.  Dogs that come twice a year may be a cost saving exercise for the owner but they take longer to trim but I wouldn't do them, you are in the business to make money. 

you are in the business to make money
And keep the dogs in good condition. :)