Help! New Pet Sitter used Furminator on my Sheltie

[mcemily]

So sorry the pet sitter messed up Frankie's 'do... especially since you'd worked so hard to bring it back from shaved!

It seems ridiculous to have to leave a DO list AND a DON'T list. The sad part is, the sitter probably thought she was being super nice by crossing those boundaries... or as she probably saw it, giving you these little "extra" services. I run into that all the time at groomers. No matter what I ask them to do, or tell them NOT to do, I always come back to a dog who's been scissored WAY more than I'd like (which would be ZERO). They think they gave me a free upgrade. I think they ruined my dog, LOL. Though, as others have said, the fur does grow back. Eventually.

[Tagg]

I too would be so very upset. Tin's coat wasn't shaved when he came it was chopped with a pair of scissors. Now that he has grown a lot of it back in and he looks like a sheltie should, I couldn't imagine my reaction if someone "fixed" his coat. I shudder just thinking about it.

We came home one day and I went to do the stalls. There on the top of the garbage in the bin was about 18" of my husband's mare's tail. Ariel growns tail like nobody's business so I just assumed that she had been backing up on it again and that hubby had trimmed it but I was surprised that he'd cut so much off. I came in and mentioned it and he sputtered that he hadn't trimmed anything. He took off down to the barn to see this piece of tail, grabbed it out of the garbage and put it on the grain counter. To see his face go from his normal calm, easy going demeanor to the murderous and all points in between one was a sight to see. Fortunately the kid that helps with the stall was on her was to Atlanta to visit her Godmother and wasn't to be back for a week or she might not have seen 17! By the time she returned he was back to his usual calmness and just walked over, grabbed her long locks and asked her mom for a pair of scissors. Poor kid was shocked. Of course he didn't do it but he told her that her cutting Ariel's tail without permission was the same as him deciding to cut her, the kid's hair. Never to be done. Kid got the message.

The hair will grow back and might go through some interesting stages while it does. Depending on the weather you may or may not need a jacket for this winter. I would talk to the petsitter organization and tell them I wanted a refund. They may or may not give you one.

[frankienme]

Originally Posted by Chris

Yes, that will return in all its former glory.

Doing the 'fur grow' prayer as we speak!

[frankienme]

Originally Posted by Tagg

I too would be so very upset. Tin's coat wasn't shaved when he came it was chopped with a pair of scissors. Now that he has grown a lot of it back in and he looks like a sheltie should, I couldn't imagine my reaction if someone "fixed" his coat. I shudder just thinking about it.

We came home one day and I went to do the stalls. There on the top of the garbage in the bin was about 18" of my husband's mare's tail. Ariel growns tail like nobody's business so I just assumed that she had been backing up on it again and that hubby had trimmed it but I was surprised that he'd cut so much off. I came in and mentioned it and he sputtered that he hadn't trimmed anything. He took off down to the barn to see this piece of tail, grabbed it out of the garbage and put it on the grain counter. To see his face go from his normal calm, easy going demeanor to the murderous and all points in between one was a sight to see. Fortunately the kid that helps with the stall was on her was to Atlanta to visit her Godmother and wasn't to be back for a week or she might not have seen 17! By the time she returned he was back to his usual calmness and just walked over, grabbed her long locks and asked her mom for a pair of scissors. Poor kid was shocked. Of course he didn't do it but he told her that her cutting Ariel's tail without permission was the same as him deciding to cut her, the kid's hair. Never to be done. Kid got the message.

The hair will grow back and might go through some interesting stages while it does. Depending on the weather you may or may not need a jacket for this winter. I would talk to the petsitter organization and tell them I wanted a refund. They may or may not give you one.

Oh, they are going to get a piece of my mind for sure! The Pet Sitter too! Funny that you mention how your husband handled it. The owner of the Pet Sitter org has four kids. I planned to ask her how SHE would feel if I took one of her girls and had her head shaved!

[frankienme]

Originally Posted by mcemily

So sorry the pet sitter messed up Frankie's 'do... especially since you'd worked so hard to bring it back from shaved!

It seems ridiculous to have to leave a DO list AND a DON'T list. The sad part is, the sitter probably thought she was being super nice by crossing those boundaries... or as she probably saw it, giving you these little "extra" services. I run into that all the time at groomers. No matter what I ask them to do, or tell them NOT to do, I always come back to a dog who's been scissored WAY more than I'd like (which would be ZERO). They think they gave me a free upgrade. I think they ruined my dog, LOL. Though, as others have said, the fur does grow back. Eventually.

You got it - the sitter - who really doesn't feel like she is enough - thought she was doing something nice for me - probably so I would like her more. The irony is - all I wanted was for the sitter to JUST do what I asked - no more, no less. That to me is GOLD!

Now, what I didn't tell you all is that she also did a number of other things I told her NOT to do. There is more to the story that I won't bore you all with but what is truly sad is that she was very nice - just misguided. And I just learned from her employer that apparently she has an issue with following instructions - among other things. Duh! They should have told me this and then let me decide about hiring her - but of course they don't operate this way. Lessons learned all around!

[celloyogi]

I pet sit for family friends and the only thing I've ever done that was not asked of me was make cookies and leave some for them upon their return. Not quite a mint on the pillow, but their dogs would have eaten that anyway.

We're so picky about Olive's grooming, and we do it ourselves!, I can't imagine how we would react if someone else fubar-ed the job. Unless you're a sheltie person, you just don't get how shelties are supposed to look.

Hope your pup gets back to his former glory soon!

[frankienme]

Originally Posted by celloyogi

I pet sit for family friends and the only thing I've ever done that was not asked of me was make cookies and leave some for them upon their return. Not quite a mint on the pillow, but their dogs would have eaten that anyway.

We're so picky about Olive's grooming, and we do it ourselves!, I can't imagine how we would react if someone else fubar-ed the job. Unless you're a sheltie person, you just don't get how shelties are supposed to look.

Hope your pup gets back to his former glory soon!

Me too, I am picky too which is why I bathe and groom Frankie and cut his nails all on my own - so if I mess it up I only have myself to look to. This sitter did this without permission - and yes, she even clipped his nails though I had just done it that week - and cut too close on his little dewclaw !!!

If you wanted to make ME cookies, that is fine - as for Frankie - if she followed the instructions and did nothing else I would have adored her - instead .....

[Justme]

Originally Posted by frankienme

will it grow back or be the same?

Not to worry.

Due to a medical condition, my boy's undercoat completely disappeared, and his outer coat became extremely thin. After the medical condition was treated, it all perfectly grew back.

[BarbV]

I'm also going to suggest a product called Naked Care. I'm generally not one big on external supplements because I tend to think that coat growth comes from good diet not what you spray on.

But I've been using this product on and off on my hypothyroid dog for the last few years. I can't say his coat his actually thicker, but it certainly appears so, and without big residue.

It might be worth a try.

http://www.nakedcare.com/