I've got a blue healer/Australian shepherd mix. I could buy several more dogs with what my 'bad dog' bill would be.

When she was a pup having a good time in my office...

Earpj: I take my dogs to a local shop. She needs the money more than Petsmart does, and she does a better job.

2 pictures of bears, one after the other.

My stepmother has made a career, if one could call it that, out of petcare/boarding generally and dog grooming in particular. If a dog misbehaves and doesn't get along with the other dogs (she grooms/boards out of her house, where her own several dogs are present), or won't submit to being bathed and groomed, then the owner is simply politely informed not to bring the dog back and is not charged for services not rendered (i.e., is charged for the boarding but not the failed attempt at grooming).

Oh, almost forgot: she also briefly worked at Petsmart for about a year or so before opening her own shop, and pissed everyone off there because she was so productive after having spent two decades grooming dogs as to make commission her first pay period. From what she told me, Petsmart and their in-shop grooming center in particular is full of snippy, unproductive people who don't love animals with the kind of irrational, unflagging infatuation necessary for such a job. Though even they weren't as bad as the assembly-line hose-and-cage she saw at a local vet's office.

Why does Consumerist print this crap? It takes away from the legitimate gripes. They did the guy's grooming job in one day, ahead of schedule. The dog was admittedly hard-to-handle. He should be happy he got someone to do it. Write to Consumerist when the Petsmart employees are regularly farking your girlfriend. Then, you can gripe.

There are no bad dogs, just bad owners. The fee is on you for being a horrible human being.

I pet sit, and my contract states that owners will be responsible for any costs incurred if their dog bites me (hard enough bite to need medical attention) - but if the dog DOES act that way, I don't add a tiny little fee in addition, I tell them I won't be sitting their dog any more... Like $6 is going to make up for a bite... :p

Hey Justin, did that dog eat your balls too or did you just give them to your girlfriend?

I see no problem with this.

How is this asinine, exactly?

I guess I shouldn't mention that the aggressive dog my co-worker did today got a $20 "bad dog fee."


Some people will gladly pay these fees rather than have their dog sedated and groomed at a vet.


As a commissioned worker, these fees are added since an unruly dog may take up another grooming slot since they take more time.

I honestly don't have a problem with them charging this as long as it isn't abused. If any of you have worked at a pet groomer or known anyone who has, you'll know that rich bastards like to bring their little bastard dogs in that have no behavioral training whatsoever and every other bad trait imaginable. They see no problem with handing their dog over to someone that may or may not be attacked by it, because it's their 'job.'

Actually, let me set it straight. If your dog can't be safely handled, they aren't going to handle it. It's a lot cheaper to tell you no than to pay a workers comp claim and hospital bill and rabies/tetnus shots because a dog bit someone and wouldn't let go. Of course, some shops would rather their workers get bit than tell a richbiatch no, but those are just shiatty places to work.

tl;dr: If your can't be bothered to train your dog, you should have no problem paying $6 extra since you work so much you don't have time to tell your dog 'no' or otherwise discipline them once in a while.

Getting my dog groomed?

This is a foreign concept to me since I have a hose, soap and clippers at home if need be.

farking kill the damn thing. Retarded ass lap dogs should be shot on site.

And I second what muck4doo said, dogs are followers, so it's up to the human owner to pull their head out of their ass and treat it like a dog, not like a 2 year old infant child.

fark lap dogs, fark tiny dogs, fark show dogs. Cats are far superior anyways, but if you're going to have a dog, at least do it the right way.

Eyebleach: I've got a blue healer/Australian shepherd mix. I could buy several more dogs with what my 'bad dog' bill would be.

When she was a pup having a good time in my office...

Now THAT is a dog :) Adorable and mischievous :) And apparently I didn't remember how to spell mischief lol. Thx FF

CrazyCracka420: farking kill the damn thing. Retarded ass lap dogs should be shot on site.

And I second what muck4doo said, dogs are followers, so it's up to the human owner to pull their head out of their ass and treat it like a dog, not like a 2 year old infant child.

fark lap dogs, fark tiny dogs, fark show dogs. Cats are far superior anyways, but if you're going to have a dog, at least do it the right way.

Watches NASCAR ^^^^^^

You know, I hate this crap. Just because they have a certificate, does not mean that your animal beautician, or whatever the position is called at chain locations, is a dog whisperer...No dog is excited by being put in a noose and manhandled by a stranger with noisy metal objects.

Vets are included in this rant as well. I have a dog that is neurotic as hell, and 50lbs. She occasionally requires special handling, which I mention to the receptionist when I make the booking, and I bring her in muzzled.

The vet walks in and starts flapping her arms and talking in this sickening baby talk. The dog immediately starts hiding behind me, and panting heavily, which I understand because I want this psycho to shut the hell up too.

What part of 'this dog already has issues' , did she not get?

/next time no muzzle

Earpj: This is true. I believe you sign a contract that you are responsible for such bills. Also, I think your dog goes to the pound for quarantine, which you also have to pay for.

/Don't quote me. I might be wrong.

Too late, sucker!

I_Am_Weasel: So you drop your dog off and the groomer, through an arbitrary set of rules decides you should pay extra.

I assume they tape all the grooming sessions so that there is proof the dog was misbehaving and you're not just going to take the word of the people you're going to be paying the money to.

$6.00 is hardly enough to merit surveillance footage, and if you b*tch enough about it they'll probably waive it. Some dogs are a huge pain in the ass, and considering the extra time it takes to groom an unruly beast, $6.00 is a bargain.

Side note: I sold Aflac as part of my brokerage business, I filed more accident plan claims to a dog groomer than to any of my other clients. I think there were 5 groomers in the shop and every other week one of them was going to the doctor for tetanus, antibiotics, etc.

/Amusing tale, homie

LOL @ next time no muzzle.

I totally understand. I have 2 dogs. One is sweet as pie and loves everyone. Her favorite thing to do is cuddle me and give kisses to anyone who will let her. I've barely had to train her. The other one I've spent over $1000 training. She's still a totally mean witch to everyone but me. She even bit my mother. I've done everything I can for her and she just gets scared at everyone and lashes out. It's taken me almost a year to get her used to my other dog.

One dog is a pit bull mix. The other one is a yorkiepoo. Guess which one is the biatch.

Another reason not to own dogs.

Don't be a cheap bastard, pay the $6, if they did a good job tip them too... and be happy they were less cut up and traumatized than if they tried to rush through it.

ShillinTheVillain: $6.00 is hardly enough to merit surveillance footage

You're right.

But it's also just enough for someone to say "screw this," and go somewhere else.

Enjoy your six dollars, PetSmart.

I_Am_Weasel: So you drop your dog off and the groomer, through an arbitrary set of rules decides you should pay extra.

I assume they tape all the grooming sessions so that there is proof the dog was misbehaving and you're not just going to take the word of the people you're going to be paying the money to.

Of course not, The tape would show some noob accidentally jabbing the dog in the face with a toothbrush or something, right before the 'accident' occurs.

CSB time.

PetSmart sold me a sick hamster. Died within 7 days of coming home with me and the two year old, who immediately named it "Nosie." (She can't pronounce "mousie" yet)

I went back to PetSmart. They no longer had any female black bear hamsters in stock. Said that they would come in on Thursday's shipment. Ok, I said, I'll come back on Thursday.

Fast forward to Thursday. I go into PetSmart. "Oh, they come in on Thursday's evening shipment, so they won't be out until tomorrow." Me: "But there are female black bear hamsters in the shipment, right?" PetDouche: "Yes." Me: "Ok, I'll be back tomorrow."

Friday rolls around. I pick up the rugrat and we go to PetSmart. There are no black bear hamsters in the cages, female or otherwise. Me: "Where are the black bear hamsters?" Same PetDouche: "Oh, we didn't get any in last night." Me: Fine, give me one of the female short hairs I see in the cage there." PetDouche: "Oh, since we've only had these for less than 24 hours, we can't sell them." Me: "Fark you, gimme my money back." PetDouche: "We'll have some black bears next Thursday." Me: That's what you told me on Monday, jackass. Money please."

Manager (coming out of his office ahead of a female employee, tucking in his shirt): "What seems to be the problem here?" Me: Reiterate story of defective hamster and lack of integrity of his employee. Manager: "Would you like a refund or an IOU?" Me: "An IOU that may or may not be applicable come next week? Why do you even display the hamsters that you can't sell? Money please." Manager: "Ok, authorize the refund." Manager then looks back at the female employee and goes back to the office, PetTart in tow.

Oh, and I shouldn't have to state that there were two employees on duty at the time and one was banging the manager in his office while customers were lined up waiting for help.

/End CSB

CrazyCracka420: fark lap dogs, fark tiny dogs, fark show dogs. Cats are far superior anyways, but if you're going to have a dog, at least do it the right way.

I'm not going to say cats are better and I don't share your hate for tiny dogs but my long-hair cat has never been to a groomer. I've learned that buying a black cloth beanbag chair was either a great idea or a very bad one. It doesn't look black anymore but the cat loves it even though I find it uncomfortable.

I was just thinking yesterday that it's been a while since she coughed up a hairball and you know what she does first thing this morning? Yep, and then she thinks she can cover it up by yanking on the curtains.

Cats are stupid.

LOL at the people here who have obviously never worked at a Grooming Salon of any type and had to actually deal with dogs of this ilk.

I love the way dogs are their owners' "babies" until it comes to actually taking care of them. If you can't groom your own pet, congratulations, you've just given birth to a live animal that you admit you don't want to or can't raise.

I don't see why this article has an "ASNINE" tag. Just walking my own dog around my neighborhood, I can see that 60% of dog owners around my area are BAD owners - never trained or socialized their dogs, but think that they're oh-so-cute when they're running around nipping at people and peeing all over carpets.

The_Six_Fingered_Man: CSB time.

PetSmart sold me a sick hamster. Died within 7 days of coming home with me and the two year old, who immediately named it "Nosie." (She can't pronounce "mousie" yet)

I went back to PetSmart. They no longer had any female black bear hamsters in stock. Said that they would come in on Thursday's shipment. Ok, I said, I'll come back on Thursday.

Fast forward to Thursday. I go into PetSmart. "Oh, they come in on Thursday's evening shipment, so they won't be out until tomorrow." Me: "But there are female black bear hamsters in the shipment, right?" PetDouche: "Yes." Me: "Ok, I'll be back tomorrow."

Friday rolls around. I pick up the rugrat and we go to PetSmart. There are no black bear hamsters in the cages, female or otherwise. Me: "Where are the black bear hamsters?" Same PetDouche: "Oh, we didn't get any in last night." Me: Fine, give me one of the female short hairs I see in the cage there." PetDouche: "Oh, since we've only had these for less than 24 hours, we can't sell them." Me: "Fark you, gimme my money back." PetDouche: "We'll have some black bears next Thursday." Me: That's what you told me on Monday, jackass. Money please."

Manager (coming out of his office ahead of a female employee, tucking in his shirt): "What seems to be the problem here?" Me: Reiterate story of defective hamster and lack of integrity of his employee. Manager: "Would you like a refund or an IOU?" Me: "An IOU that may or may not be applicable come next week? Why do you even display the hamsters that you can't sell? Money please." Manager: "Ok, authorize the refund." Manager then looks back at the female employee and goes back to the office, PetTart in tow.

Oh, and I shouldn't have to state that there were two employees on duty at the time and one was banging the manager in his office while customers were lined up waiting for help.

/End CSB

Moral of the story: Become a manager at Petsmart.

Dadoody: I don't see why this article has an "ASNINE" tag.

I figured that the Asinine tag was for the Consumerist actually posting this drivel.

I used a pet carrying case, a large garbage bag, and the exaust from my Honda to kill my dog last week so I'm getting a kick out of these replies.

It's better than the "choke the dog to death" penalty they had when they killed my Girlfriend's dog a few years ago while it was getting groomed. It was squirming around so the tightend down her collar and walked away to handle other business while it "calmed down".

/Screw PetSmart, I'll never shop there again.

From TFA they tried another groomer who basically said sorry aint happening your dog is a pain in the ass. The place they brought the dog to did a good job and charged extra for the fuss, get over it.

hipster_slayer: Eyebleach: I've got a blue healer/Australian shepherd mix. I could buy several more dogs with what my 'bad dog' bill would be.

When she was a pup having a good time in my office...

Now THAT is a dog :) Adorable and mischievous :) And apparently I didn't remember how to spell mischief lol. Thx FF

That's OK, Eyebleach doesn't know how to spell "blue heeler." :-)

Unless ... maybe the dog works in the medical field?

There's nothing new about that... the barbershop I used to go to (before I started to bald and decided to go full Vic Mackey) had a $20.00 "untrained kid" charge on their price list. This was at a time when haircuts were $7.00, $6.00 for rednecks and $5.00 for old timers.

Restaurants need to do this too... messy kid? Automatic $20 tip.

The First Four Black Sabbath Albums: Why does Consumerist print this crap?

I think that they'll print anything that someone considers a gripe. If you know your little fluffy is going to be a PITA then accept the fact that you're going to have to pay extra.

When I had my own IT shop I charged extra for bench work on "smoker's PCs". Only one guy was upset about it.

myrla_cat: LOL at the people here who have obviously never worked at a Grooming Salon of any type and had to actually deal with dogs of this ilk.

I own a dog of this ilk and have trained her to the tune $2000 and some prozac, just so we can try and have a peaceful vet visit.

I'll tell any groomer that same thing I tell my 3 year old niece: It's an animal and if you hurt it might try to bite you.

The $6 is likely in addition to other "fees" hidden or known. PetSmart groomers are "contract" workers with below minimum wage hourly pay if they don't make commision rate, which actually includes add-ons. PetSmart groomers are generally so poorly trained, supervised and paid that the lowest common denominator always wins out. Called to speak to my fiancee at work at PetSmart and another groomer answered--assumed I was a customer and actually told me that she had quit; my fault for calling during her lunch break I guess. Oh, and some groomers will actually beat the shiat out of your "unruly" pet too, be forewarned, in case the groomer is having a bad day/out of meth.

talldarknstinky: Restaurants need to do this too... messy kid? Automatic $20 tip.

Messy kid? Try the loud mouthed little brats. They should also impose a babysitting fee in walmart. Every time I go in that place there are small kids running around by themselves. Just begging for some perv to haul them out of walmart.

I have actually done my job trying to train my yorkiepoo. I have literally spent over $1000 training her. She is just the type of dog who doesn't get along with other people or animals. It's a bloody miracle that she gets along with my pit bull.

I know my dog is a pain. On the very rare occasion that I do take her to the groomers I tell them that she doesn't like people. I also bring her in muzzled. So they are fully warned what they are in for. That's my job as her owner. Their job is to charge me what we agreed upon in the begining and to do a good job on my dog. Keeping her safe in the process. None of this hidden fee bull poo.