Chattylady,

Mabye the mobile groomer trouble people you are having is just around there. I hope so because that sounds just awful. Actually mobile grooming is great for your pets, esp. if they get really stressed out. I concentrate on the pets one on one so they are not rotated in and out of cages all day. It usually takes an average of about one hour to complete a groom and that is so much better on the dog than spending a few hours at a salon. We put alot of hard work into ours, so don't think it's a cheap investment for someone with no experience goes for. A brand new one can run $50,000 My husband designed and built ours. Alot of hard long hours went into it. He was also working a full time job when he did it. I do my best not to clipperburn or cut dogs. In fact I usually end up cutting my fingers if anything- not the dog. I am doing mobile because I like the way the dogs are treated. If I ever did open a salon I would still do hourly appointments for the dogs. I would offer drop offs if needed. And actually, around here there is a salon that alot of people come to me after there dogs have been cut. Like everyone has said, just ask questions and be comfortable with who you go to. My website is www.geocities.com/shampooandsnip/ . I can't figure out how to get pictures to upload to it so I have none on the site. If we could put pictures in here I would show you my van. It actually is cleaner than alot of shops may be, so I am not sure why chattylady is saying that they are dirty. Maybe it just depends on the van color or something. Mine is nice and white. I guess if I had went with dark wood it might look dirty but that doesn't mean it is. I know some of my clients talk about how dirty some shops are (mostly shops that allow smokers). In fact, one of the ladies who uses me now owns 2 cockers and at the shop she went to they kept catching kennel cough. So she uses me now because her dogs are never in contact with other animals for long periods. They were even vaccinated for it. The vet said the deal was that the lady must not be cleaning well so the virus just stays there and her dogs are very susseptible. They kept getting it every time. So it shouldn't be generalized in that way. I am sorry that the mobiles in your area are that way. Maybe it isn't all of them. I certainly hope not.