A dog owner has been left utterly shocked after collecting her pet from a professional grooming session, questioning where her £150 fee actually went. The incident, shared on social media, has sparked widespread debate and advice from industry professionals.
The Shocking Reveal
Posting a photo of her white and grey dog on Reddit on 5th December 2025, the woman simply captioned the image: "Came home and saw the $200 haircut our dog got." The picture showed the canine with a notably uneven, patchy coat. A tuft of hair hung over its eyes, while other areas appeared blotchily shaved. The result was so striking that fellow users quickly compared the pooch to a llama, with one commenter stating it looked like the groomer had "sheared a Llama and called it a day." Others drew comparisons to the cartoon character Shaun the Sheep.
Professional Groomers Weigh In
The post attracted comments from several professional groomers, who offered insights into what might have gone wrong. One groomer was unequivocal, advising the owner to find another groomer. They pointed out the patchy work on the chest, excess fur on the flanks, and the fact the eyes had not been properly cleared unless specifically requested otherwise.
Another groomer provided a more nuanced view, suggesting the dog's behaviour or its condition before the groom could be factors. They noted that the appearance of the ears suggested heavy matting, which can be difficult and dangerous to remove if a dog is reactive. "If a dog is severely acting up, those parts can be very difficult to get to safely," they explained.
The Core Issue: Value and Communication
However, this groomer stressed a critical point of professional ethics. "Regardless of reason. And you make sure that the owner is well informed about why." They concluded that, irrespective of the challenges, if a groom cannot be completed properly, the groomer should not charge the full price and must communicate clearly with the owner.
The consensus among commenting experts was clear: the owner should seek a new groomer. The episode highlights the importance of clear communication between pet owners and service providers, and the expectation of receiving fair value for a premium service, especially one costing £150.
