Got banned from a local pet group for telling someone their dog's haircut was wrong

I mean, I'm a groomer, and this person posted a picture of their poodle with a shaved face. They said they did it to keep it cool, but that's a big no for that breed's coat health. I just commented, 'Hey, maybe don't do that again, it can mess up the hair growth.' Next thing I know, I'm out of the group. The admin told me I was 'shaming' the owner. Has anyone else been banned for trying to give honest, helpful advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry_palmer243mo ago

Man I used to be the exact same way lol. I'd see someone doing something wrong with their pet and just had to correct them. Then I got a dog and made a dumb mistake myself, and someone came at me super harsh about it. Felt awful, like I was a bad owner. Now I get that people just don't know sometimes. You can give the same advice but starting with "hey I learned this the hard way" goes over way better.

hannah_williams1mo ago

Henry, that last line about starting with "hey I learned this the hard way" really stuck with me. It's such a simple change but it completely shifts how the other person hears you. I think the bigger issue nobody's touched on yet is how much social media has changed things. On platforms like Instagram or TikTok, people post their pets looking for support and cute comments, not advice. So when someone jumps in with a correction, it feels like a public shaming. There's no tone of voice or friendly context, just a stranger telling you you're wrong. In real life, you'd probably say the same thing with a smile and a laugh. Online it just reads like an attack.

lily3603mo ago

Tell me about it. I once got a lecture for using the wrong bowl that sounded like I'd committed a crime.