Dog Taken to Groomer So ‘He Can See Better,’ Internet Shocked by Result

A video about a grooming mishap involving a fluffy Maltipoo pup has captivated viewers on TikTok.

The viral clip posted by user @themadisonkay shows the dog, a Maltese-poodle mix, before and after a grooming session that left him nearly unrecognizable. The video has garnered over 812,000 views since it was shared on November 8.

The clip begins with a shot of the dog’s long hair fanning out around his face and covering his eyes.

A message overlaid on the footage reads: “I would like him to just get a trim so he can see better,” noting what was presumably the original request for a minor haircut.

However, the final reveal in the video shows the pup’s coat shaved short all over his body, with slightly longer hair left around his ears.

A caption shared with the post reads: “Didn’t even recognize my own son”.

According to a 2024 report from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) , 82 million households in the U.S. have a pet, with 58 million owning a dog.

The report found that pet owners in the country spent $147 billion on their pets in 2023, including $12.3 billion on services such as grooming, training, boarding, insurance, pet sitting/walking and all other services outside of veterinary care.

According to the report, total spending on pets is projected to reach an estimated $150.6 billion this year in the U.S., including $12.6 billion on other services such as grooming.

‘That Is a Crime’

The video has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from viewers on TikTok, many of whom shared their own experiences with unexpected grooming results.

In a later comment, the dog owner added that they “nearly cried,” sharing that the drastic trim was done by a small local groomer who felt so bad about the outcome that they waived the fee.

“They actually felt really bad and didn’t have me pay,” she explained.

Several users empathized with the pet owner’s reaction, such as Britt who commented “This happened to me with my pup before!! It’s the worst feeling even though it’s going to grow back. They look like a completely different dog!!”

Other viewers expressed their surprise at the transformation. Joshyislit reacted “No way, is that even the same dog,” and Hannah Sutton added “The way I just gasped.”

Sophie-Louise Kerenza Truelove humorously said “That is a crime!” while stuffidontwantyoutosee added “That is a violation.”

Some even suggested seeking compensation, with Lee writing “I would sue,” and rapidgorl72919 adding “I would get a refund.”

Amid the reactions, some users speculated that the dog’s coat might have been matted, which often requires groomers to shave rather than trim to avoid causing discomfort to the animal.

Responding to these comments, the dog owner clarified “He had a couple [of mats] but nothing crazy at all!!” in a later comment.

However, Amy | Dallas Influencer noted “He looked matted, he probably feels so much better,” while user @love.island126 added “He looked pretty matted tbh [to be honest]. He will be more comfortable x.”

Others saw the positive side of the result, such as Annabel de Leeuw who noted “At least he can see now.”

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

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