Dog taken to grooming salon so he can ‘see better’, internet shocked by results

A video of a grooming accident involving a fluffy Maltipoo puppy has captivated viewers TikTok.

The viral clip from user @themadisonkay shows the dog, a Maltese poodle mix, before and after a grooming session that left him almost unrecognizable. The video has been viewed more than 812,000 times 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 post about the footage reads: “I would like him to just get a haircut so he can see better,” noting what was believed to be the original request for a small haircut.

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

A caption on the post reads: “I 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. own a pet, 58 million of which own a dog.

The report shows that pet owners in the country will have spent $147 billion on their pets by 2023, including $12.3 billion on services such as to polishtraining, boarding, insurance, pet sitting/walking and all other services outside veterinary care.

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

‘That’s 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 “almost cried,” and said the drastic grooming 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 let me pay,” she explained.

Several users sympathized with the pet owner’s reaction, with Britt commenting: “This has happened to me before with my puppy!! It’s the worst feeling, even though it will grow back. They look like a completely different dog !!”

Other viewers expressed their amazement at the transformation. Joshyislit responded: “No way, is that even the same dog,” and Hannah Sutton added: “Like I just gasped.”

Sophie-Louise Kerenza Truelove humorously said, “That’s a crime!” while stuffidontwantyoutosee added: “That’s a violation.”

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

Amid the comments, some users speculated that the dog’s fur maybe mattedwhere groomers often have to shear instead of trimming to avoid discomfort for the animal.

In response to these comments, the dog owner clarified: “He had a few mats, but nothing crazy at all!!” in a later response.

However, Amy | Dallas Influencer commented: “He looked matte, he’s probably feeling so much better,” while user @love.island126 added: “He looked pretty matte (to be honest). He’ll 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 via TikTok for comment. This video has not been independently verified.

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