[dane&cockermom]

when it comes to clearing out the eyes, how do you do it?

do you scoop them out with your clippers, or do you scissor the hair away?

i was taught to scoop with the clippers, but the new girl we just hired does it with her scissors.

any benefit to one way or the other?

just curious as to what you do.

[Graco22]

I generally use the clippers and a 10 blade. Sometimes on puppies, I may have to scissor it if they won't allow the clippers near their eyes, but I don't like that look. Its cleaner with a blade, and safer I think too. If I have to scissor it, I usually use thinners rather than straight shears.

[GroovyGroomer777]

I also scoop with a #10. I agree that it's a much cleaner look. Actually most of the time I have no choice but to shave the area because people are so lazy that they bring their dogs in with 2 months worth of crusted eye boogers that are impossible to scissor out or wash out, unless the dog is an angel and lets me work on their eyes for ten minutes. If they only took the time a few times a week to simply wipe their dog's eyes who knows what we could do.

[Graco22]

Hey Groovy, have you tried soaking the dog's face in tearless shampoo for a few minutes? I usually start with the face, then scrub the whole dog, then back to the face and comb the boogies out with a flea comb. Then I rinse. The soaking loosens it right up, and its easier on the dog than trying to dig under those gross boogies with a clipper. I have never had to shave any out since I started doing that years ago. And I am with you...why don't people wipe that out on occasion. SOmetimes they are so bad, the skin is raw and bleeding underneath. Poor things.

[GroovyGroomer777]

I will try soaking them longer and using a flea comb. I usualy was using my fingers to work those suckers out. Like you said, they are so irritated that many times the dog will protest flail its head about when I try to scrub those boogies out! It's very difficult and can be avoided so easily!

[Graco22]

I think you will be impressed with a soak and flea comb. The metal flea combs work best. Like I said, I have never had to try to pry and shave them out since I started doing this method years ago. I think its gentler on the dogs too. Let us know how it works for you.

[Puppyquicker]

I don't like to scoop because it can ruin the dog's expression, and customers have actually complained about other groomers 'scooping' although they don't call it that. You have much more control lifting and cutting with shears.