How Many of you Groom your own dogs?

Foyerhawk · 09-15-2009, 06:01 AM

Absolutely (and in the past I have had Schnauzers and other breeds that get clipped). I have dog show experience, and a knack for it anyway. I wouldn't let a non-show groomer touch any Golden of mine. I do the paws and pasterns on the GSD and the paws, pasterns, ears, and tail tip on the Goldens (like is done in the breed ring). It's cheap and easy to learn to groom your dog. I know some people who pay to have dogs like Labs just bathed- which is fine if you have money to flush away, but most of us don't.

Keechak · 09-15-2009, 07:25 AM

My aussies get a bath when they are eather stinky or stained, stinky usually comes first.

Then I trim their feet pads trim the hairs between the toes, trim the our edges of the ears and remove any straggles, they get a full line brushing when I start to feel them blowing coat, and any mats behind the ears are first brushed out or if that doesn't work I take the thinningshears to them. then the hocks are fluffed up and shaped with a shears.

I learned from talking to people in my breed and also from well written "show" websites

js2jc · 09-18-2009, 04:23 PM

This is only my second post and this site has already been quite helpful. I plan to groom my schnoodle (who I am getting tomorrow). She is 10wks old and white with poodle-like hair. I have been cutting hair though since I was 13. I also cut my golden in the summer due to the heat. I have clippers for my son, but they aren't that great, so I plan to get some better ones. I just don't have the money due to being disabled and on SSI. Definitely no extra money lying around. I think the most important thing is to be confident, so the dog feels you're in control. Every time I get a puppy, I handle every part of them as though it's an exam, in order to get them used to it. It makes vet visits ect. easy. I have always trimmed my dogs claws and paw fur cause I hate the mud and snow clumps that come in. I'll let you know what it's like grooming a schnoodle soon! Hope I'm not in over my head! Might be interesting. And - I say go for it.

Ty_Tyler · 09-19-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingoFan

How many of you groom your own dogs...and how do you learn to do it on your own? I would love to get some clippers and learn to do it myself.....but have no idea where to start????
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I used to take my dogs to a groomer but stopped for two reasons. One, I have had financial challenges for the last five or so years and can't afford it. Second, when I took my rescue dog for the first time they cut her ear really bad with the clippers and she needed stitches. When I went to the vet to pick her up she hid behind me, so afraid, and it just broke my heart.

I suppose I am fortunate as my dogs enjoy the grooming. They absolutely love being brushed and don't mind the clippers. In fact, my one aussie lies flat her back when I use the clippers which makes it so frustrating to try and groom all of her. My other dog is quite sensitive to sounds (he hides when the air conditioning turns on) so it amazes me that the clippers don't bother him.

Keechak · 09-19-2009, 08:52 PM

Ty, What do you use a clippers for on an aussie? I groom mine all the time and have never needed a clippers.

emily445455 · 09-19-2009, 09:39 PM

Yeah, hubby and I do. But then again there's not much to grooming Labs. Bath, brush, clip nails...done

Ty_Tyler · 09-20-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keechak

Ty, What do you use a clippers for on an aussie? I groom mine all the time and have never needed a clippers.

I am hoping we are talking about the same thing...the electric trimmer/clipper? It is specific for dog grooming. I have used scissors and it looks choppy so the electric shears gives the dogs a clean look. I want to get the Furminator when I can afford it.

Tracey

Keechak · 09-20-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty_Tyler

I am hoping we are talking about the same thing...the electric trimmer/clipper? It is specific for dog grooming. I have used scissors and it looks choppy so the electric shears gives the dogs a clean look. I want to get the Furminator when I can afford it.

Tracey

lol yep we are talking about the same thing, well I hope the clippers does good for you I'm fine with the shears(Scissors) and I have had no problems. I've actually never seen anyone at the Aussie shows I've been to ever use a clippers ether. I only wondered because if your other aussie doesn't like it it might help to just use the shears. there is a nice website on-line that goes over how to properly groom an aussie with only a few tools no electricity needed. I'll find it for you, you might want to try it on your other aussie.

http://www.sealevelaussies.com/groom/grooming.htm

There you go, just look thru the Grooming Aussies tab on the far left

Ty_Tyler · 09-20-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keechak

lol yep we are talking about the same thing, well I hope the clippers does good for you I'm fine with the shears(Scissors) and I have had no problems. I've actually never seen anyone at the Aussie shows I've been to ever use a clippers ether. I only wondered because if your other aussie doesn't like it it might help to just use the shears. there is a nice website on-line that goes over how to properly groom an aussie with only a few tools no electricity needed. I'll find it for you, you might want to try it on your other aussie.

http://www.sealevelaussies.com/groom/grooming.htm

There you go, just look thru the Grooming Aussies tab on the far left

Thanks for the link. I guess I wasn't clear...my other aussie isn't bothered by the clippers which surprised me as he is so sensitive to sounds. One of best friends who volunteers for aussie rescue has a few aussies and uses the electric clippers. That is how I started using them.

FlamingoFan · 11-17-2009, 07:31 PM

Thanks to all of your support and good advice....I have been successfully giving Stella haircuts at home!!!!!!!! Yay! Saving LOTS of money and I'm starting to get the hang of it!!!!!

http://stellalind.wordpress.com/2009...the-schnoodle/

Thanks so much for the help!!!

Pai · 11-17-2009, 07:35 PM

Once you get comfortable with the tools, it's often not as hard as people imagine. And of course, saving money is always a bonus! Plus you can customize their look however you want. =)

Pudlmom · 11-17-2009, 08:58 PM

I've been grooming my poodles for the past 20 years. I hated having to leave my dog all day long at the groomer. I'm still using the same Golden A5, which speaks well for Oster. I dislike doing the feet the most!

Michiyo-Fir · 11-18-2009, 12:18 PM

I groom all our dogs. All 3 get paws trimmed, potty area trimmed, nails clipped.

In the summer Truffles gets a haircut basically with thinning shears and thinning shears to the ears too.

The other 2 don't need anything else other than a brushing and paws/potty area trimmed.

MoonStr80 · 11-18-2009, 10:59 PM

I self taught myself how to groom Mini Schnauzers the first time I did it was horrible the more I got into it I got better & better! I'm now a pro hehe

Pai · 11-19-2009, 02:43 AM

The nice thing about learning to groom, is that hair can grow back if you ever mess up. =)

Foyerhawk · 11-19-2009, 08:29 AM

You can see some of mine in my post today on the before and after thread.

solow · 11-19-2009, 03:05 PM

bath groom and clip nails and fur ears the works have to admit not a whole lot of effort here not like they are Lhasa Apso or anything .

LuvMyAngels · 11-21-2009, 05:02 PM

I do. Though the only clipping is cleaning up his feet. I took him in to be groomed once, they gave him back looking exactly the same as when Im done with him. Why spend the money when I can do it myself? A little soap and water, towel off and blow dry...

Still naked after his latest bath...