Any Grooming Questions?

[Ash47]

Hey Everyone! I am a groomer along with my fiance, and I am here to answer any questions about grooming any of you may have! Thanks all, can't wait to talk to you! Ashleigh

[Renee750il]

Hi, Ashleigh! Now, lol, where were you a couple of months ago when we needed you! Glad you're here now, anyway. You might want to go back through some of the older threads and see if you can clear up some of our grooming questions from the past . . .

[poodlesmom]

I am sure your offer will be a great help. :)

I, for one, will definitely take you up on it if I ever get the nerve to attempt to groom my 2 standard poodles myself! :eek:

[Ash47]

Just wanted to bump this up so people can find it easier!

[NewYorker]

I have a 5 1/2 month old Lhasa and need to know what to do with his hair that is full of static ;) When you pet him his hair stands up straight. Is there a special shampoo I should use? I've been using puppy shampoo. Thanks in advance...
Christine

[Ash47]

Hey Christine
Just wash as you normally do. Condition heavily, then rinse. Once she is dry, get a fabric softener and rub it with the lay of the hair. If this doesn't work, just let me know. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve! ;)

[bonster]

I'm happy with general coat grooming of my GSD-X, but the other day had a vet's assistant clip her claws down as they needed doing. On sight of the clippers she went absolutely beserk (woofing/growling and backing away) - we got it done but it was a hard job! Maybe she's seen them before and had the job badly done. This isn't a job I'd like to do myself, but how would you deal with the dog in these circumstances? The vet's assistance got spooked and ended up muzzling ( :eek: !! - for the first time ever) my dog.... (I wish she'd left it) how does a pro deal with a situation like that? (It was really weird, the assistant said she'd been bitten by another dog just the week before.)
She's never bitten anyone, she just got scared. I've never seen her like that before, and the vet that knows her was pretty surprised too.
Maybe you've got a tip or two you can share?

[Ash47]

Hiya Bonster
Try this: Your dog will be most comfortable having you do anything for her. Put her up on a table, washing machine, anything tall so that you don't have to bend. With Bonnie facing your right, put your left arm under her so that you are "cradling" her in a sense. With your left hand, pick up one paw, clip those claws with the clipper in your right hand. Proceed to the next one. Now, with Bonnie facing your left, cradle with left arm again. Pick up a paw with left hand, and clip with right. If you simply can't get her to do it, she may have to be sedated before getting them clipped.
As I'm sure you probably know, letting the claws grow too much will cause them to curl around and grow into the paw pads. So, she must get them clipped occassionally. I hope this all helps, I know how a scared dog can be when getting groomed.

[bonster]

Thanks for that - I'm going to be brave and learn to do it myself :) - I was pretty much decided anyway, and appreciate your comments.
We only got though that escapade I'm sure because I was there - and we do have good trust, so that's the way forward.
I think a lot of it was to do with the particular girl who was doing it -- she only told me afterwards that she'd got bitten last week, and she didn't seem very confident!
Thanks for the advice!

[NewYorker]

Thank you Ashleigh, I will try that. I didnt mention my puppy is Ashley too :D
Christine

[Renee750il]

Ashleigh, what type of nail clippers do you recommend for very, very big dogs with EXTREMELY hard nails. Charley cut Shiva's with his wirecutters and they worked well, but were awfully ragged. One of her nails has split now and I can't help but believe that the ragged cutting probably contributed to or caused it.

I'm wondering if I'm going to end up having to file her nails! :rolleyes: No, there's no way she'll let anyone near her with a Dremel. The big goofy girl is even afraid of the hairdryer, so any nail filing will have to be done by hand.

[hovo_hopar]

hi i have a question my dog hates brushes she will chew them up untill they crack and break she hates it when i brush her how can i get her to let me brush her i tried tying her to somethingbut not tightly and she tosses and turnes and bites me but not really hard just trying to tell me to stop and i know i have to because she has been dropping alot of hair lately she went to the groomer andout a week and a half ago and she wasnt letting out alot of hair but now its everywhere .i need help is there something i can do i would really appreciate the help

[Ash47]

Renee,
You should get either the guillotine or plier type nail cutters. I personally think pliers for big thick nails. Yea, they are ragged and split because of what they were cut with. No problem! You can fix that with a regular nail file. Only thing to remember is to go in an upward motion only when filing. Never down or side to side. This is so the nail stays angled to the floor. Hope this helps! Oh yea, you can go to www.petedge.com to get grooming supplies really cheap.

[Ash47]

Hovo,
You will just have to wait until your dog is laying asleep, or just relaxing. Let him smell the brush, if he starts to snap, take it away. Wait until he calms down then begin brushing very softly on the nape of the neck. Repeat this for a few days, until he starts getting more used to it. Then, start brushing more and more sections of the body until he completely used to it.

[hovo_hopar]

what kind of brush should i use the hair is about 1 to 2 inches long and thin it floats in the air

[Khristine]

Hello,

I'm new to these forums.. I was seeking some grooming advice for my 10 week old Puppy.. He's a Pomeranian/Yorkie Mix.


He has some dandruff... I've tried Oatmeal Shampoo.. My vet says it could be the sudden shift from cold and dry weather to hot and windy weather.. but i was wondering if there was something I could use for his dry skin.. cause i feel awful when he scratches.. cause his nails are so long he's getting scabs behind his ears/neck ... The vet said it might not be his flea collar... so i'm not sure if he has allergies or if its just dandruff and weather related.

I also wanted to ask about trimming his nails.. I know that if you trim a cats nails too short and cut the nerve they bleed... do i have to worry about that with doggies too? cause his nails are black i can't see the vein/nerve.

Thank you for any advice you may have to offer!

- Khristine

[CreatureTeacher]

I would absolutely love to have a primer for trimming nails. I've trained dogs twice my size that were itching to take a bite out of me and not batted an eye, but when I go to trim my sweetie's nails I get soooo nervous. I've "quicked" him more than once, and although it doesn't bother him much, I get all huffy about it! I know I'm just ridiculous, but I'd really like to have a good, solid rule for cutting those black nails. Thanks!

[Renee750il]

A few people here use a Dremel tool to file. The theory is that it's easier to do, there's no loud "snap" to startle the dog or an uncomfortable pulling. I don't know. I can only imagine Shiva's reaction. Or Kharma's. Bimmer, thankfully, manages to keep his nails nice and tidily worn down to the perfect length. Just one more thing the little feller does right . . . :D

[Saje]

What a good boy that bimmer is! I had a horse like that. All solid black hooves (stronger) that she wore down perfectly and the farrier would trim every once in awhile and always commented on how great her feet were. Do you think she passed that on to her baby? Nooo... of course not. she got her daddy's feet. :rolleyes:

[Ash47]

Hovo,
Here is a link to some good brushes you should try. http://www.petedge.com/jump.jsp?itemType=INDEX&itemID=157
Petedge has great prices too. Also, get a fabric softener and rub it on the fur. This will reduce static and make it not stand up.

[Ash47]

Khristine,
A Yorkie/Pom mix. What a coat that one's gonna have. Just gorgeous! There are a few options to explore here: Puppy Dermatitis. This is caused by "malnutrition, worms, or some sort of internal infection," as quoted in one of my manuals. Another possibility: Dermatitis. Dermatitis comes in many different forms. He could be allergic to any number of things, such as: pollens, carpet fiber, colognes, etc... There really is nothing you can do about this because you may never figure out the culprit. But, make sure you always give him a weekly bath in Flea Shampoo. When a dog has Dermatitis, a flea is his worst enemy. The saliva irritates the allergy further.

After the baths, spray a leave in conditioner on the coat. Massage it in. You can make your own spray on conditioner by buying some conditioner from the Pet Store and mixing 3 parts water and 1 part conditioner in a spray bottle. Mix well and spray. Don't use flea collars. Sometimes, they only irritate the skin. I hope this all helps!! :-)

[Ash47]

Also,
About the nails. Begin clipping only the tip off. Just where it begins to curve. Then, the next week, take about another centimeter off. Each time you clip the nail, the quick recedes. When you do take off too much, don't freak out :eek: Pour some styptic powder on the nail that is bleeding and apply some pressure. The bleeding will stop and the pain will be numbed. You can buy styptic powder from the Pet Store also. Hope this helps!
Ashleigh
PS If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask.

[Lucky_Lover]

My dogs grommer is about to have a baby in like 7 days so I can't get her to do my dogs nails. His dew claw is really long it is just starting to turn upwards Im guessing that means he needs his naild done. According to my groomer he has really long cuticles so she can't cut them short enough she says that he needs to get his nails cut like eevery other week or somthin to kiond of train the cuticles to shorten. Does that meen I have to bring him toi the groomers just to get his nails done?

[Lucky_Lover]

Oh woops lol I didn't bother to look if u had already written about nails till after I posted so sry. That is good info bout the nails though.

[Lucky_Lover]

sierra.bmp

["grey ghost"]

I have a Terrier mix and he has quite a soft coat, very fluffy...what do you think would be the best tool (brush, comb etc.) to use when grooming?

[Ash47]

A greyhound comb or a slicker brush. Slicker brush will slick it down so as not to have a lot of static.
Ashleigh

[Khristine]

Thanks for replying Pro47! actually the funny thing is, i think it was the worms.. because he doesn't have the worms anymore and his coat is so fluffy.. his skin isn't dry anymore, but i guess some residue flakes... i actually gave him a bath 2 weeks ago in baby shampoo and dove conditioner, he seemed to looove it.. he smells so nice.. but even when i put the cottonball in his ear.. he wiggles sooo much when i give him a bath that i can't wash his head.. and it's getting smelly! :confused: everything but his head is fresh smelling :)

["grey ghost"]

Thanx for the advice Pro47! I now have a slicker brush and it works very well, (and you're very right about the static issue) although he still leaves little fluff balls around the house...but that appears to be incurable unfortunately! Well anyways thats enough of my rambling! lol! To make a long story short, thanx a bunch for the advice!

[Ash47]

No problem grey ghost! That's what I'm here for.
That's great that you got the problem worked out Khristine! I bet he feels and looks lots better. :-)

[Adrienne]

Any advice on how to groom my new German Shepherd pup? I have already started with the basics, playing with his feet, cutting nails, looking in his ears, brushing his coat...I guess I would like to know how often do shepherds require grooming and how much time and effort go into their grooming needs? Also I have heard that they shed badly by some people and that they don't shed much by others, any insight into this? What is an ideal brush for shepherds? Sorry for so many questions but I have just one more, when does a shepherd lose his puppy coat?
Thanks for any input!

[Ash47]

Hey Adrienne,
GSDs require a lot of brushing. A good brush to use would be the "Zoom Groom" or a rake. The rake looks like a loop. It has rough edges. You will know it when you see it. This gets the guard hairs out from under the top coat. German Shepherds are double-coated dogs, so expect tons of shedding. Brush once at least every other day. Pay attention to the ears, they will be exposed to lots of different things being upright. Also, he will lose his puppy coat anywhere from 5-9 months, estimated. Every puppy is different, depending on their diet, their genes, environment, etc.
Congrats on your new baby and if you have anymore questions, just ask :)

[Renee750il]

Something practical to remember about German Shedders, er, um Shepherds, is that the amount of shedding is going to depend greatly on the climate. If you've got cold winters and hot summers you're going to be very, very busy.

And be sure to put the hair you comb out outside. It makes excellent soil additive, plus the birds just love it to line their nests!

[teebos69]

my aunt has a dog with a very oily coat ,the other night it was raining outdoors and the dog came in and the oil turned white.....YUK.IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO TO STOP ALL THIS OIL ON THE DOGS COAT.

[CreatureTeacher]

And be sure to put the hair you comb out outside. It makes excellent soil additive, plus the birds just love it to line their nests!
Fuzzy garden, huh? You sure I wouldn't be planting puppy seeds? ;)

Renee, you're like Martha Stewart except without the evil. :D

[Renee750il]

Hate to admit it, but I've learned a lot from Martha! I think her worst evil is probably being so damnably competent at everything she does . . . ;)

I think I could actually enjoy working for her. I always get along with the perfectionist bosses.

[bubbatd]

I was watching a titmouse one day when he/she had gathered so much hair from the patio it looked like a huge mustache.!! I gather the brushed out hair and put it in a mesh bag (onion etc) and hang it on a tree. So much fun watching the birds pick at it and take it to their nest. EliNHunter and I once found a beautiful nest woven from her horse's tail. Was the only grey horse in the barn, so we knew it was Kal's. We still have it.

[Ash47]

teebos,
Wash with dish soap. After you get that completely washed off, bathe with a normal dog shampoo. None of the fancy schmancy stuff like honey/oatmeal or anything, just normal dog shampoo. Hope this helps! :)

[teebos69]

do you know what is causing the grease in her coat.

[Ash47]

Probably just a skin allergy or disorder. Just means you will need to bathe her with two different soaps and a little more frequently. Nothing too serious, I don't imagine. :)

[caspersmommy]

My Casper is shedding really bad right now. My hubby and I know that we are suppose to brush him a few times a week but that sort of got put on the back burner while I was pregnant with my daughter. But I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to get him groomed. He is a Miniature American Eskimo!

[Ash47]

Hi Casper,
You may want to take her to the groomer and get them to use a Coat King or a Clipper Vac. They are WONDERFUL deshedders.
If you don't have the time for a grooming trip, you should get the Zoom Groom gloves and just get as much hair out as possible. Then brush her with a regular doggy brush.
The best thing though will be to get her a Clipper Vac treatment. The brushing should do ok for awhile though!
Hope this helps :)

[caspersmommy]

Thanks! I'll have to see if any place here has a Clipper Vac. I just have to get his bordatella shot again. Lost a previous dog due to Kennel Cough after I took him to get groomed. Don't want the same thing to happen to Casper. My son would be lost with him around to play with.

[josephine]

hi!
i'd like to ask what you think about this...
My dog has lots of long hair and because she loses often some,my dad asked me to take her to a groomer to get her hair cut really short or completely shaved.
I find it crazy because i haven't seen a dog like her with short hair or shaved... :confused: she's look like a rat :(

Anyway,let me know what you think.I wanted to ask before i take her to a groomer.

thanks
here's a pic of her.
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=3475&cat=500&page=1

[Ash47]

josephine,
If the hair is a really big problem, but you want to keep some hair, you could ask them to shave the body with a 4 or 5 blade. Then use a guard blade on the head and just lightly trim the tail. I will look for some pics and see if you like them.

[Ash47]

Ok here is a link, just go to it and scroll down until you see Abbey Gayle the Shih Tzu. What do you think about that cut? Or do you like any other cuts on there?
http://www.dogbreedz.com/friendz/DogPhotos.cfm/Breed/136

[LisaMarie]

I'm a dog and cat lover and have always wondered how dog groomers got into the business. Is there a school you attend, or do you learn while working for another groomer?

I'd love to be a groomer, although I'm sure it's not without it's challenges, and I was just curious.

Thanks!

[josephine]

Ok here is a link, just go to it and scroll down until you see Abbey Gayle the Shih Tzu. What do you think about that cut? Or do you like any other cuts on there?
http://www.dogbreedz.com/friendz/DogPhotos.cfm/Breed/136

thanks Pro for your suggestions!

And thanks for the pic,ok that doesn't looks so bad!Thanks so much!

[MonaD]

I read a few posts up about "losing the puppy coat". What IS the "puppy coat"?
Murphie is 4 month old, border collie mix with probably some kind of northern breed in her too because she does have a double layer coat. I LOVE her fluffy and glossy fur, but apparently it is going to change? In what way?
Thanks!
Mona

[Ash47]

LisaMarie,
There are several options as how to get into grooming. You could be an apprentice if you could find someone to allow you to follow them around. Or, you could Google "grooming schools" and see what is nearest you. Also, you could go to www.learntogroom.com Just take your pick! Grooming is about more than just being a dog or cat lover, though I don't doubt that you are one! It's just that it requires TONS and TONS of patience. You literally must have the patience of a saint. LOL Dealing with the people hasn't been as bad for me as dealing with the animals who don't understand what's going on. They aren't people and can't be told that everything is going to be ok. So you just have to take your time, talk slowly and in a whisper until they decide you may touch them again. A vet's office is the best place to groom, because if you ever accidentally cut an animal, which happens to everyone, then you are right there with the doctor, and the animal won't suffer too much.
But, these few cons could never ever measure up to the pros of animal grooming. You are creating a masterpiece on a creature you love, the animal. Once it is finished, you see that it is a job well done and the animal is smiling and kissing you and looks lots better and more comfortable. It also makes you feel great when the owner tells what a great job you have done and that they will continue using you as their groomer. I could go on and on. I will always groom, as long as God and my health allow me.
I think if you want to get into grooming, you are making a wise choice.
Ashleigh ;)

[Ash47]

MonaD,
The puppy coat is a good model of what the coat will most likely look like once they lose it. Have you ever noticed how the fur is kind of fuzzy or has a different feeling texture than "normal" dog hair? That's what it is. All that will happen is that the adult hair will slowly grow and push the baby hair out. You may see a lot of shedding during this time, but with him being Border Collie, you will most likely see shedding his entire life. Anyway, hope this helps!
Ashleigh

[MonaD]

Thanks Ashleigh!
She is rather fuzzy. In fact I while grooming her I sing her a goofy little song called "Fuzzy Bum" sung to the tune of "Puppy Love", har har. (I would only EVER admit that here,where I know all these dog lovers will understand! hee hee)
Mona

[Ash47]

MonaD
There is a thread on here somewhere where everyone is talking about singing to their dogs. LOL Don't think your crazy, we all do it.

[CharlieDog]

Ozzy is an Aussie/JRT mix, and he has a rather weird coat. Most of it is really soft short fur, and he appears to have an undercoat, but it isnt a double coat. Im not sure if Im making sense... Anyway, he has this thin strip of fur running down his back that is a lot coarser than the rest of his fur.

Plus, is there anyway to get rid of that ring around the neck where the collar sits and messes the fur up? I dont want to shave around his neck just to get the fur to go in straight. Someone told me to just put his collar on during the day and take it off at night... Suggestions?

[SharkBait]

Ello. :) I was just wondering... how often should my dog's nails be clipped? And do most people do this themselves or have a professional do it? Or do they just wear down themselves by walking on the hard ground, so stay the right length?

[Zoom]

:yikes: this is an OOOOOLD thread...

For the collar ring, yes, take the collars off at night and only put them on when you need to take them outside.

For nails, there are many other threads on here that can teach you how to clip your dogs nails, or you can just take him to a groomer and have them done for you. People go either way. I clip nails myself because I know how to and and it saves me $30. I also run them on concrete and stuff fairly often to keep them down a little bit, but it's not a substitute for clipping. Mostly keeps the edges rounded after clipping.

[Backward_Cinderella]

:yikes: this is an OOOOOLD thread...

For the collar ring, yes, take the collars off at night and only put them on when you need to take them outside.

For nails, there are many other threads on here that can teach you how to clip your dogs nails, or you can just take him to a groomer and have them done for you. People go either way. I clip nails myself because I know how to and and it saves me $30. I also run them on concrete and stuff fairly often to keep them down a little bit, but it's not a substitute for clipping. Mostly keeps the edges rounded after clipping.


Thirty dollars, Zoom??? The shop I used to work at did it for $4 for a small dog and $6 for a large dog! Holy cow! And I do it for free for anyone who wants it now. O.O