How many of you groom your own dogs?

[stellasmama]

We have a little Schnoodle pup, Stella, that we adopted back in June. We've taken her to be groomed twice. She's got long wavy hair that we have trimmed up, but we still keep her a little shaggy.

I bathe her, but have never "groomed" a dog. Besides buying clippers...where to you even start to learn how to groom your own dog??? I'd love to save the $50 it costs to have it professionally done.

How many of you groom your own pups and where do you start????

[Brattina88]

I groom my own dogs Its great!

I started by getting books out at the library, and reading up as much as I could. I also watched vidoes online, and rented videos specific to the style/s(breeds) I needed to know how to groom. The books helped me purchase the right kind of brushes, combs, and scissors for the dogs' coats (who knew there were so many different types of scissors - now that I know how to use thinning shears properly, its one of my favorite tools)
Do you have a petsmart near you? That grooms? I stood by there window and watched a couple of times (I'm sure they loved that lol) but I am a very visual learner.

Invest in a good pair of clippers. I love my Andis clipper. The pet set kits that they sell at pet stores just don't cut it. I went that route for a long time, and it was very hard. The blades went dull and the clippers died too often (I was not saving money by doing it at home that way). Also they were very hard to maneuver and clip the hair the way I wanted.
The andis that I use glides through the hair like butter, and does Not leave clipper marks (I used to call them racing stripes, because with the other clippers the dogs always had them for a couple days after being groomed).

In all honesty some of it is trial and error. Grooming at home can be a very rewarding experience, by both saving money, and I think the time with your dog is bonding and therapeutic even. But it can also be very challenging and frustrating. Just remember that it is just hair, and it will grow back

[planet molosser]

What you need id a dog comb and de matt spray.
this is needed in between grooms and will reduce the time it takes to groom.

When you dry a poodle or x there of you MUST blow dry them all the way and kinda UP to get the snats out that will occur due to the washing.

After dry you comb and back brush with a back slicker the entire dog if more poodle hair vs schnauser>.

Then you need a good clipper and a package of combs that clip on the clipper .
This allows you to trim your dog vs shave. Each comb has different size.

Never use anything but a 10 blade under body or feet NO comb.
Do a sanitary on the pup with no comb the rest comb.

However blades get hot you must buy blade cooler and press the blade to your arm tto check temp often. Most injuries are caused by BURNS. Do not due ears if you are not trained you can cut them. The body is better to practice on.

Best thing t do is get a p/t job as a bather and have someone teach you basics.
then quit and do your own dog.

good luck

[2pups622]

I groom mine, I never trusted Groomer's.

[Island dog]

I groom Molly as I like her hair long and shaggy. Daily brushing/combing is a must for her and I've never had any problems with mats. It's not fair to the dog to allow mats to form.

[MericoX]

I groom mine myself. I just kinda of wing it. LOL.

And when I'm lazy... I goto Giny (who's also a member who) who also lives in Maine. LOL

[Laurelin]

I groom mine but yeah... it's not hard at all to do that.

[Beanie]

I groom Auggie by myself. I took him to be groomed once, and only once, and she trimmed him wayyy too much. He didn't need all that fussing. So now, I do all of it and he doesn't get all that fussing.
My biggest resources have been his breeder and the book Sheltie Talk, which has a whole section on grooming. There's also a book called The Illustrated Guide to Sheltie Grooming (I believe that's the exact title, it's something like that anyway) but I don't have that yet. A lot of the stuff in Sheltie Talk is too much fussing for little Auggie IMO. He's not a show dog so I don't need to do much.

and I CERTAINLY don't need to give him aussie pants like some groomers like to do...

[Tankstar]

I groom Blaze myself, always have as there isnt a need for a real grooming. also helps that I work in a grooming shop, so I take him in and groom him there so I can blow dry him.

Im learning how to groom.

I cant wait to get my toy poodle and groom her from the start.

[Fran101]

Originally Posted by Laurelin

I groom mine but yeah... it's not hard at all to do that.

details details!! lol