Professional Groomer Willing to Help, Ask me Anything!

[snickerharley]

Hey I notice a lot of customers come in after their appointements with questions about grooming,matinence,and all sorts of questions about different breeds, so I thought maybe some Disers had questions too!

 

[Seahunt]

Thanks for offering advice!

I wondered which breed(s) you would recommend as good, all around indoor dogs, that don't need a tremendous amount of grooming?

We used to have border collies (VERY smart dogs!) when we lived on a farm, but I would hate to keep them as only indoor dogs as ours lived to run and play all day long and they just couldn't do that where we live now!

I read all the posts about Yorkies, pugs, poodles, etc, and they all have owners that love their breed, and I get so confused. I have even watched some of the Animal Planet shows about breeds, but it seems everytime I watch one and think "That's the one I need", I'll see another show where the next breed looks just as good! For example, I saw a show on poodles and they looked really smart and easy on my DH allergies, then there was a show on Japanese Chins, then Cavalier (sp?) spaniels and they all looked like the best lap dogs imaginable....

My SIL has had Corgis (great dogs, I'm just Corgi'd out after all of hers!), my MIL has had afghan hounds (too much grooming).

Just would like an easily trained (potty too!) loveable small dog breed, not too yappy, with no tough grooming regimen needed - have any opinions? Thanks again!

 

[Laurajean1014]

We like to shave our Golden Retriever in the spring and summer (more for the excess of hair and because he looks awesome).

I do not have enough time per day to brush him, so we do this. Does this adversely affect him?

 

[SandiH]

We like to shave our Golden Retriever in the spring and summer (more for the excess of hair and because he looks awesome).

I do not have enough time per day to brush him, so we do this. Does this adversely affect him?

Can I see a picture of your shaved Golden? I have one and am curious as to what it looks like.

 

[snickerharley]

A good all around indoor breed would be a cavlier king charles spaniel, they love to be lap dogs, are easy on allergies, as far as grooming is concerned you will want to bathe them and use a metal comb on their fur at least twice a week to keep them from matting. Have you ever thought about a dauchaund? THey come in three variities long hair, short hair and wire hair. The easiest to take care of is the short hair all they will need is regualr bathing and nailclipping, they are hearty, smart and strong little dogs who have great big hearts. I would stay away from poodles they are often tempermantal and require a lot of grooming every four weeks from a professional and matinence in between, pugs can be great dogs toown but often do not age well they tend to get many moles and warts on them. Hope this helps any other questions feel free to ask

 

[snickerharley]

About shaving a Golden Retriever, it can adversly affect his coat causing his hair to grow back patchey and sometimes it can look normal in one spot and kinky in another. This being said it does not always happen but it canhappen and often makes the dogs coat look strange. How old is the golden ? If it is an older dog that has lost his puppy coat than it is a lot less likely to grow back patchy.

 

[mytwotinks]

My daughter's and I really want a little tiny teacup poodle, but my dh says that they would be tons of work. Is he just saying that because he can't stand little dogs, or is that the truth?

 

[snickerharley]

Poodles are a TON of work you should be prepared to comb them all overat least once a day, you also have to keep them groomedevery four to six weeks. If you do not keep them brushed out and mat free they will have to be shaved down, almost no hair about 1/16 of an inch left on their small little bodies. Poodles are often nasty to eveyone but their owners so that is something to think about as well, I can tell you from expirience that I am oftem more fearful of getting bit by a poodle than a pit bull or rottweiler.So yes your husband is correct they are a lot of work, alomost all toy breeds are.

 

[disneygirlatheart]

Thanks so much for the advice. I have two questions for you. I have a min. poodle. He is white or suppossed to be. The reason I say that he is yellow looking. Around his feet and mouth are brown. He always looks like he has been stepping in a mudhole. I bought whitening shampoo and conditioner from PetSmart, it did not help. Even after he has all his hair cut off as soon as it grows back it is yellow again. What can I do? My other question, well two, I also have a Great Dane. What a combination right? What is the easiest way to bathe them. She is a house dog. 110 pounds. Can't pick her up and put her in the tub. Also What can you do about all the shedding? Thanks for your help.

 

[jfulcer]

We've got a Siberian cat (for my allergies). What is the best way to trim his nails? I'm more than willing to try to work on getting them trimmed, and if I can't bring him to a professional (which is what we've done till this post).

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Thanks! We have a chocolate lab who does shed some, but we hardly ever have him groomed. Should we have him groomed every so often and if so how often? He doesn't smell and his hair never grows to the point where we need to have him trimmed. Just wondering if it may help with the shedding.

Thanks again!

 

[mytwotinks]

Poodles are a TON of work you should be prepared to comb them all overat least once a day, you also have to keep them groomedevery four to six weeks. If you do not keep them brushed out and mat free they will have to be shaved down, almost no hair about 1/16 of an inch left on their small little bodies. Poodles are often nasty to eveyone but their owners so that is something to think about as well, I can tell you from expirience that I am oftem more fearful of getting bit by a poodle than a pit bull or rottweiler.So yes your husband is correct they are a lot of work, alomost all toy breeds are.

O.k. I won't be getting one of these dogs then! I can hardly get around to brushing my 2 dd's hair once a day! You just saved me a lot of frustration. Thanks!

 

[magiccouple2004]

i have a peekapoo puppy (well he is almost 3 yo) how often should i get him groomed and is there a good haircut for them in the summer time?

 

[canwegosoon]

I have an Am. Eski. ..Goin on 10yo(after stenosis and a heart murmur)!!!!-It was recommended to me that I have him shaved for the summer- but I think that is indirect conflict for the purpose of his coat. Usually in the summer I have the coat trimmed a little short, and in the winter I usually let it go for warmth. What is your professional opinion? (We are in Upstate NY...and he does like to go out in the winter)

 

[disfanRN]

Wow- thanks for the offer of help! It's like you were reading my mind!! We have a 16yo cockapoodle who is still vibrant but a little arthritic and too cranky for the groomer anymore. We had her done about a month ago, and she told us this was too difficult and we shouldn't do it anymore. Problem is, our doggie gets very depressed with long hair- I am not kidding! Her little personality changes when her hair gets long and she is sad and tired! Her hair is fine now, but I know it is going to grow in the next month or so. She lets me bathe her without a problem, and tonight I bought an electic hair clippers with the assorted attachments. I am going to try to just keep her somewhat shaved to keep her happy. Since I have no idea how long she will last, she is not ill or anything, just elderly, I don't know about her nails and anal glands, and ears. Is it ok to just let those go, and for how long? Is it ok to use johnson baby shampoo on her? Finally, what size attachment thingy should I use on the clippers? I have 1-7. Thanks so much!!

 

[goofy!]

What do you know about the Komondor? How do you get that coat? Is it a good family dog?

Thanks!

 

[snickerharley]

For the person with the "white" poodle a lot of poodles that are light in colorhave this problem almost all of the time it is one of two things causing the discoloration. The fist is that it is from moisture, dew on the paws and water and food intake around the mouth, the moisture drys and causes a nasty brown color to appear. Another more serious reason for the discoloration is from allergies there is a possiblity that the coloration is caused by a allergic reation. Most of the time in both cases the coloration will be there forever and there is not much you can do about it, if it is an allergy determined by your vet he might give you some medication that will over time reduce the amount of discoloration.
The great dane poses all sorts of new problems! Unless you are fortunate enough to live in a warm climate year round you could washher outside on top of a large tarp, this way she does not have to step or be placed into a tub. Otherwise it will most likely take two people to place her into a tub and keep her there, and this most likely would be quite a fiasco. You couldtake her into a groomer but this is quite pricey, I know wecharge $35 for Dane.
Shedding can be reduced on the Dane by using a shedding blade. It generally looks like a long teardrop or circular shaped it is designed to get undr the coat and pull out the dead hair, they cost about 10.00 and are a real life saver.

 

[snickerharley]

We've got a Siberian cat (for my allergies). What is the best way to trim his nails? I'm more than willing to try to work on getting them trimmed, and if I can't bring him to a professional (which is what we've done till this post).

You will need confidence! Nails are not hard to cut but you need someone you trust to hold yourcat for you this willmake it a lot easier on you. Cats nails are white or clear and this will help a lot. You will want to hold the cats paw and push lightly to make the nails "pop" out, then with the nail clippers cut off the white part of the nail, you want to avoid cutting anything that might have a slight pink hue to it and anything red. There is a vein that runs in the cats nails thats the red or pink part if you cut this the kitty will bleed and most likely be upset. So just clip the white/ clear part and you should do fine. You will want to clip them about once every month.

 

[snickerharley]

Thanks! We have a chocolate lab who does shed some, but we hardly ever have him groomed. Should we have him groomed every so often and if so how often? He doesn't smell and his hair never grows to the point where we need to have him trimmed. Just wondering if it may help with the shedding.

Thanks again!

You should try a shedding blade they are sold at almost all local pet stores. You might want to get her bathed either by you or a professional at least once a month to keep her coat clean and her skin conditioned.

 

[snickerharley]

i have a peekapoo puppy (well he is almost 3 yo) how often should i get him groomed and is there a good haircut for them in the summer time?

Most dogs should get groomed about every month to keep their coat clean and their sking conditioned, and it is also good for socialization. A haircut is a little bit more of a challenge on mixed breeds, there are a lot of people who bring their peke pups in and get them a puppy cut normally we use a #2 or #1 1/2 snap on comb to create a fluffy puppy cut.