Vehs

Wow, looks like you've tried everything! How old is your girl? I hope someone else can think of something..

There aren't 101 reasons not to get a pom clipped, but many owners are misinformed when they think they are doing it for the good of the dog in the heat - just remind them that the coat protects from the cold AND the heat in its own way - basically what you've told them! They'll need to brush the dog regularly especially when it is blowing it's coat to get all the undercoat out - this is how the dog prepares for a warm summer. Other issues could be that the coat grows back unevenly/patchy, dog will look ridiculous when the undercoat grows back faster than the guard hairs, might grow back thicker etc, no guarantee either that it won't come back perfect... @ the too puffy comment, some people! Look, I doubt they will even put the effort into brushing this pup properly so maybe by the time summer comes around it actually WOULD be in the dogs best interests to get clipped off. Where's Roxida?

I'd love to see a photo of her scooting - sorry! :D There are a few threads on anal glands already if you have a search. I thought having firmer poos was better if it encouraged the dogs to strain a bit to express the glands? Some groomers will do it, but make sure they know what their talking about as they could make the impaction worse. Perhaps better to try a vet - although the threads have explicit instructions :rolleyes:

Oh, what a horrible thing to have happened :D to Isaviz, don't play the 'what if' game because if you hadn't been there both dogs could have been hit by a cars and left to die on the road. You were doing the right thing and no one is going to blame you for that. Go give your babies a hug and get some chains for you and your neighbours fences!

hehe I always crack them for D, give the mush and mince a good mix and throw the shells in, but Jyra's antics sound so cute I might give him a whole one and watch.

Geez Mel, is Jack that good a boy that he needs a huge bag like that to hold treats?! Or is it a week away training session

I used an army print convertable bag when we started, as a bum bag and then I bought a bum bag for training purposes as the other once wasn't tight enough to stay up. I had enough room for keys, bit of money, clicker, target, poo bags, training card, class handouts. Only 3 pockets too, but kept my greasy treats away from other things Only $10 from a bag shop in the mall.

I know I always say this but adding some omega oils in the form of fish, like sardines or even fish oil capsules will help with skin problems. There is no harm in washing dogs weekly, I know various show dogs who are washed this often - as his skin is flakey you made need to make doubly sure you are rinsing him clean... then rinse him again and try a conditioner. Everyone here recommends Aloveen leave in conditioner - just rub it over his body like a hand moisturiser for yourself. I'd also get a zoom groom brush when washing him to give him a good scrub.

I got a flyer in the mail a few months ago, I found them too expensive. It's a trade off for convenience I guess, but I do extensive mall wide shopping when buying notebooks, so I'm very tight with money

yeah and rake, not rack - isn't that a tortue device? ;)

Yay~! Dieter had a bath today, no fur coming off him now

What do you mean by a normal dog brush? A rake is the best one for a Shepherd coat, but I use a whole variety on D, mainly because I have them for when grooming other dogs. Don't forget that a good wash to loosen the fur and a good blow dry will get most of that coat out with very little brushing rake:

Chocolate dog biscuits - just check the ingrediants for cocoa, I know the home brand ones are real chocolate so I wouldn't feed them. But you can get a carob alternative in some dog sections of supermarkets and I think those are fine. Chocolate is the only food I can eat with D around and not have him sitting in front of me drooling he knows that smell means he's not getting any.

I don't, have a search on the forum for vaccinations and you'll see some good discussions and links to papers

Yeah, what's the alternative they offer up - sawdust, scrappy commerical petfood?

I have a Shepherd and you're looking at $40-$50 for him. I would NEVER pay that much for someone to wash my dog. That is just way to much in my mind... but of course people will pay it. Actually if I had a Rough Collie/very hairy Golden I think $50 might be a fair price - but the dog'd have to be completely brushed out with that as well.

Yep, they are fine to feed. A nice variety you have there too! Of course the vitamin C isn't of much use to the dogs as they make their own.... and a lot of dogs apparently don't like citrus smells/tastes, but Dieter does and it seems a few dogs on here do as well. Tomatoes are a regular in his barf mix and when I have an mandarin he'll have half Pesh - I don't think grapes or raisins are good for dogs

Just don't strip the furnishings Keep those long and tidy with scissors and then blend the stripped area into the furnishings either through blending when stripping or with thinners. I guess just like with body builders, you'd have to consider your most important show and work out from that date in regards to the stripping pattern.

Looks good for a first juicing - don't forget to mix it up, lots of variety! I'd cut out the rice and perhaps add some sweet potatoe (I tend to have to microwave this a wee bit before juicing) Don't worry if they are not actually 'patties' - I do my veggies seperate to the mince and then freeze them in glad ware containers - they are mushy and runny. If they need to lose weight then hopefully it will be enough, I wouldn't feed that amount to my boy usually.

and don't forget your new little girl Greentea!~

I'm only doing it part time now while I work through uni, but I definately would like to continue doing it when I get a 9-5 job. Perhaps on weekends I could groom rescue dogs and build up some regulars when they find homes... I'd probably groom them and my friends dogs for free because I just like doing it! I really enjoy the transformation the animals go through, old dogs get a little bounce in their step after a groom, matted messes act like puppies once all their knots are off... I don't like feeling rushed so working for myself/helping out/ being creative would make the work I do even better. I feel sorry for the SWF I adopt from the pound - s/he will be toyed and played with contantly as I try new things I own a Shepherd at the moment and he's just wash and wear - boring!

Toohey!? LB?! A new market has opened up! :smurf: For those who haven't had the.. pleasure http://www.petgroomer.com/contests/miracle2005/57.htm It is really awful to think of and see dogs in this condition with owners who just couldn't be bothered. You can't force people to look after their pets properly, but at least we sometimes can offer then relief.

Oh what?! Tracy your dogs got a treat and you got the thrill of seeing green "toxic" poo? Drat, I didn't get anything that exciting. I had a free sample too, gone in seconds and for some reason I was expecting 'minty' smells and didn't get that either.

As a learner I definately get fed up with dogs that don't like their front feet being handled - this is the part I have the most problem with getting to look neat and little dogs jumping and twisting around on the table are such a pain. The large dogs, thank god, are a lot better with their feet. Dogs that try to lick the scissors when you are scissoring their faces. I also get a little annoyed at owners who want to stay with their dog when it is being groomed (or better yet bring along all of their kids and friends to watch). I know the dog would be much better behaved if they weren't there calling it, cooing over it, talking fast to it.... Hrm, if you could describe grooming in one word after reading this thread what would it be? Putrid?

Sorry to hear of Indi's passing Jordelette. You were both lucky to have found each other