charlie mouse

Hi I have a Lhasa Apso x male puppy (7 months old) which has developed a attitude with regard to other dogs he will growl and bark at them and when out for a walk will growl and lunge at them. I take him to training and he passed his basic training class with no problem but as he grows older this attitude seems to be getting worse. I have recently had him de-sexed and am doing everything the trainer tells me to try to keep his attention on me but as you can imagine with a class full of other dogs its not easy. I use just a normal collar and lead and am wandering if anyone can suggest a harness that will give me more control (he hasn't got the nose for a halti). Thanks

I wish there was standardised formal training that everyone including current groomers had to attend in order to be known as a groomer at least then there would not be the them and us thing with salons and mobiles. Bring the training to SA and I will be there.

Hi'a Does anyone know where i can get my clipper blades and scissors sharpened around Adelaide or preferably South of Adelaide. Mine are well over due for a sharpening. Thanks

Hi'a I live in Moana (South of Adelaide) there are a few places around here but the Dr Dog kennels sounded good as they let the dogs run around in groups of 5 in a grassy area for most of the day and only seperate them for food and sleep.

Hi'a I have just been up to visit Dr Dog boarding kennels in Kangarilla as i need to board our dog somewhere for a week in Feb and have been checking out a few places. Dr Dog seems to be our favourite so far. Has anyone else had ever boarded dogs there ?

Good for you Doggrooma it takes a lot for someone to say hey maybe there is a different way. I had no idea that my original question would turn into a should we or shouldn't we debate. I am still not much further forward with how to handle the pups but I have decided that i am now going to give my customers the option to have there pups come to me just so they can get used to the sights and sounds before getting clipped.

I do wish there wasn't this them and us situation going on with mobile v salons lets face it there is good and bad groomers working in both. I agree its better to learn in a salon as more dogs come in and yes it takes years to be what i would consider to be a professional groomer but everyones different i am sure if some of you salon only groomers went mobile for a day you might actually enjoy it.

Don't let them put you off ! Grooming is hard work but its rewarding. Being your own boss and being out on the road is great.

Hi'a Has anyone else got a Kings dogs wash trailer as i can't for the life of me find where the inline filters are that i apparently need to check every 2 weeks. :D

Hi'a Thanks for all your comments the person who taught me clipped pups all the time so i hadn't ever thought it might be a problem definately something to think about. I do think that my customers would just take there dog somewhere else if i said no but i will try to get them in for a wash dry and tidy up for a couple of times to get them used to that before going for the clip. I don't ever go short with a pup so fingers crossed there coats will be ok. Thanks again :D

Hi'a I am relatively new to grooming and although i am getting quite good at dog handling i just wandered if any of you more experienced groomers have any suggestions on how to handle a young pup that needs its first clip. I seem to be getting quite a few first timers recently some are great and take it all in there stride but some are absolute monsters and growl, hiss, try to bite and struggle as soon as you pick up the scissors or clippers. I did a 15 week old shih x maltese the other day who was a absolute horror i got a really lovely cuddle from him before i started but as soon as i picked up the scissors he changed to the pup from hell. Any suggestions on how do you handle a dog like this and still manage to give them a positive experience would be great.

I don't know much about colouring but would love to see some photos when you have done it

Hi'a One of my customers likes her 2 malt / shih clipped off in a 10 blade. I did the dogs today and before i started I asked her if she wanted them the same as last time (10 blade) and she said yes unless you can do them any shorter. I said i couldn't and continued to do them. I just wandered if any other groomers have customers who like there dogs done this short.

Thanks everyone Now i am really worried !!! I have accepted the booking so i guess i should go ahead with it but am not looking forward to it. I think i will assess the dog when i see it and if i really don't feel happy with it will tell the customer then and there. :p

Hi I have just had a call from someone who wants me to clip off there chow chow, Has anyone ever done one ? and has the hair grown back ok ? The owner says she has had him clipped before without any problems but i am cautious as I haven't done one before.

Good Point, I didn't think of that

Hi'a I have my own mobile grooming business and use flea shampoo and a flea rinse on my customers dogs when required but a couple of my customers have recently asked if i supply the spot on flea treatment ie Advantage etc, so far I have recommended that they get some and have offered to put it on there dogs for them if they want me to. I was just wandering do any groomers keep a supply and just pass on the cost to the customer or is it more trouble than its worth. Also has anyone ever suggested that the customer bomb there house as well as treat the dog for fleas ? I would love to say it to one of my customers as her dog has loads of fleas that keep coming back even after all my efforts but I am worried she will think i am being rude.

I have pm'd you

Hi I volunteer at a rspca shelter and they always rest there dogs for an hour before food and an hour after food to avoid the risk of bloat. They told me big chested dogs are more likely to get it than the small ones. The volunteers make up ice blocks every day and give them to the dogs so there can't be much wrong with it if they do it, I give my gsd ice blocks all the time and he loves them.

Thanks leopuppy04 for a really great reply. I can see i have a long way to go yet but I will give it ago. Thanks also jules P I totally understand your point, thats why i am trying to do something about it.

I might add that i get him to drop before i throw his ball and if i tell him to stay he will stay in this position until a dog, horse or elephant passes (not that you get that many elephants on our beach)

thanks for your comments I have been working on look at me as well, i get him to sit and look at me everytime we cross a road, sit and look at me before a treat or his dinner and he is getting really good but when there is another dog distracting him he wont look or do anything and even ignores food. He such a bugger bless him.

Hi just wandered if anyone had any advice for me. my german shepherd just loves to say hello to other days, he is totally happy tail everytime and is never agressive but i can imagine how scary it must be to see a fully grown shepherd sprinting towards you. I take him to a off the lead beach nearly everyday and he loves it but does insist on running off to say hello to every dog. I have taken to putting him on his lead until the dog gets close then asking the other owner if they mind before letting him off. If he does make a break for it he normally just says hello then runs back to me, i have been working on his come to me training and he is great until another dog is close by. any suggestions.

Hi Just thought i say that I got my dog a year ago from the pound, he had had a pretty rough time in his previous life and has badly scared feet. unsurprisingly he absolutely hated anyone touching his feet and it took 2 of us to hold him down at the vets to get his nails clipped the first time. Since we got him we have made a point of touching his feet everyday when playing with him or cuddling him and always rewarding him with a small treat or praise. Last week I decided it was time to get the nail clippers out again. I got him to lie on his side and he just lay there while i cut his nails, i could tell he still didn't like it but he just lay there and only fidgeted a tiny bit . I was so proud of him. Maybe you could try this as well, it will take a while but if you can get him to think of you touching his feet is a good thing he wont worry about you cutting his nails so much.

Thanks for that 4 Paws i have e-mailed them