Blue Fox 001

Hi all I have read all the posts about different types and sizes of scissors and was wondering if someone could simplify things for me. We're about to open a small grooming business as part of our boarding kennels so was wondering what size scissors people would recommend that would do for most dogs. I expect we'll get mostly SWF's but would need to be prepared to do anything bigger if it came in. I am thinking Wahl would be mid range $$ and seem to be OK from previous posts. I am happy to get both straight and curved and also a pair of thinning. Some people seem to recommend 8inch, some 10inch? I am just a beginner if that makes a difference. I am in the middle of nowhere so going to try them is not an option. I have also had a look at various websites and there seems to be different types like anatomic and offset - could someone explain the difference to normal scissors and if they are any better? Thanks for your help

I disagree with this. If someone is over priced I wont use them and if they are cheap I wont use them as I assume cheap workmanship. If you do have local comptetion I truly believe prices should be competitive, although if wanting to be a little cheaper that's fine but bear in mind that clients do not like price increases so dont undercharge to start with as it gets very hard to put prices up. People get very set in their ways. I havent ever increased prices to old loyal clients but rather only to new ones. I think what Ari was saying is that there is no point just setting price based on your competitors - they may not be using the more expensive shampoo, may not be spending the time drying properly what ever it takes to make them cheaper. I am not going to base my prices on my only competitor - she works out of a shed, doesn't have a hydrobath or dryer, god knows what shampoo she is using etc... She may well be cheaper than I am (I haven't been sneaky enough to find out yet LOL) and it doesn't really matter because I need to work out what I want to clear to make it worth my while doing it. I am setting up the best salon I can afford and I believe people will pay a little extra to have their dogs groomed properly. I don't want to offer a two bit service, I want to provide a service I can be proud of - I may be proven wrong and if so then we won't be doing much grooming LOL. I agree people won't want a sudden increase in price so I hope to get it reasonably right to start of with - I can imagine people getting rightly peeved with a sudden increase after only a few months when I realise I'm too cheap. OHHHH so much to decide LOL

I have worked out what it would cost me per dog for consumables, water, power, cost to cover the new building etc... Some of those costs are increased because yes we do pay extra for quite a few things here in the wilderness LOL (I can't just wear that cost I need to make money). I certainly don't intent to take advantage of anyone but I have to work out what I need to charge to cover costs and make some profit otherwise you have to question why your doing it in the first place. I have read enough posts in here to know that grooming is hard work and I certainly don't intend to do it on a break even basis. If clients won't pay what is required for me to do a good job and make some money then obviously here it isn't a viable business. I suppose that is what I'll find out once we start. The thought of doing all that work for $5 an hour profit doesn't sound very appealing! Don't get me wrong I don't expect to make a squillion dollars but I have to pay the morgage LOL. I suppose cause I'm the boss I thought I could moderate the prices I charge people similar to what everyone else does eg. use the charge by the hour rate as a base and if I think I'm tired or it took longer today than it should have you wouldn't charge the extra. On the other hand if last time the dog took 1 hour and this time it is extra matted etc. then you charge some extra. I certainly wouldn't be charging for phone time, we are encouraging people to think of us as a one stop shop for their pets and will remove sutures, clip nails etc. at no charge if people are not confident to do these things themselves. We are aiming to provide a service to our community that doesn't currently exist (no pet shop, no vet, no boarding kennels) and we want people to pop their dogs in for any reason that we can help them with, or to phone for advice. I should say we are setting up boarding kennels as well and the grooming is an additional service we plan to offer (not just to boarders but to the whole community), we will be living on the premises and I really want people to think of us when they have any dog or cat queries - I figure by offering great service we will pick up on the swings what we loose on the round abouts (so to speak). I think I will work out a base price per breed as is the norm and also keep some record on how long it took as a comparison to start with. I expect it will work out fairly similar.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I does seem to be the done thing to charge by breed or size. I am still at a bit of a loss as to why not charge by the hour! If you spend hours and hours on a standard poodle show clip why not charge them? If you spend the same amount of time on a badly matted border collie why not charge them the same amount of money? I expect you would have to make some sort of concession for a really slow groomer but if most of the time it is just you and you set your price for you perhaps it can work. Anyway I need to put some more thought into this. Thanks for your comments.

I put this in an old post re: hydrobath costs but thought it might warrant a new thread. Do any of the groomers here charge purely by the hour? Or any clients have groomers who charge this way? It has been suggested to me that by the hour is the fairest way to charge, both for the groomer and the client. If they can maintain their dogs between visits then it gets cheaper - if they come in once a year with the same tangled mess of a dog it is expensive. I am in country SA but can't see that it could be any cheaper to groom here than in the city (possibly more expensive as we have additional freight on our consumables :rolleyes: ). I have worked out it would be approx. $30 per hour to cover costs and still make it worth my time. Your thoughts as always appreciated.

Do any of the groomers here charge purely by the hour? As we are just setting up I have been interested to read this post. It has been suggested to me that by the hour is the fairest way to charge, both for the groomer and the client. If they can maintain their dogs between visits then it gets cheaper - if they come in once a year with the same tangled mess of a dog it is expensive. I am in country SA but can't see that it could be any cheaper to groom here than in the city (possibly more expensive as we have additional freight on our consumables). I have worked out it would be approx. $30 per hour to cover costs and still make it worth my time. Your thoughts as always appreciated.

If the chickens came from a poultry farm where they pump them full of antibiotics and growth hormone I expect that could make a difference. If they are just your average backyard chook I doubt it. I have seen what commercial farmers give their pigs and it would surely turn any dog, human or anything else for that matter into the Incredible Hulk LOL!

Personally I think you should charge them "bas**rd tax" (a little bit or a lot on top) I call it. What you do with the extra is up to you. The pups need a bath and clip and you might as well be one shining light in their early existence. You never know the new owners might be lovely people who will bring the pup back and continue the good work for thier new furkid. Once the pups are born it is too late and we should all try and make their lives as happy as possible, as it is them who suffer not the byb. If you really want to make a difference donate to foundations who actively campaign to rid us all of byb's, or better still you are in a perfect position to try and educate as many people as possible that this practice is unacceptable and encourage them to purchase their new family member from a registered breeder. Anyway that's my two cents worth!

Hi there - I don't know yet the answer to your question but I have read quite a few posts over the past months and people seem to think Plush Puppy is a great product. We will be giving it a go in our boarding kennel when we open in a few months, so I hope it is as good as people say!

I have just bought two different sizes of the furminator - big one for the GSD and a medium one for the cat and they are BRILLIANT! It is just a brush/comb thingy (kind hard to describe), but you just use it like a brush. The results are great, the shepherd has never looked so good - I am amazed and a little ashamed at how much fur came out. I can't believe after all these years thinking I was doing such a great job of keeping him groomed only to find out I have really been leaving 3/4 of the dead fur on the dog!! I have seen some posts which suggest it shouldn't be used on a show coat, but I didn't find it cut the coat at all. The cat absolutely loves it as well and she is now so shiny and soooo much less fur on my bed. You should have a look on ebay as they can be quite expensive. I got mine from Hong Kong at half the price of any I could find here in Oz and the postage was very reasonable (only about $6.50 I think).

Thanks for that helen - I will have a look. It is great to get real feedback on products, I think DOL has saved me from making too many costly mistakes over the past few weeks.

No my mistake - I just read both pieces of literature and after seeing some old posts I just assumed they were still the same company. But you know what happens when you ASSume! Anyway it is Perfect Paws I have ordered from only last Friday, so it will be the new improved one (geez that was a lucky pick on my part). I actually chose Marshall because he was just soo helpful (and the freight was heaps cheaper for me here in SA). So excitement all round. I might have to hook it up here at home when it turns up and give it a test run, don't think I can wait till the kennels are built (probably another three months). I have opted to go with what ever colour is in the mould so it is a lucky dip, wonder what I will end up with!

Are you buying your bath from Marshall at Perfect Paws?? OR Jose` from Hydrobaths Australia?? BIG difference... they are NOT the same company or the same baths so don't confuse the 2. In answer to the OP, it's my opinion that if there is a chance you'd run your bath dry then YES it's worth the extra $$ .... however we've been using our Autofill for just over 6yrs now without protection and have never had the need for it BUT having said that - for some, it is a definate necessity. Hi HuntinHound - I bought from Marshall at Perfect Paws. I have received literature from both companies and it is identical, the add on options are idenatical and the pricing does not vary much if at all from one add on item to another and the bath sizes are identical. My understanding is that they are the same hydrobath manufacturer, jointly owned (I think I read this on another post). Anyway not to matter I have ordered it now and so far Marshall has been great - touch wood!

What make is the table and who supplied it? There are a number of sellers on eBay who make all sorts of claims and the products fail to meet the specifications. Many products are made in China and the standards and specifications are generally overrated. Hi poodle3081 - it is an Australian company, but when the product turned up it says made in China! Coltrandi are the distributors here in Australia. As long as you don't want to put something as big as a GSD on it it would be fine. It was also about 1/4 the price of most hydraulic tables I have seen at only $425 so I am not complaining. Could probably send it back back the cost of freight I have already paid plus to send it back and I still would need a table so I am happy enough to just cut down a second table for the big dogs. :D

Thanks for reminding me SilverHaze about the money I have just wasted! As I said in my last post it doesn't lower to 60cm like it said on e-bay, and yes that was the whole point of getting one - doesn't change the fact that it won't work as the table is not stable enough to hold one anyway. It will be fine for the smaller types eg. cavs and probably standard poodles who don't have the weight of the GSD's. So no I don't think it was a waste of money - but I suppose you get what you pay for and at least I can still use it.

I bought the large furmi for my GSD and the medium for the cat and they turned up yesterday - OMG they are brilliant. We watched the video of the furmi so took the GSD down the beach and the fur covered about 100m's up the beach there was soooo much of it. I feel really bad becasue I didn't realise how much coat was being left in him with the obviously very poor grooming I have been doing. This thing is truly amazing! I don't know how it would be for a show coat, but I can't see it cutting any fur, seems to be just removing it from the undercoat. He looks a lot thinner after his groom and then a bath today, but he also looks the best I have ever seen him. I couldn't recommend the Furminator highly enough - JUST BRILLIANT!

I assume from the lack of posts that no one uses these dryers - so I am not going to take a chance. I think I will go for the Double K Airmax and save my pennies for a stand dryer for a bit later when/if we make any money from the kennels/grooming salon.

I am sorry I only just read your thread. Any suspected puncture wounds or scratches should be seen by a vet. They will stain the eye and see if there is actually any damage. If there is they will usually suture the eye closed to allow it to heal without interference from light (probably 7 - 10 days) and give antibiotics. Without this treatment infection can set in and/or the dog will loose some sight in the eye. It is still not too late to see your vet. You may be lucky and nothing will result from the incident but then again maybe you won't ....

We have had our GSD on Cartrophen one injection a week for 4 weeks and now on Sasha's Blend for about a month and he is doing wonderfully. We have some oral Metacam for the really bad days (if he does out of the ordinary exercise) but have only had to use this once since we started this course of therapy. I would recommend it highly. I think it has given him an extra few years and saved me the awful decision of ending his pain.

My hydraulic table turned up today and it has a grooming arm with it. I think I will still buy the frame and give it a go. The table is great - although may be a little unstable for the bigger dogs even though it is the largest they sell, and doesn't lower down to 60cm like it said on ebay - only to 75cm which is still quite high to be lifting a big dog on to! I think we will cut the legs of a normal table for the big dogs and just use this one for the SWF's. My cat had a trial run on it today and she seemed to like it LOL!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I will go for the Double K Airmax and if the kennels and salon go as planned I will buy a stand dryer as well. I got my Furminators today that I ordered from Hong Kong - these are trully awesome! I didn't realise what a bad job I was doing of the GSD until today.

I have read all the posts on various dryers and I have narrowed it down to either an Oldfield or Double K. I can't afford to buy two dryers at present and need to make the best choice for a good allround dryer. For a good allround machine for our small boarding kennel/grooming salon is a force dryer or a stand dryer the better option? I am wondering if the Double K Airmax with a groomers arm would be OK to blow water off dogs in the bath and also for fluff drying those that need it. OR Should I get a stand dryer probably the Oldfield with the hose attachments and be able to do the same thing but not need a groomers arm? A couple of the posts indicated the hose attachments on the stand dryers blow off or melt - has anyone had any experience with this? Are the groomers third arm a good idea or do they just get in the way? Are the force dryers quieter cause you can put the motor further away than a stand dryer? Ahhh so many questions - anyone with some experience who would like to share your thoughts would be most appreciated as always.

I have just ordered my Hydrobath Australia single tank bath today. I am soooo excited! Following everyone's advice her at DOL and after talking to Marshall at Perfect Paws I have ordered the following: DW Ultimate, electric rinse facility, dual doors, skirt and wheels, 4 tie points (just covering every possibility LOL), element protection, drain tap and insert table. Marshall has been very patient with me, explaining the ins and outs of each option, I actually feel like I know what I'm doing now! So once my hydraulic table turns up and the hydrobath, I just need to make a decision on the dryer and get these kennels built and watch out all SWF's within cooee.

Thanks for that Dru - i assume top spots are flea & tick treatments like Advantix etc.. I am in western SA so the locals don't have any probles with ticks but I will certainly ask travellers if they are using any treatments before I go using Sard.

I have been having a look at both Plush Puppy shampoos/conditioner and also Groomers Edge from Clipperworld. The Plush Puppy looks quite expensive compared to others - ishka do u just use Plush Puppy on your own dogs or in a salon setting? Can other salon groomers suggest a cost effective range? I would love to use the Plush Puppy because it is enviro friend, not tested on animals etc... but not sure how economical it would be to wash kennel dogs before sending them home.