WreckitWhippet

I once heard a lady insist that a St. Bernard that walked past her at show was a Bullmastiff. When corrected by a gentleman walking past with his Mastiff ( not to be confused with Bullmastiff ) she said to him " oh no, you are wrong " I got a laugh out of that one. Same but different LOL

A lesson in breed These are Staffordshire Bull Terrier This is a Pug One is right up there as amongst the most common breeds in this country, the other , one of the most recognised breeds in the world. How anyone can stop and ask if a SBT is a Pug is beyond me, but it's happened more than once

I was thinking of you today.

CDA , is a problem found in dilutes only.

They have the option to keep them seperated or to rehome the dog. If they choose to rehome, they need to make sure that that aren't simply palming the problem onto someone else.

Who would come to the country and remote towns, to train the groomers and hand out the licence ? yep and it's not something handed out at TAFE

It makes me cry too. Single eye brows, skirts like Westies gone wrong, no blending, beards gone or beards that cover most of the face. I'm always wanting to learn more and improve how I do them. I make the most of the local breeders and exhibitors and what they can teach. I speak on a regular basis with another groomer ( different location ) who is seeing them come through her doors, having been groomed in a similar way to what I see. TAFE is the common link there.

I learnt from the master when it came to groins and armpits. You cut a dog, you pay for the vet bill and you explain to the owners why it happened. I learnt to take care, from the very beginning

I've lost count of the number of dogs 12 months plus, that owners bring in, demand that they are clipped and think that it's going to be an easy job and the dog is simply going to accept it. I've been bitten, scratched, shat on and given a hard time from start to finish. Most of them are delightful little dogs, quite friendly while being patted and it's all going their own way. Get the clippers or a brush out and try doing something they don't like and the teeth and claws come up. I charge extra for those dogs that are hard to groom, have never been groomed, bite and scratch and make sure I tell the owners exactly how they have behaved. I recommend that everyone who gets a coated breed or cross and intends to have it groomed, brings it to their groomer from 8 weeks on. Even if it's for a simple introduction to the bath, blow dryer and brush.

I love introducing raw eggs, with the shells on. The pups run around and drop them, try and steal them off each other and when one finally cracks it's hilarious.

Why cook the mince ? Feed it to them raw, introduce them to chicken necks and wings. They can have their dry without being soaked. I'd leave out the weetbix, it's a useless filler and there's no point in cooking them veg. Whole raw eggs in their shells are lots of fun for babies. You can also introduce them to canned fish or raw fish, roo tails and lamb necks. They won't be able to eat the bones just yet, but stripping the meat from the bone entertains them for ages. They can also do without the puppy milk. If you really have to give them milk, just a simple goats milk is excellent. The best you can do for a puppy when sending it to it's new home, is to make sure they are eating their dry " dry, that they will eat a variety of meats off bone and have tried eggs and fish. That makes it so much easier for the new owners and does not encoruage fussy puppies from the start

I'm sure I've had disappointed clients, you get those no matter what job you do or how well you do it. Although I have never badly injured a dog or myself. I've knicked an ear once, just the once mind you and that was on a dog that was one alimghty matted mess and I reckon I did a very good job on that one. The dog needed vet treatment but it was for what was uncovered beneath, not the small cut. If it were a TAFE cert that was required, it certainly wouldn't make me a more skillfull groomer, given that I fix cock ups, from the TAFE taught. In particular the a number of very disappointed Schnauzer owners, who now have dogs looking somewhat like Westie crosses.

what must mine think when the truck arrives with 100kg's at a time ?

we need to get out more SOL

Mine knows where the freezer is and where bones come from . There's no fooling them

Blue is a dilute, they cannot have a black nose, it's not possible. As a breeder would should know that it's genetically impossible for a blue to have a black nose.

I don't claim to be good. I'm thorough and treat the dogs in my care very well.

I wouldn't do it , if I didn't love it LOL

I think that in general as groomers we sell ourselves well short, when it comes to pricing. For the back breaking and shit that we go through, we are worth more. I've put my prices up , quite a bit more than the others but I have no problems in attracting new clients and hanging onto the old one's. I've found that my direct competitors who have the lower prices, are cutting corners to do so. I'm picking up new clients every week, because they aren't happy with what their $50 buys them. There are some that aren't even doing the basics like tidying up groins/armpits, cutting nails, plucking ears and one doesn't bath or blow dry at all

I've been using Repel-X It's working and is so popular at the moment that it's getting hard to buy.

That's a very good price. I charge around 65-75 for Westies and don't give discounts for multiple dogs. I'm around that too and do not give multiple dog discounts. They all take time to do

I charge a minimum of $60 for a clip.

Yes if they have done all the relevant health tests, not bred specifically for a colour and not charged more for that colour. Blue can haapen win a well planned, well bred litter. It's not common for the ethical breeder with a well planned and well bred litter to have blue pop up. I know of one and I haven't seen a blue in any litters of breeders that I know ( and see on a regualr basis ) in the last 10 years. Anyone that breeds SBT's and is hoping to get blue or does a mating knowing they will produce it , isn't ethical.

Cairn x SBT