Grooming Advice Required

[frufru]

We need pics after all the advice Muffinmclay

[Christina]

The simple way to stop knots & matts is not to let them get there in the 1st place.

Twice a week brushing is not enough. If you do it every day or every alternate day the problem is solved.

A slicker brush 1st then over to check any missed bits with a metal comb.

If the dog is never knotty this is very quick, 5 mins. The dog gets used to it & becomes obliging, which speeds it up.

Using your own hairdryer is good. Moved quickly & constantly over the coat without burning your dog they love it & find it pleasant & relaxing. Put a lead on him & anchor to something or other until he gets used to it & stands still for you.

There is no need to use anything but your fingers to pluck ear hair out of a bigger dog with bigger ear holes.

Rub some powder in & then get hold of small pieces, not clumps, between 1st finger & thumb & tweak out real quick, like when you pluck your eyebrows.

Make 5 or 10 mins a day for your dogs grooming routine, like you do for taking off your make up, brushing your teeth & your own hair before bed. Its not long once you get into the habit & well worth it for your dog.

[Blue Fox 001]

Another reason that going to a registered breeder is GOLD

All my pups are taught to be dried from day dot - first bath at about 3-4 weeks and they get used to hearing the dryer as soon as their ears open 'cos the other dogs have to be done. :p

Even though they usually don't need a bath, they are bathed once a week from then until they go to their new homes and hear the blowdryer every second day. Certainly helps to desensitise little ones and make it easier for new owners. Not saying it's 100% effective but all those extra experiences help with a breed who will always have to be bathed and dried.

Couldn't agree more t-time.

Our boy came from a fabulous breeder and professional groomer who has a similar routine to you and by the time we got him at 8 weeks he was more experienced than me For a pup who was subjected to a learner groomer he has turned out pretty good I reckon

[Simply Grand]

And pls MAKE SURE U BRUSH THE TAIL!! the amount of 'oodles i do at work that the body and head and ears all GREAT but the tail is a complete clip off and when u tell the owner why they go 'OMG i never thought about that!' LOL

I was thinking about this last night when I was brushing Saxon (poodle x maltese) and I don't get how you could not think to brush the tail! I'm certainly no expert on grooming, Sax is my first dog ever, but the tail has always seemed like the most obvious thing the brush. It's hard to miss as it gets waved around in your face!

The simple way to stop knots & matts is not to let them get there in the 1st place.

Twice a week brushing is not enough. If you do it every day or every alternate day the problem is solved.

A slicker brush 1st then over to check any missed bits with a metal comb.

If the dog is never knotty this is very quick, 5 mins. The dog gets used to it & becomes obliging, which speeds it up.

Using your own hairdryer is good. Moved quickly & constantly over the coat without burning your dog they love it & find it pleasant & relaxing. Put a lead on him & anchor to something or other until he gets used to it & stands still for you.

There is no need to use anything but your fingers to pluck ear hair out of a bigger dog with bigger ear holes.

Rub some powder in & then get hold of small pieces, not clumps, between 1st finger & thumb & tweak out real quick, like when you pluck your eyebrows.

Make 5 or 10 mins a day for your dogs grooming routine, like you do for taking off your make up, brushing your teeth & your own hair before bed. Its not long once you get into the habit & well worth it for your dog.

Christina, I'm so glad that you've said this This is exactly the routine I've established with Saxon (brushing every 2nd day) and it's great to hear it confirmed by someone knowledgeable.

Saxon was never particularly difficult but now at 9 months old he comes and jumps up on the "grooming table" (cat scratching post ) so I can give him his brush, and stands there patiently while I brush him over. Takes 5 minutes.

[Sheridan]

Hey groomer people, can you recommend a good brand of nail clipper? I really hate those cheap ones that just sort of crush the nail and splinter it. The vet is the only person who has clipped my pups nails, but Ill have to do them soon and I want a nice sharp pair that will just get the job done. Also where would I be likely to buy them?

Walk the dog on concrete paths and avoid nail clippers altogether.

[poodlefan]

Hey groomer people, can you recommend a good brand of nail clipper? I really hate those cheap ones that just sort of crush the nail and splinter it. The vet is the only person who has clipped my pups nails, but Ill have to do them soon and I want a nice sharp pair that will just get the job done. Also where would I be likely to buy them?

Walk the dog on concrete paths and avoid nail clippers altogether.

Depending on foot shape and weight, this doesn't always work.

[Sheridan]

Hey groomer people, can you recommend a good brand of nail clipper? I really hate those cheap ones that just sort of crush the nail and splinter it. The vet is the only person who has clipped my pups nails, but Ill have to do them soon and I want a nice sharp pair that will just get the job done. Also where would I be likely to buy them?

Walk the dog on concrete paths and avoid nail clippers altogether.

Depending on foot shape and weight, this doesn't always work.

Yes, fair enough.

[Crazy Daisy]

Walk the dog on concrete paths and avoid nail clippers altogether.

That won't work if the dog has dew claws also. Many people forget that these can cause heaps of problems like growing into the pad if not trimmed. They seem to get forgotten on fluffy dogs as they aren't seen all the time when the dogs hair is longer.