Schnauzer Grooming

[xxx]

I have a mini schnauzer that I groom myself. I have no problem clipping her body, face, tail and rear but she has become very "thingy" about grooming her legs. I have tried brushing her legs with my hands to desensitise her to no avail. The vet recommended a local grooming business who had no problem when grooming her body but she became very stressed when they tried her legs. They said I would probably need to visit the vet for sedation. I'm not overly keen but what else can I do? Her legs need to be done.

I came home from the groomer and clipped her (but not legs) and she was calm and co-operative. My mini is a shy girl (trembles on a visit to the vet but co-operates without muzzling) and taking her to the groomers with the dogs all barking and new people she didn't know obviously did not help the situation. I realise sedation and shaving is probably the only option at this point.Can anyone recommend a good groomer in the Sydney metro area who may be able to help in the future? Or offer any other advice?

Thanks.

Ausy

[denali]

can you just scissor her legs?

Or is that not an option?

A lot of dogs i groom hate their front legs being done, so instead of freaking them out unnecessarily, i just scissor their legs.

Ends up being quicker too as you don't have to wrestle with them to hold their legs for the clippers.

[halfthewords]

Jag hated having his legs (and especially paws) done when we first got him. Suspect he'd never had a brush in his life by the way he looked when we got him from the pound. I attempted clipping him myself the first few times and he had to be taken to my sister's work to be sedated and the job finished when he became too difficult for me to do on my own. However, after a few grooms at Scoobydoo's on the northern beaches (Brookvale), he's excellent about his legs now. I can do it on my own these days. :)

Edited December 11, 2013 by halfthewords

[xxx]

Thanks Denali & halfthewords I used to scissor cut though the paws getting trimmed have always been difficult. My family like her coat to grow out over winter BIG MISTAKE as they don't brush her and I have learnt the hard way that grooming needs to be regular. I have started to work on de-sentising her by touching and brushing her legs lightly with a baby brush which she is tolerating. Would love to find someone who could work with me and her on the legs, a groomer who might be happy to have her the last appt of the day so the other dogs aren't an added stress. In the meantime the vet is going to try trimming today. As there is some matting we need to shave it and start again.

I haven't been able yet to locate a groomer close by who can help.

[Dogsfevr]

Contact the Schnauzer club of NSW alot of the Mini breeders groom Minis full time

Sadly when dogs end up constantly matted the pain of being clipped sticks in there head & so many of our clients also like to leave them long in winter but forget the dog pays the price long term.

They then hate being brushed & put on a awesome performance & often win the battle as everyone gives up so it becomes the "norm".

Personally we won't sedate any dogs whilst being groomed ,we find they panic worse as they now what is happening & are unable to cope with what is going on & the inability to understand why they feel so doopy .

We have had clients bring in there dogs sedated but we won't do them .

Same dogs where no issues not sedated .

[Mim]

Could your dogs legs be sore? When my girl didn't like her hind legs being touched our vet discovered she had muscle pain in her hind legs and neck. Some acupuncture and she was right as rain. Happened again about a year later and it was muscle pain again.