For dog owners...

[Tippiechick]

As atonement for my recent b*tchiness, I am handing out some advice for all dog owners who would like to know some grooming info.

1) Petedge.com -- You should NEVER go to petsmart to get your toys, etc. This place gives you wholesale prices. This is where we groomers get our stuff. Set up an account and you are good to go.

2) ZoomGroom -- This is a rubber brush that will remove excess shedding. Use it every day and you won't have a bad shedding problem. You just brush them. It takes two seconds. (short-haired dogs only)

3) The Furminator -- This is a rake-type tool that will also remove dead undercoat. It should be used for Terriers and other short coated dogs. You just run it over the coat like a brush. It accomplishes a similar result as carding a dog. (If you have a dog that needs carding, you'll know what that means.)

4) Coat King or rake-- You can get one from (as with everything else here) from Petedge. They really remove dead undercoat. I use them on Poms, Labs, Chows, Rotties, Huskies, Sheps, etc. Almost any dog can benefit from having their undercoat removed. Do not use on Bichons, Poodles, Shihs, Lhasas, etc.

5) Brush your dog! Even if it's a poodle, brush it. Check for matting under the arms and on the legs, too.

6) Get doggie cologne. If your dog smells "doggie" get some formulated for dogs. It really works. Again, Petedge carries it.


Merry Christmas to all. If you ever have any grooming questions, feel free to ask. I'll be nice

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by Tippiechick
Merry Christmas to all. If you ever have any grooming questions, feel free to ask. I'll be nice

I always think you're nice, Tippy And it just so happens that I have a grooming-type question...

What exactly IS the undercoat? I have a miniature schnauzer which, according to books I've read, has an undercoat. But when I brush him it seems like all his fur is the same length. So I don't know what's going on. Not that I'd love him any less if he had been born undercoat-less!

Signed,
KR, Confused Mommy of a Schnauzer

[AOIIBrandi]

2 questions - because I can't find a groomer around here I like well enough to ask...

1) What exactly does the hot oil treatment do for dogs?

2) I have a Miniature American Eskimo. Shedding didn't seem to be a problem when we lived in FL, but now that we've moved to GA I cannot get the dead hair out of his coat - or get him to stop shedding one. Anyway, do you recommend any tools or techniques? I noticed that the tools you recommended were mostly for short hair dogs.

[madmax]

Tippiechick


Ever groom a bearded collie?
Do you have any grooming tips?

[Tippiechick]

KR-

An undercoat on a dog is actually a very short, second coat on your dog. It is insulation for your dog in colder temps. Undercoat is usually so short on Sch. that you can only see it if you card or Furminate them. That's when it pulls the dead hairs in the undercoat out. It's really important to remove the dead undercoat every so often. If you don't, then air won't get to the skin, and your dog will start to develop skin probs. Your dog has one, I promise

Brandi-

A coat "king" or coat rake (same thing) is gonna be your best friend. Start by brushing your dog with a dog brush. Then, begin to rake the coat with the coat king. Do this until no more hair comes out. This pulls the undercoat out. The undercoat is what your dog is losing right now. It's causing your shedding. You keep raking until you can take a wide tooth comb through your dog's coat with minimal pulling. Do this about once a week. Brush every other day in between. You should consider taking your baby to a groomer that can use a force dryer. It helps to blow some of that extra coat. Once you get the initial bunch of hair out, it will make your life easier.
As for the hot oil treatment? We don't do this, so I am not sure what it would be good for. Dogs don't tend to get dry, frizzy hair. They tend to be oily and actually need degreaser. I would have to ask them what they use it for. My mother is a NDGAA Certified Master Groomer. I am studying for my certification right now. And, we don't use anything like this in any of our three shops. Go to the NDGAA website. You should be able to find a certified groomer in your area. I know you can call them and they can tell you of one near you. Only go with Certified Master Groomers. If someone says they are certified, ask with whom. Petsmart "certifies" groomers. It's not a good situation, b/c they are not properly trained. But, it happens.


Madmax- Bearded Collie? No. But, it would be much like other breeds. Brush, brush, brush. Get a very wide tooth comb. Brush until you think you've gotten all matts and tangles out. Coat king/rake his coat like I told Brandi above. Then, run a comb to find any spots you've missed.
It's very important to check the underarm area for matts. they tend to collect there. Also, check the hair in between the dog's pads on the underside of the paws. Literally put your finger in between the pads. (It won't hurt them.) Check to see if the hair has become matted. If so, you may need to take it to a groomer or vet so they can shave it out.
But, the most important thing is just to prevent matts from forming by brushing and removing the undercoat. It is responsible for almost all matting.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

What kind of brush should I use on a cocker spaniel?

She hates getting brushed. Our groomer (incidently the only one in town who will cut cockers anymore, and she won't take any new ones because one went pyscho and bit her) keeps changing her mind. So I'm looking for a second opinion.


PS- I don't think you're b!tchy, but maybe thats because I get called one on a daily basis

[Tippiechick]

Dolphin-
Go to Wal-mart or anywhere else and buy just a basic brush in the pet section. The brush I use at work is a $3.00 Wal-mart brush. It should have metal bristles. It should not look like a rake. That would be a slicker. You just need a brush.
Cockers just need a lot of brushing, especially is your baby gets a "Correct Cocker Clip". If you can brush every day, you can prolong the amount of time in between grooming by reducing matting. Also, if your groomer is afraid of Cockers biting her, ask her if she would groom him/her on ACE. ACE is a sedative-type medication that is given to some dogs to calm them down before grooming. (Think doggie Valium.) Your vet can prescribe it. We have a shih-tzu that can only be groomed on ACE. It is not actually sedating them. It just calms them.
Cockers can be funny babies. I was attacked by a cocker a couple of months ago. It got a hold of my face. I now have a small scar on my upper lip. Even though I love many of my regular Cockers, I am still very nervous around them because of the biting. I would consider asking her to try grooming with the ACE. It will allay her fears without casuing any undue stress on your baby.
You might also want to consider changing groomers. It may just be too hard for her to stress over being bitten again.

[KillarneyRose]

Thanks for the help, Tippiechick!

[AOIIBrandi]

Thanks Tippiechick! You've really helped me, and my baby, out.

[Nikki_DZ]

Tippie-

Any advice for clipping my Boston's nails? I'm tired of getting scratched to hell attempting to do so, and the vet's office charges an arm and a leg.

Also, for the BT-how often should I bathe him? My vet told me only when he's "dirty" which is fairly rare (he's an inside momma's boy dog) but if I bathe him too often, he'll develop skin conditions. Any truth to this?

Ever so grateful-
Nikki

[Tippiechick]

Nikki - I have a pug that is awful about her nails being clipped.

My suggestion is to get someone to help you hold your baby. They need to wrap their arm under the stomach. Then, take the other arm and wrap it around your baby's head pulling it to their chest. (Your dog will be sideways if you are facing it.) They need to hold tight. You need to get a good hold of your babe's leg. It will pull hard. But, they know better than to pull so hard as to hurt themselves.

If your boston has white/clear nails, you'll have no prob. You just get nail clippers from a pet store and cut ONLY the white/clear part or the nail. DO NOT cut into the pink. If you do, it is the same as ripping off your nail into your quick. If they are solid black, just clip off the ends. It it easier than trying to judge where the quick is. If you still need help, pm me and I'll guide you through it.

If you quick your babe's nail, take a BAR of soap and rub the nail into the bar. Eventually, it will stop. If it is bleeding for over 10 minutes or you have REALLY cut it short, you'll have to take it to the vet to have the nail cauterized.

If you can find a grooming shop near you, they will usually clip them for a small charge. We charge $5.00 for nails being done. And, they really only need to be done once a month.

As far as bathing, you only need to give a bath every 4-6 weeks for a Boston. (Unless he/she gets into something stinky, etc.) And, a zoom groom tool would reduce the shedding.