Is it easy to do your own grooming?

[mscat]

I am seriously thinking about starting to groom my own dogs. Since I now have a new Shih Tzu puppy who I know is going to require a lot of grooming as Well as my Yorkie.
I'd like to know just how difficult it is to Groom a yorkie , or any type of long haired dog? I already have clippers and several different types of brushes. I am considering buying a grooming table.
However, since I don't know what I am doing yet, I am nervous! Suzi has been to the groomer several times, and I have paid good money for her to look nice.
Is it really saving money doing your own money? After buying all the necessary equipment, shampoos, blow dryer, nail grinder, and ALL that goes with grooming and making your dog look nice?
i have to travel out of the city in order to take Suzi to the groomer, so w/o having to do that I'll save money getting her there. ALso , I believe it would be less stressful to groom myself on the dogs, then to put them through all of the grooming over somewhere else. Suzi gets very stressed out.
What are your thoughts , on this? to those who do there own grooming?

[Bizzymammabee]

I groom both of my yorkies. I do a much better job than the groomer..not so evidenced by my avatar pic as they had rolled and fought when I tried to take the pic. Honeslty with some patience and practice you will get the hang of it. I hated when they came back from the groomer. They were always scared and I always always found myself touching up some part that I didn't like.

It's great that they have been to the groomers before so they know pretty much what to expect.

[rebeccag]

I got this information from another thread:

I suggest you buy a Wahl peanut trimmer ($40-$50 @ Sally's Beauty supply), a grooming table ($35 @Petedge), some scissors ($25 on sale now @ Petedge), and a Yorkie grooming video ($25 on eBay), and you'll be in business. I'm sure you already have all the combs and brushes you need. Your puppy will never have a bad hair cut again, and think of all the money you'll save over the lifetime of your dog.

My groomer is my best friend, and she does a wonderful job grooming my dog. But it is just so easy for me to groom my yorkie to suit myself every week after he gets his bath. I just finished trimming him an hour ago and he looks GREAT. I'm so glad I finally invested in the little grooming table. It makes it a breeze to groom him.

The video I bought on eBay shows how to do the puppy cut AKA teddy bear cut, the schnauzer cut, and the long "show style" trim. It goes over everything step by step and teaches you everything you need to know. I watched it twice before I started grooming my dog. It is really helpful. I know if I can groom my dog and make him look good, ANYONE can.

Good luck to you. I hope your baby's hair grows back soon. She is adorable.

[BLowry]

I groom the girls myself...I've heard to many horror stories about dogs at groomers. I use a 1 1/4 in guide on my clipper. I didn't want a really really short coat. This guide gave me exactly what I wanted. It was a little difficult at first...the girls didn't know what was going on but, after a bit they just sat their and let me do it...And........I think I did a pretty good job!

[Jokerman]

I was going to reply with my grooming experience, but I see rebeccag already quoted me above.

I definitely recommend buying a grooming table. I bought the small Petedge table but I wish I would've bought this table on eBay. New Large Adjustable Pet Grooming Table w/Arm/Noose - eBay (item 250447390454 end time Jun-21-09 13:25:04 PDT) I would prefer this table because it folds up easily like a card table. I don't really have a good spot to store the little Petedge grooming table that I bought. Besides the storage problem though, the small table works great!

The table makes it very easy to groom my dog. Now I am able to shave his pads, ear tips, and do all his grooming without my DH having to help like he did before I got the grooming table. Having the grooming table is WONDERFUL and makes it so easy to groom my dog.

This is the video I bought on eBay. YORKIE DOG grooming instructional video DVD 3rd. Ed. - eBay (item 350214885743 end time Jul-17-09 16:02:04 PDT) There are several yorkie grooming videos for sale on eBay. This is just the one I happened to buy (two hours long). I learned a lot from it and it was worth the $25 it cost. The seller (a groomer) on eBay also sells Shih tzu grooming videos.

I also want to add that I am not very coordinated with my hands. I would never attempt to cut anyone's hair. So when I say anyone can groom their own yorkie, I really mean it. My dog has really long hair, and I haven't attempted a short hair cut on him yet. But for weekly grooming like his potty area, foot pads, ear tips, trimming his feet neatly, etc, I am doing a great job and my dog looks gorgeous. I have already saved $120 in grooming fees and my groomer only charges me $30. What I like is being able to groom him to suit myself, not having to drive him 100 miles round trip to be groomed. I no longer have to worry about leaving him at the grooming shop and him getting stressed out from all the barking dogs there. I can trim his feet and ears every week after his bath and keep him neat looking at all times. He looks gorgeous, if I do say so myself.

I think you'll be very pleased once you start grooming your own dogs. Good luck.

[Jokerman]

Mscat,
I wanted to add that you don't need to buy all your grooming supplies at the same time. I first bought the Wahl peanut clippers ($40-$50 at Sally's Beauty Supply). I already had nail clippers, and combs and brushes and some hair cutting scissors. I just use my own blow dryer set on medium to dry my dog after his bath. I am still using the shampoo and conditioner I bought a year ago. I use my own Matrix Instacure as a detangler. I bought a nice "lot" of used grooming tools on eBay for $15 which included scissors, two thinning shears, two combs, a brush, nail file, a mat comb, shedding tool, and a couple more items. I had a cute toolbox already that I've always used to keep all my grooming tools in. I have tools that date back to when I raised Afghan hounds and cocker spaniels.

I highly recommend Petedge dot com for your grooming supplies. They are reasonably priced and if you sign up on their email list, they will send you updates with their sales. Email them for a catalog. They have almost everything you can think of for dog grooming, and most groomers buy from them. Use that money you would spend on grooming and buy yourself some quality tools. I think you'll recoup your investment in just a few months and you'll be so pleased with how good your dogs look when you groom them to suit yourself.

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by Jokerman

I was going to reply with my grooming experience, but I see rebeccag already quoted me above.

I definitely recommend buying a grooming table. I bought the small Petedge table but I wish I would've bought this table on eBay. New Large Adjustable Pet Grooming Table w/Arm/Noose - eBay (item 250447390454 end time Jun-21-09 13:25:04 PDT) I would prefer this table because it folds up easily like a card table. I don't really have a good spot to store the little Petedge grooming table that I bought. Besides the storage problem though, the small table works great!

The table makes it very easy to groom my dog. Now I am able to shave his pads, ear tips, and do all his grooming without my DH having to help like he did before I got the grooming table. Having the grooming table is WONDERFUL and makes it so easy to groom my dog.

This is the video I bought on eBay. YORKIE DOG grooming instructional video DVD 3rd. Ed. - eBay (item 350214885743 end time Jul-17-09 16:02:04 PDT) There are several yorkie grooming videos for sale on eBay. This is just the one I happened to buy (two hours long). I learned a lot from it and it was worth the $25 it cost. The seller (a groomer) on eBay also sells Shih tzu grooming videos.

I also want to add that I am not very coordinated with my hands. I would never attempt to cut anyone's hair. So when I say anyone can groom their own yorkie, I really mean it. My dog has really long hair, and I haven't attempted a short hair cut on him yet. But for weekly grooming like his potty area, foot pads, ear tips, trimming his feet neatly, etc, I am doing a great job and my dog looks gorgeous. I have already saved $120 in grooming fees and my groomer only charges me $30. What I like is being able to groom him to suit myself, not having to drive him 100 miles round trip to be groomed. I no longer have to worry about leaving him at the grooming shop and him getting stressed out from all the barking dogs there. I can trim his feet and ears every week after his bath and keep him neat looking at all times. He looks gorgeous, if I do say so myself.

I think you'll be very pleased once you start grooming your own dogs. Good luck.

Good information !!!! Now if I could get a dog with some hair I'd be all set...lol!

[Patti]

I groom all 3 of mine. I brush them every night and wash them every 2-3 weeks. They look pretty good when I do them. I never had groomed my yorkies before but when I got 3 I couldn't justify spending all that money on grooming. Also I am afraid to get them groomed anymore. Just remember it is only hair and will grow back so even if you goof up it doesn't matter.

[Britster]

I tried grooming Jackson myself.

I'm SO just not good. I'm sure I didn't try hard enough and if I actually sat and watch
some more grooming videos and "How To's" I'm sure I could learn. But for now... he is
going to continue to go to the groomers. I just am not a hair-cutting type person, and
never will be. lol. I would like to learn though eventually.

If I ever added a second Yorkie or another high-grooming type dog, I would definitely
have to learn myself because I pay $50 just for Jackson. I can do simple trimming up
but if I need him shaved, looking nice, etc, I take him in!

[Yorkie_Mama]

ask a local groomer to show you how to properly do upkeep on your dogs grooming I know as a groomer I would be so happy if somone asked me .and just remember what ever you do .. I will grown out

[Diamondyorkie]

I groom my yorkies (2). For one I do short cut, for the smallest I do everything that a show dog requires - washing, blow-drying, wrapping, cutting, topknot and so on
I really like to do it my self - it connects us and shows my dedication.
I learned the most of it from other breeders, internet, books and form life...it tok my 1 year. I make a short cut in 30 min and get my little girl redy for show in 1h.
I love to do it

Sorry for the speling, english is not my first language

[KJLive]

I know my limitations and it is in Sophie's best interest that I don't come anywhere near her with a cutting/grooming tool! But as you can see, many on here do their own grooming as finding a good groomer is often difficult. Good luck and show us some pics when you're done.