Originally Posted by Deuce  I started grooming Rizzo after a bad experience with a non experienced groomer. It has been trial and error, but I finally got a hang of things. I've found that I have no idea how to do a puppy cut, lol, but the "Joey" is a very easy cut for me to maintain. Plus he is always rockin' the cute yorkie face that this breed is known for. I just love topknots!
I say if your pup is more comfortable with you handling her, then go for it. It's scary for you the first time, and you'll probably kick yourself a few times when you're starting out. But you'll save a lot of money, and in the end, if your dog is going to have a bad cut wouldn't you rather it be you that does it vs. paying someone big $$ to mess it up for you?
What you'll need are a good pair of clippers specifically for pets, the blades stay cooler longer, but you will still need to constantly check for heat. Too hot and you'll burn their skin. You'll need really, really good brushes/combs, I use the Madan pin brush in lavender for Rizzo, he's got really fine hair, and used to hate being brushed...he still doesn't love it but he tolerates it well enough. You'll also need a comb for her face to get any eye gunk, and because the comb will be smaller and easier for brushing their small head. Be sure to de-tangle your pup really well before clipping her, as any knots that get caught in the blades will likely yank her skin up and you'll cut her with the blade (very painful). Also a pair of rounded siccors will come in handy when trimming the face, and around the feet. Of course you'll need the usual de-tangling spray, good shampoo/conditioner, and a hair dryer for pets, or one that has a cool setting.
I have to take a lot of breaks when clipping Rizz, he hates the noise, and I think the whole feel of the clippers. We're working on it, but usually about every 10 minutes we get a break for treats and playing. When we started it was about every 2 minutes that we needed a break.
You can always check the grooming section for info on how to groom your pup. Good luck either way! I have yet to find any place that I could trust to leave Rizzo at, too many scary stories online about small dogs and groomers. |