What I was taught is a puppy cut and other tips
 

OK I have seen alot of posts on here about puppy cuts so I thought that I would post what I was taught in grooming school.


A puppy cut is where the dog is virtually the same length all over. I usually go 2 inches all over (body and neck) that way it isn't too short and people dont freak out and not too long so they dont look too shaggy.

I then round out the face, usually leave the top of the head long enough for a bow unless the owner has stated otherwise.

Trim up the shaggys on the legs and feet. Shave or trim up the private areas (AKA Sanitary)



And there you have it..... That is what I learned a puppy cut is. You can go shorter or longer. Its just your preference.

A few other tips:

Always Always Always write down exactly what you want done. Make 2 copies. That way if you come back and your dogs hair is all messed up you can go to the manager and say this is what I told her/him to do and look at my dog. (tears might help........jk)

If your dog has matts, any matts, tell the groomer DO NOT SHAVE. Most groomers are lazy and will just buzz them and give you the excuse that they were too matted to save. Usually 9 times out of 10 that is a load of crap. Tell them to call you if they find matts before buzzing the dog too. That way you have a choice in the matter.

Try to make your appointments not first thing in the morning cause the groomer is just waking up. And not right after lunch since they are just recovering from eating, again lazy. Also dont do it late in the day cause that groomer has had to deal with dogs all day, barking and being difficult, you dont want them to take it out on your dog. If the salon opens at 8 am ask for a 10:30am.

If you think your dog may be a little nippy, tell the groomer that you prefer him/her to not be muzzled, instead have them call you and you can help hold him/her. Muzzling stresses them out even more than grooming does.


That is all that I can think of for now but I will add too this as I think of more.

great tips..... tahnks for sharing....... lol..... coincidentally i was just about the pull out the clippers to groom toby (i dont have a two inch attachment though, i usually use one inch)

Thank you !! Those time tables were great to know - I never thought of that - and for those who are planning to take their puppies in to be groomed -it might be a good idea to copy and saved this post for future reference - Good post !

I have a groomer come to my house but part of the reason is I want to be there when they are groomed just as I would if it were my child getting a haircut. Is it unreasonable to ask to make an appointment for an exact time like we humans do and be there with them the entire time?

Also, I have heard horror stories about the blow drying machines or cages. Should we ask for our dogs to be manually blown dry?

Thanks for the great advice from the groomer perspective.

It isn't so much the blow dryer, its the amount of dryer hoses they put on the dogs cage that does the damage. Most groomers wont manually blow dry. But you can ask that they only use one dryer hose for your dog. Most places have a policy about how many hoses for the different breeds of dogs but alot of people dont abide by that policy.

I am trying to build up a clientel right now so that I can do a mobile grooming service and eventually quit Petco all together. I am getting sick of the childish drama going on there right now and it just gets worse.

Those were great tips. I am not a new member but I have been away for quite some time. Things have been extremely busy; however, I sure logged back on at a good time. I am taking my Molly in for her first grooming experience next week. She is about six months old now - I know, I probably should have taken her before now to get her accustomed to it, but I have trimmed her with scissors around her feet, privates and so forth up til now, but she is past due for a good cut. We bathe about once a week and comb EVERY day to make sure she doesn't get tangles or by no means mattes and she has a wonderful coat, but I really prefer to keep it in a puppy cut.

Anyway, to my first question. Is there any advice you can give me to help make her first visit a little easier on her and the groomer? Should I stay with her or just be availabe or I guess that is the groomers ultimate decision, huh? I want to be there to comfort her and I don't want her to think I just abandoned her, but I would rather her be mad at the groomer and think I came back and rescued her!!

Second, Molly has been shedding a good bit. I know they are going to lose some hair just as we do. I live in NC and it is pretty hot and humid right now so I don't know if that has something to do with it or not. Does anyone have any suggestions though to help with that?

So, thanks for any advice you guys may have. Maybe I won't be as long in between times on YT in the future. I really miss it. It's like a whole new forum since the last time I was here!!

Know what? I am there while mine is being groomed. I will not leave them. Know why? 'Cause one time I walked back in early at a groomer's and caught them with Muffin in a box with a dryer blowing into it! Needless to say, I left very shortly with my Muffin! :mad: That incident is one reason I groomed her from that time on. There is another groomer here now that I am taking Kacee to for the time being, but I will not leave her there. I go in with her with a set appointment and I don't leave until she is done. Oh! By the way, she blows her dry with a blow dryer, even... :p

Blow Dryers
 

Another thing, am I doing wrong or what? I don't blow dry Molly. When we finish, I hold her in a towel and I, how do I put this, gently pat her dry. I don't rub or anything, I mainly keep her wrapped in the towel for maybe 15 minutes or so and like I said rub her or whatever til she's almost dry and then comb her out. She doesn't tangle or anything really or if she does get a little one I immediatly work it out with a comb and then her coat is very pretty when she is dry. I did that when I first got her because her skin was a little flaky and I was afraid the heat of the dryer would make it worse. With a better food and a bath, within two weeks she wasn't flaky anymore, but I still maintained that routine. Plus, she loves cuddling in the towel!! I wonder if the groomer will insist on blowing her dry? I need to call her back and ask. I didn't think about that til I was reading these posts about the driers. :rolleyes:

Thanks Kelly! Those were some great tips, I love the writing down idea :) Man I wish you were here then I wouldnt have a problem!!

Thanks for all the great tips. They are all great to know.

What about the anal glands? I've read they don't need done, if they are expressed - they will always have to be done. Or is it better to get them done as preventive maintenance? Do all groomers do this for you or only some?

The glands are something that we only do if the owner asks us to.

You may want to call the groomer and ask if you can come in and stay with her. Or just make sure that you are available while she is at the groomers. Maybe if there are some places that you can shop at or something close by just in case.

Anytime, I am here to help wherever I can. :)

Thank you so much for the tips. I wish you live closer, ;) . Wanna come to NYC? JK.

Thanks Kelly for the great tips!! Wow, I had no idea that was how they blow dried the dogs. I'm not sure what I think about that. Do you think it scares them?