Do you do it or pay someone to?

[concretegurl]

I used to pay someone...right now I'm saving money by doing the in between grooming myself...but my dogs are going to go in every 6 months to my groomer for the works instead of the every 6 weeks for the maintenance.
I bought ear powder, cleaner, three types of nail nips and files, several many new brushes, and a set buzzers (clippers) and various attachments...still trying to find a dog hair blower at a decent price...
I've managed to get the ear plucking down and the hand stripping but he anal gland cleaning and the dental scraping I'll never do myself.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Hot Rod used to go to the groomers but I started grooming when we got Maggie cause money got tight and it was going to be expensive with 2. I love doing it, it's a time just for us. I do still take them to get nails and glands done. I attempt the nails but usually wind up giving up. I cut one of Hot Rod's too short once and I don't think he's forgiven me yet.

[dispatcher]

I take Bitsy to the groomer every two weeks. We have a wonderful groomer in our town and Bitsy loves to go They do a wonderful job with her!

[Lula-Mae Famous]

I took Lula to the DogSpa on her first birthday for her first hair cut. I asked them to clean her up but to not touch the hair on her head. Handed them her birthday bow and went out to breakfast with my boyfriend. When we came back to pick her up she was so happy to see me and jumped in my lap. My smile instantly dissapeared. "umm, did you cut the hair on her face?" Oh of course they did, they cut the hair around her eyes as when there is hair in their eyes it can cause infection... but when I brought her in all her hair fit in her top knot.
I was furious.
I have been struggling with growing it out ever since. It is now a year later and it is almost there.

Since that I have been cutting Lula's hair myself. I trim all the hair on her legs, belly and butt. She does looka bit messy. I am only doin it until her top knot is secure and I find a groomer that seems to be able to follow simple directions.
"Don't cut the hair on her head" seems simple enough, or so I thought.

[laci32]

I groom Andy myself for to reasons. I can use that $50.00 to buy him things and I am weird ok I can't just drop him off and leave him at a groomers in a cage. He has never been in a cage. I have worked in two groomer shops when I was in my 20's and the owners both times were mean to the ones that were upset and barking a lot. I brush him every day there for no knots.. My cuts may not be perfect but he is happy that's all that matters to me.

[Perrella]

I groom Zhoie myself, since she came home. Learned by trial & error, but that's ok with me. I simply didn't want to entrust her with anyone else. I do take her to my vet for anal gland express, but of course....I go back with her.

I'm so sure Zhoie could have a much better cut by a professional, but you know, I'm ok with it.

[Britster]

I pay. I am certainly NOT a groomer and I really don't feel like learning. I love our mobile groomer that comes right to our house, she's awesome, Jackson loves her, er... tolerates her very well. And he always looks great and smells amazing. And he's done within 45 mins-1 hour in the comfort of our own driveway. I pay $55 but I give her a $10 tip. He gets done about 12 weeks.... every 8 weeks in the warmer months.

[ASTPhi877]

Originally Posted by Perrella

I'm so sure Zhoie could have a much better cut by a professional, but you know, I'm ok with it.

Your Zhoie has my favorite hair on this entire forum (not to discount all the other cuties, because Lord knows they are all adorable )... But every time I see her in your little avatar, I can't help thinking what an exquisite dog she is, and how much I LOVE her hair! I almost post messaged you the other day just to ask what the cut is called and EXACTLY how it's done, so that I could tell the groomer that that's what I want for my Lucy (even though their hair isn't anything alike, so who knows how that would go, hehe.) But I did spend probably a good ten minutes going through your albums and marveling at your beautiful Zhoie... And to find out you do it all yourself!!! I have to say I am extremely impressed by your skills, and don't think ANY professional could POSSIBLY do any better! Just so you know...

[Rhetts_mama]

I go to a groomed for major stuff. But I keep it up myself in between visits. Neither of mine is good about getting groomed and it's hard for me to get the 'right' look myself. Rhett has really fine hair and it grows slowly. But Scarlett has thick, fast growing hair (and tons of it) that mats easily. She gets to looking like a bear cub between visits.

[Beamers Mom]

If I could handle bathing Beamer myself I would groom him myself.
I do brush and comb him daily, but I have a groomer come every Wednesday and she grooms him then. As I brush and comb him daily (OK I miss a day sometimes if my hands are hurting) she doesn't have a lot to do as far as tangles go. She mainly just has to give him a quick brush and comb just to make sure there are no tangles before she bathes him.

[Rhetts_mama]

Geez! I just re-read my post. I really detest the automatic spelling correction on the iPod! I meant to say groomer, not groomed.

[Wylie's Mom]

I won't go to a groomer anymore - we do all our grooming at home. We may not be the best at it, but it's what we prefer. A few different groomers hurt our oldest, Wylie, and we just can't do it now. He was very traumatized by it - and for a year-and-a-half, he shook just at the mere sight of a brush. Also, for the last 5 years - he is still terrified of the nail cutter bc they always cut his quick, which is very painful.

That said, I know there are very skilled, caring groomers out there .

[BonBon]

I've always done my own grooming, but in the last year or so I've found a groomer I REALLY like. So far only Maddox and Murphy have been in for a 'professional' do , but I think I may start using them more. My problem area is the foot pad - I just can't keep their little legs from jerking away from the trimmer and I'm so afraid of hurting them if I hold on too tight. I also don't do anals but thankfully none of mine have had a problem in that area.

[concretegurl]

That makes me so mad! Sorry but my Scoobers did the same thing, first time I showed him a brush to brush him he ran away from me shaking, cowering, and lost all bladder and bowel control...for just over 6 months over that he would show fear aggression and bite the brush even with daily exposure and gentle (I switched to my own boar's hair brush) brushing followed by treats...it only takes one bad experience to affect them so much! We had a vet tech...whom didn't understand the concept of fear aggression and while attempting to cut Scoobers nails was bitten...yet he was the one bleeding! I was livid and we never went back there again and raised &%$# before leaving...

Absolutely sickening a groomer or a vet tech could inflict such a result!

Glad we have a great groomer now (whom is also a veterinary technician) she worked so well with all my dogs to ensure they were comfortable...I was ticked when she trimmed Elvis' top knot off...but I'd prefer a shorter cut than wanted over psychologically damaging my dog any day. I was also pleasd she was one of the few here who refused to groom sedated dogs, fear aggression, aggression, any issue she'll work with them and the behavior-a soft muzzle is her extreme last resort...

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I won't go to a groomer anymore - we do all our grooming at home. We may not be the best at it, but it's what we prefer. A few different groomers hurt our oldest, Wylie, and we just can't do it now. He was very traumatized by it - and for a year-and-a-half, he shook just at the mere sight of a brush. Also, for the last 5 years - he is still terrified of the nail cutter bc they always cut his quick, which is very painful.

That said, I know there are very skilled, caring groomers out there .

[ArmaniMan]

I go to a groomer and do touch ups in between myself. Mine go to the groomer every 8 weeks.

For the first few years I had Armani I would never leave him at the groomer- I always stayed with him the whole time- finally I found someone I really trusted, who I knew was good to the dogs all the time and I started leaving him and Chloe. They are only there about 3 hours for the both of them.