Do you do your known grooming or have a professional do it?

[Julz]

I groom my own. I have mentioned in a previous thread that if you don't own a grooming table, use a washer or dryer (they tend to "freeze"). You may also want to just turn the trimmers on a few times and let the dog get used to the sound without trimminng them (over a period of a couple of days). Also, once you start grooming, don't feel like you have to finish it all at once...in the beginning it can be too much for both of you. Tell yourself you'll do the ears and nails one day and finish the rest a day or two later. You'll also want to give your pet a treat right afterward and tell them how good they were (even if they weren't). Don't let them see how nervous you are, they will pick up on it. I'll tell you what, I do "imprint" training with my puppies before they go which I feel will help the new owners later with vet visits, grooming, and so on. Thinning shears don't give that "blunt" choppy cut I'm sure a lot of us end up with in the beginning.

[Laura]

Originally Posted by red98vett

Yes...I do on both mine now - for a long time I didn't cause I do bows and wanted that hair to grow - but it always seemed to be in their eyes and I find trimming it is much neater looking - just a personal preference....

Here's Chanel - the area with the ARROW is where I use the PERSONAL Trimmer - it works SO GREAT because it only removes a little hair at a time and you can't cut chunks cause it's a tiny comb - Sally's Beauty sells these - I think they're for Bikini areas or faces ...but I love mine !

I took this pic right BEFORE I groomed her to show how much I trim....

This is great! I need to arrange a shopping trip for the day My favorite Tractor Supply; Sally's beauty; Leslie's pools (it's by Sally's) I need a new float for me and zowie. Wow, now that I mention it, maybe that's the answer for Bronx! I could trim him in the pool, it's the only time he is still. I must ponder this!

Now I'm excited - did I mention I love to shop!

[Laura]

Originally Posted by Julz

I'll tell you what, I do "imprint" training with my puppies before they go which I feel will help the new owners later with vet visits, grooming, and so on.

What do you do? You know i've got some needing imprinting!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Laura

This is great! I need to arrange a shopping trip for the day My favorite Tractor Supply; Sally's beauty; Leslie's pools (it's by Sally's) I need a new float for me and zowie. Wow, now that I mention it, maybe that's the answer for Bronx! I could trim him in the pool, it's the only time he is still. I must ponder this!

Now I'm excited - did I mention I love to shop!

lol...you love to shop - who would ever know ?

[Julz]

Originally Posted by Laura

What do you do? You know i've got some needing imprinting!

Hi Laura!!!
How are your babies?!? I LOVED the 2 week picture of them (left a comment under the picture). To imprint train them, make them very familiar with your hands being everywhere on them. A lot of people have problems with ears and the mouth. When you hold your puppies, put your fingers in their ears (all of this very gently...I'm sure I wouldn't have to add that), their mouth, run your hands down each of their legs, just everywhere. They will find it very relaxing and it prepares them for MUCH when they get older. When they are a little older, make sure they will let you open their mouth without a hassle. That is why you start when they are tiny, your hand won't be a foreign object to them. Turn the clippers on near them at a young age periodically (then the sound won't scare them later). Their ears don't open until they are about 2 weeks old, so start then. Also, hold all of your puppies enough that they feel comfortable laying on their back while holding them. I takes A LOT OF TIME, but is well worth it. You'll definetly need your family's help.

[red98vett]

Excellent advise...when mine were little they loved me doing that and it really does work - I can touch anywhere on them and they're pretty good...cept for brushing feet ! What IS it about that ???

[Laura]

No problem there, we hold them all the time. I hold them on their backs and rub their tummies (one doesn't like to be upsidedown). Now their eyes are open, so I look in their faces and talk to them, and we put our fingers in their mouth and pretend they are biting us. The kids keep leaving them out on a blanket because they thing they need to run around. They are barely moving. Thanks for the info. BTW - I didn't see your one week pictures for monday!

[Julz]

I know, they tend to want to pull them back that that is the most personal part of their bodies. When I have puppies I start when they are tiny and while holding them I just rub their feet between my thumb and forefinger. If you can get them to think it is relaxing by the time they are a few weeks old, SOMEONE out there is going to have it much easier! LOL

[Julz]

Originally Posted by Laura

No problem there, we hold them all the time. I hold them on their backs and rub their tummies (one doesn't like to be upsidedown). Now their eyes are open, so I look in their faces and talk to them, and we put our fingers in their mouth and pretend they are biting us. The kids keep leaving them out on a blanket because they thing they need to run around. They are barely moving. Thanks for the info. BTW - I didn't see your one week pictures for monday!

I will try and get pictures on tomorrow....I already know today is out. I'm sorry, I have been so busy. The sun finally came out and we opened the pool. FREEZING water, way to cold to swim, but so much work to do! Child, house, garden, yard, pool, deck staining, my parents yard work, school functions, trip to the ER last night, puppies, etc. My sister asked me yesterday if I would keep her son for a couple of days, so I'll get him today. Anyway, I'm sure that was TMI, I will get pictures on tomorrow. The red ones are bigger than the black ones, but they are all VERY chubby!! They eat constantly!!

[camarolynn73]

WOW! That's alot of great advice. I'm going out tomorrow to get some clippers, comb, and baby scissors. Does everyone pull hair from the ears? Can just cut the ear hairs or do you have to pull them?

[vainchick5]

Coco gets groomed by me. I figure I can save her health problems, and save my money by learning to do it, early on. She gets scared at first but every 20sec. I stop and give her a favorite treat. So it takes a good 15 minutes to get her done, because we stop a lot and praise for that 20 seconds she stands shaking with her face dug in between my legs..haha..I guess that's her calm place. I would love to know how to trim her nails, and how to pull the ear hairs. I'm scared to do those two things. If anyone can help me by describing what to do, that would be great.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

Coco gets groomed by me. I figure I can save her health problems, and save my money by learning to do it, early on. She gets scared at first but every 20sec. I stop and give her a favorite treat. So it takes a good 15 minutes to get her done, because we stop a lot and praise for that 20 seconds she stands shaking with her face dug in between my legs..haha..I guess that's her calm place. I would love to know how to trim her nails, and how to pull the ear hairs. I'm scared to do those two things. If anyone can help me by describing what to do, that would be great.

What a good girl Coco sounds like - I know that hide your face trick !! It's so cute she does that. The first time I groomed Chanel we spent about an hour kissing an hour cutting...what a long day with all the kissing breaks !

When I do nails I wrap them up in a towel like a mummy and take out one foot at a time -

on the hair inside the ears - I haven't got that far - I've had a groomer do it or my vet....THAT to me seems like it could cause pain.

[vainchick5]

Vilette, she is soo cute when she's all shaky and looks defeated, with her head between my legs. But as soon as the treat comes every half a minute her tail is wagging and miraculously stopped shaking. I'm also afraid of the ear hair thing. I'm afraid of her toe nails too because what if I make her bleed??? I would die. At least Chanel is letting you do it. I haven't even tried. Just yesterday while she was sleeping on her back in my lap, I trimmed her pad hair. That went well except mommy got trim crazy..haha

[tmatherly]

I am so glad to find a good grromer for Pippa. She is so wiggly, I would be afraid to do it! My groomer does the cutest puppy cut and always puts a bow in her hair. She seems to genuinely like Pippa, too.
Pippa always gets an A+ on her Puppy Report Card-it's soooo cute-great scrapbook material!

[camarolynn73]

I called my vet today and they will groom him for $25.00 ( bath, cut, style, ear hair, nail trimmimg, and anal glands) That's a deal! Wish I hadn't cut is ear hairs the other day. I'm getting Zoe tonight, I'll probably take them both next week!