1st Time Grooming Brooke Myself-w/photos
 

Well, I bought a great Yorkie Grooming DVD from SueNCricket and I brought out all the supplies tonight and did my first grooming on Brooke myself. I cut her nails, plucked her hair out of her ears:tongue036, trimmed her ears and pads of her feet and trimmed all her hair allover to even it out. The only problem I had was that the Fromm scissors I bought from Petedge were not sharp enough, so the trim on her feet and legs weren't as smooth as I would have liked. I am proud of myself though, I told my hubbie that I just saved him $60 (grooming is expensive here in CA), of course, I didn't tell him that all the grooming supplies cost $350!! But I have 3 Yorkies so doing it myself will save in the long run. Now, I have 1 groom down and 2 more to go!! Here are some photos of Brooke, in her Bunny towel, during the grooming and after!! She was so calm she ran to her bed after the blowdry and was falling asleep!!

A few more photos!
 

A few more photos!

You're a Pro!
 

Nanci, you're a pro! Great job, Your :aimeeyorkbabies look like they just stepped out of the doggy salon!!! Brooke in her bunny towel is adorable..
Oh! that grooming stand is fabulous, I've been looking for one, but all I find are the big square bulky tables...
Where can I find one?
I have 3:aimeeyork babies myself and do my own grooming! Without a grooming stand, it can be a bit of a hassel...

I got the grooming table online at Petedge for $29.99. It rotates like a lazy susan and has the arm with the slip collar on it. It is really well made for the money. Tomorrow I am going to try and groom my big boy Booboo, 14 lbs, on it and I'll let you know if it is as easy with a bigger dog. (Brooke is only 3.8 lbs).

LOL! She looks like she is glaring at you in the first pic of the second set :D You really did a great job!
I "groomed" Tucker tonight. I was taking him to a grommer that did ok. I asked her to do a few things differently and she acted like I was crazy. I've been thinking about doing him myself. I bought a small pair of clippers and trimmed his booty, belly and feet and scissor clipped his ears. I think he looks great except for his feet. So, what's this about a training video for yorkies? I'd love to hear more about it.

Wow, Thats a bargain!!! Love it!
Let me know how it goes with BooBoo, My biggest is Gizmo, 11.2 lbs, but regardless I'm going to purchase it... Thank You, Andrea

You did a great job! I bought the same video and I ordered all my products from Petedge Friday. I was going to order that table, but the lady at Petedge said Crosley being 17lbs wouldn't fit, so we went with a larger table.
You are braver than us, I'm not attempting the nails yet!

What hubby doesnt know wont hurt him :D
I think that you did a great job:thumbup:
I love the bunny towel and your baby
is so pretty

looks like a great job! She's a beauty!:)

:congrats: You did a great job and Brooke looks fantastic. I ordered the DVD on Friday and can't wait to get it. Which style of scissors did you order? I bought a pair at PetSmart once, they weren't sharp enough and I took them back. I have a pair of blunt end trimming scissors that I use on Scooter's face but on his feet I use my hair cutting scissors. I've never done an all over groom myself but I ready to tackle it.

Here's Photos of Booboo, Grooming #2
 

Well, tonight I decided to tackle grooming Booboo, my huge Teapot!! He has a fairly thick coat, but I wouldn't call it cottony. I usually keep him fairly short but I let him grow out this winter and he was in dire need of a trim!! I decided to try the personality cut that Sue mentions in her dvd as hairstyle #3, it is like a modified Schnauzer cut. I did a puppy cut head, but the body has a skirt and long leg hair using the 1" comb and then I used a 1/2"comb down his back and neck. He had some matts on his legs that I hadn't seen, so I did have to cut some out! All in all, for my first time, I think he came out really well.:aimeeyork I have to practice on my ear trims and paw trims. It is kinda' choppy right now but practice makes perfect and Booboo seemed happy!! He is such a lovebug, I keep treats by the grooming table so if he gets antsy, I just ask him to sit and if he obeys I give him a treat, but he just wanted kisses!! So if he was doing well I would say "Good boy" and he would kiss me on the lips!:kiss:
Here are some photos, The first one is a before photo, the next one is the mound of hair I took off of him!! The next one is the mound of hair that is the same size as Brooke!! And then Booboo after!!

You did a great job!!!!!! I wish I had the guts to try to groom at home!

Wow he almost looks like a different dog, great job!
LOL, I had to go and read your post again, I thought all that hair came off of Brooke!
All of our supplies should be here by Friday! What did you find the most challenging? We are so nervous!

bravo...good job

You did an awesome job on both dogs! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the tip on the little grooming table. I'm definitely looking into that.

You did a fantastic job! :thumbup: Can't wait to tackle Scooter! Everything but his nails of course. I'll leave that for the Vet's office. :)

great job...hehe...i just got my video...haven't watched it but plan too this weekend...

He does look so different!! The most challenging is just getting them to stand for you!! They want to sit and lay and lean against you!! They were both lazy!! Now I did groom them at night, after dinner, but I do this for a reason, because they are more relaxed and then they don't fight me!! But they were like trying to groom jello!! They are actually both pretty good with baths and trims and such, they just hate their nails done and that is the part I hate too!! I say just go for it!! It's only hair and it will grow back!! Try and not be nervous and just tackle it because I think they can feel you and if you are hesitant they try and wiggle and squirm. Also, before I put them on the pink table I put it on the floor and they sniffed it and I gave them a treat. When I put them on it, another treat, show them the clippers, treat, rub clipper on them when off, treat, turn clippers on, treat, etc... Make it a positive experience and if you are getting stressed or they are you don't have to complete it all at once! Do a little one day and then continue the next day! Hope this helps!!

So :aimeeyorkBooBoo fit well in your grooming table, thats good news, I can't wait to receive mine... You did a fantastic job:bravo:... By the picture, it seems like you went scissor happy!!

Thank you for the advice and encouragement! I'm sure it will be trial and error and I know we will get better at it!
It will be better for them in the long run and it will be a great money saver too!
Again great job!!

yes bravo bravo clap clap good job.

Great job grooming! I love the picture with Brooke next to Booboo's hair!! ;)

Job well done!!

Great Jobs! BUT...How do you get your dogs to...
 

Your dogs look great for a first try at grooming. Your very courageous :)
What I need to know...because I am about to bring home an 8 week old puppy on Saturday..is how do you get your dogs to sit still and accept the brushing, nail clipping etc?
My previous dog, Bentley, was a very sweet little guy.....but needed to be given medication in order to slow him down to work on his coat. When it came to nail trimming I had to take him to a pro because he would never allow me to get near his nails with a clipper in my hands.

did you ever get around to doing your last one...hehe

I'd say you did a very good job :D i wish i was that brave :rolleyes:

Your doing a great job! Congratulations.
Your babies are so pretty.

Great job Brooke and Booboo look beautiful. Your so brave Faith would not stand for me to touch her paws I'm just lucky she lets me bath her every week.

Hi Connie, I think you just have to start them young. When your dog is sleepy and he's lying on your lap just start touching them all over. You look in their ears, play with their feet, separate their toes, press on their nails, look at their teeth, etc. You want to get the puppy used to you touching them all over in a non-threatening way. It will help for grooming and for vet visits. It's easier when they are tired. Then you can try brushing them with a very soft brush. Everything is slow and in stages. If you frighten your pup with nail clippers or a brush at this time, it takes more time to get them unafraid of it. Go slow. Also you can use treats. Show them the brush and give a treat. If they sit there and let you brush them, give a treat. Also my dogs did have professional groomers in the beginning which I think helps them to get used to the blow dryer and clippers and nail clipping. Hope this helps and Congrats on your new baby!!

Grooming #3 Mindy in Puppy cut
 

Well, I finally got around to grooming my 3rd yorkie, Mindy. Mindy is 12 yrs old and has had Cushing's for many years. She has a big belly and muscle wasting and her coat is getting thin, so I decided to give her a puppy cut. I used the 3/4" comb all over. She always looks so pitiful in pictures, she cowers and puts her ears down and doesn't want to look in the camera, so I did my best with the photos. Mindy was the easiest to groom, she is very obedient and just a sweetheart. I didn't have to bribe her with treats as much as Booboo and Brooke!! I'm so glad I decided to groom them myself. It is not that hard and I will get better with time and practice! I will save money and they will not have to be in a cage at the groomer's all day! I say to all of you that want to try it but are scared, JUST DO IT!! It's just hair, it will grow back and your pup will love you, no matter what their hair looks like!!:)

Here's some photos of Mindy, before, after, Brooke with Mindy's hair pile, Mindy's face after!