How many here groom their own yorkies?

[Darlene68]

I've been grooming Bailey.

[ltret0294]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

after money became tight, I decided to try grooming myself. one was $44 so the price of 2 was going to be a bit much to handle.

I got a cd and watched it at least 20 x before starting, lol.

Like the others, I figure it was hair so it would grow back. I'm still learning but definitely glad I took the plunge. It's been a year and I think I do a pretty good job. I do take them to the vet for nails and anal glands. I've tried doing the nails and just am too afraid as I did cut one of Hot Rod's nails too short and had a heck of a time getting the bleeding to stop. since then he will fight me when I even try to look at his nails.

With Maggie, we hear her outside in the waiting area when they do her nails--no need to even attempt her.

It takes a very healthy Vet Tech to hold Zeke while doing his nails. He's gotten much better on the grooming, he actually comes running when I rattle the box of grooming tools.

With 4 pups now, I have to look at home grooming too. Tom Hanks had a great line in the movie Dragnet when the Lion had the Mohawk, he told the kids at the zoo, "It will grow back"

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by mojo

Where did you get the dvd at? I was thinking of getting one. I do groom myself except for nails. I do ok, certainly not great. I was reminded why I groom myself when I went to petco today to get Emmy's nails clipped. First time there - I always have the vet do it, but at $18 each time it is too expensive.
Nobody wanted to help us, finally one girl did, she was goofy, but at least nice. Another girl was shaving a smaller dog on the table, left him alone several times, had not patience with him, pushing him around, telling him to be nice. Other dogs in the back barking, cage heaters of some sort, couldn't quite tell.
I could just never leave my babies there. I thought about it and wondered how many people would leave their toddler in a strange place when they knew nothing at all about the people? Not quite the same, but pretty good analogy.

sorry, just seeing this again. I got the cd from SueNCricket. She was memeber on here for while. She also sells on ebay. She portrays a yorkie in on the cd.

[DerbyLayne]

Grooming gets easier the more you do it.

Derby has thin, curly, cotton hair and we can't grow it. TRust me I've tried... it looks messy and unkept as it sticks straight up and is curly. He gets crap in it, and it matts like mental and sometimes we've had to shave him right down! I hate those days. Stupid burrs...

I just today did the modified schnauzer cut and I must say- I am AMAZING. lol

I would like to learn how to do his FACE a bit better?? but I'm learning (body is the easy part), and thankfully with his floppy ears he looks a bit silly anyway so it doesn't matter... Wherever I screw up, it'll grow. I accidently buzzes his top hair too short one time when he "moved" as I was trimming and we're still growing that out...lol

He is a 13 pound Yorkie with this huge underbite, so really.... what's a few hairs out of place. lol

[seschna]

Hi--i would love to know how to cut my yorkies hair! The thing is, he is curly haired, but not super curly like a poodle..just semi curly/wavy enough to cause knots and what not! Also his hair grows REALLY fast and he looks like he is wearing UGG boots on his feet cuz they are so furry lol another note-hes terrified of the clippers when they are on. I have gotten him professionally cut a couple of times in puppy cut and he looks BEAUTIFUL when hes done, but thats expensive since he grows so fast! AT first i just let it grow out, but that was a pain to maintain. Also Ive done it myself once and it was WAY too short and funky looking lol i dont want that to happen again, but i am looking for tips on how to clip him..
check out pix if you wanna know what timmy looks like!

[littlewhip]

After my last grooming experience I bought a nice little grooming set from target for 30.00, my daughters have been keeping my kids cut, there are certain areas that need more practice but i wont complain, i appreciate there help and know the babies love them we keep the video pulled up on the computer from youtube .

[babbsiam44]

I have contemplated so many times on grooming Elsa. I just don't have the nerve. I took her the end of January to a new groomer and the more I looked at her ears the more I see how crappy they did. She was so overdue for a groom(babies) that I really didn't pay attention too much until the next day or so. Also, she broke out in a rash under her armpits and a couple on her belly. That's gone now. Not happy, not complaining to them, just will never have my business again. If I could get someone to hold her still while I clip her then I will try it. I am so afraid of hurting her. The nails are another story...can't do them!

[seschna]

The problem with mine is he has curly/wavy hair, so the videos online dont work for helpin me groom him properly

Originally Posted by littlewhip

After my last grooming experience I bought a nice little grooming set from target for 30.00, my daughters have been keeping my kids cut, there are certain areas that need more practice but i wont complain, i appreciate there help and know the babies love them we keep the video pulled up on the computer from youtube .

[seschna]

Havent figured out how to do my yorkies nails yet cuz he is SUPER nervous (rescued) and his fur on his paws takes over so i cant see and do it quickly. However, i do my poms nails and she is wonderful. She didnt care for it at first, but after a few years shes great! the trick for her i found is holding her kinda like a football in one arm with her back paw in that same hand then i use my free arm/hand to clip her nails (just a tiny bit at a time to avoid hurting her) . i have to praise her and give her just a tiny second between paws so she knows shes doing well. always try to reassure them in a calming voice (no noises otherwise, such as tv or distractions)..also if she starts squirming i try to get her attn to my face so she focuses on me instead of my hands...SO MUCH easier than it used to be..and she is a dog that hates having her paws touched so it says a lot for her!

Originally Posted by babbsiam44

I have contemplated so many times on grooming Elsa. I just don't have the nerve. I took her the end of January to a new groomer and the more I looked at her ears the more I see how crappy they did. She was so overdue for a groom(babies) that I really didn't pay attention too much until the next day or so. Also, she broke out in a rash under her armpits and a couple on her belly. That's gone now. Not happy, not complaining to them, just will never have my business again. If I could get someone to hold her still while I clip her then I will try it. I am so afraid of hurting her. The nails are another story...can't do them!

[babbsiam44]

seschna--thank you alot fot the tip. I will try next time.

[mzwit51]

I looked at a bunch of videos online and just went ahead a did what they taught. It was a little choppy at first, but now it is easier. I have electric clippers, but also use scissors quite a bit.

[citygirl123]

I groom Copper myself. I use scissors and a small clipper for the tips of his ears.

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I groom myself also. BUT Uni is the easiest yorkie on the face of the earth to groom, so I guess i am spoiled. However, when I WAS trimming her, I just looked at a pic of a yorkie I wanted her to look like and clipped away. It's best to have good quality scissors. Some cheap scissors don't cut the hair well, and end up pushing the hair out of the blades instead of cutting it all, if that makes sense. and you get a slanted cut where you wanted it to be straight.

For tipping the ears, you can use those plastic eyebrow shavers if they are scared of the clippers sound near their ear (or if you are scared to do it! LOL). If you do use clippers for the ears, do NOT go up the side edges of the ear, only along the flat part of the ear, otherwise you will end up with a mangled ear . Also the thing that you use to trim nose hairs can be used to cut the hair between the toes.

Don't forget to try to make it a happy bonding experience. They will trust you more and more and it will get easier and easier.

I read someone on Yt said, Why should I pay someone to mess up my dog's hair when I can do it myself for free? love that!

I agree never, never use the hair cutting clippers on the ears. I use battery "trimmers" for the ears...quick and easy. One of my Yorkies is in a long coat, thus it's basically a bath and comb out, ears trimmed. The nails, glands, etc I take to a groomer.
The short cut one...I keep shaved in the saddle area and was trying to grow "pants" but I went to trim her feet and she ended up with capri's...it was awful, so I took her to a groomer friend of mine and they fixed. the legs have grown out now and look good, as has her tail which for whatever reason I thought needed trimmed with her feet (turned it into a bald bob)
I plan for that one to eventually have that modified schnauzer??? (only with a top knot) look...long legs and tail, short in the saddle.
So yeah, you can screw it up, but if you're not showing the dog, it's only hair...it grows back...eventually :-) Start slow with just a trim.

[HollyandMommy]

I had a very bad grooming experience so I ended up going to grooming school and loved it so not only I groom my babies I also groom my friends and family.

[kjc]

I used to work at a groomers as a bather... need I say I home groom...