Grooming question
 

I'm taking Max in to get groomed next week.It will be his first haircut,and,I was just wondering,since he's so hyper,how will the groomer keep him still enough to cut his hair?Will they medicate him?

Hopefully they will not medicate (I would never take mine to anyone who did). Groomers are used to active puppies, and often do the grooming in small sessions letting him rest in between. It is good to start early getting them used to groomers, and they get better over time.

Be sure to be very specific about what you want done.

I am thinking about getting him a "puppy cut"or maybe something with shorter hair on his body and a little longer on his head.Not sure what you would call that type of cut.I'm trying to find a picture of exactly what I want and bring that in to show them.Does anyone know of any good websites to go to for pictures of different cuts?

The term puppy cut means different things to different groomers, so you are wise to take a picture. How short are you talking about the body... be really specific, so you won't be disappointed.

Check out the forum section "Yorkie Grooming Talk" and you might get some ideas. One of my favorite short hair cuts is member Nancy1999's Joey. Some refer to his cut as the modified schnauzer.

My Max is a little hyper too, but he acts like a total angel at the groomer. Your Max will probably do just fine too. I was really worried because our little Max is really wiggly and always on the move, but he does great at the groomer! I think sometimes they save the special naughty behavior just for me :)

A groomer should NEVER medicate your dog, especially a puppy just because he's wiggly. Puppies can be a challenge to groom but if you've been working with him at home it makes it so much easier. The biggest problem i usually have is ear plucking. Most puppies hate it. I always tell owners to stick their fingers in their ears and pluck a few hairs every now and then to get them use to it, or just to pretend to do it if they are not comfortable actually doing it. I also ask them to play with the feet, specifically the toes and get them used to being handled. also pet their chin a lot and gently hold the hair for a few second to get them used to that as well.

When dogs go on the grooming table they have a grooming loop secured around their neck and then attached to a grooming arm above them. With puppies and small dogs i do this loosely so as not to harm their neck, but secure enough so they can't get out or fall off the table. I always have a hand on them as well. You need to go slow with puppies because they are not used to having a clipper on their body, their pads, their rear, and their groin. its weird and tickles sometimes. everything is just a very slow process and has to be done gently so they aren't freaked out and traumatized. i absolutely do not demat puppies because it can hurt and ruin their entire grooming experience, so i always shave or tell them to go elsewhere. health and happiness before owners vanity.

When you go to the new groomer you can ask for a puppy cut but remember to specify how much hair you want left on the body, otherwise you may end up with a totally shaved pup. puppy cut just means same length all over. you can also tell them you want the body shorter and leave the legs to grow. And ask for a full round face so they don't cut it short with the body. And let them know if you don't want the hair under the eyes and on the nose trimmed because that is a standard thing to do.

I havent heard of a groomer medicating them so I doubt they would do that. Dogs tend to act better away from there owners.

About a month ago when Cody was 4 months, I took him to a groomer for head, "sanitary" and feet trim. He is real hyper too, and the groomer used treats to control. He did OK.

Sadly i have heard some stories from owners about picking up their groggy dogs only to learn that the grooming place took it upon themselves to give the dog something to calm it down.

Hi - I ran across this site that has some really cute cuts - but there are a lot of members on here who's babies have some great cuts...hopefully someone will post a picture. Good luck!
Yorkshire Terrier Hair Styles | Hair Styles for Yorkies | Yorkshire terrier hair cuts, grooming styles

that site is good for ideas, but i'd be careful about saying schnauzer cut or westie cut because true sch. or westie cuts do not look like the cuts in those pictures. Also some groomers think they know how to do the standard breed cut for those breeds and do it totally wrong. Pictures are great or a very thorough description. make sure you talk to the actual groomer who is going to be grooming your pup because sometimes just the receptionist or manager speaks with the clients.

Isn't that illegal? Only a vet can prescribe medication.

Any groomers that actually let you stay and watch??

I didn't read the entire post, but if you tell the groomer exactly what you want, hopefully they will listen to you. I told my groomer I wanted a puppy cut, no hair removed from the ears, leave the top long... and I got exactly what I asked for. I have heard stories where others tell the groomer what they want and get something different. Hopefully your groomer will listen to what you want and your Max comes out looking handsome. :)

i guess it depends on what they gave the dog, and if the owners take it to the next level and try to prove the groomer gave the dog something by taking it to the vet. i think its a big process. not exactly sure what type of blood test would need to be done to see if there are drugs in the dogs system. most people simply just do not go to that groomer anymore and tell everyone else not to go there. sadly, nothing usually happens to the groomer.

Some groomers will let you stay and watch, and others will not. 95% of the time its harder to groom a dog when the owner is there. the dog does not want to stand on the table or even stand still. they are too concerned with getting back to their momma. even if the owner stays in the front room the dogs just "know" their owners are there. At the shop i'm in the front door is always locked to prevent any accidents of dogs escaping (they also have to get through 2 gates and a sliding door before the front door). A person has to ring the bell so we can buzz them in. the dogs cannot see the front door but by just a bell ringing they can determine if its their owner outside. i don't know how they do it, but with some dogs you can clearly see that they know the difference between some random person or their owner ringing the bell and entering the shop even when that person doesn't say anything.

a lot of the time owners are worried about their dogs for no reason. They see their dog freaking out because they are leaving them with the groomer and it makes the owner upset, which then upsets the dog even more. The truth is, with most dogs, the moment you walk out that door and we take them in the back, the dog forgets trying to get back to the owner and just goes with the routine of grooming.

sanitary cut is shaving around the anus and groin area. basically the areas that get dirty from poop and pee.

It is a standard thing to do for a full groom. Full grooms usually incorporate nails, pads, sanitary, ears, bath, dry, brush out and/or haircut. Sometimes people just bring their dogs in for specific things like just a bath/brushout, or nails and sanitary trim without bath and haircut.

Are you a groomer?

yup :)

If you don't mind me asking,where do you work?Maybe I can bring Max to you,the next time he needs to be groomed.

Here is a pic of what I did to Rizzo, not professional but its short on his body and longer on his head. This is the only cut I have done on him so far, but hopefully it'll give you or your groomer something to work off of.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/pic...ictureid=91861

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/pic...ictureid=91862

How early should your pup start going in order to get them used to it? My mix will be almost 15 weeks old when I bring her home tomorrow and she has never been groomed.

That's what the groomers called shaving part of the tummy back to him privates- to help keep him clean.

Rizzo looks adorable. Good job.

That's exactly how Chanel was when I USED to take them to groomers - the last time I took both - Cheri screamed her fool head off when they took Chanel out to groom and bless her heart - they called me and said she had to be taken to another room - and still screamed for her sister -

needless to say - no more groomers for me ! They're expensive and also- I learned to do it myself - I'm no pro that's for sure but I'm not out there to show off perfect haircuts even though I used to pride myself on how pretty I thought they looked when in top form (for them - and I have just regular little girls) and one with a very cottony coat

I just want them comfortable in the texas heat so Chanel is the one I work on the most - her hair grows wicked fast

The earlier the better !! But always research the groomers - i used to 'cold call' on some just to see how they operated before I made any appointments - even a groomer you THINK is good may not be the groomer for you - I learned THAT lesson years ago after picking up my oldest Chanel and she whimpered all the way home - I felt her all over and they had done something to her that hurt so I never went back - I DID call and complain that's for sure

ps - when I said early - I mean once they're vaccinated !! you can't be too careful and a good groomer will require all their records

edited to add - remember some people will find their puppy comes home with fleas too - so just use common sense and watch for the telltale signs that all went well

there are also MOBILE groomers that will come to you - again - research them !!

Thanks for the tips! There is a groomer 5 min from my house that also shows dogs. She has groomed my grandparents dogs and always does a great job. I think I am going to take the little one to her and see how she does with her.

Cooper got a haircut yesterday also. I told the groomer just what I wanted and I stayed while she did it. She asked questions while she was cutting and for a first full groom he did pretty good. It took an hour just for the cut but she was really good with him I am happy and it only cost me $20.00 :):):)