Puppy cuts...your self or a groomer?

[erinmg0123]

Is it hard to do a puppy cut (short puppy like hair do on adult yorkies) yourself if you have no expierince? Can you learn or is it best to go to a groomer?

[LUVMYORKIES]

glad to hear you are getting a pup. Look, im not an expert of any sort but i use to take my 2 yorkies to the groomers all the time, now with my busy schedule i have been bathing them and cutting their hair my self at home. I purchased a kit at petsmart and i've been learning to do it myself. Im sure its not even close to what a professional groomer can do but honestly it all depends how picky you are. I think short hair is not that hard to maintain and so hard to cut. Maybe you can try it a few times and see if it works for you.

[megan_kat22]

you'll need to do a lot of research. the first time it might not turn out to well. just learn as much as you can and go slow not cutting much the first time. to me, groomers are a God send, couldn't live without. they do all the sanitary cleaning, and if you find a good one you'll always love how they look

[romeos mommy]

i take romeo to the groomer for his puppy cut. he sports a puppy cut year round. ( he hates his hair combed) i tried to cut him a few times. it was so hard to get it even.

[LuvMySissy]

Welcome to YT from a fewllow Michigander!!

I've been grooming Sissy myself since I got her at 13 weeks. Her hair grows fairly slowly and is not thick and curly, so that definitely makes it easier. If you start when they are puppies and continue with the puppy cut, I think you'll get the hang of it in no time. I have never groomed before and didn't research at all. Just decided to go for it. I use human hair schears (that I purchased a while ago from my beautician) and I have a small ConairPet trimmer for the bum/feet. I think I do a good job and it takes only about 15 minutes.

Since I've been doing this now for several months (she will be one year next week), she sits quietly for everything except her nail trims. This is a photo taken two weeks ago. I'm planning to let her hair grow longer now, especially on her head. Good luck to you.

[Erin]

I give Loki a bath every week and do nails, feet, etc. I keep him SHORT and I send him every 4 weeks to the groomer. I just bought a grooming table and I am planning on stretching that out to every 8 weeks or so. It's just too hot in the summer not to keep him nearly shaved, and it grows SO FAST.

I would see if you can find a gentle groomer that will take him the first time so you can see where to trim. Then follow that as a guideline for the future.

If you need a grooming table, I just got one from PetEdge for $70. www.petedge.com. I think they have a $100 minimum order, but they have lots of stuff at wholesale prices. They also carry clippers, combs, etc. They have brand name stuff like Kongs at a discount and their own brand "Zanies" toys are all like $1-$2. I think if you are going to use clippers the table is necessary. It's hard to clip a wiggly dog :-)

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Welcome to YT from a fewllow Michigander!!

I've been grooming Sissy myself since I got her at 13 weeks. Her hair grows fairly slowly and is not thick and curly, so that definitely makes it easier. If you start when they are puppies and continue with the puppy cut, I think you'll get the hang of it in no time. I have never groomed before and didn't research at all. Just decided to go for it. I use human hair schears (that I purchased a while ago from my beautician) and I have a small ConairPet trimmer for the bum/feet. I think I do a good job and it takes only about 15 minutes.

Since I've been doing this now for several months (she will be one year next week), she sits quietly for everything except her nail trims. This is a photo taken two weeks ago. I'm planning to let her hair grow longer now, especially on her head. Good luck to you.

how old was sissy when you first started cutting her hair? Morgan is almost 4 months.

[cribal]

Just and idea but you can look on e-bay for a FLOBEE (sp?) That's what my mom and stepdad use on their yorkie to keep him in a puppycut. They have an attachment just for pets. It's cuts hair really good also. Just a suggestion.

Crystal

[dinek]

Sean is very difficult to trim, especially his face so I take him to a groomer. I'm lucky. I found someone who is absolutely wonderful with him.

When I had my other Yorkies, I began trimming them from the time they were puppies so never took them to a groomer. They were used to my doing the trimming.

[RLC12345678]

I'm on a tight budget and as much as I would LOVE to send my doggies to the groomers everytime they need a haircut, my hubby just won't let me do it. So, I do it myself. I think puppy cuts are the simplest to do. All you need to do is get an electric razor that comes with different size guards. I just have a plain 'ole ConAir human electric razor that my hubby used to use on his head. I use one of the longer guards on the body and legs and use one of the shorter guards for the belly and on top of the head (well, at least for my boy yorkie). Then I use blount-tip scissors for the face and around the eyes. It is quite simple. The razor with the guard on it will ensure that the hair is all one length. I don't really see anyway that you could possibly mess up too bad using this method. Just start with the longest guard on the body and if you want to go shorter, just go one size down until you get the length that you want. Even if you mess up, at least it will grow back! I just like the fact that I'm saving $40+ everytime I do it myself.

[erinmg0123]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

I'm on a tight budget and as much as I would LOVE to send my doggies to the groomers everytime they need a haircut, my hubby just won't let me do it. So, I do it myself. I think puppy cuts are the simplest to do. All you need to do is get an electric razor that comes with different size guards. I just have a plain 'ole ConAir human electric razor that my hubby used to use on his head. I use one of the longer guards on the body and legs and use one of the shorter guards for the belly and on top of the head (well, at least for my boy yorkie). Then I use blount-tip scissors for the face and around the eyes. It is quite simple. The razor with the guard on it will ensure that the hair is all one length. I don't really see anyway that you could possibly mess up too bad using this method. Just start with the longest guard on the body and if you want to go shorter, just go one size down until you get the length that you want. Even if you mess up, at least it will grow back! I just like the fact that I'm saving $40+ everytime I do it myself.

Thanks! I will definately try that!!! Does it make there hair feel poky though?

Thanks.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by erinmg0123

Thanks! I will definately try that!!! Does it make there hair feel poky though?

Thanks.

No not at all! Some of the guards are like 4 inches long. It is not like a buzz cut at all.

Just to let you know...the first couple of times I groomed them, they would not stand still. So, I had to get my sister to hold them while I trimmed them. You will probably have to do the same thing...get someone to hold them while you do the trimming...at least until they get used to that vibrating razor. You want to be especially careful around the eyes! I would not use the razor around the eyes. Use BLOUNT-tip scissors and get someone to hold your yorkie while you trim. You would hate to poke an eye out!

[Carolina girl]

Remember to comb your new pups everyday. Even more if necessary. I have brushed and groomed her everyday since she came to live with me. She will be two in Febuary. This makes grooming yourself much easier.

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by kalina82

how old was sissy when you first started cutting her hair? Morgan is almost 4 months.

I cut her the first time at about 5 months. She gets trimmed about once a month (just a little bit).

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by Carolina girl

Remember to comb your new pups everyday. Even more if necessary. I have brushed and groomed her everyday since she came to live with me. She will be two in Febuary. This makes grooming yourself much easier.

I would agree with this. I have a simple Lil Pets metal comb that I have been using since the day I brought her home. I use in for her face and body. She sits very still when being combed, which is at least once each day. Maybe that is why she has let me groom her also.