tired of the groomer getting it wrong
 

I've taken my baby in so many times to be disapointed... I give explicit instructions and even pics and there have been a couple of them now that just dont do what I ask... I'm thinking I am pretty talented... and crafty.. is it that hard to do it your self?
I noticed they shaved between her eyes, do you guys do this? is it necessary? (she has a lot of eye-boogers and tear stains that we are working on food-supplement wise). Othere than that, all you have to do is clip the nails, trim the ears, feet and privates, right? I just feel like I might be able to do a better job than they could. I know my older one would hold still for me, but I'm not sure about the puppy-I might have to leave her to the pro's but I'm curious, how many out there are doing their babies themselves, rather than sending them into a scarey place that cages them most of the day-it's so stressful. One time I picked her up and she was bleeding and she had it all over her, so I know she sat there in the cage just bleeding :(

I groom all 8 of my yorkies! It's not hard once you learn how! I don't do others but when you have as many as I do it's cheaper to invest in good clippers and shampoo and since I show I have to have the supplies anyway.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers :animal-pa

is it hard to get started? learning all the do's and dont's ? I feel like it should be pretty easy since I already know what I want... ?
maybe i should get a book :)

It's pretty easy but I learned by trial and error LOL. Since I show and have to groom the show dogs it was just easier learning to do it myself and getting a book would be helpful as well. I learn from watching so I can usually watch something one time and can get it down from there.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers :animal-pa

You have 8 Yorkies! Your brave:D
That's what we need on this site. Grooming lessons.
So many of us are now attempting to groom our own pups
perhaps you can give us some instructions. Is that
possible? I have no problem with face, butt, underneath
and paws. The legs I can't figure out at all. Help:confused:

Carol & Buddy

I too have decided that is it time to learn as we have just gotten our second yorkie and it is just too expensive! Also, I had many a dissapointment picking mine up as well, I'm not sure if they didn't listen or just thought they could do better. It seemed that they would never do what I requested!

Just thought I would receommend a book that I found specifically for grooming yorkies.

It's called:
How to Groom a Yorkshire Terrier Perfectly: A Step by Step Illustrated Guide for Grooming Your Yorkshire Terrier By: Tammy Sprinkle

Good luck!

That's a big help. Thank you.

Carol & Buddy

There are some good books out there so I'd start there!

I don't cut but just trim the yorkie's leg hair. I shape around the feet and I use my small wisker trimmers to shave the hair under the paws. It's all really easy and MUCH CHEAPER! LOL

Bathing is easy and trimming the ears is easy why pay a groomer when it's so easily done at home!

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

Does that book talk about puppy cuts? I spend a fortune grooming my two, but the one time we tried to do it ourselves, we shaved a bald spot on his head!

Use thinning shears for the head not clippers. I also use my scissors for the face and head.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers :animal-pa

Now you tell me! LOL. Thanks. A former co-worker opened a dog wash, and as we were washing our dogs there he informed us he had all the grooming tools we needed but wasn't an expert himself. We decided to give it a try and asked for his help. He proceeded to use the clippers and shave the bald spot on Eddie's head. LOL. He felt bad.

I groomed Hannah myself a few weeks ago. She had never been groomed before and we had to do something with that puppy coat frizz. I will be the first to say that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I use the clippers to cut my husbands hair and I thought that it couldn't be much harder-and it wasn't. I cut her belly short and I cut the body long. I didn't touch her face though, and I wasn't really sure what to do with her legs. I feel better doing it myself until I find a groomer that suits me. I don't like the thoughts of dropping her off at a strange place and leaving her and knowing she will be scared and you really don't know how someone will treat your baby when your not around. I know that there are alot of great groomers out there and I hope I can find one. Why wont they let you stay and watch?

I do all that getting fairly good but the legs are another story!
The book I just tried to purchase from Barnes and Noble on line
is sold out. I'll have to keep trying.
Thanks for your help.

Mlke leave poor Eddie alone. He has enough stress to deal with keeping an eye
out for the local moose!

Carol & Buddy

Thanks I just ordered the book off of Amazon.com but it is going to take 4 weeks.

Most groomers won't let you stay and watch because they want to be safe. Dog's get very excited when their owners are around and tend to jump around. Jumping around and sharp sissors are not a good mix. I have never told a parent that they couldn't stay and watch their dogs groom. Very few have expressed a desire to stay anyway. However, today I had one ask if she could watch her dog get a haircut. The woman had a 4 year old daughter and it was the daughter who wanted to watch. I told her she could watch but if the dog got too excited she would probably not be able to stay. She lasted about 45 seconds. Her dog was wiggling and jumping around. It was getting clipped short all over so no sissors involved at that point, so no danger as far as that is concerned. The dog began to bark at the owner and kept trying to jump off the table (did I mention that this was a 90 lb german shepherd?). Anyway, the owner grabbed her daughter, gave me a little wave and beat it out the door. It took me about 5 minutes to calm the dog back down and get back to clipping. That little 45 seconds was very stressful for everyone in the salon (the woman and her child, her dog, me, other humans in the shop and the rest of the dogs). I still won't ever tell someone that they can't stay but it is much easier to have mom go have lunch or go shopping and come back when we are done.