Dog groomers... I need advise

[JessicaR]

I know there are some dog groomers on this site I need some help :lol:

As you may know I am raising a standard poodle to be a guide dog for the blind, well i am also using him to learn how to cut poodle hair. Today I decided to shave him like a portugese water dog I left the fromt long and shaved his back half with a 1/8" guard. Most of it went well until I hit certain areas like the hock area and his ummm testies, I accidently cut him there trying to get the hair off of them :x How do you shave them in those areas. Oh I was shaving with the grain of the hair not against.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Only EVER use a #10 blade on genital areas, you can still cut them with that one but it is the least likely to do so. Guards cut dogs, plain and simple. In the groin area, you can go against the grain in places because some dogs, the hair grows in all directions down there, but keep it to a minimum. Don't be afraid to smoosh his bits to one side with your free hand if need be.

As for his hocks, you should never be angling the clippers to hit them. You need to flow WITH the dog's anatomy, if you are going too fast you can't follow the curvature of the leg.

Please do be careful!!! I used to cringe every time I heard that one of my clients was trying to groom their own dogs...inevitably they cut them. I had one lady who cut up her dog BAD...sliced off the tips of both ears, cut his belly, nicked both armpits (another VERY easily cut place) and yes, cut his testicles too. Brody was great for grooming before that...ever after, he bites in fear. So please, PLEASE be careful...most dogs will forgive a nick now and again but it CAN sour them to the grooming process.

Also be careful of the feet...if you do clean or "poodle feet," please be careful between those toes, the skin between there is really thin.

 

[JessicaR]

thanks! I am pretty good with the feet and face at least so far I havent nicked him there and i use a #10 blade on those areas. I have never attempted to do a body shave before with a male, the last poodle we raised was a girl, much easier to deal with :lol:

I understand not liking clients grooming there own dogs it is very tricky and hard work, and easy to cut your dog. I am only doing this because for 1 it saves Pilot dogs money, as they do pay for proffessional grooming, but they like it if you can handle grooming yourself. And 2 I am in the middle of deciding on switching breeds. I love my shelties but the hight DQ is just killing me. I love to show and it isnt doing me any good to have shelties. So I am looking into a few different breeds, the standard poodle being one of them (the other is the irish red and white)I figure if I am thinking of that breed I should at least see if I can handle the grooming, even though there is a lot to learn for show grooming!

 

[3mina]

Do you have a grooming table and a grooming arm? Or some other way to keep the dog in place?
Work slow and only where you can see what you're doing. You WILL end up standing on your head, this is normal for groomers.
Keep the skin tight as you work, if it's tight it can't get into the works.
In the hock area, push that skin out with a finger to keep it tight.
Don't press too hard or the skin will "pile up" in front of the blade and make it easier to cut. Practice the pressure on your arm and keep the teeth of snap on combs slightly off the skin by keeping the pressure on the back of the snap on comb.
If you decide to take on the grooming invest in quality equipment and learn how clean it. Dirty blades get dull fast and are a cut waiting to happen. Use the oil that comes with the kit an old toothbrush and/or canned air.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Oh yes-- the nether regions are so delicate-- and the skin MUST be taught, wrinkle-free. All the hair impeccably clean.. You must be super careful even when scissoring the dog-- before I got a real narrow poodle foot blade for my Wahl clippers, I only used scissors on the feet of my Setters and collie. I could make some REAL pretty feet on Setters, Goldens, long haired Doxies and collies-- just with scissors!! I had two setter people who would come to me just for 'below the hock and carpal pads' prior to each show..

 

[JessicaR]

Yes I have a table, but no arm to use. It would kill my back to bend down and groom my shelties.

I guess my biggest problem was not keeping the skin taught. Opps! Well i am still learning I dont want to get into proffessional grooming really I just want to be able to do a decent job on my dogs. I dont do to bad with the shelties, they are mostly brushing. I am pretty good at their feet trim, ears ehhh I could use more work. Maybe if I get a show poodle I will just have to show in UKC where you are allowed the retriever clip.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

My advice: don't go into AKC showing with a Poodle unless you are ready to cheat. You literally can't win unless you dye your dog. The amount of product used on the coats is ridiculous. You will have to put in a "wiggie" to make the topknot more full. No joke, google "Poodle wiggie" and you'll see. The wiggies are usually harvested from a show dog at the end of their career and can get pricey.

Plus Poodles in all varieties are highly "political." If you aren't willing to hire a handler, forget it.

Just the reality of Poodles.

Also grooming a Poodle for an AKC show is extremely advanced...I've been a professional groomer for a few years with an emphasis on Poodle grooming and hand scissoring and I'm nowhere near capable of a show clip. Also be careful what clip you use...English Saddle is used to hide flaws, if you choose it do so to draw attention away from bad leg angles. The reason you'll never see an English Saddle clip on, say, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Because they only use it for dogs with flaws. The Continental is much more revealing and shows that you have really nice legs and a good topline.

Don't get me wrong, Poodles in all three varieties are some of my favorites, I LOVE Poodles. They are just very difficult to show in the AKC successfully.

 

[Oceanrose]

I don't show poodles, but I got my first poodle 18 months ago. He is the best dog I have ever had. Sweet, SMART, obedient and eager to please but with a glint in his eye and a sense of humor. Anyway, I have taught myself to groom him at home, mainly because when I was dog training, and managing a pet supply store, I saw so many pro groomer 'accidents' that it scared me off. There are great groomers, and not so great groomers.

I watched a lot of Youtube videos. Keeping the skin taunt, not letting the coat get matted (they will go through coat change which makes the coat mat if you look at it), and learning how to hold the clippers are key. I ended up keeping him shorter than I wanted for 2 reasons - we live right next to the beach and he runs on it and can mat, and because he hates to be groomed, (nothing I did, he is just extremely energetic and would rather be playing ball or training than sitting still). So I keep him trimmed down into a Miami with a topknot. I recently shortened his ears and put him into kind of a Miami/Lamb hybrid and I really like that. My next one though, I hope will like grooming enough to be kept in a Scandinavian trim . It's fun, and you can do it!

 

[Marinea]

Wait...what? Poodle wigs??? For real?

*hugs her mutts and easy to care for shepard*

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Wait...what? Poodle wigs??? For real?

*hugs her mutts and easy to care for shepard*

Yeah, you learn some down-and-dirty things when you get into grooming and showing.

Next time you watch a televised dog show, watch the judge when he or she judges a Poodle of any variety. Notice they will NEVER RUN THEIR FINGERS THROUGH THE TOPKNOT to feel the shape of the head underneath. Doing so will dislodge the wiggie. :roll: It is TECHNICALLY against the rules but since everybody does it and no judge has EVER thrown a dog out for having it in there, well...yeah.

The only time I heard of a judge dismissing a dog for a wiggie was because the handler didn't get it in snug enough, and while gaiting around the ring, it fell off. :lol:

This is a great if short article about Poodles and the AKC: http://throwingoutthefatclothes.blogspo ... ation.html

 

[skysthelimit]

I love my shelties but the hight DQ is just killing me. I love to show and it isnt doing me any good to have shelties. So I am looking into a few different breeds, the standard poodle being one of them (the other is the irish red and white)I figure if I am thinking of that breed I should at least see if I can handle the grooming, even though there is a lot to learn for show grooming!

One of the reasons I love shepherds. Very few DQ's and they are basically grooming free. I plan to name a girl "ready to wear."

 

[Mickey328]

My cousin used to groom and show her own Giant Schnauzers and she insisted she could do our toy poodle. Reluctantly I let her...once. She gave that little girl a couple of good nicks and I was terrified that she'd break something trying to hold her still. There's a HUGE difference (size and hair) between a 75 lb Schnauzer and a 8lb poodle. The poodle has since gone to The Bridge, and so, alas has my cousin, but never again have I had any dog anywhere but a professional...and one I've thoroughly checked out. We're fortunate to have found one who's outstanding. We have a chi/pom mix, a Maltese and an OES/hound-of-some sort cross. All three go to see April and they all absolutely adore her, which tells me that they're treated well there. I'll trim up the "back door" and eyes and such between full out grooms, but otherwise...I leave it to the pros

 

[JessicaR]

I love my shelties but the hight DQ is just killing me. I love to show and it isnt doing me any good to have shelties. So I am looking into a few different breeds, the standard poodle being one of them (the other is the irish red and white)I figure if I am thinking of that breed I should at least see if I can handle the grooming, even though there is a lot to learn for show grooming!

One of the reasons I love shepherds. Very few DQ's and they are basically grooming free. I plan to name a girl "ready to wear."

Shepherds are also a favorite breed of mine, But dont most of them have handlers too? The irish red and white is also a wash and go breed. Probably wont go with a poodle then. I refuse to dye and get hair pieces for a dog :roll: Oh well i have several years before I make my desicion on a new breed. I cant make up my mind anyways :lol:

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I've had a lot of people tell me that some Sighthounds are less handler-necessary since a Sighthound won't "show" for anyone but their One Favorite Human, who is usually their owner. I will be showing an Afghan at some point, and while I know it'll be tough (so many dyejobs argh!) I will show a dog in natural coat and just hope for the best.