Grooming tips...

[nick_j007]

Well I'm first to post! That's a refreshing change for me

Also, my first post so hi all

I did a puppy visit this week to a 10 week old Westie, I was discussing with them the importance of starting pups off with a short daily grooming session using food (a part of it's meal would be fine) to keep it happy and occupied away from the brush.

If the pup is a little older, then placing a light lead on the dog can help you keep it in one place (sit or kneel on the lead) whilst you set about a quick soft brushing down from head to toe as it were.

Wise to combine this with a little body inspection routine. I say:
"Let me see your teeth"
"Let me see your eyes"
Paws
Ears
and so on.

Your dog should allow you to fully inspect any body part at any time, and this is most easily done from a very early age.

There. Anyone else with some good ideas?

Regards,

Nick

[Princess]

We do sort of the same with ours, but Princess gets a shower every so often as she loves it!
We used to have a collie cross when i was younger, and he hated his feet being touched!! Wouldn't let us near them, luckily all mine now are very laid back and trust us.
x

[nick_j007]

Yeah, a real headache when a dog won't allow grooming or being handled that way.

We live and learn eh?

Nick

[Princess]

True. I'm lucky my three like it!
x

[kevils4]

You should check your dogs ears periodically while dog grooming. Dogs with droop ears are especially susceptible to fungus, waxy ears, and ear mites. Check them at least weekly. Infected dog ears can lead to further complications. Your dog may cause an ear hematology by breaking a blood vessel while shaking his head in response to the discomfort.




Pet Supplies

[nick_j007]

[QUOTE=kevils4;210]You should check your dogs ears periodically while dog grooming. Dogs with droop ears are especially susceptible to fungus, waxy ears, and ear mites. Check them at least weekly. Infected dog ears can lead to further complications. Your dog may cause an ear hematology by breaking a blood vessel while shaking his head in response to the discomfort.

Good point.
My ol' Vizsla (she passed last Sept.) was drop-eared, and always had waxy ears from birth to death practically. Leo ear dog cleaner was our saviour.
A couple of times she had the hematoma you mention as a result of head shaking. It would resolve of its own accord over a few days.

Best wishes,

Nick

[Princess]

So true, when i was a kid living at my parents we had a German Shepard called Mindy, she was 2 when we got her and used to moan a lot and scratch her ears, when we took her to the vets we found out her ears we so bad she became deaf
Being an old dog Ruby gets ear problems, it gives him really bad breath!
x

Originally Posted by kevils4

You should check your dogs ears periodically while dog grooming. Dogs with droop ears are especially susceptible to fungus, waxy ears, and ear mites. Check them at least weekly. Infected dog ears can lead to further complications. Your dog may cause an ear hematology by breaking a blood vessel while shaking his head in response to the discomfort.




Pet Supplies

[mac.]

I took my westie to a dog groomers when he was a year old he is now 2 and he looked so much better for his cut the lady also did his nails, I thought this can't be that hard to do so about 6 months later i wanted to tidy him up a bit, i went out bought doggy hair cutters etc and set about doing it with the intention that mac would sit still and let me get on and do it with and hour or 2, well i will say about 4 hours later a very stressed owner and a dog who did not want to stay still any longer, I still hadn't managed to finish him his tail, feet and bum area hadn't been shaved, after more trying i gave up, another 6 months passed i did him again this time he was good as gold just wouldn't let me do his feet (he doesn't like his paws being touched.) once again 6 months after i did it again thinking great no more doggy boutique charges ( how wronge am I,) He once again wouldn't let me do his feet, bum area and one side of his tummy, morale of the story is i advise use doggy boutiques doing it yourself is to stressfull. Lol. I am not doing it myself again he is going to the boutique everytime now.

[Keeko]

My Beagle is the same, his nails are becoming fairly long. We walk him through fields so they don't get worn down very well. I am able to to touch his feet at anytime but as soon as I have the nail cutters in my hand, he runs a mile!

[Blackdogs]

Yep people always tend to think it's so easy grooming dogs properly lol
Bad breath and itchy ears i would look at the diet, maybe improving on the diet will help