A Dogs Saliva Has Fewer Germs than a Humans
You probably heard that dogs' mouths are cleaner than human mouths a million times while growing up I know I did. The myth generally goes something like this A dog's saliva somehow has healing properties and has fewer germs than a human mouth. I remember people sagely claiming this one while a dog was licking a wound on his leg or maybe licking a kid's face. Well, I have news for you. It isn't true. Now before all you dog lovers throw rocks at my house and flood my mailbox with hate mail, let...
The Retriever cut
The following instructions explain how to make the Retriever cut see Figure 14-1 1. Select a clipper blade that works well with your dog. Use either a No. 5 or No. 7 blade for the body and a No. 10 or No. 15 blade for close-in trimming around the feet, face, tail, genitals, and anus. You can also snap-on a guide comb to help you guide the clippers to a uniform cut. If you do, you need to use a No. 30 blade. 2. Trim the coat evenly all over your dog's body, but leave the face and ears alone. Run...
Glue
Glue can create a pretty sticky situation when it comes to dog hair, because so many different adhesives are on the market. Some are dangerous others aren't a big deal. Household or craft glues like Elmer's School Glue are usually water soluble, nontoxic, and fairly easy to remove. Remember the kids who used to eat the stuff Yuck However, if your dog gets into something serious like superglue or some type of ultra-strong bonding agent, you'd better read the labels to get a better idea what...
Introducing the Big Hairy Deal DoubleCoated Breeds
Technically many dog breeds that aren't discussed at length here in this chapter actually have double coats. Among them are breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and even Pugs. But unlike the hairy dudes I'm going to tell you about, those breeds are not as difficult to groom see Chapter 8 . Big hairy double coats are dogs that are typically characterized as having dense double coats that shed once or twice a year see Figure 9-1 . Some breeds in this category actually can shed...
The basics
After performing the pre-bath brush see the Brushing section earlier in this chapter , follow these step-by-step instructions for bathing your short-or medium-coated pooch 1. Wet down your dog thoroughly with tepid water in a tub that's an appropriate size for your breed of dog. Although you wouldn't think it, one of the toughest parts of bathing a short- or medium-coated dog is getting the dog completely wet. I know that sounds really odd, but if you want a dog with a natural weather-resistant...
Atopic dermatitis
A type of contact and sometimes inhalation allergy, atopic dermatitis is usually associated with environmental factors such as pollen and grasses. Dogs are itchy and usually scratch or lick their paws when they're affected. You can see where your dog has licked her paws because of the brown saliva stains on them. Dogs can experience worse symptoms of atopic dermatitis, such as redness in the skin, hair loss, skin infections, and even ear infections. Although this allergy is common, it's...
Substitute in a Pinch
What happens if you don't have the right shampoo and conditioner for your kind of dog Can you substitute other kinds In a pinch, yes. You don't want to use other shampoos and conditioners that aren't meant for dogs too often because they also don't have the proper pH-balance for their coats. You can occasionally substitute the following 1 Human shampoo for dog shampoo. 1 Human conditioner for dog conditioner. 1 Plain Ivory or Dawn hand-dishwashing soap for dog shampoo. Don't use any other...
Shedding the Slick and Sticky Stuff
The following sections tell you how to remove gunk like petroleum-based products, tarry substances, gum, glue, or sticky and sugary stuff from your dog's fur. Always remember to bathe your dog in a pH-balanced dog shampoo and to apply a good dog-fur conditioner after you've removed the problem substances. And don't forget to thoroughly rinse all soapy residues from your dog's coat. If the problem substances are overwhelming and you don't think the methods for removing them outlined in the...
The Bikini cut
The Bikini cut Figure 14-6 is similar to the Retriever cut with a few interesting flourishes that make it look a bit more fancy. To groom your Poodle in a Bikini cut, try the following 1. Select a clipper blade that works well with your dog. Use a No. 5 or No. 7 blade for the body and a No. 10 or No. 15 blade for close-in trimming around the feet, face, tail, genitals, and anus. You can also use a snap-on guide comb to help you guide the clippers to a uniform cut. If you do, you need to use a...
SmallTerrier clip
Here's a small Terrier clip you might enjoy seeing on your dog see Figure 11-4 1. Select a clipper blade that works well with your dog. Use a No. 5, No. 7, or No. 834 You'll also need a No. 10 clipper blade, if your dog has a standard Terrier head. If your breed has a standard Terrier look, meaning it has the look of a basic Terrier, start by trimming the face with a No. 10 blade starting from behind the eyebrows to the occiput or the highest point on the dog's skull see Chapter 2 . You can...
Check the rest of your dogs coat and the base of his tail looking for those
Remove them with cornstarch and your fingers or a comb. If the burrs cause serious mats, don't use scissors to cut them out. Try to loosen them first with cornstarch and your fingers, but if that doesn't work, you may have to get out your electric clippers and gently shave the burrs from your dog's coat. Note Keep your hand between the electric clippers and your dog's skin. If too many burrs make the task ahead look too big, you may want to seek professional help from either a veterinarian or a...
Tomato Juice Gets Rid of Skunk Odor
If you've checked out Chapter 15, you know the answer to this one. If you wash a skunked dog in tomato juice, you get a stinky pink dog A skunk's spray is made up of a number of stinky compounds called thiols. Thiols are the same things that make decomposing flesh and dog poop stink, but those thiols aren't necessarily the same ones that are in skunk spray. Skunks usually produce about two tablespoons of the stuff enough for six quick shots. If a skunk actually dumps all of it, the skunk needs...
Getting Down to Business
Opening a dog-grooming business, regardless of whether it's in your home or in a shop at one of the local strip malls, means that you must take care of some legal matters, such as choosing just how you want to operate your business. Choosing how to set up your business You must choose between three ways that you can operate as a professional groomer. You can do business as a sole proprietor, as an incorporated entity, or as a limited liability company. All three have advantages and...
Garlic and Brewers Yeast Get Rid of Fleas
A myth out there that purports that garlic and brewer's yeast get rid of fleas is so wrong, it's almost funny. Brewer's yeast has plenty of B-vitamins and other good things for your dog, but it's completely wrong when it comes to controlling fleas. Oddly enough, when companies that make flea and tick products want to grow fleas, they do it in brewer's yeast so brewer's yeast doesn't kill fleas at all. What about garlic Well, when it comes to blood suckers, garlic may keep away vampires the...
Taking a Little off the Top Introducing the Clipped Breeds
Somewhere along the evolutionary ladder between wolves and dogs, humans discovered that certain types of coats lurked in canine canis lupus familiaris genetics. Although I'm sure a bald wolf, one in need of a haircut, or one whose coat became naturally tangled didn't last long in the wild, after humans started tinkering with these unusual canine breed characteristics, those kinds of dogs became popular. People not only liked the look and feel of the various coats, but in some circumstances,...
Dealing with Difficult Dogs
If you're lucky and you've worked with your dog for some time, you don't have to worry about working with an uncooperative dog. Nevertheless, at some point, you may find yourself trying to groom a difficult dog. Maybe your best friend has a dog who's never been properly groomed before and needs help. Maybe you found a mutt on the street who has matted and dirty fur. Maybe a rescue group is having a dog-wash day and you're there to help. Or maybe she's your own dog, and you're just having...
The English Saddle clip
The English Saddle clip see Figure 14-11 is an alternative to the Continental clip. The face, throat, feet, tail, and forelegs are shaved, and pompoms are shaped on the wrists and tail. The hindquarters have closer-shaved fur with bracelets like pompoms above the knee and below the hock of shaved fur. To groom your Poodle in an English Saddle clip, try the following 1. Shave your dog's face using a No. 10, No. 15, or No. 30 blade for very close cuts . Work away from the eyes down to the base of...
Forelegs and hind legs
You'd think that the forelegs and hind legs of a dog would be similar, but they're about as different as your own arms and legs. The parts of the forelegs and hind legs include the i Upper arm The upper arm on the foreleg is right below the shoulder and is comprised of the humerus bone, which is similar in name anyway to the one found in your own upper arm. It ends at the elbow. i Elbow The elbow is the first joint in the dog's leg that's located just below the chest on the back of the foreleg....
The Sporting clip
The Sporting clip see Figure 14-12 is used for dogs competing in the Stud or Brood Bitch classes and in the Parade of Champions. It's also a nice cut for pets, because it's easy to maintain. The face, feet, throat, and tail are shaved with a pompom on the tail and a smaller cap or top knot on the head. To groom your Poodle in a Sporting clip, try the following 1. Save your dog's face using a No. 10, No. 15, or No. 30 blade for very close cuts . Work away from the eyes down to the base of the...
Anatomy of the Dog The Hipbones Connected to the
Through the years, the dog world has come up with names to describe the parts of the dog. Knowing what part of the dog you're working on is extremely important in grooming. After all, if you don't know what those pointy joints that jut out at the back of the rear legs are called, you won't know what I'm talking about when I or other groomers say hock. Okay, this isn't Anatomy 101, where I talk about fibulas and tibias. It's more about how you describe what you're seeing when you look at the...
Organizing Your Accoutrements
After you have your grooming area planned out and your equipment and supplies gathered, it's time to organize and put everything together. You want to organize and assemble your equipment according to the tasks you'll be performing. For example, you want to have all your bathing supplies in one area so that you have everything you need in one spot when bathing your dog. Organize your supplies as follows, using a separate plastic container for each supplies category Spray bottle of detangler...
The Continental clip
The Continental clip see Figure 14-10 is the standard cut that most Poodle people show with. The face, throat, feet, tail, legs, and hindquarters are shaved. Pompoms of fur are shaped on the wrists, ankles, and the tail, and two pompoms around the kidneys are optional. To groom your Poodle in a Continental clip, try the following 1. Shave your dog's face using a No. 10, No. 15, or No. 30 blade for very close cuts . Work away from the eyes down to the base of the throat. Stop at the point of the...
Toe Nail Tapping
Many dogs' toenails have a habit of rapidly growing long. Unless your dog runs around on hard surfaces that help keep toenails short, you have to clip them. But clipping a canine's claws can be an agonizing chore, especially if your dog has had a bad experience with the nail clippers. Making toenail trimming a pleasant experience Despite your best intentions and skill level, your dog may never be comfortable having her nails trimmed. Even now, I have dogs who fuss as though I'm pulling their...
Getting rid of your dogs tear stains
As you may have already guessed, you can get rid of tear stains by either wiping them clean, covering them up, or clipping or plucking them off. You've probably also surmised that tear stains are the nemesis of show dogs and their owners. Here's how to get rid of tear stains 1 Wiping them off If you choose to wipe off the tear stains, use the 10-percent solution of hydrogen peroxide or another stain-removal product for dogs. Gently swab the solution over the tear stain, but don't get any of...
Sarcoptic mange scabies
A particularly nasty form of mange, sarcoptic mange is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei canis, an itchy mite that can make your dog miserable. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious and can transfer from dog to dog or even through contact with contaminated grooming equipment. These mites love the ears, face, elbows, hocks, and belly. What's more, this mange is contagious to humans, too. Scabies, another name for sarcoptic mange, causes hair loss and crusty, itchy skin. If you suspect scabies, take...
Classic Retriever cut
The classic Retriever cut see Figure 11-6 looks good on longer-bodied dogs like the Portuguese Water Dog and Poodles see Chapter 14 for more about other popular Poodle cuts . Here's how you clip a dog in the classic Retriever cut 1. Select a clipper blade that will work well with your dog. Use a No. 5 or No. 7 blade for the body and a No. 10 blade for close-in trimming around the genitals and anus. 2. Trim the coat evenly all over your dog's body. You need to leave about an inch of hair. You...
Coat Funk
Coat funk, which is believed to be a hereditary condition and is sometimes called alopecia affects a number of breeds, mostly those of Spitz origin, Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels. Affected dogs start out with healthy, beautiful coats, and then sometime during their lives, guard hairs or top coat become brittle and break off, leaving only the undercoat. Dogs with coat funk look awful. Without the protection provided by guard hairs, the undercoat becomes tangled, and the tail thins out. The coat...
Keep a Rubber Basin Handy for Quick Cleanups
If you don't already have a portable rubber sink or basin like the kind people use to use while doing dishes by hand , buy one It's perfect for doing messy jobs like spot cleanings and clippings, and it localizes the mess and reduces the need for cleanup. Having a rubber basin around is good when you have to clean off your dog's paws, for example. You can pour blue shampoo or water and some regular doggie shampoo in it and stick your dog's feet in, washing them one at a time if need be. For...
Sparing Yourself the Agony Ergonomics
Does your back hurt when you wash or brush your dog Are your hands aching when you comb Ergonomics is a fancy word that came into fashion in the 1980s when scientists in the workplace discovered that certain positions while sitting or standing and doing work are less prone to repetitive injury than others. Likewise, those same scientists discovered certain shapes for tools that fit better in your hands and cause less fatigue than others. If you suffer from carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet,...
Ten Timesaving Grooming Tips
Making grooming easy for you Getting around certain grooming problems m a rooming is time-consuming there's no doubt about it. Lucky for you, I've got some handy tricks you can use to speed up the time you spend on grooming your dog. The tips that I give you in this chapter are little tricks of the grooming trade that I've picked up through the years that I love being able to share with you. The tips focus on grooming your pet if you want tips for grooming your dog especially for the show...
Grooming and DogRelated Magazines
Whether you want to subscribe or just pick up a copy at your local newsstand, here are some great dog-related magazines that can help you keep up to date with all of the innovations in grooming 1 AKC Gazette www.akc.org pubs index.cfm This magazine is published by the AKC and covers all sorts of topics on purebred dogs. AKC Gazette 51 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10010 Phone 800-533-7323 1 Dog Fancy www.dogfancy.com This magazine's articles cater to the pet owner both purebred and mixed breed ....
Cottar Rot
Collar rot is a term that I've heard used for dogs who have sores under their collars. The dog usually ends up wearing his collar all the time, and the collar rubs off the hair and may produce sores. If the collar is never removed or the hair under the collar is never brushed, that hair can become matted and harbor bacteria, which, in turn, can cause sores and infections. Collar rot is unusual for pets whose owners usually groom their dogs. But if the dog is a long- or double-coated breed, it...
Starting Out Small and Building Up
Rome wasn't built in a day, or so the saying goes. Most dogs and owners are resistant to grooming, because it takes so darn long. Instead of putting you and your dog through a marathon grooming session, try starting out small. Maybe your dog hates having his toenails trimmed. Try this Trim toenails on only one paw today and maybe brush your dog a bit, and then tomorrow, do the next paw and brush him a bit more. As your dog becomes more tolerant of grooming, you can try doing two paws or adding...
Never Use Human Shampoo on Dogs
This myth also is another of the partially true ones. Using human shampoos on dogs isn't a great idea, because they're not formulated for a dog's coat. However, in a pinch when you have nothing else, you can use human shampoo on a dog's coat. Just make sure that it isn't medicated and that you rinse it really well. Using a human shampoo all the time can dry out a dog's coat, but once in a while isn't going to hurt anything. If you're faced with a dirty dog and no doggie shampoo, go ahead and...
The Miami cut
The Miami cut see Figure 14-8 , is almost identical to the Town and Country cut, except that it doesn't have the line that goes from withers to spine. The feet, face, neck, rib cage, and base of the tail are shaved the tail is shaped in a pompom. To groom your Poodle in a Miami cut, try the following 1. Shave your dog's face using a No. 10 or No. 15 blade. Work away from the eyes down to the base of the throat and shave the entire neck from the cap or top knot to shoulders. 2. Shave your dog's...
The Teddy Bear or Puppy cut
The Teddy Bear or Puppy cut is a pet cut that's intended for pet owners who don't have the time to maintain a really awesome clip for their dogs see Don't confuse the Puppy cut with the Poodle Puppy clip that I describe later in this chapter, which applies only to show Poodles. For the Teddy Bear cut, do the following 1. Equip your electric clippers with a No. 30 blade and a snap-on guide comb for the length of coat you desired. You can choose between a 1-inch, 1K-inch, or 2-inch guide comb,...
Otodectic mange ear mites
If your dog scratches or shakes his head incessantly and has dark brown, waxy, coffee-ground-like stuff in his ears, he probably has ear mites. Ear mites can easily spread from dogs to cats and other pets, so if you have one pet with ear mites, be sure to check them all. Although plenty of over-the-counter remedies are available for ear mites, most ear mite infections are accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection that needs to be treated by a veterinarian. Your vet can recommend an...
Bathing basics
No one part of bathing a corded breed is tougher than the other. They all present unique problems that the corded breed owner must overcome. Getting the dog completely wet, completely washed and conditioned, completely rinsed, and then completely dried are what make bathing a corded dog really tough. Never wash a corded dog outside or in a dirty room. You end up undoing all that you've done to wash your dog. Here are the steps to follow when washing your dog's corded coat 1. Wet down your dog...
The Lamb cut
The Lamb cut see Figure 14-3 is the pet version of the Poodle Puppy clip see the Poodle show clips section later on . The face, feet, throat, and base of the tail are shaved, and the rest of the tail is trimmed in a pompom. To groom your Poodle in a Lamb cut, try the following 1. Shave your dog's face using a No. 10 or No. 15 blade. Work away from the eyes and down toward the base of the throat. 2. Clip the abdomen using a No. 10 blade. 3. Shave your dog's feet and the base of the tail using a...
Check your dogs coat for any oily residues repeat Steps through lathering and
While lathering and rinsing, be careful around your dog's eyes. You don't want to get any soap or chemicals in them. Why can't I use scissors Or lessons learned Throughout Dog Grooming For Dummies, I repeatedly warn you about not using scissors on your dog's fur coat, and you may be wondering why. Many well-meaning pet owners accidentally cut their dog's skin while trying to get a foreign substance out of the coat, and they then have to rush the pooch to the emergency room for sutures. Even...
Coat types Single versus double
Dogs basically have two types of coats i Most dogs have a double coat also referred to as a two-ply coat that has a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is composed of stiffer guard hairs, which tend to be naturally water-repellant. Top coats protect the dog's skin and undercoat, acting as a natural guard against the elements. The undercoat is a fleecy or downy type of fur that's a bit shorter than the top coat. The undercoat serves as insulation to keep the dog warm during cold or...
Getting rid of burrs and stickers
Sticker burrs tend to collect in a dog's hair faster than anything else I know. They're seeds from various weeds and plants that latch onto an animal's fur or other means of transportation so they can be deposited somewhere else as the animal moves from one place to another. Unfortunately, when they get caught up in dog hair, they often cause tangles and make a terrible mess. The best way to avoid these obnoxious plants is to keep your dog out of dense brush where burrs and stickers get caught...
Training
You may have heard that you need to be certified to groom dogs professionally. Actually, you don't have to be certified to be a groomer or open a grooming business, but certification looks good to savvy customers and ensures that you're up-to-date with the latest techniques. But to be able to consider yourself a professional groomer, regardless of whether you're certified, you need to hone your skills through training that you can get nearly anywhere. You can be self-taught, learning grooming...
Introducing the Corded Breeds
So you've never seen a four-legged, wet-nosed mop, eh Well, take a look at the Komondor in Figure 10-1, who is joined by four other breeds on the corded list i Corded Poodle Poodles can be shown with corded coats i Komondor i Puli Corded dogs are water dogs or herding dogs, primarily because their corded coats provide good protection against the elements. mahn The Komondor, he's got the best of canine dreads. mahn The Komondor, he's got the best of canine dreads.