Hi,
My Westie is 6 months old and I was just wondering when to get his fur clipped? Should we wait until after winter? People have said to wait, but it is starting to cover his eyes.
Any advice please!

Hi Laura,
I thought i would respond as i was in the same quandry last week with my shaggy haired cocker, i thought bugger it, his mop was also growing down over his eyes and i figure, well there are short haired breeds out there and they cope so what the difference really! Also if you are really concerned about them being cold you can go and get them a little jacket, very reasonably priced in PetSmart at the mo.
When i took Pez in on Saturday there was a little westie in there being clipped with a fab zebra print jacket on! :)
Alternatively trim his 'fringe'?

Ok, answering this from a groomers perspective, and assuming your dogs are purely pets, then take them to a good, understanding grooming parlour soon after they are fully vaccinated. Groomers really appreciate being able to gently introudce a pup to the process, and most will do special puppy visits with a "mini puppy trim" every few weeks to get the pup used to the process. It is a nightmare for both dog and groomer to have a 6 month old puppy dumped on them for the first time who has never had the clipper near him! Please remember that clipping will change the coat appearance and texture when it grows back in on most breeds, so regular visits are needed to keep him looking smart. Doggy coats are a good answer if you are worried about cold/wet. A closing thought, my friend (also a groomer) has a sign on her door - "God doesn't groom dogs - and I dont perform miracles!) :) :)
bye
Gwen

I wish I had seen this 6 months ago! we took our 6 mth old pup for a trim before the summer, he hated the whole process, nippped the groomer and came away only 3/4 trimmed and not bathed or anything else. Now I am in a quandry as to what to do next.
I dont want to subject a groomer to him again as he has never recovered from that first grooming session and has not been as happy with me brushing him ever since then so I have no doubt he will not appreciate another grooming visit but at some point he is going to have to go!
With hindsight I think I should of had straight back to an understanding groomer a week later to slowly introduce him to the process but as I saw you reply to this clipping post I thought it a good time to ask for your advice!
thanks
Jude

I do my own grooming, Akitas are pretty easy. But, when i lived with my mum and she got a westie pup, i bathed him from the age of 10 weeks to get him used to the whole process. I used the hairdryer and a vibrating hairbrush (so he wouldn't freak out at the electric clippers) after a bath. I used to grind his nails with a mini electric sander (like a dremel multi but cheaper) and he is the perfect little man for the groomer now. Its just a case of making these things normal to the dog from a very young age.
My Akita pup jumped into the bath last night while i was in it!!!!! She thinks every time one is run that its for her she's that used to going in.
However, your pup isn't too old to learn. Try using a vibrating brush, get him used to a hairdryers noise and stand him in the bath (empty) a few times giving him treats. He should slowly come round to accepting them, then you can progress to bathing, drying and brushing him without him being too upset. Then he'll be able to go to the groomer and he/she won't be worried about loosing fingers!!! ;-)
Caz xxx

Thanks for that , I am glad it is not too late to adjust him to getting used to the whole task of being groomed, although I dont think I will take him back to the same groomer just in cas ehe remembers and starts up again!

Jude