We are sending our boy to the groomers as he is looking a bit overgrown and messy. I spoke to the lady on the phone and she assured me that she does them all the time and that now would be a good age to start (8 months). Is there anything in particular i should ask for? (i have already said no shaving!)

Depends what breed he is???

Sorry, he is a ckcs!

Er you do not clip or cut cavaliers' coats at all the only bits that need trimming are the pads. He shouldn't need to go to a groomers if you brush & comb him regularly

Most groomers will cut the ears, feet etc & trim the coat all over when in fact all they need is a bath & groom through & the hair under the feet trimming

If clippers are used on your dogs coat it will be ruined believe me, clipping makes cavaliers' coats go woolly.

The beauties of the Cavalier is the little amount of grooming they require, their lovely ears & coat. To cut any of the coat off totally spoils their look

Well said!!! :D

I think that it is really personal preference!

They won't be using clippers I wouldn't allow anyone to use clippers on his coat. He is groomed every day there is nothing wrong with his coat except that his feet and trimmings need to be tidied up (imo)

>I wouldn't allow anyone to use clippers on his coat.

Make sure you stress that when you take him. Most general groomers clip cavaliers all over, completely spoiling their look, and ruining their coats.

He is only being washed and died and his feet and underneath tidied up but i have said to her that he must not be clipped with clippers only tidied with scissors.

To be honest you got an answer that was correct from Moonmaiden?? If you already know what you want/don't want doing why ask? People are just trying to be helpful!

Oops just realised that i put "died" instead of "dried"!

The reason i posted was in case there was anything else that i missed when asking for his cut. Of course i am always open to suggestions that is what this website is about and of course it is helpful!

Groomed, washed,groomed through again..... feathering skirt and feet to tidy by scissors only
That's the way to do it 

jp

Thanks JP

When mine go to the groomers, not that often might I add, I ALWAYS stress for them NOT to empty their anal glands, some groomers do this rountinely and it MY own personal preference not to have this done unless required.
xx gemxx

The beauty of Cavaliers is that it is one breed designed to NOT be touched at all -just brushed and bathed. Even if you just use scissors, doing so will make the coat grow back quicker and longer (the exact reason for why we oursleves have our ends trimmed, to encourage more growth). The one thing that can be helpful for a pet, especially during autumn and winter, is to tidy their feet up so they drag in less mud -but you won't need a groomer for that. :)

Soeey Marianne but I will disagree with you there.
Cutting hair does not make it thicker :-
http://health.learninginfo.org/hair-care/myths.htm
The only thing it does do is make the ends of the hair 'square' due to being cut, and not pointed as hair is naturally. Hence why hair grows back finer when plucked and not clipped or shaved.
Havnt a clue on grooming CKCS  but go with the people on heres advice. They know more than most people puit together LOL
Lea :)

But I was speaking from personal experience WITH cavaliers, having done it. :) Could be wrong about my own hair, but the Cavaliers (those I've had, four in all) definitely has the hair grow back much quicker if you clip any of it.

Sorry was replying to your same as human hair 'the exact reason for why we oursleves have our ends trimmed, to encourage more growth'
As I said, go with the advice on here as you all, including you marianne, know alot more than most people put together on dogs :)
Lea :)

I will fully admit I was wrong about my own hair LOL! (And if anyone knows of a way to permanently thin it out tell me! I HATE it being so thick!! Does this mean I will need to pull it out by the roots then?? )

Marianne, if you can find that out, PLEASE let me know!!!! there is more hair on the floor when I have had a light trim than most people have on their heads!!!! They even have to double up on colour when the colour my hair!!!
Lea :D

If either of you find out...can you let me know too?

> They even have to double up on colour when the colour my hair!!!

I can relate!I always get charged more when the hairdresser actually see's how much hair i have and realises they have to double up on everything. And if i had a penny for everytime i heard "ooohhh you have ALOT of hair" i'de be rich!

>there is more hair on the floor when I have had a light trim than most people have on their heads!!!!

I think i lose more hair in a day than most people have on their heads!! :rolleyes: I have to brush my hair outside,cant do it inside as it gets everywhere.

Jeangenie dont be envious,you can do so much more with thin hair,my hair is so heavy any style lasts all of 5 minutes

Angels sorry to OT your thread :o

Yep I'm the same when it comes to colouring. In the end it got so expensive, even when cutting it shorter, I now get hubby to do it for me at home. Even so it takes 2 boxes! (Which probably explains why I always have so much roots showing!! )

>I HATE it being so thick!!

*is envious*

>Does this mean I will need to pull it out by the roots then??<

You just need to find a hairdresser than knows how to properly hand strip a thick coated Swede ;-) :-D you blonde breeds and your thick hair  my sis is a proper dutch blondy girl, not me, I have the small and swarthy genes :-D

I think I'll pass!!

Mind you, I once got so desperate I took the Goldens' thinning scissors to my own hair and just chopped away!!

LOL! :D At least you have that option! With fine hair my choices of hairstyle are a) short bob, b) ... no, that's it. Short bob - fringe optional. :(

I haven't gone to the dogs clippers on my hair yet, although ahve been tempted.  I have straight boring fine hair!

Well I use electric whizzing tweezers to yank the hair out of my legs so you can't count on me for a sensible solution. :) I've used my dog's thinning shears on my fringe when I didn't have time to get my hair cut properly.

JG I have very straight fine hair too. Lots of it but I can get up in the morning, not brush my hair and no one would be the wiser! It has its advantages ;-) SO I get the option of chin length straight bob, past shoulder straight or super short straight - all with fringe. Ho hum.

I have same problem in terms of very thick hair but i have a fabulous hairdresser who colours and cuts it for free.....my sister!

Are you all jealous?  Lol

My hair isn't that thick it just grows so fliipin fast! I used to keep on having to go to the hairdressers. So one day I thought, well, I'm a dog groomer it can't be that different surely?? So I now cut my own hair with my massive grooming scissors and get my mum to tidy up the bits at the back that I can't see! Don't think I look too canine.....

Don't try this at home folks.... :D :D :D

P.s Angels, Yes just ask for a light tidy up. I have many, many cavaliers as clients and its suprising how many of their owners want them cut very short. It usually takes a fair bit of persuading to get them to have it done my way ;) If a client absolutely insists they want their dog taken very short I make sure they've signed a permission form for this. Happily most of the time owners will listen. But I agree some groomers do get a bit clipper-happy at times, a lot have been trained that way, so make sure you make it absolutely clear what you want. A good groomer will know not to automatically clip or take too much off of a cavalier :)

Linsxxx  

LOL I always cut hubby's hair with dog clippers -and my son's too! :D