Hi
Just enquiring if anyone uses a grooming parlour for their dog and if so, why?  I only ask as several people have suggested taking Misty along to one (13 week GR) so she can get pampered for a while?  I am not intending on showing her or anything (well I don't think so) but I just wondered what peoples views are on them :)

Kerri x

Don't go, do my own dogs and I work full time :d  All the enjoyment of having a dog is grooming it and getting soaking wet whilst bathing it :d :d

Kerri,

I used to show a GR too and was taught by a very experienced owner/breeder friend how to look after his coat and present it correctly for the show ring. :-)
He absolutely adored his grooming routine with Mum and it was very rewarding to be complimented on his good turnout.

I'd advise you to go back to your breeder and ask for advice re show trimming etc even if it is not your intention to show.  He/she should be able to explain the basic principles of coat trimming/maintainance which will ensure your GR feels more comfortable.

My fingers just itch now when I see a Golden untrimmed and with brambles all caught in it's coat :-(

I'm with SWD on this one ;) I enjoy grooming and pampering my own dogs, bathing and drying them, getting soaked and covered in hairs - the hair blows everywhere with the blaster so best done outside ;) trimming the nails was nerve racking to start with but as time goes on you get used to it, and trimming the feet made a few mistakes there aswell in the past :D but its nice to spend some pampering time with them, even if they do run and hide when the 'grooming' bag comes out :rolleyes:

:D :D

"even if they do run and hide when the 'grooming' bag comes out"

Just had a nostalgic smile then - we had two poodles: one black miniature (not so miniature!), the other a red toy (very tiny) - on bathing and clipping day, the red one hid against a cupboard door that was exactly the same sort of colour, the black one hid on a white armchair with her face in the cushion!

We recently lost both of them within 18 months of each other, but thanks Missie, that was a very happy memory.

Aww bless. My first recollection of pets growing up was Sooty, a black toy poodle :) I used to love his 'sha**y' coat but mum insisted he went to the poodle parlour and he would come back  all groomed and clean with  little 'bobs' on his legs, head and tail :) (I always called them 'bobs', I was only young :D )
Ahhh, memories :)

Dee

My fingers just itch now when I see a Golden untrimmed and with brambles all caught in it's coat :-(

But so much depends on the individual dog, its coat type, and also if it's been neutered or not as neutered Golden= furry monster. Now when I don't show either of mine any more all I ever touch is the tails as I think there's nothing more stupid looking than a Golden with a tail not shaped, but the rest I just leave. My oldest takes days to do properly as he has such a heavy coat (and he's very old fashioned anf has a very tightly curled coat so do too much and it looks odd) and I can't do a bit every day of his chest as with his bad hips, it's painful for him, so he's left.

Someone is alays pestering me to take my two AS's  to a local grooming parlour she uses for her little MS. I don't know why cos I do mine myself and love groomimg them and think they look fine enough.

Hi Kerri,

I now do my own as I show and get much more satisfaction if I have achieved the required 'look'!  Having been taught by a fellow setter owner how to correctly hand strip and trim etc. plus now have all the tools of the trade including a blaster which was a well received pressie from OH!  Also much cheaper to do yourself!

But in the past I have sent them off to be groomed - didn't mind bathing myself - but as I didn't know how to groom them correctly was much happier that someone else did it properly, plus not having scissors etc.

I was happy to trip nails myself.

So approx. every two months they would have a visit to the groomers - I don't believe they actually enjoyed it (not that they didn't but don't think they saw it as pampering!) so if you are happy to do yourself then I would but if you don't feel comfortable doing it then perfectly ok to let someone else!

Rachel
x

I've used a groomer since I've had Copper but not for pampering!  He needs to be hand stripped and after one poor attempt myself I now pay to have it done professionally.  I only take him twice a year and he's a gem when he's there.  Much better than the difficulties I have trying to bath him etc.  Money well spent I would say.

CG

I hate the way the local grooming salons turn out the dogs :(  the only ones that look good are the ones they have just bathed and brushed, anything else just looks awful as they only seem to have 3 styles which they apply indescriminately  

I've always groomed my dogs and my parents' dogs, so when we got the Bedlingtons I learned to prep them for shows too (had and still have some really great teachers ;) )  but I also ended up doing a grooming course so I could groom for other people, you just never know where these things will end :D :D :D  The dogs I groom usually enjoy the experience, even the one who was terrified and very defensive now drags his owner to my home and enjoys himself :D :D :D

All depends on what breed of dog you have. We have a Bichon Frise and took him every 6 weeks. Every time he came out looking like a poodle despite taking pictures in and explaining the overall shape. Also every time we went it seemed to increase by £1. I got in touch with a local breeder via The kennel club and asked if she groomed her own, she didn't but put me in touch with a lady who comes to our home. Barney gets the look he should have, I can relax knowing he is not locked in a cage and everyone is happy.

Don't need to with the Cavs as I show them so they just need a 5 minutes brush every day or two. I did take George (Yankee) but they clipped him like an English cocker, so I took him miles away to someone I met at a show who breeds Yankees and is a groomer, but I got tired of the journey, so learned to do him (adequately if not well) by myself. Now I'm training as a groomer, it's so nice brushing dogs and making them look nice! :-)

it'd be a fearful waste of time and money with a jrt, i'm afraid. an occasional bath after a prolonged and positively wanton roll in fox poo and a regular gentle brushing brings him up a treat! otherwise he's totally "self-cleaning"!