In the spirit of Mardi Gras, we veered off topic last week. So, let’s get back to that list of reasons your dogs’ haircut costs more than yours. I believe we’re on number 5:
You sit still for your hairdresser; you don’t wiggle, yank, pull, or simply refuse to hold up your head.
You sit still for your hairdresser because you know what's going on. You know there are scissors and clippers at work around your face. You know they are trying to style your hair and the more you cooperate the easier it is and the better the style.
Your pets are blissfully unaware.
What they know is that they're on a table suspended in the air. All the while, some strange (albeit very nice and super talented) lady with sharp objects is being very invasive. The things involved in your pets grooming are much more surprising to them than when you are getting your bangs trimmed. We are shaving some sensitive areas, the clippers are buzzing and tickling their ears and toes. We understand that.
We always try to see it from your pets point of view.
Keeping this in mind, we allow extra time for puppies, elderly pets, pets with medical conditions and just nervous Nellies. It takes time and patience to earn your pets trust and teach them what is expected of them while they are being groomed. Whether it’s calming a happy lab or easing a poodle’s nerves, it is a process and it takes time.
Groomers have right equipment for this process. Keeping a dog on a regular table is a lot more challenging than keeping a dog on a grooming table with an arm designed to hold the dog's collar. So, we recommend taking your pet to a professional.
We also recommend you pick one groomer and stick with them, much like the hair stylist you’ve been going to for years. Different groomers work differently. If you find one you like it is important they build a rapport with your pet. This way, the dog learns to be comfortable and knows what is expected from them while all those clippers are buzzing and scissors are snipping.
Also, frequent grooming keeps the process fresh in the dogs mind. Reinforces proper behavior and allows for "table training" where we work with the dog and tech them proper manners while being groomed. Believe it or not, the solution to wiggling, biting, jumping, and pulling is MORE grooming. That is right; keep coming back!
We hope we’ve helped! And we hope to see you soon! As always, please leave any comments or questions below.
I’d like to leave you with this quote to chew on:
"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck Happy Grooming, Animal Lovers!
I want to apologize for not posting a blog last week, but I was in New Orleans for a vacation with my boyfriend. It just so happened our vacation coincided with the start of Mardi Gras. While sitting in the back of a cab on Thursday, the driver was telling us about the parades that were going to begin that weekend. He mentioned one on Friday night, another Saturday morning that would have floats and bands and beads being thrown.
Then, he really surprised us.
“You should check out Barkus, the dog parade. It’s pretty fun.” Barkus is the first New Orleans dog parade that became part of Mardi Gras season. The parade runs from Armstrong Park and travels around the French Quarter. The 2012 theme - Mission: Impossible: Canine Protocol - Armstrong Bark Reloaded – sets the tone for an afternoon of music, shopping, food, and drinks.
Barkus took place on Sunday afternoon, so we were already on our flight home, but it really got me thinking about other Fido-friendly festivities around this dog loving country. I found some fun ones:
Woofstock Canada http://www.woofstock.ca/ The free outdoor festival takes place in Toronto’s St. Laurence Market, and features games, food, fashion shows, music, talent shows, and other festivities for more than 140,000 dog-lovers and their dogs.
At the 4th Annual Dog Bowl Texas
On April 11th, the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium is transformed into a Texas-sized dog park for thousands of dogs. There is live music, contests, and giant "dip and sip" dog pools to keep canines cool.
This annual tradition benefits the bulldog rescue group Buddies Thru Bullies. Owners guide their bulldogs through an obstacle course, modified for the breed's "portly" shape. There is also run a silent auction and raffle, or just mingle with owners who want to brag about their bulldog's shenanigans.
Doing this research has taught me a number of things, but one fact is clearer than the others: people are just crazy …
about their dogs (and a good time).
Did I leave out some events? Have some you’d like to add? Please list them below! We’d love to hear from you!
Sleep, Boogers, Gunk … There are a lot of names for the stuff that gets stuck in the corner of your dogs eyes. Call it what you want, it is kind of gross and for some small breeds it means staining of the fur. Not to worry, we can help!
There are several ways to reduce the risk of eye irritation:
Keep your pet away when you are mowing the lawn.
Put your dog outside while dusting or doing other activities that cause an excessive amount of debris or particles in the air.
Oh the freedom and happiness your dog seems to feel hanging his head out of that car window. Sure it looks like fun, but the wind can carry objects that could cause serious infection or damage. As hard as it will be, roll up the window.
Keep your dog outside when you are using toxic cleaners, such as bleach and ammonia and of course, make sure all the cleaning supplies are locked up and somewhere your pup can’t get to them.
Keep the fur around his eyes trimmed. We recommend you let us do this!
We suggest you check your dog's eyes daily and wipe away dried substance from the corners of the eyes using a moistened cotton ball. Examine the eyes for redness, tearing, or discharge. Tearing is common in some breeds like Maltese. If your dog's eyes seem to be tearing excessively, have your vet take a look.
Even normal tearing can cause dark stains beneath your dog's eyes if they have a lighter coat. To help keep these stains under control, wash the area under the eye frequently using warm water and a cotton ball. Never use soap near your dogs eye. Soap in the eye may cause a corneal ulcer.
We often recommend a medicated shampoo, so bring in your pup and let us help you clean up that cute face!
When you look inside your dogs ear, you should see a healthy pink color.
Ear infections may result in:
redness
discharge
odor
head shaking
ear scratching
rubbing ears on the floor or other surfaces
In 2008, VPI pet insurance company conducted a health study that determined ear infections were the number one reason dog owners went to the veterinarian. Dogs do not like having their ears cleaned, so it makes the job very hard, but it is critical that the ears be cleaned in order to prevent infections, which are far more uncomfortable than three minutes of ear cleaning.
Generally, dogs with heavy, floppy ears need to have their ears cleaned more frequently than dogs with ears that stand upright and allow for better air circulation. Some dogs have a lot of hair on the inside of the ear. Plucking takes a bit of skill and finesse and can be painful when done incorrectly, so in our opinion it is best if left to the professionals.
We use ear cleaning solution, dry ear powder, cotton balls, hemostats, and our finesse and knowledge. Hemostats (don’t panic at the word!) are used for the hair plucking. So, if you were ever a fan of the t.v. drama “ER” don’t let your mind get too carried away.
Dog’s find ear cleaning uncomfortable, but it is not painful when done the right way. So, bring your pup in for some healthy maintenance. Besides, with clean, healthy ears they can better hear you calling for dinner!
Ok, so we are on to number 8: We check your dog for fleas and ticks.
We do! And lice and skin abrasions and mites and any new lumps and … Well, you get the picture.
Your life is busy. When you get home from a long day you want to walk your dog, throw the ball, cuddle, and play. You probably don’t want to pick through your dogs hair and search it’s skin for any new bumps, lumps, or bugs. Certainly running your hands through your dogs coat is crucial and comforting. This will help you to be aware of anything new on the body of your dog. It is also important that you pay attention to any excessive itching or licking.
And of course, every five weeks or more frequently bring him in and let us really check him out! There are several things we look for while grooming your dog:
Fleas, of course, but also flea debris (or poop) and dead fleas
Tics
Mites
Any growths or lumps
Cuts or scabs
Frequent trips to the groomer can help detect any problems on your dog and early detection (like with humans) is crucial in prevention. More often than not, we don’t find anything! Your dog is healthy and bug-free. So, worse case he gets a deep cleansing bath, a good teeth brushing, a pedicure, and some socialization. Not bad.
What do you think? As always, we would love your feedback!
Have you ever heard the myth about brushing your hair 100 strokes before bed? Seems extreme, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not if you’re a long-coated canine.
We don’t suggest this to get out of doing our job. In fact, just the opposite. Our hearts break a little each time we have to shave down a poor pup that comes in matted, especially during these cold winter months. The terrible shave down experience can be prevented by a little at-home maintenance and that’s not all it prevents!
Here are some tips for getting the most out of those 100 strokes each evening:
Spread the hair apart and check for any skin irritations; bumps, lumps, or abrasions. Many bacterial infections, insect bites, or skin cancers start with just one or two new bumps.
Dogs loved to be touched. If you begin early with your dog and brush him regularly, he’ll enjoy the experience. It will be his equivalent of a massage.
If matting has developed already please bring him in ASAP so we can do our best to remove them with a mat breaking grooming tool or carefully cut them out with grooming scissors. Don’t ever try to get these out yourself.
Matting doesn’t just make your dog look disheveled, it can cause hotspots, irritate your dog, and even rot away the skin underneath. It is so important to maintain your dogs coat by brushing him out. If you have any questions or comments please call or come in! We are more than happy to help…. but we’ll probably leave the 100 strokes up to you!
We realize we only touched upon various services provided by groomers, so we are going to take the next few posts to talk more about each one listed.
Let’s start with #10: The Rear End.
(You may not want to continue reading if you are enjoying what you’re eating.)
Anal sacs, or anal glands are located just below a dogs anus on either side. They produce fluid that smells surprisingly like copper or, as Heather says, “ like pennies”. Who would have thought the fluid in anal glands smells just like money?
Well, what a dog smells is: age, sex, health status, and other things, like mating material. Healthy anal glands empty during a bowel movement. Some do not express as easily because they are impacted. This usually occurs in smaller breeds. Your dog will often let you know in his own canine way by sliding across the floor on his butt or biting and licking at his rear. Often times, you will be able to smell a fishy odor coming from that area.
Impacted anal glands can be expressed, or squeezed out, manually and we take care of that with no extra charge. We recommend you do not try this at home. Because a healthy, fiber-full diet is really important for dogs with problematic anal glands, here are some things you could try though:
Foods which increase fiber content can also be added to the dog's food, including raw sesame seeds, ground flax seed, buckwheat, whole oats, brown rice, wheat bran, whole grain cereal, or bran flakes. (It’s critical that these dry grains be thoroughly hydrated before serving to your dog in order to prevent choking or intestinal problems and make sure your dog doesn’t have any wheat allergy)
Metamucil is a commercial medication which may provide additional fiber to your dog's diet.
Fatty acid supplements are also an option. Your veterinarian can recommend supplements and medications specifically for your dog while advising how to use them to improve anal gland health.
A daily walk or two help not only with weight, but digestive health
That wasn’t so bad was it? I hope we were helpful. Please feel free to post any questions or comments!
The Top Ten Reasons Your Dog’s Haircut is More Expensive Than Yours:
10. Your hairdresser doesn’t shampoo and shave your rear end. In fact, your hairdresser does not do a thing to your rear end. If you are having that area groomed we hope you too, are paying a little more.
9. You don’t go 2 months without washing or brushing your hair, making it extra dirty and tangled. Maybe you did in the sixties, but you’ve since grown out of that phase.
8. We check your dog for fleas, ticks, mites, etc. Your hairdresser looks for split ends. Two different jobs.
7. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean your ears; i.e., pull out globs of hair and wax while holding your head still and cooing, “It’s ok, good girl. Pretty girl, almost done”.
6. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean what is often referred to as “boogies” from your eyes.
5. You sit still for your hairdresser; you don’t wiggle, yank, pull, or simply refuse to hold up your head.
4. Your haircut doesn’t include a manicure or pedicure. If it does with no extra charge, please leave us a comment about where you go!
3. The chance of you going to the bathroom while your hair is being cut is slim to none (we like to think closer to none).
2. You don’t bite, scratch, or drool on your hairdresser. We hope.
And the Number 1 reason your dog’s haircut costs more than yours…
1. It probably takes your hairdresser about thirty minutes to trim and style your hair. It takes us a minimum of an hour to cut your dogs hair. Sometimes three. (Newfoundlands, you know who you are!)
So there you have it, a few of our favorite reasons why we charge a little more than Hair Cuttery.
We love your pets and love what we do! There is just more to dog grooming than cutting a persons hair. Thank you, Animal Lovers!
My mother drops off my brother at pre-school. His friend is there with him. His friend’s mom has long since left. As she side-stepped out of the door, there were tears and begging, “Mommy don’t go. Don’t go.”
Heartbreaking stuff, really.
Same thing happened when my mother went to leave. “Noooo! I have to go! My mother needs me!”, my brother wailed. Mom, such an easy target. She took my brother home for the rest of the year.
When it was time to drop him off for kindergarten it was that much harder. His friend? He knew the routine and was fine. No tears, no fuss.
It’s a lot like this when you drop off your dog to be groomed.
We frequently get asked by pet owners, “Can I stay with my dog while he is groomed?” While we never say no, it is not encouraged. Here are a few reasons why:
Your dog is better behaved without you there. When you’re near by they want to be close to you, so they will wiggle and jerk away from the groomer who needs the dog to be still.
No, they do not love standing up while we trim their paw pads or pluck their ears, but this is all stuff they need to look and feel their best. If you are in the room with your dog, he will not understand why you aren’t taking him home already!
It will be difficult for you too. We ask that you do not touch your dog at all while he is being groomed. And trust me, you’ll want to pet your dog.
If you stay with your dog during this groom, it will make the next one difficult.
We would like to be your groomer! In order to form a relationship with your dog, we need time to bond with them and love on them.
Don’t worry; your pet, just like my brother’s friend, is in excellent, loving hands! So, give us that leash go run errands with assurance and peace of mind. Come back in two hours and expect a gorgeous, happy dog.
Did Santa bring your family a puppy for Christmas?
That is wonderful! I am sure the new puppy is adorable! I bet your son loves throwing the ball with Puppy, your daughter wants Puppy to sleep in her room, your husband doesn’t even mind waking up bright and early for the little guy. And you… Puppy has stolen your heart.
But what about the current family dog? Is he still chasing balls in the backyard, eating bites of broccoli under the table? Is he still getting plenty of love and attention?
Even though you’ve probably sat down with old Buddy and told him about your plans for a new puppy, he doesn’t understand.
Here a few suggestions for introducing the new pup to the old pup: Do not bring any existing pets to pick up the new pet
Leave the latest addition to your family out front (supervised, of course), go inside and allow your current pet to smell the new dog
Put the new dog in a crate and set it in an area where your current dog is sure to find him
Monitor the interaction for awhile and then let the new puppy out of the crate
Allow the two to get acquainted without getting involved. Step in only if you fear for the safety of either animal and even then, remain calm! They react to your energy.
Dogs are sensitive. Once old Buddy realizes he has to share his home with new Puppy, his feelings may be hurt. Be patient. Don’t force any interaction, allow them to come around in their own time.
In the meantime, it is important to bond with the new puppy, but get acquainted in private. Do not spend a lot of time cuddling and playing with the new pet in front of any old pets. It just makes for hurt feelings.
Something to chew on… Dogs are very sensitive to your energy. Sure, we’ve all heard they sense fear, but they also sense sadness, anger, worry, and happiness. Have a positive attitude and they will follow your lead. So, what energy are you putting out there? Getting further into the new year, this is something to consider!
As always, we’d love your feedback and to hear how you’ve introduced new pets to your home!
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