Quote:
We're all kind of slow when we're learning!
And let me tell you, the right equipment and methods makes a WORLD of difference. Whoever said "It's a poor workman who blames his tools" must have ALWAYS had all the right tools right next to him and in good repair..
I'm a good bit slower doing a dog at home. But the grooming shop routine goes like this. (for me, anyway)
Pop dog up on table, give a quick once over with a brush to check condition of coat and skin (this is where a well groomed one is a joy. This tells you if you are going to have a nice, pleasant job or a nightmare)
Trim nails, clean ears (do you have the ear powder? check for gunk, tiny sprinkle of powder and pluck hairs in the ear canal, about 20 second per ear) and remove any matts with clippers. If the dog is very long, Take it down with the clippers to a manageable length (lol, the last two aren't generally necessary if you saw the dog 6 weeks ago
Then whisk away to the waist high tub with shower hose and suction cup for the lead (see where the right equipment starts to cut time
)
Now, don't wet the dog down and then shampoo like you do your own hair. take an old, cleaned out dishsoap bottle and put maybe a 1/4 cup of shampoo in it and 2 cups of warm water. Gently shake to mix and squirt it right into the dog's coat and lather. No pre-wet necessary.
Rinse well with the hose attachment and stand back and let them shake.
then pull giant doggie dryer up to soppy wet dog. I love the doggie dryer. It looks like a big canister vacuum and it not only blows the dog dry, but it blows the hair straight and blows loose hair right out. And it generally only takes a couple of minutes even with the biggest, shaggiest dog.
Then you have a clean, dry, fluffed out dog ready to groom. Which is the fun, easy part! The clippers run right over the fluffed out coat quickly and there you go!
And let me tell you, the right equipment and methods makes a WORLD of difference. Whoever said "It's a poor workman who blames his tools" must have ALWAYS had all the right tools right next to him and in good repair..
I'm a good bit slower doing a dog at home. But the grooming shop routine goes like this. (for me, anyway)
Pop dog up on table, give a quick once over with a brush to check condition of coat and skin (this is where a well groomed one is a joy. This tells you if you are going to have a nice, pleasant job or a nightmare)
Trim nails, clean ears (do you have the ear powder? check for gunk, tiny sprinkle of powder and pluck hairs in the ear canal, about 20 second per ear) and remove any matts with clippers. If the dog is very long, Take it down with the clippers to a manageable length (lol, the last two aren't generally necessary if you saw the dog 6 weeks ago
Then whisk away to the waist high tub with shower hose and suction cup for the lead (see where the right equipment starts to cut time
)Now, don't wet the dog down and then shampoo like you do your own hair. take an old, cleaned out dishsoap bottle and put maybe a 1/4 cup of shampoo in it and 2 cups of warm water. Gently shake to mix and squirt it right into the dog's coat and lather. No pre-wet necessary.
Rinse well with the hose attachment and stand back and let them shake.
then pull giant doggie dryer up to soppy wet dog. I love the doggie dryer. It looks like a big canister vacuum and it not only blows the dog dry, but it blows the hair straight and blows loose hair right out. And it generally only takes a couple of minutes even with the biggest, shaggiest dog.
Then you have a clean, dry, fluffed out dog ready to groom. Which is the fun, easy part! The clippers run right over the fluffed out coat quickly and there you go!
