Very interesting day in the grooming shop! Milo came to my grooming table...it's been almost a year. He is a toy poodle...very matted indeed. Last time he visited he was also very matted as well. This time I used a #15 all over to manage the condition of his coat. His ears were not as badly matted as last time and his owner wanted to save the length so I dematted them. The right ear got zinged by the dematter or the brush...not sure which. Any way there was some bleeding involved there. I got that settled and cleaned up...almost done infact and another cut! I am not sure again whether it was his tongue which got into the clipper as I took the last off his chin or whether the blade zinged one of the little pimply bumps...anyway...more bleeding. He is a very scrunching, evasive and flingy kind of guy...just random all over the place sudden flingueenying. A moving target! It was truly a challenge... I shall have to call his folks tomorrow to see how he's doing.

The next to visit today was Amos and Andy.... 2 toy poodles...very calm and cooperative little fellows. Thank goodness. They both got a #5 all over with #15 poodle feet and clean face. It was a very enjoyable grooming experience for all of us. Yippee, Yahooee!

No photos this time around.

Black Jack and Angel came to visit my grooming table yesterday. They are two Standard Poodles with lots of energy and both have beautiful coats to work with. I used a #5 on their bodies and a #4 on their legs. This time, at their owner's request, I made their topnots shorter and also their tail poofs smaller to match. I'm pleased with how they turned out. It took 4 hours to do the black one...he is larger and has the thicker coat...and is more "resistant" to procedure. The creamy girl only took 2 1/2 hours. It was a good long day and challenging enough for sure. They are both good dogs to work with though for sure the male has more attitude-translate-not neutered.

Today tory, an Australian Shepherd visited my grooming table. She is 12 years old and in excellant condition. She also has an excellant disposition...very calm and sensible. The grooming process did not faze her in the least. I basically did a tidy on her and thinned her coat a bit too. She has a very soft coat but not one of those really thick and long ones that are a nightmare to do. I was able to blow a lot of undercoat out and her mats were limited to her butt and lower leg fringes. Her folks were delight with how she looked...so glad for that.

Today it was Buster who came to visit my grooming table. He is one of those Shih Tsus that require a helper to accomplish certain parts of the grooming process. The 'football' hold is what works with him to get his ears plucked. He tries every trick in the book to get out of getting his ears plucked...screaming, clawing, writhing, flipping, and straight up the side of my head!!! Sooooo, I only book him when I know I'll have help. I get my helper to tuck him under his arm and hold his front legs. That way I have two hands to deal with the waggling and bobbing head and get the job done. He does okay for nail trimming...hates to be bathed and drying is a three ring circus. Then he simply settles down and is a little angel for the haircut. His groom this time was a 5/8" blade for his body, scissored his legs with a short round face and round feet. He is a challenge but cute as a button by the end.

Ratboy was my first visitor of the day. He is a regular and the groom went smoothly as usual. I used a 5/8 " blade and scizzored his legs. He is a shih tsu with a previously broken pelvis so he requires a certain amount of very careful handling. His hind legs don't seem to hold him up all that well during the groom but he sure looks just fine after and he is scampering off to get into the car!

Lola came to see me today also. She is a Golden Retriever that has had a piece of her lower jaw removed. The result of that is her ever lolling tongue and a bit of drool. Her groom is a #3 all with scizzored legs. This gives her a nice short coat for the summer at the lake. She is a very good dog to groom...just one of those high pitched whiners once in a while. Her coat is not the easiest to work with...so very soft that is wants to lie down as the blade goes along. I think she looks somewhat choppy as a result even with lots of scizzor blending shears work. Oh well...that's the way it goes when giving a double coated dog a haircut I think.

I finished off my week with a visit from Rammy and Roamer. These are two Shih Tzu X dogs badly in need of grooming. It has been over 6 months since they were here last. The coats on both dogs were very matted...with evidence of flea dirt. Ordinarily I would have preshaved their matted coats off prior to bathing...but for the flea thing. I did not see any actual fleas...perhaps it was lice as they are sometime harder to see. Anyway I gave them both a flea shampooing which contains pyrethin and that would handle either bug. I used #10 all over on both. Check out the nails!!! It has been a while since I had such long overgrown nails come into my shop. I was able to get them down to a reasonable length...so they could walk without pain and discomfort. They left feeling much better for sure. I do give free nail trims between grooming appointments but still this happened. Hopefully not again for the sake of the dogs. It is good that they were brought in to see me in any case. There is a Pomeranian in their home as well that should be coming in too. I have not seen it as yet.

Rocky was my first visitor this week. He is a Newfie and really quite cooperative for his size. He had a very thick heavy undercoat to work out. It did not release as readily as I had hoped. I had to use the Koat King to pull most of it out. The result is still good but it was a lot of time consuming effort. There is still some in there but I did not want to bald the boy...so easy to do with that tool if one is not careful. As it was it took 4 hours to complete.

Pebbles also visited this week. She is a dear little Cavalier...possible the softest dog I have ever petted. She is awesome sweet to work with. I use a #7 allover on her except the face which her owner prefers as is. She grows a thick and luxurious coat between grooms...and such delightful bunny feet.

Today I had a new visitor to my grooming table...Dolly a very pregnant Shih Tsu. I forgot to take the before photo but did grab an after head shot anyway. She was very overgrown and matted. I advised the owner that it was not the best idea to groom a pregnant dog however she insisted it had to be done. My thoughts on this are that my shop is very quiet and less stressful than a busy one sooooo if it was going to be it may as well be here. I was able to use a #4 on her body but had to go to a #5 on her legs. I did my best to make the whole process as low key as possible for her. She handled it well I thought...it certainly seemed less stressful for her than for me. I was worried about the puppies. I hope all goes well for her and her pups!

Benny came to visit after Dolly. He is my favourite little tiny poodly dog. He is very calm and cooperative for every thing. This time I used a #4 all and did his usual poodle feet. It was a very peaceful and calming grooming to end the day with. He's an awesome little dude.