Do you? I started to groom my pups years ago. I have always had Australian Shepherds or mixes there of. The problem that I had was every groomer always cut WAY to much. Even after I explained what I wanted. A clean, natural look.

So, after multiple disappointments I decided to start doing it myself. At first I wasn't that great, but I didn't pay for disappointment.

It didn't take that long before I started to get pretty good, and ended up with the look I wanted.

After many years, I'm looking to upgrade my
Scissors. But I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I'm not a professional, grooming all day everyday. So I'm not looking for $200.00+ each scissor. I also don't want junk. Looking for something in-between. Also looking at grooming tables.

For the home groomer, what do you use?


I comb/brush at least twice a week, every 2 weeks a light trim. Once a month a full cut, wash and such. Luckily my pups like it, especially the boy!

I actually enjoy the time together, sometimes it doesn't go great and they aren't into it, but for the most part, it's a good bonding time for us.


ARman

I brush and bathe my boy, and I trim his nails. Fortunately I started all of these things when he was a pup. He is 172 lean pounds and strong as an ox, but I worked hard to train him and he has always been eager to please. I use baby shampoo on him. It works better than anything else I have tried.

.

Yeah, I started early and they even like they teetfers brushed. As a matter of fact, when it's time to groom I say teefers brush time and they run to the bathroom! LoL


I try to make it as fun as possible. Lots of praise and a few treats.

Now I'm looking for better scissors. So it's less of a hassle for me. Just don't want to pay for professional stuff, but want good quality at a good price.

For bath time, I use a natural Goats Milk bar soap that's local, and one made in Tennessee, I don't remember the name. Good price, no junk in it, last a long time and they smell great! Good lather and rinses clean.


ARman

Every 2 weeks, I bathe my 130 pound Labradoodle, brush/blow dry his coat, and trim his nails. I have a large walk-in shower with dual handheld shower heads, and he's very mellow and used to it from the time he was a little puppy, so it goes super smoothly.

I will use scissors to give him a quick trim around his eyes and privates once or twice as he starts getting increasingly shaggy between groomings.

Then every 6 months (April and October) - right as his fluffy coat is starting to become unmanageable - he goes to a professional dog groomer to get a relatively short haircut, and the cycle starts over again. (But at $150 + tip, I've definitely considered trying my hand at doing it myself.)

We have a Old English Bulldog and a Mini Bulldog. The Old English is 70 pounds, the Mini,40.They both do not require clipping ever.
They do leave "Bulldog Glitter" everywhere.
Bulldog Glitter is "code" for shed hair...
We trim nails for both at home.
Both are voice trained, and you can call them
into a large walk-in shower when it's bath time.

We always did our own dogs. This included an Old English Sheepdog, a few Golden Retrievers, a large Goldendoodle along with a Collie. Buy the right tools like an Oster clipper and professional grooming accessories.

My Terrier needs strip-combing and brushing twice a week, brush her teeth on Saturday. I do everything, want her to know who takes care of her. At age 3 she'd come when her name is called.
Think the one-on-one helps bond.

Growing up working with my veterinary father, I was the groomer of many dogs. And the occasional cat. I could do you a poodle cut.

Thankfully Moose is short-haired so that doesn't need cut. I do his baths, though, and trim his nails. He's very good about it, which is impressive for a very energetic 1 year-old puppy. My wife and kids call it "Spa Day" lol.

My old dog Cheyenne refused to go anywhere near the bathroom after she experienced it one time. For 17 years she wouldn't even willingly go into our bedroom because she'd have to walk past the bathroom door to get there, lol. Moose will get out, get dried off, then go try to jump back in the tub for more.

I have been grooming my dogs from the seventies.
Started with Oster number ten clipper,later I upgraded to better ones.
I learned that shampoo ,then good conditioner with a comerical dryer while brushing is best.I have a groom table.I got away from the oster clippers as the blades are expensive.I switched to good battery clippers with guides.
I have poodle and a labadoodle over fifty pounds.
Do puppy cuts now but used to do cowboy clips on some many years back
Girls with dogs is my go to channel for tips and equipment.Other sites are out there,I watched most but Venesa is best in my book,good equipment will treat you and your pet right

Moose will get out, get dried off, then go try to jump back in the tub for more.[/QUOTE]

Funny story, when Sequoyah ( ᏎᏉᏯ) the boy was just a couple of months old we were doing a " spa day ", and big sis Ahyoka Star ( ᎠᏲᎧ ᏃᏈᏏ) was first in the tub. Sequoyah was running around barking in the bathroom, he then runs up my back as I was on my knees scrubbing Ahyoka, crashs into to wall fall into the water and proceeds to spin in circles, splashing water everywhere his little stubby tail breaking the speed barrier!

Ahyoka doesn't hate the bath, but it's not her favorite part of grooming ( teef brushing and combing is ) but Sequoyah loves the bath....


ARman

Always had (have) Labradors. Nails every 2 weeks, surface brush every 2 days, undercoat brush and teeth once a week. Have never given regular baths. It removes the natural sheen in their coats. They get hosed down or swim in the warmer weather. The only time they get a bath is if they're skunked or roll in something nasty. Never been to a groomer.

quote:

Sequoyah was running around barking in the bathroom, he then runs up my back as I was on my knees scrubbing Ahyoka, crashs into to wall fall into the water and proceeds to spin in circles, splashing water everywhere his little stubby tail breaking the speed barrier!

Lol, bath time is always an adventure!

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

Sequoyah was running around barking in the bathroom, he then runs up my back as I was on my knees scrubbing Ahyoka, crashs into to wall fall into the water and proceeds to spin in circles, splashing water everywhere his little stubby tail breaking the speed barrier!

Lol, bath time is always an adventure!

Especially with Sequoyah AKA Kook-a-nut! He thinks the bath is play time. They both have to be in the bathroom when I shower, and more than once he's climbed into the tub with me LoL....

I'm glad that my two is OK with grooming. Though they might get a bath once a month or two, they get a full, comb, brushing, teefes brushed, nails clipped, trim every mouth. A friend has a dog that has to sedated, and there are a few groomers that won't do her. She's a little Rat Terrier mix.

ARman

Bathing my two 60+ pound Standard Poodles is a nightmare. The female will get in the tub when I tell her to if the bathroom door is closed and she has no means of escape. The male is obstinate. Even when I drag him into the bathroom, he puts all four brakes on about getting in the tub. I have to put his front paws in the tub then boost him the rest of the way. I so much look forward to bath day.

Some of our biggest belly laughs have come from when I’ve groomed our dogs over the years. Sadly, all are now doing endless zoomies across the rainbow bridge, free of my clippers.

We just got this table a couple of weeks ago, so far so good. Check the size for your particular dogs:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BH..._fed_asin_title&th=1

As for scissors, I've been happy with this set for about a year now.

https://www.amazon.com/Purple-...s%2C134&sr=8-29&th=1

We have our dogs groomed. We have an amazing groomer that worked wonder with one of our past dogs that has skin issues. Our GSD is a therapy dog and works in an office so he is groomed every 3 weeks or so.

This is an honest, non-judgemental inquiry. Kudos to those of you who do your own grooming.

I've never seen the need, and every dog I've ever had has been a house dog. True, none were ever particularly long haired, but unless they rolled in something particularly tasty or tangled with a skunk they were left to be dogs. One exception would be to remove burrs or ticks.

So beyond appearance for long haired dogs, what's the advantage?

My wife takes ours to the groomer. Aussie and Golden I had to be specific that I didn’t want the Aussies rear feathers trimmed at all. I like the look. The groomer does a great job raking the under coat out, which is worth the cost in itself to me. Now she only sheds twice a year, 6 months at a time