Patience and paint

So I hope 2009 has taken a good start for everyone. Its been a little difficult here.

One of the reasons is that Anton has a booboo. Yes, a booboo. He broke one of his nails all the way down to the quick. And he hasn't told anyone so by the time i saw it by randomly trying to cut his nails and seeing a big gaping hole where a nail should have been, it had enough time to get infected. So he's had a hefty dose of antibiotics and a bandaged foot.

He's being very dramatic about it. Like he'll be totally fine but the moment he sees someone looking at him he'll start limping. He's been on antibiotics for a couple of days now and I've been bandaging on and off. We'll be checking progress officially with the vet today.

I also have some new creations. The first I bring to you is a custom portrait of Mickey the mini schnauzer...

He is one of my favorite clients at the grooming shop. I've been grooming him for almost four years now, and he's been one of my favorites since the beginning. He is now a sweet, older gentleman. It was an honour to paint him :)


That's Mickey in real life.
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Last but not least I've got two new shells in my shop that I haven't yet mentioned here. My most recent addition is this Weimaraner:

I just love how silly he looks - sort of like a teenage pup going through an awkward growth stage. Where their ears are huge and their legs are long and they don't know what to do with themselves to coordinate. I'm sure this funny pup will grow into a very handsome adult some day.


The second shell I've got listed is an Australian Cattle Dog. They've got the coolest mottled coats, these dogs. Very smart, trainable and full of energy.

Both shells above are available in my shop, ShellVergel!

Flickr Groomer group

I have started a new Flickr Group - Groomers! I found a few groups dealing with dog grooming, but either they were not active or they were primarily led by poodle people. And I love poodles with all my heart, but I wanted to form a group focusing on all/any breeds.

It isn't only for professional groomers - bathers, people who groom their pets at home and people who like to take pictures of their pets after they were just groomed are all welcome!

So please come visit, share photos, ask questions, etc :)

you never know, huh

I've seen many different client reactions at the grooming salon. When they recieve their dogs back after the groom i mean. I've seen people claim that "this is the best my dog ever looked" after the dog has been getting the same exact shavedown for years. I've seen dogs come in to the shop with cuts and skin problems and the owners claiming that its the groomers' fault. Sometimes owners come in warning the groomers about how aggressive thier dog is and they turn out to be angels on the grooming table. other owners claim that their dog would never bite anyone and then the dog has to be muzzled the entire time in the shop or else we risk appendages. I've seen customers bring in cookies for the whole shop on several occasions. I've gotten tips ranging from six cents (not kidding, just enough for a bazooka gum with a cent left over, lol) to thirty dollars (that's a "holy crap, i feel bad taking it" occasion).

Most clients are very routine. Take back the dog, give them a look-over, pay, tip if they're feeling generous, and go on with their day.

Well this Saturday, all was going routine, I had just groomed my favorite schnauzer, Mickey. He really is a gem - super handsome and a gentleman. He lets me do his nails and everything, lol (schnauzers are notorious for being bad for nails). His owner comes to our shop all the way from Long Island. I'm the only one at our shop who has ever groomed Mickey. It really brightens my day when i work on my favorite clients.

Well Mickey's mum gave me a present!

She makes bracelets and gave me one that she made. She said that even though she made it, it was from Mickey ;) Anyway, i felt totally special. No client has ever given *me* anything tangible. Besides, its so pretty. Its a bit on the girly side for me, but it doesn't matter, it feels special so i'll make it work.

Besdies, if anyone asks me about it, I can tell them that one of my favorite clients made it for me :P

I usually feel underappreciated as a groomer from sour clients who think that i'm out to shave down their dogs regardless of what they want (cough! i mean those that bring in matted wrecks and want just a trim). And those that think grooming is all about playing with puppies and charging a fortune. And by those who think that grooming can't take more than ten minutes so why do we keep the dogs at the shop for hours?

But at times like this its totally worth it. It really means a lot to me :)

long day at work

Ehhhhh its one of those days. One where nothing goes particularly right. I volunteered to work and extra day this week (today) because a coworker was recently hospitalized and is in no shape to groom. I did it as a favor for my boss, not a favor for him. But none the less.

Anyway, horrible horrible dogs all day at work today. No one cooperated. It wasn't just for me, the other groomers were having crazy dogs too. I mean i survived, albeit a little scratched up by a poodle and bitten by a maltese. The best dog of my day was a Westie - what are the chances? The Westies... they're incredibly cute but if i never had to groom one again, I'd be just fine :P Sure there are a couple of good ones out there. But when a Westie is bad, he's BAD.

and the best part if that I get to go back tomorrow! :P

I'm gonna get back to my "Groomer Answers" series in a few days. I got some good questions lined up, I think it'll be interesting.

but for now, I'm trying to get those custom orders out of the way. Hopefully after that I'll have a chance to just paint whatever I want. I'm very excited to do them actually. Its challenging but fun.



This is my first - Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Traum and Galaxy for Emily. I might have to adjust it, but this is what I got so far :P I'm all excited to show it off!

The Groomer Answers! Part 2

After a long day of work my brain is too fried to study Biology right now. So I'll take this chance to answer more questions that you guys have about grooming! The response to this article has been great thus far, a bunch of you found it interesting and educational. Lets keep it going :)

SusanLandia wants to know - I wonder if all the hair that comes off of my dog when I brush her (wads and wads and wads) can be recycled.

Yes it certainly can! You can spin it into yarn and knit stuff with it. Yarn from dog hair (PS Cat hair works too) is called "chiengora", and is considered extremely warm. It can be a great tribute to your dog, and can last for years so it can commemorate dogs that are no longer with you. There are even shops on Etsy that offer to spin the yarn for you. Another pet hair spinner. SpinningStraw and Spaz Spun are the shop names, for reference if the listings ever become unavailable.

Here's another idea for recycling dog hair - making it available for birds to use in their nests. NatureNut makes special baskets that you can stuff with dog or cat hair (she also has ones premade with yarn and other stuff). You hang them on a tree, and birds should find them and take the hair to patch up their nests. If i ever move to a less urban area, this is definitely something I'll try (we don't have much exciting bird life in my neck of the woods - its a concrete jungle).

sudiosu asks - I can't get rid of the purple stuff that comes from my bichon's eyes. I have tried to use the solutions found at pet stores, but he hates it. I don't get it in his eyes, but does it sting the skin?

What you're talking about is called tear stain. Its a combination of tears and eye boogers that stain the hair by the eyes brick-red due to moisture and bacterial growth. On some dogs its so severe that nearly the whole face turns that colour.

Essentially before you can effectively attack it, you have to understand why your dog has overactive tear glands. Often this is something genetic (as in the shape of the tear duct itself, which may be naturally small and prone to blockage). It can be very stubborn to treat - i've seen many dogs in the show ring with stained faces, and you know that they're trying everything they can to clear that up on show dogs, yet with no avail. One possible cause is blocked tear ducts. This can supposedly be alleviated by rubbing the area by the corner of the eyes. The gentle pressure can help empty the ducts. If you try rubbing the nose bridge between the eyes and it helps, then keep doing it daily and slowly it should help. Another possibility is ingrown hairs and irritation - this is for Shih Tzu owners in particular, because their hair grows in all directions on the face, including right into the eyes. Irritation to the eyes will cause tears to flow in an attempt to flush out the irritant. So if the hair in the dog's eyes is getting bushy, its time for another trip to the groomers (even if your dog is not due for a full haircut, most groomers will be happy to just do the face for a few bucks).

The last and probably most common cause of tear stained eyes is bacteria. Sometimes bacteria will set up lodging in the tear ducts (remember, its a moist warm environment). Especially if your dogs eyes smell - it could be yeast. This is usually best treated internally. I have had success controlling yeast in my dog Perry's eyes and ears with acidophilus. He has always had a very mild case of yeast, just a slight odor, no discharge. I add a teeny bit of acidophilus powder to his food. This is the same bacteria that is found in yogurt that is all the rage now, except in much higher and more effective concentration. Acidophilus helps digestion and absorption of food, and it eats up extra sugar in the body that would otherwise feed the yeast. Women take note, acidophilus is also the #1 recommended supplement in the case of ladies' yeasties too ;)

One more thing, one more thing! A commercial solution for tear stain is Tylan powder - a mild antibiotic. It is available for sale as Angel Eyes. It is stronger than acidophilus and will probably have better and more visible results. Personally I have no intentions of feeding my dogs an antibiotic on a daily basis, I prefer to manage it more naturally. By the way, read the ingredients in your dog's food, they may be contributing to stain. Any red food or treats contain the dye Red #40, and it will make the red tear stain a brighter red! Also, if corn is in one of the top 3 ingredients, there may be a bit too much sugar in your dog's diet (see yeast-related comment above). BTW! Any wipes that you can buy on the market are probably a total waste of money. They are "supposed" to remove the redness of the hair that is already stained by bleaching it. But they're usually very weak, not effective, and don't treat the root of the problem.

...wow that got wordy. Sorry, people. Its just a very common question, and there are so many things to consider!

wingnut asks - You know that black discoloration that small dogs like yorkies and westies can get on their stomachs? My chihuahua is starting to get that. I went to a groomer's convention about 18 months ago, and someone said to use Sargent's ear cleaner or anything alcohol based on it, but he's got sensitive skin. Is there another alternative to that?

Well you've stumped me. I have no clue. I think I can visualize what you're talking about - skin turning darker on the belly of some older small dogs. But I've never worked on removing it. What I'm thinking of is pigmentation that comes out with age, you can't wash away pigment. But what you're talking about sounds like a discharge or residue, maybe a greasy residue that has picked up dirt over time and has become black. If it really bothers you, i'd say spot-test the alcohol method. Dip a cotton ball and apply it to only a small patch of skin. See if it cleans it off. And depending on whether your dog gets irritated, you can judge whether to go on and try to get it all off. And every dog has very sensitive skin on the belly, its a common spot for irritation. If you try this method and your dog's skin does get red or rashy, some baby or medicated powder will soothe it.

stawhousebooks mentioned - Another message to convey in your blog (and based on other posts I've seen from you I expect you're of the same opinion) is that grooming is not simply aesthetic. There are health and quality-of-life issues behind grooming.

Yes, absolutely! Getting your dog groomed is not all about having him look pretty and smell nice. Its also taking care of his skin and mentality. Letting a dog get a bit dirty once in a while is no big deal. Dogs love to roll around in all sorts of filth, after all, it seems to make them happy to smell like horse poop and dead fish, lol. But letting the dog's coat get all sorts of mats is a different matter. Mats tighten and start to pull on the dog's skin providing constant irritating pressure. They can also trap moisture and become a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria - I'm not kidding. Mats can hide ticks and fleas - if you can't see down to the your dog's skin when you part the hair, you don't know what might be crawling underneath. Mats can also lead to hotspots - when a dog chews itself raw trying to get rid of an irritating mat, and the raw skin gets infected and full of (very smelly) pus. Mats will also absorb anything - like urine or rainwater or mud - and keep the absorbed stuff next to the skin. And trying to wash a matted dog will only make matters worse, the mats tighten as they dry (think of washing a wool sweater only to have it become felted and shrink to half its size), and they may take a long time to dry irritating skin even more. And if what I listed still doesn't sound convincing, imagine yourself in a dog's position, trying to itch raw skin that you can't get to because there's a huge mat in the way. There is NO excuses to let your dog get into such condition. See the dog in the picture? Neglect.

Of course its not only about mats and coat condition. It is very important to clear the area in front of your dog's eyes (remember my long ramble about tear stain?). This is mainly for dogs that have long hair on their faces, again. Ears need cleaning. Its amazing how many people don't realize when their dogs have ear infections, some people just assume that its natural for a dog's face to smell "because he licks his butt". Often dog groomers catch medical conditions, such as some warts, tumors, hot spots, or infections that the owners never realized were even there. It is also important to shave or at least clean butts, sanitary areas, and paw pads to make sure your pet is comfortable.

Another important aspect to keep track of is nails! If nails get too long they will seriously inhibit your dog's ability to walk. Or rather they will still walk, but it'll be more difficult because their feet will splay and they'll have to move funny to make up for it. In the long run this can lead to arthritic development and just a lot of pain. Also older dogs that are already in pain will really have a challenge moving anywhere with talons growing from their feet. Another reason to clip often? Nails that are allowed to grow for months will eventually curl over... and grow into a circle. Right into the pad. Man, that has to HURT! Sometimes when we remove a "macaroni nail" from the pad, the pad will start bleeding because the nail had grown so far into the tissue that it became embedded. At least once a month, let your pet have a manicure. If your dog is good for nails, you can do it yourself with a nail clipper and a nail file. If you can't handle your dog when it comes to nail clipping, groomers and vets' offices will gladly do it for a few bucks.

You see, people, its not all about the aesthetics! There is some serious health involved in grooming. And having your dog groomed is very important for their morale, too. First of all, bringing them to a grooming shop often will help socialize them and get them used to being touched, being around other dogs, people, noise... Second, its amazing to see the attitude changes when a "matted wreck" is shaved down to reveal a dog under the hair. Dogs often feel sooooooo much better not to have mats pulling at their skin, to and finally feel a breeze, to be clean from dirt and grime. Sometimes you really see a spark come to their eye as you're peeling mats and brushing out tangles. I'm serious!

okay last question for today!

strawhousebooks asked - How long have you been a groomer?

I've been grooming for three years now. A little more if you include grooming school. I graduated from the New York School of Dog Grooming when I was 17 and a couple of months later I landed a Saturday job. This was the the Dog and Cat House in queens, where I still work. The neighborhood is a little shabby and a very large part of our clientele are "neglect cases" - dogs that are only groomed two to four times a year. Its unfortunate. But I have learned a lot from this, especially ways in which such neglect can affect dogs (see rant above). I also have wrestled my share of bad dogs and am able to handle nearly any dog and get them done. I don't intend to groom forever... hmm maybe I do. I would love to have my own shop some day, but I would only work there part time, and have my main focus in other venues. This work is fun and rewarding but I have a hard time working more than twice a week (partly due to a hectic environment). I would also love to move on to Manhattan and groom city dogs, where there is a wider range of breeds and dogs that are well-kept, so I can focus on scissoring technique and really making dogs look great, rather than manageable. Not that I'm a bad groomer now, but I know where i can improve :P
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wow that got long! Now tune in for part 3 where we will discuss vaccinations and stuff. Watch for it in a couple of days. btw if you've got questions, do not hesitate to ask, I'll add them to my list :)

The Groomer Answers! Part 1

I got a pretty nice response - both in comments here and in the Etsy forums. Lets see what I can come up with!

taleri wanted to know - How do they get all that extra fur out of my dogs double coat?

Groomers have a couple of methods! Primary is a number of different brushes - rakes, slickers, combs, shedding blades - whatever is right for the coat. A recent development is the Furminator - what groomers refer to as the "#40 blade with a handle". Its a super-fine tooth comb that grabs undercoat - and can pull out tons and tons. They are available for purchase for dog owners, they're not cheap but they are worth it. There are also "furminator" treatments that some grooming shops offer, including a furminator brushout with furminator brand shampoo and conditioner. Another trick we have - velocity dryers. Power dryers have so much force to them that they blow water right off the coat, and they will blow clouds of dead coat out. The bathing area in a shop can be downright scary if a golden retriever has just come through ;)

taleri also asked - Also, why dont all groomers wash the dogs belly? I've had her come back greasy and dirty before on her tummy when her top half was shiny clean.

There can be several reasons! First of all, your Etsy avatar is a Corgi (I assume that's the dog in question) - they have really short legs and it is physically hard for the bather to clean the belly area. The bather has to bend down really low to get to it (it gets really painful after a few minutes, major back pain). I'm sure they do their best. My suggestion is to mention it next time you bring your pup in and hopefully they'll pay extra attention.

There can be other reasons though. Elderly dogs often have trouble standing up in the tub, which makes it difficult to clean and dry the stomach and rear thoroughly. We try to keep the dog as comfortable and pain-free as possible and sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Its MUCH more difficult for the dog and the groomer if the pet is older and overweight (holding up an older/injured/fat dog in a tub gets difficult quickly). Also - some dogs realy flip out when some body parts are touched. Some dogs flip out for their face touched (a lot!). Some flip out for belly and "sanitary" areas. If a dog is not regularly brushed at home, chances are they will really stress out when it is done at the grooming shop. You can think of it like dealing with someone else's child who is totally unreasonable about something - in that case you do your best and get it over with.

Don't get me wrong, most grooming shops strive for perfection. But since you can't reason with a dog, sometimes you have to live with the best that you can do without doing harm.

babylyons wanted to know - How often do you get bit? what do you do if you get bit?

Honestly, not very often! In my three years grooming, a couple of dogs have bitten me and drew blood but usually it was a result of their teeth scraping me. I have been lucky never to have been severely bitten. Its really a horror when a groomer gets bit "seriously" because due to murphy's law they usually get bit on the hand that they use to work. And then they're out of work for days, weeks, or months, depending on how severe it is. Most groomers don't get benefits and only work on commission, so no work = no money. Getting a bad dog bite is really a horror.

But what I do when i get minor bites is clench my teeth, curse, and keep working. The anger wears off and so does the swelling. Sometimes its my own fault for trusting a questionable dog a little too much. Sometimes i wasn't doing anything wrong and the dog decided to be an asshat and bites when I'm not expecting it. Also i can often go for months without being bitten, and then i'll get three bites in one day to mar that good record.

Diana wanted to know - How do you handle it if a male dog gets all hump crazy?

Standing up. Usually the only way to avoid getting humped is to stand up while grooming a crazy male. That way your free arm is harder for them to reach and latch on to. Also standing over them gives some illusion of your dominance. These are dogs i usually want to groom as quickly as possible because they just get worse as more humpy as the groom goes on. Buggers don't get tired. And to answer your next question - yes, I've had some dogs get so turned on that they hump the air and "finish".

(btw that's Marco bugging my boss's dog when he was an 8 week old puppy)

Diana also asked - Are there any dogs that you just can't make smell good?

Absolutely! Some dogs have skin issues that reguar shampoo just doesn't take care of. Some dogs have impacted anal glands and their butt smells horrible, no shampoo or perfume will cover the smell. We don't take care of (ie. empty) anal glands at our shop, because it is only legal for it to be performed at the vet's office, as far as I know. Another thing, dogs with infected gums and teeth often have "corpse breath" whenever they breathe through their mouth. Perfume and shampoo doesn't help that either, only a dental cleaning and extractions and antibiotics can. Finally, some older dogs tend to have a very strong odor that just won't wash out.





Diana - Aren't Bostons just the best dogs in the world? :) :) :)

They're definitely up there :)




missfire wants to know - Do you do cats? How on earth do you hold them still? Do groomers actually bathe cats? Like, with water?

I have never groomed a cat and I don't intend to. I'm scared, I admit it. I don't trust cats other than my own. But many brave groomers do do it! Most cats, especially when they're pissed off because they're been taken out of the house and have to be 'humiliated' with a shavedown, sit still and don't move through the whole groom. Some cats require backup because they're crazy timebombs. Mostly the females are crazy, I noticed. Some cats need tranquilizers to be groomed normally. Usually the groomer will let you know which of these categories your cat fits into. Very few cats are okay with the grooming process. Either they tolerate it with an angry face or they make it worth their while and practice their biting aim ;)

On bathing and water - depends. We do both, some cats are washed. Some are shaved quickly and sent off some (usually the aggressive ones). Some get a dry bath with a waterless shampoo like Stazko. The shampoo will lather, then you wipe if up with a towel and the cat is only a little damp and the rest dries quickly. What the groomer does depends on what the owner wants, and the cat's behavior.

dragoninknots asks - Do you have any grooming disaster stories to share?

lol I'm pretty good actually. Usually minor mistakes are made and can be covered up. I can dig up some pretty fun stories though... Although the biggest disaster that I've had was probably the first time I cut a dog. I was a brand new groomer, maybe two months grooming. Maybe three. And I got this matted wreck yorkie - he was matted from head to toe. The dog was tiny and a nonstop mover that fought everything I tried to do. He had paper-thin skin and it got caught in the clipper as I was taking off a mat on his chest - gave him a cut that was half an inch long. The thing about dog skin - skin is very tight on the dog and when there's a cut it gets wider and wider every time the dog moves. Awww man I was panicked - the dog needed stitches. Luckily we were working downstairs to a vet's office and the guy was in so he stitched the dog up in two seconds and didn't charge me for it. Then came the really scary part - calling the owner. Haha I couldn't do it! Another groomer offered to do it for me, and explained that the dog was severely matted and got nicked, the vet saw him and felt it would be best to give him two sutures, and he's doing just fine. Man, not only that but I was scared for my job too, afterall i had just started grooming so I was paranoid, what if the boss thinks its horrible and fires me or something. Well my boss was a vet tech for 30 years and had seen it all so she took it like it was nothing out of the ordinary. Happens. Happy ending, the dog survived his two little sutures.

To answer follow-ups, yes I've cut plenty of dogs since (two have had 2-3 sutures). Sometimes it just happens, skin gets caught. Especially when the dog is super matted and unsocialized and fighting you. And we work with very sharp objects. Unfortunately I work in a lower class neighborhood where it is common for dogs to be groomed once or twice a year, so by the time they see us they're in horrible condition and they arent used to being touched by groomers and don't cooperate. Two of my dogs had sutures including that yorkie. It happens to all of us. Some joke that you're not a real groomer until you've cut a dog. Usually the groomer freaks out a lot more than the dog! I always make sure to tell the owner if i nick the skin, and make sure that they know that the dog will be just fine!

meluna asks - Why is it that sometimes my dog's tail is clipped back and sometimes it's left long?? Is it laziness on the groomers part? Or some artist reason? Maybe some days they think my dog looks dashing with a long haired tail and short haired body??

Chances are you've had the dog groomed by different people (maybe different groomers at the same shop). Did you mention how you wanted the tail groomed? If not they probably used their judgment. And different people have different judgment! Most groomers will leave the tail long because most owners are very attached to the plumes on the dog's tail, so they assume that the owner likes it long. So more often its trimmed but not cut short. However, when a longhaired dog is shaved down sometimes a long tail looks funny and out of place, so the groomer will shave it down to match the body. Next time, just tell your groomer how you like the tail done so that there are no surprises in the end :)
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oh man, this got long! I think I'm gonna call this "part 1" and finish the other questions in a second helping. If you've got more questions, ask away, I promise I'll get to them all eventually.

Who's been watching Groomer Has It?

So have you ever wondered what goes on in a grooming shop? Ever think about why your dog is in the shop for hours? Why a grooming appointment costs so much when your own haircut costs less than half of the amount?

Ever ask yourself how tough a job of "playing with puppies all day" can really be? Wander how often your dog really needs to be groomed? Is it really that bad when a dog is matted? Does Fluffs really need medicated shampoo? Want to know how to better care for your dog's hair between groomings?

Hey, I've got an idea! I'm a groomer - ask me :)

Leave a comment asking any silly questions you can think of about grooming, and once i get a bunch, I'll answer them all in one big post. This'll be fun! Seriously - ask me anything.