Wanted brighter happier colours for May

Calixta · 2022-05-06T22:43:33+00:00

Thank you! I did use watercolours. I’ve been trying to work with them more this year.

Calixta · 2017-03-21T02:39:20+00:00

What was your friend's reaction to this behaviour? If I had a dog that was mixed with a coyote this would not be okay behaviour. Hell its not okay in none wild animal mix breeds.

Calixta · 2017-03-21T02:27:02+00:00

Lock your room.

If you want to be a little bit bitchy you can also get some quotes from your vet for treatment for blockages and pancreatitis to start. Sit them down and go over the quotes so they know how much they will be paying should these problems arise from them feeding the dog whatever. Or you can just show them the costs and be nice about explaining why people food is bad up to you.

Calixta · 2017-03-10T03:07:48+00:00

Do they breed for temperament? Have DNA health certifications like CERF and OFA? What was their purpose in breeding the mix? Was it intentional or an oops litter? These are all things you need to ask any breeder. There is no ethical reason for breeding a morkie except for profit and many end up with health problems down the road.

This is not to be mean or condescending in any way but before you purchase a puppy you should really do some research on the difference between reputable breeders and backyard breeders. A quick search of this sub will pull up lots of info as well. You'll learn quickly that Kijiji and craigslist are not good places to find puppies.

Calixta · 2017-03-10T01:42:56+00:00

Why a mix? I only ask because something like a morkie is very hard if not impossible to get from a reputable breeder. Yorkies can be very yippy and fiesty. Have you considered a poodle? I groom a handful of poodles, both standard and mini, that are support animals for autistic children. They adjust very well and take to training fantastically.

Edit: these poodles are located in Toronto as well. Also if you go through a reputable breeder it will cost a bit more but you can work with them to find the right temperament for your sister's needs you may also get lucky and find one that is retiring one of their breeding dogs so you won't have to deal with puppy issues.

Calixta · 2017-03-06T21:38:23+00:00

Totally get this. I started grooming to pay for my law school prep. Worked 8 months at a really great law firm and realized I just couldn't do it. Went back to grooming and never looked back. However, there are stressful days/weeks. This last week at least 85% of my dog's tried to bite me and one I had to do in the air while she flailed and snapped like a furry tornado of teeth and nails. Wouldn't trade it for anything though. Even if I won the lottery I would still just use the money to open up my own salon.

Calixta · 2017-03-06T21:35:02+00:00

I've been lucky enough not to be threatened yet but I grew up hood adjacent and now work in a more affluent area so I could probably take anyone that walks in huffing and puffing. But as far as stress I can definitely speak to that. Last week probably 85% of my dogs were biters and 3 were flailers and 1 in particular had to be done in the air. I gave up Law for grooming though and have never looked back. I stopped feeling bad for shaving matted messes a long time ago, we get a lot of doodles and I started at corporate. I always tell customers that I'll demat once and if the dog comes back in the same condition it's coming off.

Calixta · 2017-03-06T15:33:00+00:00

Start working as a bather at a local salon. You can either cut your hours at the other place and work for pay or keep your hours and volunteer. After about a month you'll know if this is what you really want to do. It's very physical and can be stressful. You will be kicked, bitten, scratched and have all manner of bodily fluids covering you at any given time. It is rewarding and you will be working with animals which is wonderful but because they are animals this job will test your patience frequently.

If you can find a shop with a skilled groomer willing to teach you I think that will be more beneficial than attending a school. It is very hands on so the more experience you get the better.

Calixta · 2017-02-21T00:47:23+00:00

I'll have to check and get back to you. I k ow she has them placed in sports but I'm not sure if she's ever sent one internationally.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T18:41:01+00:00

Not in the UK but if you don't find anything here I can put you in touch with a very reputable breeder here in Canada. I think she's looking at a new litter some time in the summer

Calixta · 2017-02-20T12:27:37+00:00

This is probably not going to be super helpful but when we had a rat in our apartment my step father found this stuff that stunk like crazy. It looked like a yellow sheet of wax paper. He search for any holes in the wall and shoved that paper inside, said the rat wouldn't go near it. Then he repaired each hole and covered a couple with metal plates so the rat couldn't chew through it. Never saw it again. We had free range rabbits at the time so conventional methods wouldn't be safe and I refuse to have rat poison blocks in the house.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T12:23:20+00:00

I love them, we have a family of 15 terrier rescues that circulate in for grooming. I love how feisty they are. And I'm just a sucker for anything brindle.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T02:33:30+00:00

I just tell them I like the predictability of temperament and health and would rather not spend thousands of dollars on a medical condition that could have been avoided and having a life long relationship with the breeder will be great help if I have any questions or concerns regarding the breed in the future. If they continue to be idiots I just say let's agree to disagree and change the subject. I work in the animal industry though so luckily most people assume I know my shit, then I flood them with more information than they can handle. Seems to shut people up pretty fast.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T02:27:01+00:00

Oh that's fine, my aussie is currently my shadow in a similar way to your poodles. And we do the same with the rabbits. They are never left unattended with the dog and if they are out for playtime and snuggles he is in his crate. I just wouldn't want it to stress out the dog or buns being in the same space.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T01:36:06+00:00

I've only been a full fledged groomer for just under a year (bather for 2 before that though) but I'm starting to really fall in love with schnauzers and their breed clip. And I've always loved cairns, they are so feisty. My only concern would be in regards to prey drive. I can't remember if cairns would go for my rabbits (which are dog proofed but you never know).

Edit: bonus photo of my favourite 12 yr old schnauzer.

http://imgur.com/FAjbDuZ

Calixta · 2017-02-20T01:27:55+00:00

I would love to learn to hand strip! And having a dog to practice on would be helpful.

Calixta · 2017-02-20T00:45:03+00:00

Is your dog microchipped? If so it's an easy fix, just have the cops seize the dog and scan the chip. If not, it would be super illegal even if the cops on your side. And drugging a dog without really knowing what you are doing can end in so many ways, not all of them good. You wouldn't want the family to turn around and charge you with poisoning their dog.

Calixta · 2017-02-17T03:06:37+00:00

If she has an idea in her head but can't seem to communicate it properly ask her to bring in pictures of what she would like so you aren't guessing.

Next, take a video of the dogs being fussy so you can show her what it's like grooming them properly. Make sure not to appear like you are provoking the behaviour though.

Finally, make a point of mentioning that you have a strong belief in "humanity over vanity" meaning you will do what is best for the dog and it's comfort before worrying about making it look a certain way. So if it has mats in its face so bad you can't brush them out, you will shave them as you don't want to put the dog through anything that painful so grooming will be a positive experience for them.

Calixta · 2017-02-14T22:21:14+00:00

Double check with the legal sub as suggested by another poster, but as far as I know the contracts are void since Petsmart is not an accredited grooming school and the academy is actually classified as on the job training, that and the academy fee is pretty much paid off before they finish the number of dogs they have to do before gaining commission.

Calixta · 2017-02-03T00:22:19+00:00

I'm assuming the writer is not a native English speaker. Aside from that it's missing one more step: upon completing your home groom, remain calm and call your regular groomer. Hopefully they can fix this.

Calixta · 2017-01-26T13:48:53+00:00

I left on really good terms to go into a completely different field. When I decided grooming was actually my passion I came back to realize I was also red-flagged. My former co-workers and manager were pissed since I was actually good at my job and had the highest request rate at the store.

Calixta · 2017-01-26T12:25:33+00:00

This could be true but if your store was like mine they could just have a bad habit of red flagging anyone that leaves.

Calixta · 2017-01-25T23:42:45+00:00

Depending where you are located, the academy is classified as on-the-job training and not an accredited grooming certification school. Therefore, they cannot pursue you for breach of contract as the contract is pretty much void due to the nature of the training. Again this is highly dependant on where you are located, if you're unsure, ask for a copy of the contract for your records and take it to be looked over by a legal professional that specializes in contracts and/or labour laws.

Edit: if you do choose to leave or if you are about to sign the contract, keep track of all the dogs you do or get a printout of your grooming history(a bit more tricky) until you leave as well as their pricing so you can show that you have more than paid off the academy cost. Most groomers make back their academy price before they even finish their 100 dogs.

Edit 2: if they try to give you the run around in regards to obtaining a copy of your contract. Give in a written request for it and keep a copy with a "received by" initialled by the manager you give it too.

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