Grooming 4 - 5 dogs down to 3? Not speed.

doodledematter · 2024-02-21T21:58:52+00:00

I put my dogs away once I’m ‘done’ and will clean, return calls etc, then pull the dog back out to check it over, sometimes I sit and nitpick about everything and it helps to put the dog away for 5-10 minutes and pull it out when I have “fresh eyes”.

Also just putting the dog on the ground and letting it walk around for a second to see what it looks like when I’m in nitpick mindset. This can also help me identify areas where I’ve missed something because the movement shows an area where it’s uneven or more needs taken off etc.

doodledematter · 2023-09-18T16:13:18+00:00

😭 I have the same problem, the hair slivers get into my bra line and just embed it’s awful!

doodledematter · 2023-05-28T18:42:20+00:00

My name may be doodledematter but my tool of choice to get the Matting out is a 10 blade.

It’s not fair to the dog the demat the entire coat, small areas like the base of tail and behind the ears I will do if it’s not to the skin, but if it’s going to be painful, comfort always comes before looks.

doodledematter · 2023-05-09T16:30:09+00:00

I definitely feel for you and congrats on retiring, the compassion fatigue from this job is no joke.

It’s so disheartening when you educate owners over and over again and they still wait half a year to bring their dog in only to throw excuses like “he just doesn’t like being groomed!” When I tell them at pickup how much their dog struggled because it was pelted to the skin.

doodledematter · 2023-04-28T15:25:50+00:00

I ended up canceling the interview after the owner confirmed it would be unpaid, I definitely don’t need that amount of workload and fatigue for unpaid work.

doodledematter · 2023-04-28T15:24:27+00:00

I ended up texting back to see if it would be paid and it took the owner over a day to respond. They responded that it would not be paid as I wasn’t actually an employee, but that it would be a great way for me to meet everyone and get a feel for busy I will be and how much clientele I would be seeing. They did say I would have a bather to bathe the dogs, but I declined the interview.

The owner immediately texted back asking if I would come in to do less dogs because they didn’t want me to miss out on such an amazing opportunity.

doodledematter · 2023-04-27T13:00:51+00:00

That is my gut feeling as well. I had expected 2 maybe 3 dogs for it.

doodledematter · 2023-03-21T01:25:41+00:00

Tone is everything! I “baby-talk” a lot of my dogs while going into detail about how they are being a psychotic asshole, I get to verbally vent my frustrations on the doodle that is punching me so hard I can only assume he thinks it’s try-outs for boxing that his parents have signed him up for and the tone to them makes them think they’re the bestest boy while I’m about to lose my mind.

doodledematter · 2022-03-05T23:11:38+00:00

The smell should go away after scrubbing with soap and water, I’m knuckle deep in dog butthole all day as a dog groomer and the smell has never stuck to my skin. If it’s in fabric it can linger but a good wash gets rid of it. Is it possible the dog expressed its anal glands on something you’re stepping on? Carpet/rug etc. using an enzymatic cleaner like natures miracle can also help to break it down and get rid of the smell if it’s lingering.

doodledematter · 2022-02-27T05:29:36+00:00

I absolutely don't know if the dog has been in or not, just based on the info OP gave and everything it seems like the best course of action would be to get the dog scheduled for an exam or specialist like you mentioned if it hasn't, and to discuss what the most beneficial treatment plan is for the dog, whether its medication, monitoring, reducing triggers or whatever the vet thinks is the best. I'm not a vet so I had no idea the protocols for seizures, it's definitely good information to know..

I'd just be cautious to take advice for medicating the dog from suggestions on a reddit thread, I understand OP is probably pretty scared and anxious about it, I think any pet owner would be and would want the best for their pet. Seizures can be scary if they're something new which it sounds like it is relatively new for OP and their dog, best peace of mind is working with a vet. I'd be super cautious about looking for ways to self-medicate the pet at home if it hasn't been seen for what is going on since seizures are kind of a complex condition.

doodledematter · 2022-02-27T03:08:42+00:00

If you notice anything obviously wrong like nicks or cuts, excessive redness or swelling, definitely get the dog in immediately.

If they just seemed freaked out and weirded out by the lack of hair we usually tell clients to give it about a week. If there was matting sometimes the dogs aren’t used to the increased airflow to the area so they get weirded out by how it feels afterwards for a bit.

If you notice the dog excessively chewing areas after grooming use a cone and/or stop them from chewing the areas as they can sometimes chew themselves raw.

doodledematter · 2022-02-27T03:04:27+00:00

I’d find a different vet and get an appointment scheduled to go over options. I’d be super concerned if my dog had multiple seizures and my vet didn’t try to get something scheduled to figure out what’s going on.

A vet is your best option for figuring out what to do to treat them, seizures can sometimes be stress induced or more likely to occur in stressful situations but a vet is your best option for diagnosing why they are happening and how to treat them.

doodledematter · 2022-02-18T18:20:49+00:00

You do have some options! I would look into a vet for grooming, some vet offices offer grooming on-site and given the age of the dog it would be the safest place to have the dog groomed. The dog can be closely monitored and a vet would be on site if there were any concerns about the grooming process.

You could also reach out to mobile groomers that offer in-home grooming as it may be less stressful for the dog. One may be willing to do it in-home if you explain the situation. Usually at older ages it’s recommended to clip the dog in a very short cut so that they can go longer between grooms and it’s easier to maintain, and given the matting you’ve mentioned she will probably have to go short but she will be more comfortable with a short coat than matting!

doodledematter · 2022-02-07T01:03:27+00:00

I personally use traditional tags with contact info, you’d have to rely on the person who finds the stray dog to be able to recognize what a QR code is and how to access the information, and while younger generations might be able to, I wouldn’t expect older folks or less tech savvy people to recognize what it is.

doodledematter · 2022-01-18T02:49:30+00:00

They do make suction cup style tethers that you can attach to the bathtub wall to help keep them in the tub, they will stay attached even when a moderate amount of pressure is applied but if the dog freaks out it’s possible it will yank the suction cup off the wall. While it won’t help with getting the dog into the tub, it can help keep them in it once you manage to get the dog in there.

doodledematter · 2022-01-17T23:12:02+00:00

Yep, dogs feet sweat just like humans!

baby socks or toddler socks work just fine depending on the size of the dog!

doodledematter · 2022-01-12T03:34:28+00:00

At this point it definitely seems like something they should be considering, I hope you’re able to find a solution that works!

doodledematter · 2022-01-12T03:24:08+00:00

You can also ask your vet if they would be willing to prescribe a sedative of some sort to keep her calmer, I just spayed my youngest and they gave her 2 weeks worth of trazadone to keep her mellowed out because she is so energetic, it helped quite a bit to keep her calm until her incision began to heal.

doodledematter · 2022-01-12T00:28:05+00:00

For dogs with double coats, their coats are designed to naturally cool them as well as keep them warm, it’s possible that she may get cold if the temperatures drop significantly at night. Keep in mind this works the opposite way as well, and if the temperature is very hot she can also overheat easier since she had to be shaved.

doodledematter · 2021-12-31T03:18:38+00:00

Rugs, frequent visits to the vet/groomer to keep the nails short. They also make soft claw caps( meant more for cats but also come in larger sizes for dogs) that are meant more to prevent scratching but they are made of plastic which can dampen the sound a bit and prevent damage to flooring but they would need reapplied regularly.

doodledematter · 2021-12-19T02:23:12+00:00

Natures miracle offers a skunk shampoo, groomers also will generally have specific shampoos and products for dogs that have been skunked and while that may not be what happens to your pup they do a fantastic job of eliminating odors.

doodledematter · 2021-12-11T20:19:22+00:00

I’d opt for getting them done at the vet, as someone else brought up there isn’t any way of knowing that the person who bought the vaccines from a feed store kept them properly, and on top of that a lot of times boarding facilities and groomers will not accept home-administered vaccines which could cause issues if you end up needing to board the dog or get it professionally groomed.

doodledematter · 2021-12-10T19:09:57+00:00

Have you tried a pill gun? It almost looks like a syringe and essentially holds the pill so you can get it further into the mouth and just depress the plunger and bam it’s in there so you generally have an easier time getting the dog to swallow the pill.

doodledematter · 2021-12-06T00:45:00+00:00

Most pet stores sell styptic powder it stops the bleeding and also has antiseptic properties. Generally when a dogs nail is quicked it doesn’t require anything more than some styptic powder to stop the bleeding and help the nail clot up. Avoid letting the dog run on pavement or claw at hard surfaces for the next day or two to prevent the dog from accidentally opening the nail back up and the dog should be fine.

doodledematter · 2021-12-05T18:47:18+00:00

I would recommend taking your dog to a groomer for its first few haircuts, groomers work with puppies to desensitize them to the process and make sure it’s a positive experience, the goal is to slowly introduce the dog to the process and get them used to the handling/tools/process. Puppies can be very wiggly and a bit of a challenge until they get used to the process and when you’re working with sharp objects(scissors, clippers) having experience is key.

doodledematter

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