help with OES?
I am a dog groomer and recently I have been getting a fair number of OES customers. Most of which are not stripped off. I have one in particular that is getting frusterating and so is the poor dog. She around 2 yrs old...in on the average of every 3-4 weeks. Mom is doing a great job at home...but just the top coat...at the skin it is just solid every time. The legs, ears, feet and underside being the worst. I can't seem to get through to the owner that the dog is really very matted. This week we worked on her for 5 hours...2 people....finally I sent her home...she was just exhausted...and rightly so. Mom feels that she can manage the rest on her own. She will not allow me to use a de-matting rake, no clippers ever, not allowed to trim the dog with scissors to bring it to a more managable length. Bath, brush and comb out...that's it. Sorry for the big long story. But I'd like to do what this woman wants...however over time it is getting harder and harder each visit. The dog is getting more and more irritated. Is there any advise as to what I can do to help this matter? What could I be doing wrong? Any suggestions for me to give the owner? I'm afraid that if she misses a regular appointment....I'd have to tell her the best thing is to shave the dog...I don't want to do that. I use a universal slicker brush / greyhound comb / lots of conditioner in the bath / leave in spray conditioner after bath....and I am as gentle as possible. Thank you for any opinions, advise and words of wisdom....I'm blistered and cramping from the brushing and combing! 
Also one of the other OES people recently in advised me that her breeder recommended that the puppy be shaved at 9 months of age. It will help her manage the coat as the adult hair comes in. Any truth to this? Thank you again! |
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| Welcome to the forum, and I can understand your frustration. An OES coat is like no other in my opinion, and needs specific tools. I would suggest you look through the grooming section of the forum, to learn how to line groom an oes with the proper brush, not a slicker, and a wide toothed comb. Mat removal should need only fingers and a comb, especially if the dog is groomed on a regualr basis. I would suggest you point the dogs owner in this direction as well so she can learn how to line groom, which is essential to groom an oes to the skin.
Carl Lindon posted an excellent resource for grooming an oes with his line grooming photo essay. There is lots to browse here, I hope you find it helpful!  |
| Buy yourself and the Mom a srtaight pin brush as reccommended by Carl. This will change your lives. Also mix a tablespoon of conditioner and water in a spray bottle and mist before / while you brush, this is a very big help. Condition the coat after the shampoo with a leave in conditioner. You may know of a better detangler if so use that. I use Infusium from Walmart straight, it works wonders and I can't find any side effects as of yet, I have been using it for about six months. Buy some, send it home with the Mom just give it to her with the brush as part of your service it will save you in the end. It should take about 3 or 4 hours if the dog is in good shape after a bath to brush them out. Are you and the Mom brushing in the same direction? |
| Welcome to the forum.
I would also recommend to brush out every tangle and mat before the bath. Once the mats get wet it seems like they turn into little balls of cement. I would also let the mom know that grooming shouldn't be stressful on a dog. It may be better to clip down the coat to get it under control while also implementing the pin brush (without the ball tips). I would also point out the problems that can occur to the skin under the mats. There coats grow out so fast it wouldn't take long to grow out. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. |
| Maybe recommend having the owner spend some time with you and show her what the problem is and how she can correct it at home.
unless you are charging her by the hour, financially, for you, having so much time and manpower invested on one dog is not fiscally sound. I would think if the owner was taught the correct way of brushing, instead of just doing a quick top coat touch up, and leaving the undercoat to pile up for you, the "pain" of grooming for the dog will go away. |
| Thanks everybody! I'm still reading over the tons and tons of info. I'd prefer not to repeat if possible. From what I can tell.....my methods of grooming are quite similar to Line Grooming. Tend to use on all dogs that have an undercoat. Gotta find what pin brush is best....I'll figure it out. I do find that the high velocity will blow the matting up off of the skin somewhat and allow me to get under some of the matts.
And I agree that it is not an economical job to be doing considering the time. Not to be disrespectful to anyone....but I do not feel that many of the other salons out there will take the time to do what the customer wants. They'll just shave it. I feel that the main issue is that the owner is not getting down to the skin properly. But I can't seem to get her to understand me. She was in the shop during some of the grooming last week...maybe having a "lighbulb moment". 
I really like the OES' and I just want to educate myself better. We seem to be getting a lot of them these days. Maybe it's because I try to deliver what the customer wants and not just hack it all off. Anyway, back to reading. There is just so much to go over!  Thanks again! |
| That's great that you are making such an effort!
I'm sure your clients appreciate it, even if they don't show it.... they probably don't realize how much work it entails to fully groom out an oes like you are doing. Where in Canada are you located? I'm in Central Ontario. |
| I am trying....you'd think after 10 years I'd not have any issues. And I think you're right, not many owners have the slightest idea of what is involved in grooming their Lhasa never mind and OES. Some listen and want to do it but just can't. So I try to work with them and educate in a polite way. We see a lot of scarry stuff in the salon. Today we took 4 layers of duct tape off of a cocker's leg. They didn't want him chewing at his tumor. Since I am working on web site changes and doing new content...I think I will add this site as a link. If that is ok.
I am in South Central Ontario...Hamilton. Still cold, still snow, icy everywhere. Will we ever see green!  |
| I can't believe they'd put duct tape on the dog.... I've often thought for my kids maybe, but a dog?! (j/k,?)
I'm a couple hours north of Hamilton, I am so sick of the snow and ice and cold too..... |
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