Oscar's New Groomer - Me
Though he's only there for a few hours, I think he gets stressed out, which screws up his immune system. It's just not worth it. I am looking at the Andis AGC as well as the Oster 5, different models of each. I have read through threads here, as well as reviews online, so looks like either one will do the trick. Am I right in thinking that a #3 blade will leave his hair the longest? Also, are ceramic blades the best way to go? I already have two good pair of scissors, one straight, one curved, a slicker, a pin brush with no balls on the end, and a fine tooth comb. Can anyone recommend a good pair of thinning shears? Is there anything else I am missing, besides a wider tooth comb? I would like to keep Oscar in a puppy cut, leaving a short top knot and longer ears. (Jaci, I have checked out your website featuring Kaytee, and Emma, and it has been very helpful.) Thanks everyone. If you see a snapshot of Oscar looking like Oliver Twist, you'll know who groomed him.  Laurie and Oscar, aka Oliver |
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Don't worry Laurie, Izzie has suffered through many a home haircut and lived to tell the tale. You can't be any worse that I am.  I don't have too much advice. Just go slow and do a bit at a time. That may help keep Oscar's stress level to a minimum. Of course now you have to post more pictures of Oscar  |
The worst that could happen is WHOOPS...........it'll grow.  Also you can pick up a very inexpensive thinning shears at a Sally's Beauty Supply or any in your area that is open to the public. You don't have to spend a fortune. Also, I don't know if they are available at the pet stores. Don't worry, you will do fine and Oscar will be more relaxed with you and not stressed. I am a big beliver in talking to my dogs when I do them and I think that makes a difference. |
| Oster and Andis.......about the same really. Dawn will tell you to go with the lower rpm, it keeps the blade cooler! I believe it. I don't like the ceramic blades at all! Gimme the old fashion stainless steel any day. Don't forget blade cleaner and blade lube/cooler. If you can swing a second blade, do it. That way it can be cooling while you snap on the second. Always feel the blade against your skin! If it's hot for you, it's hot for him. Combs on clippers work great on DH's head, but not on sheepdogs. I wouldn't bother, plus you need a very fine blade underneath them. Many here are very proficient with scissors.....not me! You can get a great "do" just with scissors if you and the dog have the patience. |
| The most important thing is probably good tool sanitizing after clips to help prevent infection. Maybe just basic blade care or your vet might suggest something. I always use the low speed setting on a clipper too. Andis 3 3/4 or an Oster 3 leave hair about 1/2" long... http://www.andis.com/USA/sm_animal/pdf/ ... _chart.pdf http://www.osterpro.com/includes/Cryoge ... eChart.pdf The stainless steel combs are real pretty  but this is still my favorite so far...http://www.theuntangler.com/shopping/sh ... =Pet+Combs It has stainless steel teeth that rotate and the tips are rounded... the teeth are more free-floating so it kind of chatters if you shake it. I've had these since Emma and Darby were puppies...  Inexpensive thinning scissors from Petedge have worked well on pet OESs here. http://www.petedge.com/product/Top-Perf ... /43563.uts I have another pair that's a lot slower to thin the hair and gives a softer finish but they're really old. Think dad-used-to-cut-the-kids-hair old. Instead of having a solid bar on one side, it has two sides of serrated-type teeth. They're pictured on top in this picture-  I think it's wonderful what you're doing to help Oscar stay the healthiest he can be.  Psst... we'll want pictures! |
| Thanks for the help folks. I knew I could count on you to talk me through "baby's first haircut". (Maybe I should just wait until Halloween and then Oscar can go as a vagabond.). The pictures are great, and very helpful. With all of Oscar's skin issues, I am religious about cleaning all of the grooming tools after each use. I should buy stock in the company that makes Clippercide. And I promise to provide photographic evidence. Laurie and Oscar |
Quote: And I promise to provide photographic evidence. Now you're not supposed to be approaching this like it's going to be the scene of a crime... |
| Good for you Laurie I think it is wonderfull you are going to be grooming & trimming Oscar, less stressfull for your baby because momma is doing it in his own home enviroment. Dont worry if you make a boo boo, it grows back and also self doing it means also you are covering every inch of your boys body and can pick up early if anything is out of the ordinary. Look forward to seeing photos and go girl, I am sure oscar is going to love momma fussing over him  and so much better for your special man without the added stress of being at a grooming parlour. |
| Hey Jaci, I'm not a fan of "Law and Order" for nothin'! After Oscar's first at-home grooming, I'm sure there will be crime scene tape, as well as a chalk outline of a fluffy sheepdog. Also, you are the only other dog owner I know who uses the term "prepuce" with abandon. (Saw the term on your grooming tutorial.) I'm not sure how much less stressful it will be for Oscar, as I'm sure it's going to take me three times as long as a pro groomer. (I drop Oscar off at 9 a.m. and he is ready by noon, 12:30 p.m. at the latest. She calls me 10 minutes before he comes off the table so he never has to go in a crate. My groomer is great. It's just that Oscar is HIGH maintenance!) As it is, I bathe him in halves. I'll do his head, front, to mid-back one day, and then the back half and "undercarriage" the next. We do face, paws, and sanitary areas every other day. Now add in clipping every six to eight weeks......Man, am I glad I never had kids! Who has the time????? Thanks for the support!! Lisa, I will give Oscar an extra cuddle for you. Laurie and Oscar |
| How fitting - I just gave Chewie a major haircut today! With the cooler weather, it was time to get rid of hair. Yep, it sounds backwards, but it's true. Now that it's cooling (cool front rolling in as I write - yeah!), we can start carting again. Running miles in harness and a long coat don't work well. Major overheating, and MATS. He's short - about 1-2 inches all over, with just enough for a little topknot. I understand the stress factor - even slower, grooming at home is bound to be better for him. I was pleased to find no stress - poop issues tonight after the scissors marathon today - normal hard poop tonight after class at The Paw.  I use the steel blades too. I shave just under his belly and guy parts for hygiene. Our clippers is an andis - ultra edge special edition. Works great. It has a skip blade in...looking at it it says Dura Edge, size 5, 6mm. |
| Can you post a picture of Chewie, Dawn? And please make sure to show us Oscar after you are finished. We have yet to use scissors or a blade on Mady, as we somehow seem to find ourselves in the vicinity of Auntie Amber when Mady needs it but the day is coming for us to learn too. I bet that Oscar will appreciate being cared for by his Momma and won't mind the odd mistake. |
| Oh, how I remember those first haircuts! I had an Oster 2 speed, but donated all of Pooh's supplies to the humane society after we lost him. Now that we have Angus I need new ones and I think I will try the Andis 2 speed and use ceramic blades. Our local rescue lady has 5 OES's and that is what she uses. She said she buys her grooming supplies from Petedge. The last few years I would clip Pooh over 2 days and not do it all at once. The first day wasn't very pretty. A couple of years ago when I found a large tumor under his front armpit, we rushed him to the vet and boy did I get the looks from people waiting to see the vet! I was in the middle of a clipping job and he looked a bit strange! You could tell people were keeping their pets close to them thinking Pooh had a disease! I wanted to say "hey, we are in the middle of a haircut and he will look better!" You will find the clipping sounds more intimidating than it really is. I clipped an ear once and was very careful after that! Under all that fur it is sometimes hard to find the beginning and end of parts!!! |
| I will try and get a picture of Chewie tonight (at work now). It is SHORT! Probably 1-2 inches all over the body, with enough for a small topknot. We are ready to hit the roads carting, and he will be so much more comfortable...and I won't have a matted mess from running miles and miles with a harness on. He was SO happy last night at class. Most of the students had never seen him with a short cut, and they were amazed. Got many comments like "now I see why he does all those sports and wins awards - he's built like an athlete under all that hair!" My plush puppy got lots of hugs last evening.  ps - the farrier came yesterday to trim pony Teddy's hooves, and I had the body trimmed, but not the head when he arrived.  . So after we were done with Teddy, here's this bouncy Chewie in the window...trimmed down body, giant puffy head!  Needless to say, Tony the farrier had his laugh for the day! |
Oscar's Mom wrote: :D Hey Jaci, I'm not a fan of "Law and Order" for nothin'! After Oscar's first at-home grooming, I'm sure there will be crime scene tape, as well as a chalk outline of a fluffy sheepdog. Also, you are the only other dog owner I know who uses the term "prepuce" with abandon. (Saw the term on your grooming tutorial.) Hey, it is what it is! |
| theres a few more things to add to the list! a coat king for taking out the undercoat - http://www.groomers-online.com/news/coat-king-for-dogs A matt breaker for breaking the matts down into smaller ones - http://www.groomers-online.com/search.p ... tt+breaker a ceramic tile for cooling your blades down quicker. a good reasonably priced pair of thinners is roseline. as for clippers at the moment i use the andis agv but there corded, ive never used cordless as i find them heavy, there good, quiet and dont vibrate too much. theres the moser switchblade which had to be on of the comfyist clipper to hold. just remember the secret to a good groom is the preperation, throughly groom your dog before bathing, then if there are any stubbern bits you can have a go at them when you condition your dog, makes life easier. dry completely, even if you need to start you grooming next day make sure they are dry, clipping a wet dog isnt easy. good luck, you will be fine |
| Pictures of Chewie will be posted soon - I will start a new thread. I need to retrim still. I had hoped to get to it tonight after work, but ended up doing an emergency run for a friend's dogs - they are gone on vacation. |
germany wrote: The last few years I would clip Pooh over 2 days and not do it all at once. The first day wasn't very pretty. A couple of years ago when I found a large tumor under his front armpit, we rushed him to the vet and boy did I get the looks from people waiting to see the vet! I was in the middle of a clipping job and he looked a bit strange! You could tell people were keeping their pets close to them thinking Pooh had a disease! I wanted to say "hey, we are in the middle of a haircut and he will look better!" I do dogs in stages as well, and especially my older girl. At almost 14, Belle's hair cuts can take up to a week, and in between I'm just praying  I don't have an urgent need to take her out in "public"My vet would understand, she's an OES breeder. But the rest?  Kristine |
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