probably a dumb question, but....
|
|
| They have an advanced military grade night vision system. Cats are really jealous... Vance |
| ah. so we need to keep the lights OFF for them at all times? |
My old girl, Pearl would rarely allow a top knot. But, since her hair is thin, she is able to see between the hairs....  Now, Heart???? IF I don't keep her in a top knot, and since her hair is VERY thick and cottoney, she WILL walk into walls, doors, etc.. So, I guess it all depends on what type of coat your pup has... (or, if she is related to Mady...then you have no worries)....  |
and my response was going to be "not well"...  |
| ok. I know I can't see if I have bangs hanging in my eyes! I guess it just surprises me how many pics on the forum, have full hair on their head, and I kept thinking.... how do they see? now I understand the pony tails of course if they do have hair in their faces and they fall, it looks like they have a good excuse and if my puppy's slides, falls, etc... is anything to go on so far, he will need all the excuses he can get! |
| MO is a natural foot watcher, I trim her hair instead of a top knot, but she still keeps her eyes downward watching our movements to determine where to go........must the crazed herder instinct. When in puppy cut she is bright eyed and looking around........so no, all that about their eye lashes keeping the hair out of the eyes maybe true, but they still can't see through the curtain. I noticed Jack is getting tunnel vision again, either top knot or trim within the next few days. |
| Don't let your sheepie use hair in his eyes for an excuse for his clumsiness. Beautiful, loving, strong, brave, any other trait you want to apply works other than graceful, hair in the eyes or not. Dexter goes without his topknot for a while after a bath and he is as good as blind, finding his way around by sound and even then not well. We kept his predecessor cut in a "visor" which worked well since he was not a show dog:  |
| I was joking. puppy is only 11 weeks old and nowhere near having hair in his eyes. |
| Lori, Here's the link to a thread on this topic from some years ago. It was actually the first post I ever made on this forum. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1978&p=14536#p14536 How well each dog sees varies based on several factors, the three most important being how well the fall is groomed, how thick the fall is and how long/strong the eyelashes are. My beloved late Martin Zephram and Virgil Tiberius and long before them my very special and beloved Punk can see very well. All three had/have very long strong eyelashes to keep the fall away from the eyes. Dawn Eline, Virgil's daughter, however does not have such long eyelashes and cannot see as well as the boys do. She clearly benefits more from having her fall up in a topknot. However, that also results in her being even more bouncey and energetic than usual, which is really saying something. And sometimes that is just NOT a good thing. Just keep an eye on how Cambridge behaves as he grows up and the fall starts to obscure his eyes. If he bumps into things too much (and of course that is subjective and dependant on your experience with this breed) then put the fall up in a topknot. Just please don't cut it. Good Luck Thanks and Cheers Carl |
| Hi Carl!!! thank you so much for your response. I know everyone on the forum respects and covets your advice.  since I hope you are following this thread, let me ask you this: being a new OES owner, am I nuts to think I could groom myself? I know it's pricey to get all the stuff, but it has to be less than finding a good groomer and having them do Cambridge. he is so calm I feel like temperament wise it is do able I'd love any links to your thought, or fresh thoughts on this. thanks!!! (the maniacal groomer posted an answer for me.... and it made my day  ) |
ruforgvn wrote: being a new OES owner, am I nuts to think I could groom myself? I've come to the conclusion that sheepdogs are primarily a DIY dog when it comes to grooming. Unless you are very lucky with available groomers AND have a healthy pocketbook, it's just not realistic to do anything BUT groom your own dog. Of course this is all influenced by how you want to keep your dog's coat. The last time Mady was at a professional groomer was over a year ago, and I don't expect to ever bring her to a groomer again. Though she does get a bit of a trim and especially her bum shaped by her breeder 2-3 times a year. |
Vance wrote: They have an advanced military grade night vision system. Cats are really jealous... Vance Thats why cats hate Lily and why she's so sneeky at night. Lily is my first OES and I groomed myself, but I also had the help of my mom (who has had OES for yrs) her hands on advice has been incredibly helpful. |
ruforgvn wrote: (the maniacal groomer posted an answer for me.... and it made my day )I know what you mean! We are fortunate enough to live close to the 'maniacal groomer' and between him and Amber, our breeder, and the helpful folks on the forum we have managed to learn to groom Mady ourselves. You will make mistakes but you will learn. It is also a good bonding experience, I find. If David and I, first time dog owners let alone bobtail owners, can do it, you can do it too! It is just hair, and if you screw up, as we have done, it WILL grow back! |
ruforgvn wrote: Hi Carl!!! thank you so much for your response. I know everyone on the forum respects and covets your advice. since I hope you are following this thread, let me ask you this: being a new OES owner, am I nuts to think I could groom myself? I know it's pricey to get all the stuff, but it has to be less than finding a good groomer and having them do Cambridge. he is so calm I feel like temperament wise it is do able I'd love any links to your thought, or fresh thoughts on this. thanks!!! (the maniacal groomer posted an answer for me.... and it made my day )Lori, Thanks for your kind words. It’s nice to know that at least a few people think that after 30 some years I can actually do one thing reasonably well. No, No and No. Emphatically No!! It is NOT in any way nuts of you to think that you could groom Cambridge by yourself. If you are willing and able to devote the time and effort it is not just possible to learn how to care for your fuzzball it is nigh on mandatory. David and Kim are an excellent example of what happens if you hand over care of your Bobtail to someone who does not have the experience or breed specific knowledge needed to properly care for these guys. And there are many more and far worse tales of Bobtails being “mutilated” by inept groomers on this forum. In point of fact many groomers aren’t really that much further ahead when it comes to Bobtails than are novice owners. You know how to wash, dry and brush your own hair right? Well hair is hair (sort of). Okay they have more of it then us (or at least most of us and certainly those of use who are aging), they drag some of theirs around in the dirt more than we do ours, they walk on some of theirs, they lick theirs more than we do ours but it’s just hair and all it needs is brushing, washing and drying with the odd bit of trimming!! Okay I admit that is a bit of a flippant understatement and I really am not meaning to discount your concerns or apprehensions but if you start grooming Cambridge now, even though his requirements are minimal both you and he can learn and develop the necessary skills before he has grown enough hair to present any significant grooming challenges. There really are not many basics that you need to learn. The “difficult” part of grooming is to develop a consistent approach and the patience/determination to complete the job on a frequent and regular schedule. Grooming is time consuming and at first it can be very frustrating as neither of you are very good at the process but with just a bit of patience and practise grooming becomes a wonderfully enjoyable and bonding time between you two. It can be very soothing to both parties. My photo essays at the top of this forum provide a good starting point and of course both I and many others here on the forum who are experienced groomers are always available and willing to help with specific problems or just general questions. Costs, well that can vary a lot. There is certainly a minimum "buy-in” cost for good quality grooming tools but you don’t need everything right away. And no you don’t “need” everything that the more experienced of us such as I have. If you can only afford a few good tools get a few rather than a lot of cheap tools. People sometimes look at my “arsenal” of grooming tools and start adding up the costs totally forgetting that I have been acquiring these tools over a very long period, that I have tools that are very aged but still give excellent service and that I am set up for 3 fully coated Bobtails, two show coated Afghan Hounds and a few sundry other breeds of varying coat lengths and care requirements. Even so there are still things I still "need" and alternative tools I would like to "try". As you learn and develop more skills you buy the tools you need to accomplish the more advanced grooming requirements, but at this point you only need three items: A good grooming table, a supply of 2-3 pin brushes and selection of 2-3 combs. Depending on internet or local grooming supply store sales you should easily be able to get this list for $200.00 give or take. Not cheap but it doesn’t take long to run up a $200 grooming bill and you always have the uncertainty of how your son will look when he returns. I have stated many times here that I am always willing to help a new Bobtail parent who truly wants to learn how to care for their furchild, and I am. I don’t want to see others “flounder” as I did when I first started with this breed without breeder support or a local Bobtail community. Fortunately a few well meaning and generous Afghan people helped me with basic grooming techniques which I then adapted to Punk but it was a long and tough path for a couple of years. No one should have to go thorough that and the Bobtails shouldn’t have to suffer matts or other grooming related difficulties because their parent has not had the chance to learn. With the internet and it’s resident forums such as this it is a lot easier now, both to mentor new people and for those new people to find those mentors and learn from them. If you decide to take this step we are ALL here for you. Just let us know how and when you need help. Thanks and Cheers Carl |
| I get pet edge magazines. will look up some stuff and check prices on there I wonder if I can learn to do my mini poodle too? I also wonder if anyone knows of someone in NC that does their own grooming that would let me come and watch and see what they use and if I think I could do it. time to do some research! if anyone has any product they love, please share! and where you get it thanks! hmmmm. wonder how far a drive Canada is.... |
| I admit I haven't read this thread carefully - I am limited on time today- Has anyone suggested talking to your breeder for info on grooming? I would think that would be a great place to start. Maybe going to a few dog shows and striking up a conversation or two may get you in touch with some people near you who could help you out? Carl is wonderful and has contributed so much in the grooming section. There are some great tutorials and pictures with superb explainations in that section. (You have yet to experience the first coat change- where the mat fairy visits daily. You should really be comfortable with your own grooming skills before that happens) Good luck- and don't forget it takes time and patience, and in the end (if you aren't showing) it's just fur it will grow back. Shellie |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|