About Me:

I am a professional Pet Groomer. I have been grooming for 28 years. This Blog is a kind of diary of my work. I wish I had started years ago, writing some of the experiences I have had while grooming. Most days are fun, some can be sad, some can be just down right crazy. If you are a pet owner and come across this blog, I hope it helps you understand how your pet is groomed. If you are a Pet Groomer, I hope you can relate to some of the stories. Maybe even learn a grooming tip or can leave a friendly grooming tip for me. There is always something to learn, no matter how long you have been grooming.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Answer for Mittens

Mittens left a comment on yesterdays post.

"Hello again! I hope this doesn't sound too gross...but do you have any videos of doing sanitary trim (anus) ? I've always done it lightly skimming side to side (outwards) with a 10, but usually this causes the dog to "booty-scoot" for a couple of days. Any advice?"

First, Thanks for the question Mittens.

I used to get a fair amount of customers telling me that their dogs were scooting after the groom also... until I stopped clipping the rear.
It used to drive me crazy, because I knew that I was being careful. 

I scissor most of the rears now.
I can get the rear just as close with scissors as I can with the clipper, but I actually like to leave the rear just a little fuzzy.







I have found that no matter how careful or how lightly I skim a rear with clippers, a lot of the dogs get itchy.








I use my curve shears turned backwards, so that the points of the scissors curve away from the dog.








With scissors I feel like I have a little more control of how much hair I take off or leave on.









Because this is a white dog I like to leave the rear just a little fuzzy.






If I have to use my clipper because the hair around the rear was matted, I always tell the owner.

'FiFi had mats around her rear today, so I had to clip closer then I usually would. She may go home and scoot, so keep an eye on her and stop her if you see her scooting.'







If a customer wants the rear very short, I will clip it with the clippers, but I always warn them that the dog may scoot.

Scissoring the rear is no guarantee that the dog will not scoot, but I have noticed that I don't get very many complaints anymore about scooting.

Some dogs will scoot no matter what.
I had a Terrier Mix that loved to go out in the yard and scoot after I groomed her.
Would she scoot on the grass?
Nooooo.
She had to scoot on the concrete sidewalk!
It used to give me chills when I caught her.
It did not make any difference whether I scissored or clipped her rear.

So maybe you could try scissoring instead of clipping, and see if that helps.

Happy Grooming, MFF







7 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for posting this!! I thought I was going crazy because all the groomers I have ever met clipped the butt! Last time I groomed my little pup, I scissored her rear (and she ALWAYS scoots when I shave there, no matter how lightly I go) and I didn't see her scoot ONCE! Yaaay! I'm happy to write this down in my 10lb Notes from the Grooming Table book!

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  2. Your welcome! Notes from the Grooming Table is a great book. My rule of thumb is to use the books as a point of reference, but always remember that every dog is different, and I do what is best for that dog. Even if it goes against what the book says.
    Lisa, MFF

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  3. another method of achieving a scoot free sani trim is to use a 6mm wahl stainless steel attachment comb over a #30 blade. work from the anus outwards, then skim with a very light touch working down to between the tail creating a 'poop chute'. (it works for me anyways.)

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  4. Thanks for the information Trudy. I'll have to try that.
    Lisa, MFF

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  5. I'm not a groomer, but I found this when googling my pups butt scooting symptoms!! Thanks for the detailed info, We just went to the groomers this morning and was worried it was something more serious.

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  6. Thanks so much for posting this helpful info! I am 17 and started grooming when I was 15. I specialize in Miniature Schnauzers as I have one of my own but was always frustrated when it came to grooming his rear. He'd scoot for days after I clipped back there :P

    I recently gave him a puppy show cut because he looks so cute that way and used your scissoring technique when I got to his rump- minimal scooting!

    Big thumbs up for this article ^_^

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    1. Thanks Code 7,
      It is nice to hear from young groomers. I am glad that the scissoring technique helped. I had a Terrier that, know matter what I did, would scoot her rear. It used to drive me crazy. :/
      Lisa, MFF

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