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.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Getting Ready....

....for another creative grooming.

I know, I said last year that Hershey would be Hanna's last creative grooming competition.
I did mean it at the time, because she is getting older now.
Although you wouldn't know it when you take her for a walk and run. :)

Anyway, I was very disappointed that I ran out of time last year, and didn't get to do everything I had planed for her creative.
So, I may try one more time.

I say may, because if I mess up the pre-groom I won't have time to grow her hair out again before Hershey.








Hanna's hair grows slowly, and I have already started some of the pattern I want to do on her, so she is pretty shaggy right now.






I have been letting her head and neck grow out.

It is a  pain keeping the hair out of her eyes, because she loves to rub her head.

I'll put her hair up and about 15 minutes later she has rubbed the bands out.

So, after work on Saturday I bathed her and decided to try something different with the top of her head.

I know that I could band her hair, but I am afraid, with the way she rubs her head, she will break off her hair.








So I decided to try to french braid the hair on top of her head.

It's funny, I can french braid my own hair, but I have a terrible time braiding someone else.

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out.

I started by parting her hair to make two braids.

I pulled one side up while I worked on the other side.










It isn't pretty, but I got it done.

It wasn't easy either. 

I kept losing track of which section I was supposed to be crossing over.

Hanna was so good.
















Actually it's pretty messy looking. :/


At the same time, it turned out better than I thought it would.









 So I tried the other side.

It looked a lot nicer, but it was much looser than the other side.











I kind of like it.









I already know what she is thinking.

"Just wait till I get in the car where I can rub the heck out of my head. Hehehehe"









So, how long do you think it lasted?

I really wanted it to last for a while, because I go away in July for a week, and I need her hair to stay up while I am gone.

Who am I kidding?

That's not going to happen.






 The looser side lasted for about half an hour.

She wrecked it right before we got home.

The first side that I braided lasted about 23 hours before she managed to rub some hair loose from that braid too.

She looks quite pleased with herself doesn't she?

 







So tonight I banded it.

I used elastic bands that aren't supposed to break the hair.

I'll see how long that stays in.

Three more months of keeping up with this long hair, then I can give her a regular topknot again. :)

Happy Grooming, MFF

3 comments:

  1. Hanna is such a trooper...hopefully you'll be successful at Hershey. I will be there cheering you on...Karen from NJ

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  2. Saw this link today which you may enjoy. This level of creation is not common in the UK:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184796/A-cut-Photographer-crosses-America-record-weird-woolly-winners-dog-grooming-pageants.html

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    Replies
    1. Hi,
      Thanks for the link. I have seen most of these dogs before and even competed in the same ring with a few of them lol. There were a few pictures of dogs that I had not seen before. These were the best, closeup pictures that I have seen. I do love looking at other groomers creativity. :)
      I made one mistake though...I read the comments. It only makes me want to scream at these people. The dogs look sad???? This is abuse????? It amazes me that there are thousands of dogs out there starving, tied to trees forgotten. Also dogs that go un-groomed and matted and people look at a colorful hair cut on a dog and the first thing they think is abuse. :( It drive me crazy!
      Thanks again for the link.
      Lisa, MFF

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