Kitty Makeover

I had a Maine Coon cat in for a bath and brushout the other day.

I was excited to try out the Chubbs Bar on this cat.

This kitty was a perfect candidate for trying out the Chubbs Bar.

This kitty needed a de-grease bath.

 He was not matted, but his hair was greasy and tacky.

 This is an older kitty, and it will be his first bath.

I was not sure what to expect when I put him in the tub.

He was talking up a storm.

I like to put the cats in the tub and turn the water on low and away from them, so that they can get used to the sound of the water before I start to wet them down.

 While the water temperature was regulating, I was petting the cat and talking to him.

By now he had calmed down and stopped talking.

I like to start wetting them by getting my hand wet and petting them with my wet hand, slowly getting the hair wet.

It is my way to get the cat ready for the water and ease himm into getting wet.

I don't wet the entire cat at one time.

I wet the back and start to soap it up.

Then I add a little more water and soap up another area.

 I like to keep the water running on low so that I don't startle the cat each time I want to put water on him to spread the shampoo.

 I also put the hose nozzle right up against the cat so that he is not startled by the spray of the water.

When rinsing the face, I fold the ears down with my fingers to keep water from getting in them.

 I rinsed off about 80% of the shampoo and then soaped him up a second time with a medicated shampoo.

He was doing really great.

Next I wrapped him in a towel and started to HV dry him.

I started with the dryer on low and at the back leg to let him get used to the dryer blowing on him.

Some one had been drying a dog while I was bathing him, so he was already used to the sound of the big dryer.

He did really great with the dryer, even allowing me to use it around his head and face.

 He did so good with the HV dryer that I was able to get him 95% dry with the big dryer.

I finished drying him with my hand dryer.

His owner did not want anything trimmed on him.

I was very pleased with the results of the Chubbs Bar on this cats coat.

 The Chubbs Bar did a great job de-greasing the coat.

 This cat was very clean.

He was done start to finish in just under an hour.

He had absolutely no desire to look at me every time I tried to take a picture.

He really looks pissed doesn't he? lol

Well, if he was, he certainly didn't act like it, and behaved like a gentleman.

No fighting.

No hissing.

No twitching tail.

No laid back ears.

Just a grumpy, sweet face. :)

What Would You Do?.....Mix Breed

It is not often anymore that I am made to feel like a 'newbie' groomer.

Well, today was one of those days.

One of my first dogs of the day was a new customer with a medium size mix.

The dog was 14 years old, and had been being groomed by the same Mobile Groomer since she was a puppy.

The Mobile Groomer had retired, and the dogs owners had been looking for another groomer.

They had already been to two other groomers, but had issues with them both.

Now it was my turn.

I feel bad when I have an elderly dog come in as a new customer.

Especially one that has only known one groomer.

The dog was used to the way the Mobile Groomer groomed.

Now she had to get used to me and the way that I groom.

On top of all of that, her owner was so used to just handing her to the Mobile Groomer and saying "do the usual" that he had a horrible time trying to describe how he wanted her groomed. 

I had just as horrible of a time understanding what he was trying to describe.

I must say, that I pride myself on being able to read between the lines when owners are trying to describe a cut for me.

I am usually able to understand what they are trying to say even when they are not totally sure what they want.

This owner knew what he wanted done, he just could not translate it to me in a way I was sure I understood.

The more questions that I asked, the more I was getting confused.

At one point, I was sure that the owner was wondering if I knew what I was doing.

Because of being unhappy with the two previous groomers they had tried, they had let their dog grow out longer than they ever had before.

Every time I asked a question, the owners answer would make me think of a different cut or blade length.

I would ask one question, and his answer would make me think, 'oh, okay, I'll do a #4f.'

Then I would ask another question, and his answer would make me rethink the #4f.

He kept telling me that; "we like her clipped to her coat."

I actually thought that I kind of understood what he meant by that description, then he would say short, but not too short, it's cold outside.

I just could not get him to tell me what 'he' thought short was.

Was 2 inches left short?

Was 1 inch short?

Was 1/2 an inch short?

Or, where they all too long?

  The face was just as confusing.

They had been cutting on it a little.

The owners description was; "take it short and clean."

Again I asked questions to clarify and make sure that I understood what he wanted, only to be confused once again.

I ended up telling the owner that I would do what I thought that he wanted, and if it was too long, or too short we would fix it with the next groom.

So, I took her back and bathed and blow dried her.

The whole time I was driving myself crazy trying to decide how short to take her.

What was the owners idea of short?

A #7f blade?

A #4f blade?

A comb attachment?

A hand scissor?

While bathing and drying, I had been playing around with the idea of calling the wife to see if I could understand her directions better than her husbands.

I kept going back and forth with this idea, because I did not want the husband to be upset that I was going behind him to ask his wife the same questions that I had asked him.

While drying the dog, I realized that with all of my questions to the husband, I had forgotten to ask about the ears.

Goody... a legit reason to call the wife.

So, I asked my husband to call and ask about the ears and double check the clipping instructions.

Problem solved, right?

Nope!

Wife did not answer her phone.

Husband was do back in half an hour.

I had to make a decision.

 I decided to try the yellow Wahl metal comb attachment first.

I wanted to see how short it would take this thick, plushy coat.

I knew that it would clip the hair shorter than a dog with a thin, silky coat.

  It is hard to tell in this picture, but the yellow comb took the hair down to about an inch left.

I liked it, but the voice in my head was telling me the owners want it shorter.

I almost picked up a shorter comb, but you can't put the hair back on, right?

I decided to stick with the yellow comb.

Guess what?

The wife called back....

...just as I was scissoring to finish.

I had this side left to finish and one side of the faces left.

The husband was do back any minute.

As per the wife, it sounded like they would have liked a #3f blade, or #4f blade length.

She wanted about half an inch left. :p

I offered to go over the dog again with a shorter blade if her husband could wait about 15 minutes.

She said to leave the cut the way that I had already clipped it and they would have me take it shorter the next time.

 So, I finished the face.

I made sure to take the top of the head and over the eyes short.

I did understand that instruction from the husband.

I just was not a 100% sure about the rest of the face.

She was ready to be taken out to her owner.

Her owner seemed happy with the cut, but said that they usually go shorter, but this cut was okay for the winter.

Then something happened that broke my heart.

My little new furry friend started to dance around the lobby.

"She needs to go to the bathroom," her owner told me.

I looked at my furry friend with her fresh, clean, fluffy cut.

Then I looked out the door of my shop at the pouring down rain.

Noooooo!

Her owner said thanks and good bye then headed for the door.

I stood there watching as he walked her out into the rain.

I watched as she squatted right outside my door, by the curb, in the parking lot.

It was not a quick pee.

It was a long, old girl pee.

I watched as the rain poured down on her back, that just seconds ago had been nice, dry, and fluffy.

I died a little inside as I watched the rain drops flatten the hair on her back.

All that work....gone....washed away..... just gone.

The wife hadn't even seen the dog yet.

Her husband was bring home a wet dog.

Only another groomer can understand how this drove me crazy.

Couldn't help but feel that I was not going to see the dog again.

How could someone judge your grooming when a wet dog was coming home?

We ended up staying 20 minutes after our closing time, because a customer had forgotten to pick up her dog.

It turned out to be good thing.

Just as the forgetful owner walked in the door, the phone rang.

It was the owner of my new furry friend from this morning.

They were calling to book grooming appointments for her for the rest of the year.

I guess she still looked good enough even when wet. :)

She was a very sweet dog.

I am glad she is coming back.

He Likes Me....He Likes Me Not

Sometimes you have a dog come in to be groomed that you are just not sure about.

They fuss about everything.

They growl about most things.

They even like to give you a look at their pearly whites sometimes.

BUT, they never carry all of their threats out.....they never bite you.

I have a furry friend like that.

 His bath is HIS biggest pet peeve.

That is where he does most of his talking and complaining.

Oh....and the drying too.

Oh... and a little growling when I ask him to stand on my grooming table.

BUT......he really does like me!

Really!

He does.

How do I know?

Because he pulls his owner in the door when he sees me in the lobby and comes right over to me.

He walks towards me so that I can pick him up to get him out of the kennel.

He tucks his head into my chest when I am carrying him. (okay, that could be just a male thing....)

He closes his eyes and enjoys me rubbing his cheeks before I start to bathe him.

He lowers his growls when I  softly say "shhhh" next to his ear while drying him.

He practically jumps into my arms when I go to pick him up off of the table.

AND, every once in a while, he will even wag his tail. :)

Most of all, he does not bite me.

So, give some of those 'talkers', and 'smilers' a chance.

It may just be all for show.

If you can get them to trust you, they can be really good dogs to groom.

They may even really enjoy the groom, even though they don't want you to know that.

Product Review....The Chubbs Bar

I like following the NCGIA's facebook page and their website.

That is the National Cat Groomers Institute of America.

Anyway, there has been a lot of  talk about 'The Chubbs Bar'.

So, I finally order some to try them out.

 They came yesterday, right before we closed for the day.

Too late to try.

So, I had to wait to try them today.

I ordered the coconut scented ones.

The scent is very  pleasant and mild.

The Chubbs Bars were developed for bathing cats, but can also be used on dogs and other animals.

The Chubbs Bar is a degreaser.

I didn't have any cats to try the bar on, so this is the first dog that I used it on.

 I watered the dog down first and then started rubbing the bar all over the dog.

The lather came up almost immediately.

I will admit that I did drop the bar about three times before I got the hang of holding it and rubbing the dog at the same time. :)

 I have to say that I really liked how fast the bar lathered up and how easy it was to move around the dog.

Just add a little water and spread the lather around.

I liked how there was no waste of shampoo dripping off of the dog as I was applying it.

I think that it would be great if other shampoo companies made their shampoos in bar form too.

Look at all of the nice suds.

I only needed to give this dog one bath and he was squeaky clean.

I am so sorry that I do not have a picture of what this dog looked like after I dried him.

I can't believe that I totally forgot to take a picture.

 However, I did remember to take a before and after the bath picture of this dog.

We only used the Chubbs bar on this dog and no other shampoo.

 

 This is after the bath, with the Chubbs Bar, and blow dry.

I was pleasantly surprised that the bar got this dogs creme coat so bright without us using any whitening shampoo.

Some groomers may like that the smell of the shampoo bar was so light and mild that it left no smell on the dog.

The dog was very clean, there was just no Oder in the hair at all.

I have to admit that I like to smell a dog after the bath, and smell the pleasant sent of the shampoo that I used.

That's just me.

 We used the Chubbs Bar through out the day, and rinsed it off after each dog.

This is what is left of the bar after one days use.  

We did use the bar with other shampoos on some of the dogs.

Yes, we did use almost half of the bar!

I do like the Chubbs Bar shampoo and will buy more.

I can't wait to try some of the other scents.

I can not wait to try it on cats.

You can go to the Chubbs Bar website and watch a demonstration video.

Also, they are offering a FREE trial size bar right now.

Try it for yourself. :)

I do not work for the Chubb's company, nor am I a spokesmen for  them.
I am an everyday groomer giving my opinion on a product that I have tried.

An Open Letter....

.....From A Dog To Their Owner About Their Grooming Needs:

To my owner and caregiver,

      I was so happy the day that you brought me to my new home. You feed me, walk me, clean up after me, and take care of my medical needs. There is just one problem.....my grooming.

       No matter whether my hair is short or long, I like to be clean just like you. I may not be crazy about water, or the brush, but it sure does feel good to be clean, and get rid of my shedding, or matted hair. To get a nice moisturizing shampoo to get rid of my dry skin, and to be flea free.

      Grooming is not torture, although I may act like it is sometimes. It is up to you to make sure that I am groomed regularly whether I like it or not. You don't like going to the Dentist, but you go anyway, right?

      Regular monthly baths (with the right products) and groomings help to keep me and my coat healthy.

      Overgrown nails hurt and can permanently twist my toes over time, sending pain through my feet and legs every time I take a step.

    

       Mats hurt, and are best removed by clipping rather than brushing. So, please do not ask, or expect the groomer to brush and comb out my mats that you let build up in my coat by not brushing me regularly.

      My haircut will only last 4 to 6 weeks before my hair grows back onto my eyes and my hair starts to mat up. Just like your own haircut, I need my grooming on a regular basis. Don't get  upset at my groomer if my hair grows back too fast.

     Please don't laugh, or get mad if my groomer has to shave my coat short, because no one was brushing me at home. Yes, I may get embarrassed if you make fun of my haircut.




         Take the time to find a good, caring groomer, who knows what they are doing. Please do not just call around looking for whoever will groom me for the cheapest, or the soonest. You may have to wait  to get me an appointment with a good groomer, because they are most likely pretty busy.

      My grooming will cost more than your hair cut. My groomer pampers me, brushes and combs my whole body, clips and files my nails, cleans out my ears, gives me a nice warm, massaging bath, blow drys my hair, and gives me a beautiful haircut. Best of all, I get hugs! Isn't all of that work worth the money?

      I may not always enjoy the ride to the groomer. I may even balk at walking into the Grooming Salon, but that is only because I know that I will be away from you for a while. I have to confess that I actually have a little fun trying to make you feel bad for leaving me, but once you are gone, I get a lot of loving and hugs from my groomer, and it really does feel good once I am all groomed and clean.


       I can not comb and brush my own hair. I must rely on you, my owner and caregiver to keep my coat clean and healthy. I know that you are busy, so a professional grooming is just the thing.

      The very best thing about being clean and groomed is all of the attention that I get when I come home from the groomers. Everyone wants to pet my nice soft, clean coat. Everyone makes a fuss over me. No one pushes me away anymore saying; "go away, you stink."

     So, please dear owner, please find a good groomer to take me to on a regular schedule so that I can be happy, clean and healthy all of the time.

                                                                                                                              Unconditional Love,
                                                                                                                               Your Furry Friend