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Author
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Topic: when to start grooming
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Conanthe Brabarian
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posted April 07, 2004 10:51 AM
Hi all! Another question about Conan, my Bull Mastiff. He is 9 weeks, when should we start having him groomed?
Posts: 61 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Apr 2004
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Crystal7883
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posted April 07, 2004 04:30 PM
Unfortunately I can't take my dog to the groomer. He doesnt like it & he freaks out. I brush him everyday. Now he is shedding pretty bad. I'm not sure on how often to have him bathed. Sorry I couldn't be of more help
Posts: 77 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 07, 2004 06:55 PM
You should start doing everything now. When he's calm and not overly tired - touch all of him. Play with his paws - rubs his body - etc. I started by touching claws and now apply a gentle pulling so my little monster does fear or resent it. The more he is handled lovingly by you the easier he will take to being handled. Invest in a good pair of dog clippers (you won't need them yet). Let him sniff them, touch it to his toes. Same thing with brushes. Rule of thumb - the more it bothers them, the more you do it. Reward him with praise, love and maybe treats based on whatever system you choice.
There is no reason why you can't do all the grooming yourself especially if you have one of those "YOU BATH" centres where you use their bathtub etc. You can also buy now dog wipes (like baby wipes but especially for dogs) so you can clean the him now with no risk of getting him too cold or stressed. If you wait til he's 60 or 70 lbs and he doesn't like it - you'll be hooped.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Conanthe Brabarian
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posted April 08, 2004 06:49 AM
Thanks for the help, Crystal7883 and doglover!Im going to look into the "you bath". Its sounds like it would be a huge help. I better get one quick before Conan grows as big as the table! I LOVE MY GENTLE GIANT! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posts: 61 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Apr 2004
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Crystal7883
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posted April 08, 2004 10:49 AM
Doglover,
I bathe him at home usually but I will have to try those wipes. I have wipes for his paws when he gets muddy. We have been bathing him since he was a puppy but he just doesn't like the groomer.
Posts: 77 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 08, 2004 02:02 PM
I don't blame him. I have watched some of them really manhandle these dogs. And even had one of my doggy friends clipped with scissors.
Dogs aren't dumb - they know who loves them and who is doing it because it's a job.
The wipes are really good and cheap (here anyway). They make puppy smell nice too.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 08, 2004 02:06 PM
FORGOT - (i'm really getting up there) When Conan tops out at 180lbs you may want to take him to the "Special carwash places that also have dog washes next door"
The "YOU BATH" places have tubs set higher (so you don't kill your back) and steps so the dog can walk into the tub instead of being lifted. They also have the high powered dryers which blow out all the loose hairs. Bull Mastifs have short coats and you can probably get away to one or two full baths a year and then just brushing & the wipes.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Conanthe Brabarian
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posted April 08, 2004 02:34 PM
Thank you again doglover! You are most helpful. I actually just found out that there is a "dog wash" about 5 minutes from my house! Perfect! I was ment to have a dog.
Posts: 61 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Apr 2004
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Conanthe Brabarian
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posted April 08, 2004 02:38 PM
p.s. only a few baths a year?! Dog ownership gets better by the second! ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Posts: 61 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Apr 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted April 29, 2004 10:54 AM
doglover is right. Handle your puppy with love and lots of contact, let her become familiar with brushes, clippers and tools you use to groom your dog. Make it fun exploring. I got one of the stands with neck hoop that attaches to a grooming table (my backyard picnic table) that I have my baby stand in for a few minutes each weekend, just to get used to the idea. She thinks it is fun. At 5 months now I am even able to clip one or two toenails at a time and do minimal clipping with the electric clippers, nothing at all, just a way to make friends with the process and have it be familiar to her.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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lori'slab
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Member # 965
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posted May 12, 2004 07:29 AM
Hi, I'm a newbie to the forum.
I noted when reading through the replys that doglover put that you should start the grooming process right away, including touching the paws but you won't need to trim their nails yet. When do yo start trimming their nails? I just assumed that I would start snipping the ends right away. Is this not right? (new puppy arrives Saturday)
Posts: 8 | From: Niagara Falls | Registered: May 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 12, 2004 07:53 AM
How old will your puppy be? I usually start at around the 5 month range but I have big dogs. You can do a little but avoid causing any distress or you can end up with a dog that won't cooperate. When you go to the vet for the first set of shots, get him to look at the claws and show you how to determine when & how much. It is easier to be shown than for me to type how.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 12, 2004 03:26 PM
Lori by memory I think you are getting a Lab. it is unusual to trim Labs nails, they do normally wear them down quite well themselves, as you would realize he is going to need plenty of exercise or he will get bored and destructive penned in all day. He will wear them down on concrete, or digging in the garden, either way, you won't really need to do anything. I read once too that if you clip the dewclaw when you get him you never need to cut them agin, I have done this to mine and never needed too, but whether that is from natural wearing or true to the story I'm not sure.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 12, 2004 04:46 PM
I found it true about the digging. I use it as a sure sign that their nails are too long. When they get long my dogs seem to find every reason in the world to go for the roots of trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. Once they are cut back, the digging stops. Natures' way I guess.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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lori'slab
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Member # 965
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posted May 13, 2004 06:43 AM
Good memory! yes I'm getting a wee little black lab. I'm ridiculously excited! She's six weeks old and I think after many discussions and disagreements with the kids and hubby I have talked them into the name Phebee. My alternative is Cloe. I can remember clipping my Golden's nails every few months. The vet asked me to come in when the pup was 8 weeks old to do her shots and I'll ask them when I go.
Thanks for the info!
Posts: 8 | From: Niagara Falls | Registered: May 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 13, 2004 03:22 PM
The breed is very similar to the one you had previously, I guess you would know that already. Your names are lovely, I have always liked Pheobe, mine are Sophie, Wally and Ellie. They don't dig much now, only when having their pups, although we have had splendid holes before. Most times they just want to sit on the porch sunning themselves and Ellie is inside. If you can get a tub, and leave it full of water, they love to play in it, when I raise pups they always have a tub, even at 4 weeks. Just make it shallow, I use a cat litter tray for them.
P>S> The bigger dogs have a full bath tub, or half plastic container, you can use a kiddie pool. put a ball in it and watch!!!
[ May 13, 2004, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: ellierat ]
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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lori'slab
Junior Member
Member # 965
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posted May 14, 2004 06:46 AM
We have a small kids pool that we've washed up and have ready to go for our new addition. That is if we can keep the kids out it! My husband just opened our big pool yesterday, I imagine we'll have to watch that the dog doesn't jump into that one! It's an above ground with a fence around it and we also have a motion alarm on it which was installed for the kids but I imagine will be good for a dog that loves water as well! Our Golden was completely afraid of the water and even when we went for walks on the beach she would go right up to the waters edge and quickly step back when a wave came close to her feet. I'm really looking forward to the walks on the beach with Pheobe and throwing the ball in the water for her.
I will take some digital pictures on the weekend of my precious one and try and post them on Monday.
Posts: 8 | From: Niagara Falls | Registered: May 2004
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