grooming old english

[Anika85]

Hello,

I am new to this list, but I am very excited to read all the questions asked and get all the good advice!

I have a question for all of you. I have a Old English Sheepdog that I groom. The dog is in terrible condition, but the owner has her stay outside all the time, so I hate to shave her since it is soo cold. Do you have any good products that might help or any advice on what I could do?
Another thing I have noticed. I can get her brushed out real well and looking great, but everytime I give her a bathe ( even if I don't work the shampoo in, I just squirt it on and rinse it off) the dog dries out and is worse then when I started! She mats right back up bad!Am i doing something wrong when I bathe her or is that just what happens?
Thanks in advance,
Karlie [img]smile.gif[/img]

[LoriAnn]

Hi Karlie,

I use a de-matting spray to soak the mats with that seems to cut some of the de-matting time. I've also started wet shaving matted dogs. When you do this you don't have to use such a close cutting blade. Just put the dog straight in the tub & LIGHTLY shampoo it. Make sure you dry your blade & oil it afterwards. [img]smile.gif[/img] Good Luck!

[Kimmer]

I groom an OES that comes in matted every time so I know exactly what you're going through.
My advice to you would be to scissor down the mats, taking about half the hair off. Then brush out as much of it as you can before wetting the coat. That way you don't have to worry about the water tightening up the mats and making them worse. You can't work on a dog that's not completely clean. I'd also let him soak for a good long time in conditioner. Then once he's all blown out and fluffed up you can either clean him up with the scissors or use a long clipper comb on him to leave him fluffy enough to stay warm. I'd also councel the owner on the importance of having him groomed regularly....although I know that doesn't work too often

[Anika85]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to try that!I feel sorry for the poor dog every time he comes it takes me like 6 hours to groom him! Hopefully it won't take me as long, with your advice. I have never actually blew him dry because I have worried about making the mats even worse, but if I do follow your tips it should be ok,right?
Well thanks a ton for the advice!
Karlie!

[LoriAnn]

I came across this website recently that talks about wet shaving a dog. http://www.groomingsmarter.com/wetdogshaving.html Maybe it can explain better than I can.Keep in mind, water doesn't make the mats tighten up, it's drying them after they are wet that tightens them.

I have certain dogs that come in matted every time & I know by now I can talk to the owners until I'm blue in the face & they just aren't going to brush them, so I charge them accordingly.

[Kimmer]

If you're wanting to shave off the coat then by all means go ahead and try the wet shaving. Personally I've never tried it, nor do I think I will. I've never had a problem getting the coat off a severely matted dog before the bath.
And with the blowing of the coat after the bath, I've never had that make the mats worse either. You just want to make sure that the coat is brushed out as much as possible before you get the dog wet... make sure you get the dog really clean, and let that conditioner soak for a half hour or so. With the force dryer, a good brush and a standing fluffer you should be able to work miracles.. that's why you're the professional and they're paying YOU to do the job. And charge them for the work you do. If they could do it themselves at home for free, they would. Make it worth your while!

Kimmer

[Kimmer]

One more thing I forgot...
If the coat is too severely matted then by all means strip it off. It's not your fault that the owner isn't regular enough with the grooming to be able to keep the coat long. Nor is it the dog's fault and they shouldn't be subjected to hours of brushing torture and possible brush burns just so the owner can have the coat long. If the dog is outside all the time (and it shouldn't be!) then they'll either have to get her a good doghouse and a warm sweater or bring her indoors at night. And the fault of that does NOT rest on your shoulders as the groomer. Again, the fault lies with the owner who neglects her dog to the point that it needs to be stripped!

Kimmer

[bearsmom]

You might want to try hitting the owner in the wallet. Charge for all the time you're putting in. Then, point out that it wouldn't cost so much if the dog came in more often and/or wasn't so matted because you wouldn't have to spend so long working at it. A lot of people won't pay attention if it's 'just' for the welfare of the animal, but they will if it costs them money.

Good luck!

[LoriAnn]

By all means! Bearsmom's right, don't ever give your time away. If they don't take care of their dog, then it will cost them to have someone else do it! I was so afraid to charge extra when I first started grooming, but I've learned if I'm going to be putting in the extra work I'm going to get more out of it than a couple of bucks an hour which is what it would have figured out to if I didn't charge them more.

[Anika85]

Hey Thanks everyone for the help! I think I will try charging them more, because I haven't charged them extra in fear that they won't come back and I am afraid of losing business ( new customers) but the problem is that I live in a small town and there are already 4 other groomers here. so I really haven't been to busy so I have cut my prices a bit to hopefully get some business.

Thanks for the tips. I will definately leave the conditioner on extra long and try brushing her out real well before I bathe her! I will also make sure all the mats are removed before I get her wet!
Thanks again to everyone!!!
Karlie