grooming shelties

C

cody6

Forums Regular
Hi,I cant believe how many sheltie owners take their dogs to the groomer to be bathed,clipped,shaved etc.I have been a sheltie owner for many years(1972) & have never taken my dogs to a groomer.In my opinion any owner should be able to handle their dogs grooming.It's no big deal,all I've ever done is
Brushed the dog every day-if you cant handle daily brushing maybe you shouldnt own a long haired dog.
-Cleaned their paws only if they gotten muddy etc.
-clipped the area around their paws
-brushed their teeth daily
-Long hair people is part of a shelties personna,shaving,1"clips etc.is in my humble opinion is nothing short of crimminal,I know harsh word,but appropiate.
-If you live in a hot or humid climate maybe you should own a short haired dog or better yet move to a more temperate climate,Pacific North West is an ideal climate for shelties much like their home in the Shetland Islands.Cheers-Cody
 
I've taken mine to a groomer on occasion...When I've kenneled Clancy at a couple of places they were also groomers..so I'd have them do them while staying there...
I've learned how to do a pretty good job by myself..and you are right, its not that hard to do. I prolly don't bathe mine as often as alot of people...they get full one drenching bath maybe twice a year. The rest of the time I just mist them with water sometimes with a conditioner in the water...and brush, brush...I trim up the feets with small scissors, dremmel the nails...I don't mess with trimming their heads or ears..altho I think Abby could use it..LOL
There was a "do it yourself" doggy wash place in a petstore where we lived in MI...raised tubs, hand held nozzles and blow dryers..$12 bucks and 2 hours got me clean doggies.
Now..I just take them in the shower with me...I have a hand held shower head..scrub em up..rinse em off..towel off a bit..let em run in the bathroom and shake to their hearts content while I shower and de fuzz it..LOL
I don't shave them..but I do get a little wild with the thinning shears...Abby has a problem with her inner thighs getting tangled and matted..so I trim that up pretty good... and of course the poop chute...
I've seen pictures of Shelties that have been shorn pretty short...do not like that at all...I agree, if you don't want a long haired double coated dog..a Sheltie may not be the right choice for you...I think my dogs are proud of their coats and would be mortified if I shaved them..LOL

woofs
 
What do you mean by "grooming"?

I groom my pups normally on a weekly basis - includes eye, ears, nails and tail and everything in between. I brush with dry shampoo and conditioner, trim ears and feet, nails clipped, etc. When paws getting muddy they are wiped down, and the ritual check under the tail for dingleberries is a daily event.

What I don't do is bathe the dogs myself. They go to the groomer for that, every couple of months. I don't have the time or proper facilities to do it for my two pups myself.

I've finally found a groomer who believes that "less is more" so she is conservative in her trimming when they do go in. And if I want more, I do it myself after. And she knows about the poop chute. And does a much better job than I can because she has the setup to do so.

I think its a bit strong to suggest that one should not have a Sheltie if they don't "groom" themselves. I think as long as the grooming gets done and regularly, that's good enough for me.

My tuppence worth....
 
BarbV said:
I groom my pups normally on a weekly basis - includes eye, ears, nails and tail and everything in between. I brush with dry shampoo and conditioner, trim ears and feet, nails clipped, etc. When paws getting muddy they are wiped down, and the ritual check under the tail for dingleberries is a daily event.

What I don't do is bathe the dogs myself. They go to the groomer for that, every couple of months. I don't have the time or proper facilities to do it for my two pups myself.

I've finally found a groomer who believes that "less is more" so she is conservative in her trimming when they do go in. And if I want more, I do it myself after. And she knows about the poop chute. And does a much better job than I can because she has the setup to do so.

I think its a bit strong to suggest that one should not have a Sheltie if they don't "groom" themselves. I think as long as the grooming gets done and regularly, that's good enough for me.

My tuppence worth....
Click to expand...

Much nicer said than I would have. :wink2:
 
The main reason I got a sheltie was their personality - I dont know any other dog that is that affectionate, generous, smart and playful. I love the look of the Sheltie but its the dog underneath the fur I love the most.

I dont use a groomer because of bad experiences, but I think its great if you can find someone who can help with the grooming. I am not looking forward to when Deska sheds this winter coat. I would love a groomer to strip out all the loose fur and save me breaking my already problem back.

Its awful when I see matted shelties that dont get groomed - even a bad groom is better than no groom.
 
Everyday I groom my dog, brushing, snipping fur around and under the paws, clipping of nails when they're long, I bought a dremel to file them as well. I wipe his paws and furnishings with rinseless shampoo (my new discovery) after walks. I bathe him once a week (chlorine from our weekly pool sessions) and have an industrial dog blower to dry him since he gets wet 3 times a week (we swim in normal water the other 2 times).

Yes, it's no big deal, but every 3 months, I take him to a pet stylist. Just as I go to cut my hair and get my nails done, even though I can do it myself. I don't take him to a crapshack that can do what I can do for him at home. He goes to one that does EVERYTHING and then some. He comes out looking (and smelling) like a million dollars. The stylist will shoot me if I suggest shaving off fur.

I live near the equator and it's hot and humid (90 degrees here with a humidity of 90%) but our shelties here do very well. We don't shave their fur (I don't and my sheltie friends will never dream of doing it since some of them show). We keep them long and spend hundreds on airconditioning. So no, I don't think I will keep a short haired dog. Like Caro I love the dog beneath the fur - their characteristics, temperament, intellect, sensitivity. The fur is just a great bonus.
 
I use a groomer about twice a year. This weekend I went to an informal 'sheltie grooming' seminar and we learned how to properly groom a sheltie - line brushing, trimming ears, feet, legs etc.. Which brushes to use and how (like I learned that I should not use a pin brush on dry fur as it will split the hair in the long run - so I should use a spray bottle and mist the hair before I brush it) Now I feel a lot more capable of doing a good job on my two. But the groomer is nice too, especially if I need them done and I am way too busy, like right before Christmas! That way they look spectacular!
 
Though I've never taken any of my dogs to a groomer, I don't see a problem with it. There are actually mobile groomers that I've noticed some of the neighbors use. It you find a groomer that you like and can afford it, why not?

And I would rather some one take a dog to a groomer, than let them become a tangled mess with overgrown nails. Sometimes life gets in the way and people have to allocate their time and energy.
 
My wife & I can do passable grooming work when needed. A groomer is a small luxury for me, one I indulge in when I can afford it & do without when I can't. Neither of us love grooming & prefer to farm it out to experts. It's much like going to an oil change place for my car... I can certainly change the oil myself, but the business does it so much quicker & neater.
 
I groom both my dogs myself. It is easier for me to find time to groom them at home then take them anywhere, plus I don't know I would trust anyone else with their hair.

Aztec is not that hairy for a sheltie, he gets brushed thoroughly every 2-4 days and is never matted (I brush his legs and around the ears more often). Bathed every two weeks...trimming when needed. Laika is usually done the same day.
 
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