Onerous grooming with sheltie?

My grooming schedule is a brush out, trim and nails every weekend. Takes about 30-40 mins per dogs. I rarely touch them during the week unless I notice the beginning of a mat which is rare.

I have never done a poop shute except on time on Ember last spring and she was in full cotton ball stage. Just don't have that issue.

One of my huge drawbacks when I thought about giving a sheltie was the grooming. I wanted a Doberman and ended up with a sheltie go figure:rolleyes2:. It turned out it wasn't that bad once I got use to it and got the right equipment(good pinbrush, slicker, scissors, and spray bottle-I added more as time went on).:smile2:
 
Justicemom said:
It turned out it wasn't that bad once I got use to it and got the right equipment(good pinbrush, slicker, scissors, and spray bottle-I added more as time went on).:smile2:
Click to expand...

Oh yes--forgot about the equipment aspect.

For a long time I got by with just spray (I use Ice on Ice by Chris Christensen), a good pin brush (also Chris Christensen), a greyhound comb (just for behind the ears, small scissors, and nail clippers.

With the addition of a second dog, I added baby powder, thinning shears, and a small slicker brush.
 
Today for the two it took and hour and forty five min. We have not done them since right before Christmas. Zak had a few mats behind his ears. We try to dremal nails twice a week and brush them out every week. I only bathe 3 times a year.
I so spritz with water and some days just brush in a bit of baby powder. In warmer weather they get to play in the sprinkler.
 
I think the message is, if you do it in small doses it doesn't need to become a major chore.

When I groom, I will focus in on one area or another. Sometimes its grinch feet, sometimes its ears, or tackling Indy's thick butt hair. The point is that I try not to make any ONE session a marathon. I check to see what needs doing, get that done, and if I've still cut the motivation, I'll keep going.
 
corbinam said:
Oh yes--forgot about the equipment aspect.

For a long time I got by with just spray (I use Ice on Ice by Chris Christensen), a good pin brush (also Chris Christensen), a greyhound comb (just for behind the ears, small scissors, and nail clippers.

With the addition of a second dog, I added baby powder, thinning shears, and a small slicker brush.
Click to expand...

Good equipment is a must! I have a large kit bag with various types of shears, brushes, sprays, dremmel, nail clippers, electric shavers. It's taken my 2 1/2 years to build up this collection but it sure makes it easier when you've got the right tools.

At a minimum, get the best you can afford:

- pin brush
- slicker brush
- rake (for the thick butt hair)
- thinning shears - you can get pretty good at the drugstore
- straight shears
- rounded edge nail scissors (good for trimming between the pads)
- leave in spray conditioner and dry shampoo
- nail clippers or dremmel (highly recommended)

I also like to have a small electric shaver handy - for poop chute and for neatening up the feet. (I find it easier than using thinning shears on the fee). I use a ladies bikini shaver. It's small, not too powerful (do I don't accidentally take out more fur than intended).

One of these days I'm going to photograph my torture tools and post so that we can compare notes!
 
I've got a grooming table already, as well as an electric trimmer and dremel, along with some coat conditioner, since I used to get my dobe girl ready for the show ring. Seems that I'll need a SLEW of brushes to tackle the sheltie coat. (for the dobe, a stripping stone, and a couple of brushes was plenty). Thanks for all the advice, and Barb, you should post a pic of all those tools :)
 
Luckily I get to forgo most of this ritual, my wife gets great enjoyment out of grooming the boys, much like Barb from the sounds of it. I get to escape with the occasional brushing if I think they look like they need it and holding for the dreaded nail clipping, I also get all of the walking, playing ect, we split training 50/50, she does the initial obedience work, and I get tricks & agility, isn't life wonderfull :biggrin2: :biggrin2:

Definately the pack order at our place is wife Pack leader, hubby second in command, then they get to sort it out from there and that applies to both kids & dogs.:rolleyes2:
 
Last edited:
My husband does not enjoy our grooming sessions but I do need him to hold them while I dremal the nails, not sure either one would let me do it alone. Zak maybe but not Maggie- she is a pain to groom. One tip my groomer gave me was start young and if they fight just hold them down and then they quit fussing and being wiggly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top