CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Grooming => Topic started by: Rats and Dogs on January 12, 2010, 07:13:00 PM
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I don't think I've ever posted a grooming question before! :005:
Duggie's coat is becoming ridiculous, he has a huge fringe like one of The Beatles, and the fluff on his legs is about 6" long! ph34r I actually love it, but people are commenting on him all the time now. ;) I was hoping to be able to handstrip him, or at least start it off and see how it goes, but I think I'll have to do something else with him just now.
I have a Coat King and tried it on him recently, just for a few minutes, and got nearly another puppy from him! Should I keep using it? And what else should I do? (Or pay someone else to do!) I have never tried any grooming before.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/fiona2348/009-54.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/fiona2348/010-56.jpg)
Grooming him might also keep my carpets clean! :lol2:
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Awww he is soooo cute :luv:
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Dude that is one cool fringe :luv: :005:
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OH MY GOD!!!!! The fringe!!!!! One of my clients cockers was just like Duggie at that age and she loved the hair too but soon realise it was totally unmanageable and he now gets clipped a little. Other than coat kinging him you might want to using thinning scissors on the fringe, depends if you do intend to hand strip him in future.
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lol fiona - your stairs look like mine!
i trim henry's wig into a little soft topnot type thing - he mohecan is his trade mark! I do it myself with thinning scissors. Amazing how much hair grows there get a handful off every month!
I got a groomer to handstrip him from dougie stageand i sort of keep up with it myself. i probably dont do it right, but its not that big a bind.
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What are the best type of thinning scissors to get, and are they straightforward enough to use? :D
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i just got some from boots, for humans. cant go wrong with them, just snip...doesnt cut chunks out like normal scissors. i also use them to tidy up round henry's 'loin cloth' which is what i call the hair that grows to hide his plums lol, but if it gets too long it can be, erm messy ph34r if you see what i mean!
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Duggie, we need to see your eyes, you pickle. Thank DOG Rufus was sleek. My compost would be full of dog hair!
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Oh bless his little cotton socks. It is so difficult to decide what is the best thing to do when they are at this age! I don't trust my abilities with a scissors (or hubby's!) so I personally will be seeking professional help! Llewelyn's coat is so thick and fluffy already he will guaranteed by channelling Duggie's look in a few months :005:
Blodwen is in a funny, in between stage, where she needs a tidy up but she doesn't have a thick heavy coat apart from around her legs. She does have a decent mop-top (not in Duggie's league!) which tends to go into a side parting where she looks like one of the Backstreet Boys!! :lol: We will wait for her girly activity to end and then head for the hairdressers I think (or probably the breeder for a tutorial in cocker hair design).
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I know nothing about grooming, but I just have to say, Duggie your fringe is amazing! :005: :luv:
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Oh my word that is one absolutely gorgeous fringe and coat :luv: :luv:
I dont think I could bring myself to have him clippped, thinning scissors now and wait a while then handstrip him, once you start its very therapeutic :D
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Oh my word that is one absolutely gorgeous fringe and coat :luv: :luv:
I dont think I could bring myself to have him clippped, thinning scissors now and wait a while then handstrip him, once you start its very therapeutic :D
Totally agree, he will have a stunning coat when all the fluff comes out (not that he isn't gorgeous now of course :luv:). I do love them when they look all fluffy like that and when Belle had her first proper groom it was a shock and I wasn't totally sure about it, but she now actually looks like a Cocker not an Afgan hound :005: :005: Good luck with the thinning scissors, the grooming board stickies are very useful too ;)
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Good luck with the thinning scissors, the grooming board stickies are very useful too ;)
Thanks, I'm just ordering a pair now. :D
I've had a look at the stickies, but I may be back! :005:
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Good luck with the thinning scissors, the grooming board stickies are very useful too ;)
Thanks, I'm just ordering a pair now. :D
I've had a look at the stickies, but I may be back! :005:
Oh Fiona, I would love to watch Duggie's first hair do! How can you improve on perfection!
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:luv: He does need 'sorting' Fiona. :luv: The DVD on the grooming board is a fab start, defo recommend for starting off. :D
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You could try a dog comb with a thick elastic band weaved through it for on his head to speed up the stripping. It may come out on his head really easily it looks like it might be ready to come out :D
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:luv: He does need 'sorting' Fiona. :luv:
:005: Just as well I don't take offence! :lol2:
Pity you weren't closer to "sort" him out for me! ;)
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:luv: He does need 'sorting' Fiona. :luv:
:005: Just as well I don't take offence! :lol2:
Pity you weren't closer to "sort" him out for me! ;)
I wouldnt have said that to anyone else :lol2: Like Sarah said, get the spratts comb, put elastic band on it and give it a whirl. I would never in a million years of believed I could do it. Aww yes if you were closer I would show you, but as it is by the time you would travel home he would be a woolly mammoth again :005: Give it a whirl Fiona, its really satisfying seeing the end result.
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Aww yes if you were closer I would show you, but as it is by the time you would travel home he would be a woolly mammoth again :005:
I tried the Coat King on him again last night, and half filled the bin - but this morning he looked exactly the same again! ph34r :005:
I ordered some Rosaline scissors - I'll have to miss out the zero when OH asks the price... :lol2: I'll also get a comb and try the elastic band trick, but getting Duggie to actually stay still is a real trick, he constantly rolls on his back, gnashes the Coat King, and runs around the room wanting a carry on. ::)
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Wow that is some top knot, Brodie is very impressed :luv: :luv:. Will you be keeping it, Fiona? I couldn't imagine Brodie without her top knot :luv: (actually she'd look exactly like her topknot-less sister Bria but that's not the point :005:)
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Wow that is some top knot, Brodie is very impressed :luv: :luv:. Will you be keeping it, Fiona?
I'm hoping to keep some of it, but not quite as much of it as he has at the moment! :005: I've decided not to handstrip, as his face was an absolute picture when I did a bit of his head - a bit like this :o I was reading that it is very difficult to do solid blacks, and it seemed to be quite uncomfortable for him. So sticking with the Coat king and thinning scissors. :D
I'm looking for help again - I've tried the trick of standing Duggie on a table so he can't run around, but it doesn't stop him trying to jump off, and gnashing at the Coat King and scissors, he just won't stay still, so he's only about a quarter done. :-\ I don't really want to go to the expense of buying a grooming table just yet! :005:
So, any tips on how to groom a Gnasher? ;)
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Dude that is one cool fringe :luv: :005:
:005: Sorry but you have to laugh!. Unfotunately for Jay we bought some clippers and he really does have a short back and sides and legs and tail and anything else :luv: Bless him!
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Fiona, have you tried standing him on the ironning board?
(Put a towel over it first thou, saves having to 'groom' the board afterwards?)
Love the top knot / toupee look thou :luv:
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I was going to try the ironing board, but I'm sure he'd jump off it, as he jumped/fell off the table last night (I caught him just in time).
It is like a toupee, isn't it? I was a bit insulted when someone outside said "Look at that dog, it's got a wig on". :lol2:
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Ruby is sporting the same look, she's off to the groomers on Monday, £25 well spent considering what I'd do to her if I had a go!! :005:
Will Dougie sit still if you give him a spare brush / kong to gnash??
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Aww Fiona, only just caught up with this and I'm sorry but I'm just in fits of laughter here....it's the way you tell them :lol2:
Sorry, no advice whatsover ..... apart from clicker training him to stay still on whatever surface you're grooming him on :dunno: Chloe wouldbe a nightmare too if I had to do any serious grooming on her, she puts up with a kong zoom groom, but trying to get anywhere near her ears, even with a baby brush, is a challenge :shades: :D
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:luv: He does need 'sorting' Fiona. :luv: The DVD on the grooming board is a fab start, defo recommend for starting off. :D
I've sat with the DVD today and then attacked Charlie's legs with the thinning scissors - got a bucket load oh hair out and I've been gradually taking out more and more over the last couple of months - and even better, the DVD demonstrates on a black cocker :D
BTW, Charlie doesn't stand either and is just as likely to have the comb in his month as in my hand ::)
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Sorry, no advice whatsover ..... apart from clicker training him to stay still on whatever surface you're grooming him on
:rofl1: :rofl1: :rofl1: This is Duggie we are talking about - he doesn't do staying still when there is anything within gnashing distance! :lol2: His mouth was following my hand everywhere I put it, he even grabbed the Coat King when I was using it on his back, he can get himself into some strange positions, it's as if he doesn't have any bones! :005:
Will Dougie sit still if you give him a spare brush / kong to gnash??
I give him his old puppy brush to gnash when I'm brushing him, so maybe, it's worth trying anyway. It's just that look on his face when I try to remove his wig. :005:
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He sounds like Indie, a total nightmare to groom so I cheat and get someone else to do it :lol2:
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Me too with Smudge - I was afraid of hurting him cos he would not keep still - the monkey ;)
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I must be honest Fiona - there is no way that we could sort Blod and Llew's coats out ourselves so we will be seeking professional help ;)
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Duggie is gorgeous! I LOVE his fringe. :luv: Have to say that Charlie was so wriggly when I groomed him and his coat became so overwhelmingly long that I found a groomer who handstripped and coatkinged him and I know they have the equipment to keep him still. This may sound mean but I used to jiggle the table just a bit to keep him still as it made him a bit wary but it didnt help that much after a while as he cottoned onto that one! ::)
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Hi Fiona - sounds like a challenge
If he's not used to being groomed or sitting on a table. I think you'll need to go slowly and get him used to the table first making it a good experience for him and when he's comfortable with that move on to a small amount of grooming and tidying up. Dont start off with a massive grooming session as he'll prob resent it. It may take a while but hopefully by taking it slowly he will learn to enjoy it.
My goldie is a gnasher when brushing him. I have a pocket full of treats and he gets one when he is sitting / lying nicely and no gnashing at my hands / comb. I kinda use clicker training principles without the clicker.
My cocker, Bailey is great at being groomed but being a show boy he was used to table and grooming etc from 9 weeks. It'll take time and patience but you'll get there in the end :D
Gayle
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Milo is six months now and despite daily grooming when young he is now totally against it. His mother obviously never taught him not to jump off high things cos he will make a leap for freedom regardless of danger! I tried giving him a brush to chew whilst I groom him but he is far more interested in trying to bite the thing I'm using!! I have found though that he is much calmer and compliant when in the bath. I bought a cheap rubber shower mat I stand him on and I guess because it's more enclosed he feels safer? Anyway, he gets a thorough combing when I bath him (every month so far as he is a cocker sponge!) and then do what I can the rest of the time - an ear one day, a foot the next....and we seem to be ok so far with that. It might be worth trying Duggie in the bath, even if you aren't washing him. Good luck!
Sue xx
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Well I made a start today! I tackled him when we came home from our walk, and he was tired. I've taken a good bit off his head, but left some, so it wouldn't be too dramatic! :005: I've also started on his ears, but I could see he was getting fed up, so we'll do another wee bit tomorrow. Tia's head and face also got a tidy up. :D My finger is completely numb, as I've never been able to hold scissors properly, I always use my index finger to do the cutting action with, I remember my 1st primary teacher trying to get me to hold them properly, but I could never master it. I still get the same result though - but my finger practically falls off! ::)
Before
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/fiona2348/009-54.jpg)
After
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/fiona2348/010-57.jpg)
Don't laugh at me too much, all you real groomers out there! :005:
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You've done a good job, when you're ready to do more you'll be able to see the shape of his head and work from there ;) is it the 'tash & beard next :shades:
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Oh Duggie, what has Mummy done with your fringe :005: It must be a real shock to you to be able to see everything now :005: :005:
He looks great Fiona, well done, there's no way I'd have had the confidence to tackle that fringe :shades: :005:
is it the 'tash & beard next :shades:
if it is, you'll have to give me tips....Chloe has got a full on beard, I'm not sure if I can handle it :005: :005:
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Thats a great job Fiona :luv:and as Jenny said now you can see the shape of his head its a bit more straightforward ;)
I agree his whiskers and beard are next, I am always trimming Belles face bless her but it is easy when you get the hang of it, the more you do the more confident you will get and it becomes an obsession ph34r :005: Not that I am an expert by any means :005:
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I'll let you into a secret - he was lying down when I groomed him and I couldn't really see what I was doing! :005:
I attempted the beard, as I hate it, but he woke up and wouldn't let me, so hopefully I'll manage that in the next day or two. When he got up, he just stood there and allowed me to do a good bit more with his head, but then he wanted his dinner, so I left it for now. :D
Sue, you really should get a pair of thinning scissors, once you get the hang of them, they are great - I didn't want to stop, it was so addictive! :lol2:
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Sue, you really should get a pair of thinning scissors, once you get the hang of them, they are great - I didn't want to stop, it was so addictive! :lol2:
Has OH been warned :005: ph34r
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Sue, you really should get a pair of thinning scissors, once you get the hang of them, they are great - I didn't want to stop, it was so addictive! :lol2:
Has OH been warned :005: ph34r
I would have had a go at his hair too, but he has only just had his groomed clippered, so I'll have to wait. :005:
He hates Duggie's new haircut though, I sent Duggie in to see him, and I heard him say "Oh Duggie, what has she done to you, you look terrible". ph34r
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Well done Fiona - I wouldn't have known where to start with that amazing fringe! :luv: :005:
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Duggie looks great - you've done a good job there. :D
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Sue, you really should get a pair of thinning scissors, once you get the hang of them, they are great - I didn't want to stop, it was so addictive! :lol2:
Has OH been warned :005: ph34r
I would have had a go at his hair too, but he has only just had his groomed clippered, so I'll have to wait. :005:
He hates Duggie's new haircut though, I sent Duggie in to see him, and I heard him say "Oh Duggie, what has she done to you, you look terrible". ph34r
Don't think he has grounds to complain when a £50 'Doggy Grooming Parlour' debit goes out of his bank account after that comment! ph34r :005:
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Gorgeous Duggie. :luv: The loss of a full, wild top knot can come as quite a shock!
My OH, my family and Poppy's dogsitter were all insistent that I kept Poppy's top knot. In the end she had it trimmed shorter but still kept it and we will keep it again (sorry Michele ph34r) when she is next groomed. OH still didnt think it was long enough though! :005:
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Well done Fiona, it took Mole a while to settle so that I could groom him. Baja is brilliant and just does exactly what you want him to do, yet Mole would do anything not to have those thinning scissors near him ph34r
I spent the afternoon tidying them both up and bathing them, Mole now buries his head and just lets you get on with it. It's only taken about 6 months for him to get the hang of it, so hopefully Duggie will improve as time goes on :blink:
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He's got such a lovely face now that we can see it...although I did like his fringe too :blink:
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Charlie's had a major trim today but I think I got a bit carried away - hope the judge doesn't look too close tomorrow - do you know, his skin is almost white under that black coat ph34r you can see it where I might of trimmed a bit shorter than I intended when I couldn't see what I was doing :005: ph34r
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Can we see a pic of Charlie with his new haircut? :D
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I'm looking for help again - I've tried the trick of standing Duggie on a table so he can't run around, but it doesn't stop him trying to jump off, and gnashing at the Coat King and scissors, he just won't stay still, so he's only about a quarter done. :-\ I don't really want to go to the expense of buying a grooming table just yet! :005:
Just to contradict myself, as usual - I have now ordered a grooming table! ph34r :005:
It was pretty cheap, for some reason I thought they cost hundreds of pounds, but I think I was thinking of massage tables! :lol2:
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Just to contradict myself, as usual - I have now ordered a grooming table! ph34r :005:
It was pretty cheap, for some reason I thought they cost hundreds of pounds, but I think I was thinking of massage tables! :lol2:
What you like woman :005: I'm telling you, you're gonna get so addicted to this grooming lark, you will be setting yourself up in business soon :D
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I think I'd need to do a grooming course first - unless every customer just wants their dog to have bits randomly snipped off! :005:
Remember I said my finger hurt after last week's session? It's still numb and I can't feel it if I scratch my nail against it, I think I've done permanent damage! ph34r
I don't think any real groomers have to worry about me putting them out of business. ::)
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I think I'd need to do a grooming course first - unless every customer just wants their dog to have bits randomly snipped off! :005:
Remember I said my finger hurt after last week's session? It's still numb and I can't feel it if I scratch my nail against it, I think I've done permanent damage! ph34r
I don't think any real groomers have to worry about me putting them out of business. ::)
:005: Fiona you will surprise yourself how you learn, I cant believe what I can do with these two now. I still make mistakes but its a pleasure when they look lovely down to your hard work. And not such a pleasure when you do their feet like pigs trotters like I did to Alfie once. :005: