My day...1 dog

[RevWind]

Luckily I had a bunch of easy baths beyond this beast. I didn't think to take a before pic and mommy was waiting so I forgot to take an after. It would have made a great entry in the miracle makeover. The black is another dog's hair , but that's nothing compared to the rest. It was a Samoyed who I've only seen maybe 3 times in the year and 3 months I've been there. It's got 4-8 inches of hair depending on where you look, with an immense amount of packed undercoat spiderwebbed to the skin, which essentially was a body sized mat in the making. It's like that every time I've seen it. First time I did the dog, I dematted it for 6 hours and it was practically naked by the end anyway. The next 1 maybe 2 times I saw it my boss said just bathe it and dry it a little and stick it in a kennel. The woman wouldn't let us shave it and wouldn't pay a lot for dematting.

So it was going home from the kennel today and I wasn't going to let it leave like that. I gave it 2 baths and let it sit in a conditioner for 20 minutes while I finished other dogs. When I got it on the table to dry it with the HV dryer the undercoat was just zipping out to the ends of the hair so I could brush it out more easily. Mommy called and said I could cut the actual mats out and I could cut it to about 2 inches. I couldn't get a 2 inch clipper comb through it it was so thick so I got off what I could with a one inch clipper attachment (which wasn't much either) so I hand scissored the poor girl. I hate the fact that blades pop off the Andis clippers. It took me all day. I found out by questioning her (not so diplomatically...yay me) that her breeder told her not to groom or bathe it very often as it would dry out the skin. I could shoot some breeders....well...all doodle breeders, but that's beside the point. So I changed to educate mode and got back on her good side by explaining the bathing, matting, etc. process and asked to see the dog every 4-6 weeks. I think I converted her. YAY! The groomer before me refused to groom it anymore and my boss also refused and started pawning it off on me. I guess they never asked the right questions. Yay for me again.
Now for a long soak in the tub...

[ejmj30]

Ugh, I'm so sorry! I haven't seen the pic yet, as it's pending approval, but I know what that type of situation is like. Not fun! I hope she comes in again soon for your sake, and the dog's!

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

WOW. 6 hours?

I can't imagine a dog in a mess like that. Poor thing.

I don't do combs on dogs like those because of the reason you mentioned: TOO THICK, UGH!!! Poor dog. IT must have been a nice dog though or you'd not been able to do much with it with the messy condition it was in. Congrats, I hope she really does come in soon.

Tammy in Utah

[PetsRus]

I feel for ya, I have been in the exact same situation with a matted to the skin Samoyed. Good news is though mine now is a regular. Somehow they saw the light (I think it was when I gave them a bill for triple the normal groom). I do this dog once a month now and he is always in great condition and has a full coat again! Good luck I hope the same works for you.

[Pixie]

Are you sure there isn't a dog hiding in all that hair? lol I'm glad you took the time and tried educating this owner, hopefully she will follow through on the education and become a very good client for you.

[petgroomaustralia]

I feel for you. I dont do these dogs anymore, way too much work. Was it well behaved?

[mary1982]

how do i start a thread? is anybody from westchester pennsylvania? i will be starting grooming at a vet clinic there in 2 weeks and i have to set my own prices but i dont know where to start. any suggestions?

[Shei77]

That was like my sunday

A little wild eskie matted and packed with undercoat. Sticks and twigs and POOP lots and lots of POOP and that nasty weed that digs into the skin and dosen't shave or brush out. Hadn't been in sense last AUGUST! Took him down with my trusty #7 and lion tailed him. Charged her for it too. Did the talk told her to take him to the vet to remove the spear grass and if he comes back that bad again it's a # 10, no tail and $20 more. Take him to another shop. I dare her! Grrrr Wait she's been tossed from all the other shops.......

Hope the rest of your week is better.

[RevWind]

She's behaved till you start brushing her. Understandably, she hates it because of the constant battle with her undercoat and matting.

[baddog]

Here's a tip. When the conditioner has been sitting for 10 minutes or more, before rinsing it out use the HV to blow out the coat, the conditioner lets a lot of that mess slide out. After you're done, the hair is easy to clean from the tub and the rinsing uses less water b/c half the coat has been blown out already, it works, it works well!

[RevWind]

Here's a tip. When the conditioner has been sitting for 10 minutes or more, before rinsing it out use the HV to blow out the coat, the conditioner lets a lot of that mess slide out. After you're done, the hair is easy to clean from the tub and the rinsing uses less water b/c half the coat has been blown out already, it works, it works well!

I've heard that recommended a few times, I just haven't had the thought (aka, nonexistant memory) to actually try it.
Thanks.