No tub grate - what can I do??

[remy]

I just bought a '03 Wag'n Tails with a porcelain tub and no tub grate. My biggest problem since going mobile is drying time, it just seems to take forever. What can I do to get the dogs off the bottom of the tub and out of the puddles that are left behind? Does anyone know where I can find a grate to fit in my tub or how to make something that will work? Or any other ideas.

[wet noze]

Forever Stainless makes grates for tubs. Also, you can get them in many catalogs, including PetEdge. They may not be a perfect fit but they do the job. I once saw an amazing grate at a mobile round up. They had made it out of the fake outdoor wood you use for decks. It was gorgeous, fit perfectly and made for little $$. Maybe someone could make one for you.

[elizo]

Oh you MUST get a grate....it will make a HUGE difference in how fast you can dry dogs! For a quick fix you can go to Home Depot or Lowes and get some dri deck squares...eventually you should get a real grate to fit the tub. Did you call WnT? Ask them if they have a suggestion. I know Biolux makes heavy coated grates for tubs. At the very least, when you are drying the dogs, throw a towel or two in the tub to soak up the water that is spraying off...should help some.

[Aussheplady]

I bought my '03 WNT van new and the grate it came with is just Dri-Dek tiles put together and then cut to fit the tub. Works fine for me and doesn't tear up the tub like metal would.

[mylady]

I don't know how yours is set up, but doesn't the dryer reach the table? I dry all of my dogs on the table because I took out the tub grate. Hated the thing, just always in the way and I couldn't fit my recirc in the tub with it. even with a tub grate if you are drying in the tub and the air hits the "puddles" it's going to spray back up on the dog. If you can, move them to the table with a towel on the table, I also clip one up behind them, and drying time will be gratly reduced. I also use Show Seasons Speed dry shampoo, spray and Results Rinse. All help cut down on drying time dramatically.

[Starshan]

GatorGrip Bath Mat

In my first rig I used the above bath mat found on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/GatorGrip-Bath-T...item4149b8ab4b
Loved it. I haven't bought one yet for my newer rig. I'm using those non slip rolls (mat) that you cut to fit in your kitchen drawers etc. Its working fine so dog doesn't slip. As I towel dry the dog, any towel that is really damp I put down in the tub to soak up the last of the puddles. I blast the water off then move the dog to the table to finish drying. I use microfiber towels. The loops behind the tub that I use to restrain the dog in the tub I pass a big microfiber towel through so as I blast the water off it hits the towel, helps to catch the moisture. I also use a light spray of Kelco D-mat spray which helps the dog dry faster.

Shannon
The Soapy Puppy

[dbarcreations<3westies]

I'm having the same problem

and have been looking for something that will fit in the tub my husband is converting when I get my mobile trailer. When I was at lowes I saw some fatigue mats for $20.00 that I think might work. They are 24" x 36" I think and are easy to cut down to fit the tub because it is a rubber type thing. They won't lift the dog quite as high as the petedge ones would but I'm thinking it would work well.

[Particentral]

The best way to cut down drying time is what Mylady said. Go to the table. The tub catches water, builds it up and splashes it back, oof the bottom of the tub and the sides of the tub as well, even in a shop. I put a towel or table cover on the table and that also reduces drying time. Try that and see how much faster you can get them dry. I have tried and tried and tried to dry dogs in the tub and end up moving them every single time.

[DBT]

i too cannot get my head around drying in the tub! i had never even thought of doing it in all my years grooming , until i came to the boards and heard of the practice.Well i tried it ,and hated it.i cant believe how much longer it took and how messy it was ! ....off to the table ! I dry my really big 'uns on the floor .i can dry a L/C Saint or Newfy in 20 mins,bone dry from dripping wet.No one would believe me ,until some of my groomer friends have seen me do it .I really doubt you could do that in a tub !

[luvpups]

In a mobile I prefer drying in the tub, just too messy in the van to do it on the table. If you are properly vented you will not have a problem with drying the dog. I do put a towel down under the dog to catch the dripping. Maybe you can call wagntails or go to their site and see what they have to offer. They now sell parts and pieces of things that come on their conversions.

[Starshan]

i too cannot get my head around drying in the tub! i had never even thought of doing it in all my years grooming , until i came to the boards and heard of the practice.Well i tried it ,and hated it.i cant believe how much longer it took and how messy it was ! ....off to the table ! I dry my really big 'uns on the floor .i can dry a L/C Saint or Newfy in 20 mins,bone dry from dripping wet.No one would believe me ,until some of my groomer friends have seen me do it .I really doubt you could do that in a tub !

Well in my van I have a shower curtain to block water from getting up front (my own convertion). I keep most of the dogs in the tub for the first blow off to keep water there & have a towel on the back wall where the blast of the water goes first then a few little microfiber towels in the bottom. After most of the water is off then I move to the table with a towel down to soak up the water from the feet. I have my tub angled a touch so I really don't have puddles. Aussies & Doodles are my biggest I do. If its a Aussie bath & tidy its just 1hr - 1.5hrs start to finish the whole groom, tub, table & back to owner. I also take a min or 2 to do a little clean up around the van before taking the dog back.

Shannon
The Soapy Puppy

[remy]

I'm going to try.....

to do more drying on the table. But for some dogs, especially labs I like to do as much as possible in the tub and keep table time to a minimum. Alot of the big dogs that I'm getting are OAY and are just plain clumsy on the table.
I really like the suggestions of hanging a towel behing the dog. I am definitely going to do that in the tub and on the table.
I'll see if my hubby can work on something with the decking material......sounds good and inexpensive.
Thanks!!!

[Dolly]

I ONLY dry in the tub, when using the HV. The back wall of my stainless steel tub catches a huge amount of hair and skin scales. If you dry on the table, all that debris is flying around inside your van. Just turn on your overhead vent when you start to dry, and the job is soon done. At the end of drying time, I just wash down the tub walls and finish off by towel drying the tub walls with the used dog drying towel.

Happy Cleaning up the tub

Dolly’s Barking Bubbles, LLC

https://www.dollysbarkingbubbles.com

[petgroomaustralia]

I use a couple of thick rubber door mats, the kind that are like the anti fatigue mats but way way cheaper. They are about an inch thick.

[mylady]

My table is up against the wall so whatever I would blow off onto the back of the tub hits the wall, which usually has a towel clipped to it to catch water. I find wiping down the wall is much easier for me to reach than the back of my tub.
I used to blow out everything in the tub in the first few salons I was in as that was how I was taught. once I moved to a grooming salon with a drying table I never went back to drying in the tub.