To shave or not to shave?

[4Sibes]

I have a little dilemma.
Very sweet client, lost her young (under 5 yrs.) Berner to cancer last Fall.

Called this week for an appt. w/ new Newfie pup...6 months old.
Puppy has one of the worst cases of elbow dysplasia vet and Specialist have ever seen. Not a good prognosis. She's already had cortisone injections. (I SO wish she had called me first. )

She's desperate to have her groomed and wants me to shave her...which I typically would NOT do on a 6 mos. old pup.

We are at the beginning of our long, hot, humid, Summer, and I can't imagine this puppy is going to be able to stand comfortably when her coat is soaked through...by bathing, now or at any time in the future.

I'm inclined to shave her, not knowing how long she'll even be around...but what do you guys think?

[Fast Ellie]

I agree with you about normally not shaving a Newfie, especially a puppy.

Then again, this pup has some serious issues, I would go ahead and clip her. I would leave a ruff from the shoulders down to the elbows and her back legs simliar to a schn pattern and scissor up the legs and ruff to blend in. Since she's so young shouldn't be to difficult to get a 5f thru her coat.

poor dog.

[sarahliz]

I would shave it but not take it way short, when my families berner has had surgery in the past we have shaved him because, though he lets us brush him, we think its easier if we don't have a lot of tangles to deal with when he is already uncomfortable. I believe the groomer shaved him with a #5 blade. They left a bit of the "fuzzles" on the head and the tail plume but the rest of him was short. Take your time and let mom know it might not be even because you are going to do it in any way that is easiest on the dog.

[fiveoclockdog]

Why not shave her with a #3? She'll be plush and manageable.

[4Sibes]

Why not shave her with a #3? She'll be plush and manageable.

My #3 has served as a paperweight since 20 minutes after I first used it 6 years ago. Maybe I got a dud? I still glance at it and get mad.
But you gave me a good idea I might have eeeventuuuallly thought of...a SO comb of the same approx. length.

I think I was panicking because I am allergic to shaving a Newf pup this young and sick in my heart that the owner is going to deal w/ everything headed her way w/ this pup's prognosis.

I would have thought she learned after all our conversation over the years w/ the Berner.
Oh well...what's the saying..."lessons are repeated until they are learned"?

[Debbiedogs]

Yup

Sounds like a good candidate for a more easy-care coat.

If the coat is thick, I would go down to a 5F reverse if practical. Otherwise up to a #3 as someone suggested, with anything inbetween being fair game as called for.

[rapuzzled]

Ok...here goes, lol. Maybe it's just me but I really don't get all these posts about people hating to shave double coated dogs like that. It doesn't hurt them (as long as the owner's are careful enough about sunburn and overheating). Plus it seems to be so much more practical for busy owners. I find it quicker and easier for me and the dog to just zip off hair than putting them through a deshed and long bath and blowdry. So it looks a little silly...I don't have to look at the dog, lol. And if I don't do it they will just take it down the road to someone else who will. PLus, while it doesn't make the dog shed less, the short hairs sure make for easier cleanup.
I hope to own a golden one of these days, and I will more than likely keep the dog in a short clip. That would be because I am lazy and work on dogs all day and don't want to have to come home and deal with it there too .
Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread Bernie, I vote shave, especially in the case of this poor pup!

[PuppyFluffer]

I don't remember if you have a clipper vac or not. If it t'were me, I'd buzz him down with a 4f in reverse, leaving the "fuzzles" (LOL, love that term!) on the ears and tail but blending in the ruff for that smoothe, svelte appeal. Whenever I have clients who like shavedowns on their goldens, newfs, pyrs, and berners, the 4 is the blade I usually reach for. It leaves enough hair to protect from sunburn and gives the owners a good 6 to 8 weeks between appointments before the pup starts lookin' bushy.

I'm mystified by your hatred of your poor 3F, though. It's gotta be one of my most favoritest blades, especially once summer rolls around and everyone and their brother wants their shih's and maltese clipped in their summer do...once again, clipper vac with 3F in reverse....

...come to think of it, damn near every non-breed specific clip that I do is done in reverse. I just love the finish it produces.

[4Sibes]

Nopey PF...no CV. It's on my dream-away list. I still hate my #3. Went out to the sunroom after reading your post...and told it that again. It's a dud. It didn't even deserve to go to Northern Tails w/ all it's friends for a blade spa vacation.

Rap...I hear ya! We both know how these MD Summers are...my Corgi is dying for her Smoothie. I think my aversion is because the Newfie is still such a puppy...and I am crazy about that breed. Made me question if there wasn't some better way I wasn't thinking of?

I overwhelmed myself thinking...the pup is on steroids, which will likely affect regrowth of the hair (owner has been warned) and if they lose her before she is a year old...how awful do I want her to look....when she dies? You know...all those "groomer over-thinking things" things. I think a SO will be what I do. She comes this Friday. Gads this makes me sad.

[rapuzzled]

Nopey PF...no CV. It's on my dream-away list. I still hate my #3. Went out to the sunroom after reading your post...and told it that again. It's a dud. It didn't even deserve to go to Northern Tails w/ all it's friends for a blade spa vacation.

Rap...I hear ya! We both know how these MD Summers are...my Corgi is dying for her Smoothie. I think my aversion is because the Newfie is still such a puppy...and I am crazy about that breed. Made me question if there wasn't some better way I wasn't thinking of?

I overwhelmed myself thinking...the pup is on steroids, which will likely affect regrowth of the hair (owner has been warned) and if they lose her before she is a year old...how awful do I want her to look....when she dies? You know...all those "groomer over-thinking things" things. I think a SO will be what I do. She comes this Friday. Gads this makes me sad.

Gosh, that's an awful thing to think about. Poor pup.
I think a snap on is definitely your best option. I think it will make her more comfortable without all that heavy hair, and a snap on is long enough that it could still look cute unlike a shorter blade.

[SwissNChow]

I'd just shave the dog and make the owner happy. If done on a regular basis, it will probably lessen grooming time for the dog as well.

[SwissNChow]

Next time she needs a Swissy! Like a Berner, healthier breed, and short coat!

[fiveoclockdog]

Sibes!

I love my #3!! I use it almost every day...forward, backward, all around the town ;-) Maybe YOUR #3 is a dud, but MY #3 is fabulicous! Maybe you should try a different 3? Just sayin'

[4Sibes]

I love my #3!! I use it almost every day...forward, backward, all around the town ;-) Maybe YOUR #3 is a dud, but MY #3 is fabulicous! Maybe you should try a different 3? Just sayin'

Well I'm very happy for you then Five. I maintain that mine never worked right after only 20 minutes of trimming the hedges w/ it.
Does a heck of a job keeping my papers from blowing around though.

I did the puppy today...or should I say the puppy did ME in today.
It was worse than I imagined. Just awful. Add to the physical aspect of elbows sticking out at right angles, walking essentially on her front right pastern, and hips that don't appear to be all there, she was also diagnosed 12 days ago w/ Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever...so the skin was a wreck and made a 7F the blade of choice.
Oh...and due to all of this stuff going on...she has been spoilt rotten w/ no discipline, and the groom consisted of frequent periods of flailing, thrashing, throwing herself anywhere she could, forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, slashing at me w/ her feet/nails, and she actually SNAPPED...like with TEETH...TWICE.
She had never been bathed, dried, restrained, or nails trimmed....tho the nails were painted pink by someone, lol!

I'm whupped, like no dog has EVER whupped me before. Seriously.

[tailstonailsgrooming]

Been there and done that b4 sibes, lol. Actually seems like they all are pains in the butts every now and then. At least you got it done and out of the way so no more worries. GREAT job!!!