I Need Grooming Advice! DUW-lots of pics

[Barbel]

My groomer's work is getting worse and worse with every visit and I can't find anyone else that I can afford, so I've decided that I want to start grooming my dog and my cat by myself. I have never done this before so I am looking for any tips on what to do. Particularly where to start, which direction to shave and how to do my dogs face and paws. Here are some pictures so you all can get an idea of what I am shooting for.

This is Albert now...

This is what he looks like shaved...

This is Elaine now...

This is her shaved...

I didn't want my other dog and cat to feel left out! This is Joce and Roo snuggling with my boyfriend on the couch.

Anyway... That is what I am shooting for. I am realistic and don't expect it to be perfect the first few times I do it, but any tips would help. I already bought the sheers and stuff so I am pretty much ready to go!

 

[Bellalee]

Shave against the fur, don't put the clipper blades straight into their backs.. you want to slide the blade across on the flat surface on the back.. what size blades did you get? You want it to be.. where your clipping is parallel to their skin.

 

[goReptiles]

Doesn't look like you did too bad of a job shaving. I think the dog looked better with fur though. Gave him more personality, and he doesn't seem to have that much to begin with.

 

[animalhouse27]

and becareful Grooming Kitty, as they have SUPER Thin skin, not like a dog. So, you can Clipper burn them easyish.. and they get cuts a bit easier. I am not a groomer... But, I do cut my labradoodle on my own. LOL! Just take it slow. If you find in a day you don't like it, or you missed spots, you can always go back

 

[Mel&Keith]

I have no tips but I love Albert's beard so I vote that you leave it! He is SO cute. What breed is he?

 

[Whitey]

You should shave Albert but leave his "goat"... that would be awesome. A dog with a "goat"... and if you do do that, I want pics...lol

 

[Barbel]

what size blades did you get?

I got one with a bunch of different attachments. I was going to try for a 1/4 inch maybe?

he doesn't seem to have that much to begin with.

He actually has quite a bit of fur. I was so mad when my mom shaved him for the first time, but he actually feels better after he gets groomed and doesn't pant as much. He gets so hot.

and becareful Grooming Kitty, Just take it slow. If you find in a day you don't like it, or you missed spots, you can always go back

I will. I am way more afraid to shave her than my dog! My boyfriend is going to help though. I am mostly worried about doing her belly. I don't expect it to look perfect, but I figure if it looks bad I can always touch up or try again when it grows out a bit.

He is SO cute. What breed is he?

Thank you! He is adorable. We believe him to be a dauchsand/terrier mix. My friend from high school's family adopted a pregnant standard dauchsand. She had seven puppies and none of them looked the same. My mom thinks terrier because of his hair. He is my baby. I got him when he was six weeks old and he just celebrated his 10th birthday last month.

I have no tips but I love Albert's beard so I vote that you leave it!

You should shave Albert but leave his "goat"... that would be awesome. A dog with a "goat"... and if you do do that, I want pics...lol

I know his beard is cute, but it is gross. He licks the floor a lot (weird habit he's done it his whole life) and he gets stuff stuck in. Plus it's always wet from drinking water and doggy drool. He also a mohawk that my boyfriend and well everyone wants me to keep. Maybe I'll leave the mohawk this time, we'll see.

 

[Mel&Keith]

I understand about the beard being messy, it's just so darn cute! I think he'd look great with a mohawk too.

 

[Barbel]

I understand about the beard being messy, it's just so darn cute! I think he'd look great with a mohawk too.

Aww thanks! I might leave the mohawk. My sister really wants me to; maybe a for a little while at least.

Can anyone tell me how to do his paws and face, particularly his ears? Do I just trim them up?

 

[JordanAng420]

If it were me, and he's a well behaved dog, I would just trim around his face, not shave. His paws you should shave...over the foot, between the toes and underneath. Sometimes they sell smaller blades just for this purpose...we use one just for faces, feet, and small animals....it's called the Peanut. I guess you could give it a shot with whatever clippers you have now, though.

 

[Barbel]

Thanks for all the tips. I watched a couple of videos on youtube.com even though they weren't very good. I guess tomorrow I will just dive in! If anyone else has anything to add, please do! I will check right before I get started.