Dog grooming - home or pro

[KimDW]

To those of you who own dogs (mainly those with the long hair and undercoats - like a collie or sheltie) do you bathe and groom at home or take them to a groomer?

Here's the deal. Last year when Gracie got her shots (in August) I didn't get the Bordatella shot due to finances and plus the fact that that I wasn't taking her to the groomer very often. So now she needs a bath. If I want to take her to the groomer she needs to get the shot. But I'd rather wait until August to get her shots all together so that I don't have to bring her back again next March for the Bordatella. I'm thinking if I can just get her a few baths until August that would be fine but I don't want to bathe her in our tub because we had it reglazed and I'm afraid her nails will really damage the finish. So I'm thinking of asking my mom if I can bathe her there. But I'll need to get a hose sprayer of some sort to hook up so I don't have to use a cup and water to rinse her.

Anyone have any suggestions on things to get for home grooming?

Kimbra
Sorry so long, I tend to give more information than I should

 

[Miss Lee]

I would get a dematting comb, slicker brush, and a good shedding blade. Of course, you need to comb and brush them really well before you bathe them. As for the type of shampoo, that just depends on the condition of their skin and coats. I'm sure if you ask a groomer they will be happy to tell you what you need for your pets.

You might want to get a nail clipper, too.

Michele

 

[KimDW]

I brush her once a week and clip her nails. I use a pin brush and a slicker brush. But she gets dry skin (but she doesn't scratch alot). I'm going to Petco tonight so I might ask them about a shampoo. I know the groomer always used an oatmeal based for her skin.

Kimbra

 

[andtckrtoo]

A lot of the newer PetCo's and PetSmarts have do-it-yourself dog washes. I've taken my Aussie there when he got too filthy in the winter.

 

[dreamyjeanie]

I bath my aussies in the bath tub. We have a hand held shower massage in the secondary bath so thay works well. I use baby shampoo. I got tired of taking them to the groomer and have them come home feeling dirty. I think they were using some method other than soap and water. If I pay for a bath I want a real wash. I have a brush called a shedding rake. Look like a wide tooth comb on a handle. Works well, on wet or dry hair.


Have any of you heard of a Pet Wash. One of the manual Car Washes in the next town has a Pet Wash. It has a large bathing stand and you use dollars to use the water, soap, condition, flea treatment or blow dry options. Unfortunately it is outside so it is too cold to use in the winter.

Jean

 

[kathryn]

Just the other day, I saw a portable pet wash driving around town (a van). It said it was for dogs or cats (yeah, try to convince a cat about that!). Seems like an interesting option, especially for people with multiple pets. Maybe there's one around your town?

 

[Fit_mommy]

We have a Golden Retriever. We groom at home the majority of the time and only take him to Petco once in a while.

My MIL has a sheltie whom she takes to be professionally groomed all of the time...it's cheap for her though...the dog is small so it costs less, PLUS she has been using the same private groomer for YEARS so she gets a break on the cost.

The main reason we don't use a groomer more often is because it's simply to darn expensive!

 

[Gayle]

Hi Kimbra,

I've always had short coated dogs that are easier to bathe, but I would recommend getting a rubber bath mat for the inside of your tub. It'll save the finish on your tub and it will give your dog a much more stable surface to stand on. It made things easier with my dogs.

 

[Fitstick]

In my opinion the professionals always do a better job than I can, but I do it myself a lot. I highly recommend finding a store like Petco where there is a self service dog wash. It is so much easier and you can leave the mess behind. They also have a nice full powered blower that you can use to dry your dog. I like to take my dog to a professional about once or twice a year, but other than that I keep up with him myself by brushing, clipping and occassionally bathing myself. Its a samoyed, so the job is very big.

 

[40something]

Kimbra...I know Shelties can be a challenge. My brother has owned Shelties and so do two of his kids so there are always Shelties running around at our family gatherings.

You can bathe her at home...or take her to Petco and use their tubs. That was a great suggestion and I didn't know they offered that service. Save your money for more important things.

I have two dogs that require monthly coat grooming and instead of forking over $150 every month for clipping I asked a groomer to teach me how to do my dogs myself. I just can't see paying someone to perform a service that I can do myself with the proper tools and knowledge. And nail trimming should not be a problem as long as the dog has been having her nails trimmed since puppyhood.

We have four dogs in our family and I do all grooming and nail trimming. My kids do the bathing but this is a monthly ritual at our house. We have a mini Schnauzer who needs monthly coat clipping, a Lakeland Terrier who needs his coat pulled monthly, a Rat Terrier and a humongous Golden Retreiver.

Brush and comb her coat well before you bathe her and cut out any mats that you can't get with the comb. Directly after the bath clip her nails because they will soften a bit from her standing in the warm water.

I got to blabbing and forgot to mention that one of my neices Sheltie suffers with severe skin problems. She has taken her dog to a few different groomers who all tried various products but nothing seems to actually cure this dogs skin problems. She now bathes him at home and just uses baby shampoos and a good quality creme rinse and really works that creme rinse down into his skin. It seems to be the only thing that helps...and constant vigilance combing his coat daily. But you'll just have try different things until you hit on something that works for your dog.

 

[ColleenM]

I bathe mine at home, in the tub. They have short nails tho, I dremel once a week. I do put a mat down so they don't slip. 3 of the 4 also have short hair. I think for the other one the next time tho I am going to take her to a do it yourself pet washing place.

Also mine only get baths 2-3 times a year.

Colleen