For the love of Dog

Making grooming easier for your dog

2010-10-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

10 tips to help your pets better enjoy their grooming experience:

1. Get your dogs used to having their nails trimmed early in life and often. We recommend a frequency of once monthly for dogs that get walked on pavement and as often as every 2 weeks for indoor dogs. Overgrown nails can negatively affect your dogs' gait making every step uncomfortable.

2. Keep up with your dogs' hygiene daily. Wipe tear stains everyday to avoid painful hardened eye secretions that will need to be painfully removed by the groomer. If your dogs soil themselves after a potty break, use baby wipes to gently wipe away any residue from the butt area. Inspect their pads to make sure there is no matting between the toes and pads. Inspect their ears and wipe away the excess ear wax. Removing solid eye secretions and hardened feces, shaving matting between the pads and cleaning an ear that has been neglected are necessary tasks that can make any dog uncomfortable. Prevention is key.

3. Take your dogs out for a long walk prior to their scheduled grooming appointment. It is very uncomfortable for a dog to be forced to suppress the urge to relieve themselves when getting groomed. If unable to pick up your dogs within 4-5 hours, please notify us so we can take your dogs out for a potty break.

4. Feed your dog lightly in the morning. Avoiding a big meal prior to a car ride and a grooming appointment will keep your dogs from experiencing gastro-intestinal problems associated with the stress of being away from home.

5. Most dogs will not tolerate lengthy grooming sessions. To make grooming easier for your dogs, keep them in a length that is manageable based on their level of activity, age, coat type, etc. Your groomer will be happy to advise you on what is best suited to your dogs.

6. Be on time for your grooming appointment! Tardiness increases waiting times for your dogs. Be ready to pick up your dog as soon as their groom is completed to limit the time they will have to wait.

7. Make sure you tell us about any health issues that could affect the grooming.

8. Be calm. When dropping off your dogs, hand them over to us promptly. Hesitating and feeling bad only enhances a dog's anxiety. They will soon learn that you will always be back for them very shortly and most dogs quickly calm right down.

9. When picking up your dogs, bring them a favorite toy or treat and allow time to take them for a short walk. Make sure you compliment them on their behavior and look!

10. Pre-book your next appointment. Dogs that are well groomed not only feel better but receive more affection and feel happier!

Those pesky fleas

2010-09-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

There are 5 different types of fleas in the world. The most common to American pet owners are the Ctenocephalides canis (otherwise known as the dog flea) or the Ctenocephalides felis (otherwise known as the cat flea). Both of these flea species, however, can jump on any host, dog or cat, regardless of its type. While there is no way to tell exactly where fleas come from, any animal that goes outside at all, is at chance of picking up the occasional flea. Whenever an animal is taken into a social situation like going to the dog park, a dog show, the vet or the groomers the chance for catching fleas increases.

We do recommend that all of our clients keep their pets on a monthly spot-on program. If we have not been notified of a flea infestation but do happen to come across fleas on your dog while at the shop, we will call you and make sure you are aware of the problem, and then take care of it accordingly (Please review our “Flea-free Policy”). When picking up your pet at the completion of their groom, we ask that you look your dog over to make sure there are no fleas or excessive itching (which can start within an hour of getting a flea bite). We are very careful to keep an eye out for anything out of the norm while we work with your pet, and will let you know if we notice anything at all.

A dog’s excessive itching that is caused by a flea bite will be quite obvious, and it is very important to treat the problem as early as possible in order to minimize the number of fleas that need to be dealt with. If we are notified within 3 days, we will treat your dog with our flea services at no additional cost.
We appreciate your business, and in any case of fleas, we are happy to provide as much necessary information you may need to treat the problem on your pet and at home.

Free brushing lessons and info on maintenance scheduling

2009-11-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you Head to Tail customers for a great year. Despite this difficult economy, I am thankful to see that most of my canine friends and customers are well cared for by their parents. For customers who wish to keep their dogs' hair fairly long (3/4 of an inch or more), I am offering FREE brushing-combing lessons and will also demonstrate how to untangle SMALL mats before they become problematic. This service is available to present Head to Tail customers who maintain their dogs on a reasonable grooming schedule. Please call us for an appointment.

Example of maintenance on a shih-tzu, lhasa, maltese, cockapoo, poodle, coton de tulear etc:
Every 6 weeks: complete grooming-haircut
bi-weekly: brush and comb
Every 3 weeks: bath and brush-out
This schedule works well for most breeds requiring haircuts that are kept shorter that 1 inch.

Example of maintenance on a long-haired dog such as a bearded collie, Old English, tibetan terrier or any of the above dogs kept in a longer trim:
Every 2-4 weeks: complete grooming-trimming
Every 2 days: brush and comb
This schedule keeps the coat in good condition and prevents irreversible matting requiring shaving.

Mixed breeds, shaggy look and the grooming dilemma

2009-01-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

At Head to Tail, we LOVE mixed breeds and groom many adorable cockapoos, labradoodles, goldendoodles, shi-poos, yorki-poos, schnoodles, cavichons, etc. These mixed breeds are complex in terms of grooming as their hair texture and propensity for matting is difficult to determine.

ALL DOGS SHED. Depending on the hair type, the shedding hair may not end up on your floors but may remain on the dog and mix with the new hair growing in. This creates matting if the dead hair is not removed by brushing and combing.

Many pure and mixed breeds come to our shop with beautiful and fluffy looking long hair and we get requests to leave that hair longish to create a shaggy or fluffy look. Underneath that beautiful hair however, we often find significant matting that cannot be detected unless one runs a metal comb through the dog. This creates a dilemma for the groomer as any haircut or trim longer than 1/4-1/2 of an inch requires the dog to be completely combed through and mat-free. Therefore, at times, we have no choice but to cut certain dogs very short although these dogs may appear to be in good condition when they were brought in.

No groomer enjoys not being able to fulfill their customers' requests and no groomer looks forward to 'shaving' a dog. At Head to Tail, we always try to salvage the coat by brushing, conditioning, force-drying and conditioning some more to remove matting and when we do resort to cut a dog's hair short, it is because we have determined that further de-matting is not possible and would create too much stress for the dog and the groomer.

After a very short haircut, many dog owners tend to wait a long time before grooming the dog again. If the goal is to maintain the dog in a short trim, one can save on the cost of professional grooming by doing a short-shaved haircut every few months. However, if the goal is to grow the hair back and keep a shaggy-fluffy look, a 4-6 week interval is best so as to avoid irreversible matting again.

It is also important to note that it takes a few grooming sessions to really know what haircut is best suited to the dog's hair structure and lifestyle and we will be happy to advise you on how to maintain your dog in good condition between grooming appointments.
Click on the following link for an interesting read about Goldendoodles from BBird, a well-known authority in pet grooming.
http://groomblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/grooming-goldendoodle.html

DIY done right

2008-12-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

Dear DIY customers,
this post is to help you do a wonderful job with bathing and drying your dog.

1. Before deciding whether or not you want to bathe your dog yourself, assess the coat condition. If moderate to severe matting is present, I discourage bathing the dog yourself as drying a dog with matting will only make mats tighter and more difficult to remove. It is hard enough even for professional groomers to de-mat a dog, de-matting or clipping moderately to severely matted dogs should be left to professionals.

2. At Head to Tail, our basic DIY shampoo is Aloe Moist from Tropiclean. It is free of harsh chemicals, cleans great, is gentle and rinses easily. It leaves the coat shiny and conditioned. We dilute all our shampoos to make lathering easier.
Rinsing is VERY important dog parents pay special attention to difficult to reach areas such as armpits, underbelly and pads. A rule of thumb is to rinse until the water flowing down from the dog is completely free of suds.

3. Our high-velocity dryers blow the excess water off the dog and fluff the coat, loosening the undercoat. Dogs should be dried using this dryer until no more water is sprayed from the dog when drying. It is important to spend enough time blow-drying your dog to avoid wet hair to remain too long on your dog. In general, a 70 lbs Golden retriever takes about 10 to 15 minutes to dry until it is just damp.

4. I recommend a good brushing at home when your dog is completely dry to remove the undercoat that was loosened by the bathing and drying process. A pin brush or slicker brush can be used for most dogs as well as a de-shedding tool with a blade such as the Furminator tool. Combing your dog once or twice weekly using a metal comb also helps with removing undercoat and allows you to discover tangles that could have formed.

We will be happy to give you tips and pointers on how to make this experience pleasant for the both of you.

At home maintenance for your dog

2008-11-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

In this fluctuating economy, saving money is a must and this post is an attempt to help pet owners who love their pets but have little resources to spend on regular professional grooming services.

1. Keep your dog in a short haircut:Dogs with a haircut of about 1/4 inch will not mat for many months even without any brushing at all. Most single-coated dogs could benefit from a sweater or jacket in the winter anyway no matter how long their hair is.

2. Small dogs can be easily bathed right in your sink using a cup or a spray nozzle. When bathing your dog, use high quality dog shampoo and always use conditioner. At Head to Tail, we have many all-natural shampoos available for purchase and we will be happy to advise you on what product is best suited for your dog.

3. Prevent matting
Matting causes much discomfort to your dog and grooming a matted dog is expensive. If your dog is kept in a longer trim of 1 inch or more, regular brushing and combing at least twice weekly is primordial. There is no other way.

4. Quicker Slicker by Nature's Specialties
Matting is aggravated by poor hair structure caused by breakage and static electricity. Quicker slicker is a non-toxic silicone-based product used to coat the hair shaft and make it slippery easing brush-outs and de-matting. When sprayed onto the mat and allowed to dry, this product allows for pain free brushing out of undercoat and mats. We are very excited with this product and are proud users and distributors of Nature's Specialties exceptional quality products.

5. Do-it-yourself nail trimming: If you call us ahead of time, we will be happy to show you how to safely trim your dog's nails.

Effective client-groomer communication

2008-09-08T17:25:00.001-07:00

At Head to Tail, my staff and I strive to understand our human clients' needs and provide useful advice on the appropriate style for our canine clients. That is why we often ask that clients be very specific as to the length they want left on their dog, the style desired for the face, ears and tail and to tell us about any skin or medical issues which will determine what products can be used and what extra precautions should be taken during the grooming process.

How much hair to leave on a dog?
We often get this request NOT to 'shave' the dog. In our pet grooming world, the word shaving means using a clipper blade to take length off the coat and the length left can be as short as 1/40 of an inch to as long as 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Therefore, even if a dog is 'shaved' using a long blade, he will still look fairly long (as long as 3/4 inch). When a customer tells us 'I don't want my dog shaved', 'short but not too short', we always ask what is the approximate length of hair he/she would like LEFT on the dog. This will help us determine what clipper blade or comb attachment to use to achieve the desired length and eliminate any ambiguity and potential customer dissatisfaction.

Face, beard, goatie, visor, ears, tail
We can customize the above to the look desired by the dog parents. Breed standards give guidelines on how to groom purebred dogs but there are immense variations between the hair texture, body shape, head shape of each individual dog making it an art to make each pet attractive. We will be happy to advise you on what would look best for your pet taking into consideration the coat condition and the dog's lifestyle and your family's maintenance commitment.

Unfortunately, there are times when a misunderstanding may occur and we are happy to fix little details on your pet as you wait or if you bring him back within 3 days. We would rather spend a few minutes re-working the styling of your dog than have an unhappy customer leave our shop without giving us any feedback.

Why is my dog so nervous at the grooming shop?

2008-07-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Anxious and caring dog parents often ask this question and it begs to be answered. Truthfully, there are so many valid reasons why dogs behave nervously in a grooming shop environment: the many new smells and sounds, the anticipation of their beloved owners leaving, the anticipation of getting wet, scrubbed and dried, the anticipation of the grooming itself, etc. Depending on the dog's temperament, the stress of grooming can manifest itself in uncontrollable shaking, urinary accidents, excessive barking or whining.

I often read on other websites that dogs should be happy when entering a grooming salon and that a dog's reaction to the environment and to its groomer determines the quality of the establishment and its staff. I could not disagree more. It is not realistic to expect all dogs to enjoy going to the grooming shop as it is not realistic to expect a toddler to gleefully step into a dentist's office. Although grooming procedures should not cause pain, there is a certain level of discomfort that cannot be avoided. Maintaining a dog on a regular grooming schedule and with a manageable length of hair ensures that the dog will never have to suffer through uncomfortable de-matting and close clipping to remove matting. Groomers, when dealing with moderate to severe matting, have no choice but to brush, de-mat or shave and these procedures, while they should not be painful, are lengthy and NEVER pleasant. As I view dogs like children, my heart sinks when I have to perform a necessary procedure that I know will be unpleasant for the dog.

Therefore, I do not blame certain dogs for disliking going to the groomers. Grooming is a learned process, with time and consistency, the stress and unpredictability decrease. Some dogs will always be nervous and some dogs will come to love the attention and the pampering. While I cannot control how a dog will react in my shop, my staff and I strive to treat each dog as if it were our own, with kindness, patience and understanding for their possible discomfort.

Grooming requirements of certain breeds

2008-06-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

At Head to Tail, it is our pleasure to meet with many new dog owners who for the first time have chosen to own a dog with specific grooming needs. The following breeds are very popular in our salon and require regular styling and haircuts:
- Standard, miniature, toy poodles
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Maltese terriers
- Portuguese water dogs
- Soft-coated Wheaten terriers
- English and American Cocker spaniels
- Springer Spaniels
- Some thick haired Setters
- Bichon Frises
- West Highland terriers, Cairn terriers
- Airedale, Lakeland, Irish, Welsh terriers
- Havanese
- Tibetan terriers
- Lhasa Apso
- etc.
These are some grooming suggestions based on the amount of maintenance desired:
Curly, cottony hair, drop coats (bichons, poodles, PWD, SCWT, Havanese, Maltese, Lhasa, Tibetan terrier, etc.)
- No owner maintenance between groomings: 1/2 inch or less, professional grooming every 4 weeks
- Minimal owner maintenance between groomings (minimal brushing and combing): 1/2 inch, professional grooming every 6-8 weeks
- Frequent owner maintenance (brushing and combing every 2 days): 1/2 to 1 inch, professional grooming every 4 weeks
- Frequent owner maintenance (brushing and combing every 2 days): 1 inch and longer or long skirt and full furnishings, professional grooming every 1-2 weeks

Harsh and wired haired terriers can go longer between groomings as their hair does not grow as fast and is generally easier to de-mat.

These simple guidelines help with determining what schedule works best to keep the dog well maintained while meeting the aesthetic preferences and grooming commitment of its owners. One must understand that keeping a dog's coat long requires commitment from the dog's owners as well as more frequent professional grooming sessions.
It also is important to note that delaying the groom of a dog does not necessarily save money as groomers charge more for de-matting and shaving out mats and the health risks and veterinary costs related to having a poorly groomed pet may far surpass the cost of regular grooming services.
Being a busy working mother, I understand how difficult it is to keep track of all that needs to be done in a busy household. For people in the same situation as mine, I recommend keeping their dogs very short (1/2 inch or less) while maintaining a 6-8 week grooming schedule. Pre-booking also helps with making sure that the dogs' grooming needs will never be forgotten and the length is kept manageable without much work from the owners.

Why professional grooming is not just for poodles

2008-06-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Many people think that professional grooming services are reserved only to those dogs that require haircuts. However, a good percentage of our canine clientele are labs, German shepherds, boxers and other 'low' maintenance dogs. Is it overkill to bring those dogs to the groomers?
Many brave dog owners choose to bathe their dogs at home. However, this simple task can be very messy and the elbow grease required to clean up after the act may prohibit people to bathe and groom their dogs themselves on a regular basis. Brushing out the undercoat also requires much discipline and dedication as well as a cooperative pooch.
As groomers, we have the proper equipment, handling experience and techniques to bathe, dry, and thoroughly brush out our dogs in a fraction of the time it would take a dog owner to do it at home. Clipping the nails and cleaning the ears, which are included in our basic grooming services, when done on a regular basis, prevents painful overgrown nails that can split and uncomfortable and costly ear infections.
Double-coated dogs that are kept on a 4-6 week grooming schedule have a healthier coats and only shed minimally at home and the convenience of having someone else groom your pooch for you possibly outweighs the cost of professional grooming.

In this busy world, maintaining our sanity also means delegating certain tasks, however trivial they may appear to be, to someone else better equipped to handle them. The grooming of beloved dogs is our passion and our expertise and we are happy to think that what we do contributes to a family being able to enjoy and cuddle with a clean and fresh smelling pet.

Shaving a double-coated dog

2008-06-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

At Head to Tail, we get many requests to shave double-coated dogs such as Goldens, Labs, Huskies, etc. In an ideal world, these dogs should be thoroughly brushed every day during a change of season and at least twice a week during other times. Shaving into the undercoat may affect the way it will grow back:
- The coat may get thicker
- Hair may not grow back at the same rate causing unevenness
- The texture of the coat may become more fuzzy and look dull

However, there are occasions when shaving may be a solution:
- To get rid of matted and packed undercoat fast when skin irritations are present. Shaving the dog also helps with the application of topical treatments.
- When a family wants to be able to bathe the dog at home and a full coat is difficult to maintain.
- For overall easy maintenance

Many dog owners feel that their dogs may get hot in the summer with their thick undercoat. Packed and matted undercoat is indeed very uncomfortable for the dog, not because of the heat but because it prevents the air from reaching the skin causing wetness, itchiness and in severe cases fungal infections. Dogs do not sweat through the skin under their coat but through their pads and cool themselves down by panting. Therefore shaving will not cool down a dog but may be a good option when the undercoat has grown out of control and cannot be combed out in a reasonable time. It is also important to note that shaved dogs are more at risk for sunburns and insect bites and should be protected accordingly.

Goldens and other feathered double-coated dogs look beautiful in a modified puppy cut. Instead of shaving into the undercoat, groomers use a snap-on comb attachment to their clippers to achieve a uniform coat length of 3/4 inch to 1 and 1/2 inch. This haircut is possible for dogs kept on a regular grooming schedule and without too much undercoat.

Lastly, a well maintained double-coated dog kept in full coat is a sight to behold. Regular grooming will keep the coat clean, free of tangles, shiny and beautiful looking. Although I wish all dogs could be maintained according to their breed standards, I certainly understand that many circumstances make it impossible for dog owners to keep up with the intensive brushing and combing of a double-coated dog. Shaving a double-coated dog is a fine option but not the only option and should be considered carefully. We will be happy to talk to you about how to best maintain your double-coated dog.

On the Subject of Matted Dogs

2008-06-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

As outlined in our policy sheet, we are happy to comb out light tangles on a dog if this process takes less than 15 minutes. We understand that most dogs on a regular grooming schedule occasionally present with light tangles and the first 15 minutes of de-matting is part of the grooming and we do not charge extra for it.

However, if you are unable to maintain your dog’s coat free of mats between grooming sessions, we suggest that you keep the length of the coat at about ½ inch or less for a dog on a 4-6 week grooming schedule.

De-matting is an uncomfortable process for the dog and the groomer. Although we use the best quality conditioner and detangling spray and the proper de-matting tools, no dog enjoys the pulling and tugging and no groomer likes to subject his/her wrists to the repeated motions involved in de-matting moderately to severely matted dogs. As groomers, we do not feel it is worthwhile to subject the dog to the discomfort of de-matting without a commitment from you, its owners to maintain its coat free of tangles by brushing and combing it every two to three days.

Please have compassion for your dog and put its comfort before your aesthetic preferences. Grooming should be painless and because our canine customers are pets and not show dogs, most of them get fatigued when the grooming session is too lengthy. As a mother would not choose to subject her three year-old toddler to intensive combing and an intricate and lengthy haircut for the sake of beauty, dog owners should have the comfort of the dog in mind when deciding on the desired haircut. Dirt, moisture and static all cause matting and if the dog’s coat is not brushed and combed out a few times a week, small tangles quickly become tight balls of matted fur.

Again, it takes a lot of discipline and dedication to keep a dog’s hair longer than ½ to ¾ inch. You cannot prevent your dog from acting like a dog by rolling in the dirt and romping in the wet grass. In deciding on your dog’s trim, be realistic with how committed you are with the maintenance of your dog’s coat between professional grooming sessions. Most drop-coated, curly, silky, wavy-haired dogs look ADORABLE in a short haircut of about ½ inch. This length allows you to not have to do much brushing and combing at all while keeping the dog attractive and comfortable.

Mobile grooming or salon?

2008-06-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

Although I chose to own a salon, I have a lot of respect for mobile groomers and envy them for offering the convenience I can only dream about offering with a salon. If you do not want your pet to be around other pets, dislike putting your dog in your car, do not want your dog kenneled, have a schedule that prohibits you from dropping off and picking up your dog from the salon, mobile grooming is a great alternative for you. Most mobile groomers require a pre-booked appointment as it allows them to plan their schedule and itinerary more efficiently. Many mobile groomers are exceptionally talented stylists with years of experience and I greatly recommend this service if you do not mind the higher cost and like the convenience of it.

Now, time to praise the advantages of a salon! Head to Tail is a busy salon that employs a full time secretary, 3 groomers and 2 bathers. Because we have many groomers and bathers, we can help each other when necessary such as lifting and supporting a heavy dog, holding a squirmy dog for a fellow groomer, helping another groomer with a specific styling challenge, etc. Although we are usually booked about a week in advance, we can usually fit in an emergency groom as we have the manpower to squeeze in an extra dog if needed. As we do not work on our dogs straight through like a mobile groomer, older dogs are allowed to rest between their bath and their actual groom if necessary. The groomer has the option of working on another dog while the older dog is resting and this scheduling flexibility benefits both parties.

Mobile or salon? It's a question of preference and I am glad today's discerning dog parents have that choice.

Safety during grooming

2008-05-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, there have been many reports of dogs getting injured or killed during professional grooming in the media. While I agree that some cases scream negligence, abuse and carelessness, this negative portrayal does not reflect the overwhelming majority of dog groomers who perform their work with professionalism and integrity and are motivated by their love for dogs.

There are many ways groomers minimize their risk of injuring a dog and injuring themselves. Dogs that are positioned on a grooming table should never be left unattended. Nooses are used to keep a dog from stepping off the table and should be adjusted to be short enough to not allow much tugging while being loose enough to allow the dog to move its neck comfortably. At Head to Tail, we use a tool called the Groomer's Helper (see website http://www.groomershelper.com/) that makes it impossible for the dog to fall off the table.

Maintaining our blades sharp and well oiled also ensures that injuries and skin irritations due to dull and hot blades will not happen. Professional groomers know which blade lengths are safest to use on certain parts of the body. When scissoring a dog, care is taken to anticipate and prevent common unexpected movements that can lead to a cut. Dogs are unpredictable and the most experienced and careful groomer will occasionally cause a nick. Accidents are an unfortunate fact of life and happen very rarely to a talented and conscientious groomer, just as car accidents happen rarely to a careful driver.

Knowing when to stop grooming a dog that shows warning signs of aggression, stress, uncontrollable excitability, etc. also greatly reduces the risk of a preventable injury. Groomers should know how to read a dog's body language and use proper judgement in deciding when completing a groom safely is not possible.

Dogs that come with a severely matted coat requiring close clipping are at increased risk for skin irritations and nicks. Wet clipping a dog to remove the bulk of the mats is recommended as a wet coat allows the groomer to see and feel where the mats end and the skin begins and reduces the risk of nicks and clipper burn.

Heated cage dryers should be used with caution and most recent models have an auto-shut-off feature that prevents overheating. At Head to Tail, we choose not to use these heated cage dryers and all our dogs are hand-dried and then fan-dried in a kennel. We keep the building's temperature at 70-72 degrees at all times for our dogs' comfort and to keep drying conditions optimal.

Elderly dogs

2008-05-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

As an occupational therapist, I am very sensitive to the challenges older dogs face and I try to make them as comfortable as possible during their grooming. It is common for owners to delay grooming an elderly dog due to the perceived discomfort of the grooming procedures. When an elderly dog's coat is well maintained at home, there is indeed little need for a professional grooming.

However, a dog's hygiene is important to its well-being and while a professional grooming session may be exhausting for the dog, it is the lesser evil to having to live with dirty, packed and matted fur. As groomers, we feel much compassion for those older dogs and we know that a well maintained dog not only feels and smells better, but gets more attention and affection than a smelly one. Just like humans, older dogs deserve to be kept clean and comfortable and a regular grooming can significantly improve their quality of life.

How do we groom an older dog?
It takes much stamina from the part of the groomer to complete the groom on an older dog. Indeed, many of our older customers have difficulty standing up and require physical support and frequent rest periods during grooming. Although it is much easier to groom an erect dog, we encourage the older dog to lie down when possible and frequently require the assistance of a second person to help with the grooming. The groom may not be perfect but for an older dog, the primary goal should be comfort and easy maintenance.

Puppy haircut

2008-05-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Puppies that require regular grooming should be introduced to brushing and bathing as early as possible. After the second set of shots, they are ready for their first professional grooming appointment.

When a puppy comes to Head to Tail for its first visit, we prefer not having to perform a heavy duty haircut. Let me explain the ideal situation where a puppy is allowed to come for a professional grooming with a puppy coat that is mat(tangle) free. This allows us groomers to familiarize the dog with the different tools such as the dryers, combs, brushes, clippers, without having to worry about uncomfortable de-matting or close-clipping to get rid of mats.

However, we do welcome fuzzy (read-matted) puppies and are happy to help them get rid of those painful mats. After a short haircut, owners can begin anew with the puppy's coat and establish a grooming schedule that will keep the dog's coat in good condition and suit the activity level of the dog and its family. Most dogs with silky, curly and cotonny hair such as the poodle, maltese, yorkie, Portie, Wheaton, etc. require regular brushing if the coat is left longer than 1/2 inch. For active families unable to brush and comb their dog, we recommend a haircut of 1/4 to 1/2 inch and a monthly professional grooming appointment. This manageable length will keep most of the hair on the body free of mats at all times.

It is important to note that puppies between the ages of 8-18 months are at increased risk for matting as they undergo a coat change. You will notice that the fuzzy and soft puppy hair will be replaced by a hair texture closer to the hair characteristic to their breed. This puppy hair must be combed out otherwise it will tangle with the new hair coming in and create mats overnight.

It is important to compliment your puppy on its new haircut regardless of whether you like it or not. Dogs are masters at reading body language and detecting tone changes and if you act as if you dislike the way they look, they may interpret that as a scorn and act accordingly.

Welcome

2008-05-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Head to Tail blog. On this blog, I will do my best to introduce you to the world of dog grooming which has become my passion since I started with this business a year ago.

Head to Tail is a cozy dog grooming salon in beautiful Fairfield, CT. We love our canine customers and do our best to make them as comfortable and beautiful as possible.

There is never a dull moment at the shop and our customers always keep us on our toes!

Being a mother helps me understand my canine friends better as I often compare my dogs' behaviors to those of my toddlers. Many dogs are very gracious with the whole grooming process and most often come to enjoy it. However, the learning process takes many grooming sessions as the dog learns that it will not get hurt and the strange noises are not threatening. My son, now almost 4, is just getting used to having his haircut with the clippers and when I encounter a dog that struggles during grooming, I remember how my son wiggled and giggled for the first 3 years of his life while we tried to cut his hair.

Diamond and Nails

The beautiful pooch above is our dog, Diamond, a pit bull mix we rescued from the South Bronx. Dogs with Diamond's coat such as the Boxers, Bulldogs, Vizla, etc. require a good bath every few weeks and a good brushing using a rubber curry, hound glove or bristle glove to make the coat shine and remove dead hair. As she was rescued when she was almost a year old, she was not intruduced early enough to having her nails trimmed. This allowed the quicks (the veins that run inside dogs' nails) to grow very long and makes it impossible to trim her nails short eventhough we do cut her nails every two weeks.

Nail trimming is a simple task in theory but a difficult skill to master in practice. My preferred method is to bend the foot back so that the whole foot is pointing down. This allows me to position myself behind the dog and see where the nails are in relation to the pads. On dogs with dark nails, I trim the nail so it is leveled with the pad. Looking at the inside of the nail, I then trim small slices off until I see a black dot emerge in the middle.

Quicking a nail means cutting into the quick causing bleeding. This happens to the most experienced groomer and the pain is believed to be like a paper cut. We always have styptic powder on hand to stop the bleeding and numb the pain.

As groomers, we often see dogs with overgrown nails, at times digging right into their pads. This makes it very difficult to fit clippers between the nail and the pad during clipping and puts the dog at increased risk for bleeding.