INITIAL PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS
SLICKER BRUSH: – Master pet slicker Brush or ask for a medium slicker with bobbles on the end of the bristles.
SCISSORS: -Ocean 6.5 Straight
EAR CARE POWDER: –
BATHING REQUIREMENTS
PETWAY SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONERS etc.
Tearless Puppy Shampoo
Baby Blue conditioner
Anti-Static Detangler
Ear powder
SILICON EAR PLUGS: – Available from Pharmacies and come in a small plastic box for about $6.00.
RUBBER MATTING: – To fit the top of the washing machine. A rubber shower mat with suction cups on the bottom is ideal.
You can also get rubber non-slip matting that has small holes in it for the tub. This is often available to be cut to size from the cheap shops.
Enough for the bottom of your tub. If you can’t get these then get another rubber bathroom mat and cut a hole for the plug hole.
BUCKET & A JUG: – For wetting the dog down.
2 X 2 LITRE BOTTLES: – To mix the shampoos and conditioners.
HAIR DRYER OR SMALL HEATER.
CLIPPING REQUIREMENTS
TABLE LAMP: – Optional if clipping a dark dog.
CLIPPERS: – Wahl Professional KMI or Wahl Clippers Mark II
BLADES: – Summer =
Winter =
Face & Feet = 30 blade
(N.B. the #10 blade comes free with Wahl Professional KMI clippers, as do the comb guards.)
Storage container (small plastic with lid)
Sewing Machine Oil
Old toothbrush or pastry brush
Keith Riley from the Lockyer Valley will sharpen your clipper blades for about $12 per blade.
Dog Essentials (online):- ttp://www.dogessentials.net.au
Pets Galore – Toowoomba
Pet Café – Toowoomba
PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR THE BATH
- Find a non-slip surface to work on. The top of washing machine with a piece of rubber matting on it makes a great table.
- Get a bag of treats ready for bribing and encouraging.
- Make sure you have all your tools handy as you can’t walk away from a dog on a table.
- At this stage you will need a soft slicker brush, a metal comb and a pair of small scissors to cut out any knots you can’t get out. There are no magic tricks for removing knot, it’s just good old-fashioned hard work, brushing and combing, but once you have competed these Classes, they will be a thing of the past.
BRUSHING
- Layer by layer, brush the hair and separate all strands, making sure you get down to the skin.
- Once the entire coat is brushed, comb the coat through.
TRIM THE NAILS
REMOVE HAIR FROM INSIDE THE EARS
Liberally sprinkle the ear powder on the hair inside the dog’s ears.
Gently pull the hair out from the ear canals. Don’t remove any hair from outside of the inner ear.
YOUR DOG IS NOW READY FOR BATHING.
EARS
- To prevent ear infections, the ears should be plugged with silicon plugs during bathing. The silicon can be rolled in the fingers to soften and then poked down the dog’s ears. They will not become lost or lodged and are easily removed.
THE TUB
- Use mats on the washing machine or table and also in the tub. These will prevent your dog from slipping about in the tub and gain the dog’s confidence during the bathing process.
- I don’t recommend filling the tub and submersing the dog. This frightens most dogs.
- You will require a bucket and a jug for wetting the dog down as well as 2 x 2 litre bottles for mixing shampoo and conditioners.
BATHING
- Fill the bucket with warm water and ad a small blob of shampoo to it. The shampoo will help break the oil barrier in the coat and allow the coat to absorb water easily.
- Once the coat is wet, pour a little shampoo onto the coat and soothe it into the coat gently and carefully. No rubbing or scrubbing is required.
- Wait 4 minutes for the shampoo to emulsify and then rinse with warm water until the hair is squeaky clean.
- When rinsing place your hand over the dog’s face.
- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a 5 litre bucket and pour this through the coat. This will rinse out all soap residue and leave the skin clean and remove dead skin cells.
- Pour a small amount (10 – 20 mls.) of conditioner into a 2 litre bottle and fill with warm water. Shake the bottle vigorously so you have a milky rinse to pour all over the coat.
- Don’t rinse the conditioner off your dog. Squeeze it through the coat. No rubbing.
DRYING YOUR DOG
- You can use a hair dryer or small heater to complete the drying process.
All dogs should become familiar with being heat dried as our winters are cold and a coat not completely dried right through to the skin can result in a dog getting a chill. Hair look dry on the outside but most dogs will hold moisture next to the skin if not dried with artificial heating. In summer the damp skin and hair will result in skin irritations and fungal growth on the skin.
- Once the coat is ¾ dry use the slicker brush to brush the hair against the skin in the wrong direction and then dry again.
- Brushing out after the bath is important. If your dog needs a fluffy finish for the clipping process it’s imperative that you brush the coat up while using the dryer or heater.
- Once the coat is completely dry, comb through and make sure there are no tangles.
YOUR DOG IS NOW READY FOR THE CLIPPING PROCESS
CLIPPING
N.B. To keep blades sharp and in alignment. Turn the clippers on to attach the blade. Turn the clippers off to remove the blade.
- It’s a good idea to let your dog toilet itself prior to settling it on the grooming table for clipping.
- You will need a calm, happy dog to clip. A quiet room like the laundry is best and good lighting is a must.
- A table lamp is often required if clipping a dark dog.
- During the class you are using my blades and clippers so that you get a feel for the products that best suit your needs.
- Clippers come in different weights, sizes and price ranges and therefore should be tried on your dog before buying them. Consider the life expectancy of your dog and the amount of times you will want to clip it and buy the appropriate clippers for the job.
- Well maintained clippers are resalable should you ever decide to part with them or give up home grooming.
- Blades can be maintained and resharpened, last for many years and are well worth the cost.
- The cheapest clippers and blades are available in Toowoomba a Pets Galore. If you speak to Nicole (the owner) and give her my business card, she will give you good prices and advice re clippers. I recommend (Wahl Professional KMI) for home grooming as they are lightweight, strong and easily maintained and repaired should they break down.
- As well as clippers, you will require good quality sewing machine oil, a toothbrush or pastry brush for cleaning blades and a small plastic Tupperware dish to store the blades in.
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