[oes forever]

hi
my name is karen from the uk
ive been grooming, self employed for 6 months .... and i love my job!
and i have an old english sheepdog and a disabled staffy
i am/was also an aromatherapist of 15 years
just like to say hello to you all and i cant wait to share your knowledge

Hi there!
I'm also new and from the UK.

[oes forever]

where in the uk are you? i am in cheshire

Me too! Whereabouts?

[oes forever]

crewe. u?
what dog do you have?

Near Stockport.

BC cross

[CorkyMax]

Hi!
See you just joined today--hope you like this forum---lol, I can't stay away from it--my dogs are even getting mad at me. Speaking of which--I have 2, a pure cocker(American) called Max (but usually gets called Paxy or Paxer--no sense I know) who will be 10 on April 1st and other dog is a cocker/golden retriever mix named Corky who will be 11 on June 13---nicknames=Corker, Corker-Porker (not fat either!) Both can be called HoneyBunners and Pumpkin and a whole 'bunch' of other names. I bet you have nicknames too---I should start a thread asking what everyone uses for their nicknames for their dogs--might be fun! I also see you are a dog groomer--too bad you aren't close-by I need one very badly for the pure cocker--nothing but a mass of mats--all over--you can hardly get a scissors to cut through them--worse than sheep's wool--tighter-denser I think! Took him to be groomed last spring--She said he would need to be shaved completely--such a mess! Well he looked like I should be calling him Porker instead of the other one! I couldn't believe how much weight he had on him--I thought most of it was just hair but looked just like a little pig--Put him on a diet, lost a few #s but this winter I think he gained some back! When weather warms up I'm going to cut off most of his hair myself and I mean w/the scissors--don't have a clippers and can't afford things so only way to go for me. Actually I don't see how he could look much worse than when his hair was all shaved off before.
I would like to ask you a question----Can the getting him shaved before cause his hair to grow back even more dense and consequently cause more mats--I mean he was shaved to the skin-bald! I have never seen so many mats and so dense as since he was shaved---any answers for me on that? And please -no lecture on daily grooming-I know all about that--It is hard for me (slipped vertabrae for one) and the dog doesn't like to be groomed. Don't want to go into all the reasons--just take my word for it-it is complicated and I can't afford to get it taken care of professionally(the grooming)
Thanks for any answer you can give me as to the change since the shaving. I have just been very curious about this.

[oes forever]

the hair dous get more thinker sometimes, when you shave it down really short with less than a #10 (2.4mm) blade thats when i makes a difference, anything harsh or thick goes fluffy. i have only been grooming 6 months so i am not an expert. but of all the dogs i have shaved down only 1 has gone down to a #10 blade, i try to keep them as long as possible starting with a #5 (6mm) if a #7 (5mm) only 1 dog so far has has a #10 and that was a young snauzer whos legs were so matted it couldnt bend its legs. it came in with a woman who had been round to her friends and found the dog like that, its dew claws were so long it was into its pads. though the back had been groomed in the last couple of months.
some people shave poodles down short to thicken up their fur
you must try to keep an eye on their feet though as the hair grows there just as fast and matts into a ball in their pads making it very uncomftable.

[CorkyMax]

Thanks for the info--I had a suspicion that was what happened! Will keep an eye on the paws----I just cut off about 1 and a half or 2 inches off the overgrowth of his feet (2 of them anyway-got 2 more to go--He is a real brat on hair cutting and also nail clipping.) Do you know what I mean by this overgrowth--it isn't even under his paws-just how long his hair has grown over his feet!--You would think he would even trip over it-it is so long. He has black black toenails--makes me nervous to do his nails and he also has all 4 dewclaws to deal with. I usually take him to vet to get his nails trimmed but I feel so embarassed about all the mats(these cover all his legs--I can comb his back and ears and sides somewhat but there is no way I can get these mats out w/a comb and I have bought many different tools to help w/this and nothing works. I know if I could of tried to keep him brushed everyday it would maybe of helped--He starts 'taking off' as soon as he sees me touch the comb or scissors--He is a real 'little bugger'! Anyway I am slowly, carefully trying to cut these nails a little at a time--only have 2 done so far and probably didn't trim enough off--I'd probably jump out of my skin if I trimmed too much plus he'd probably bite me if I did! The other dog-Corky, will let me do his nails and they are white and I can see where to cut--Thank god --I think he has the hair more of the golden retriever than the cocker--What a difference--He hardly ever has a mat and will let me get it out if he does get one. Anyway thanks again! Probably won't take you long to see that I tend to write too much-long-winded--and takes me forever--I am a 1 fingered typer!

[wishbone]

Welcome Karen, seems like you are really experienced, just saying hiya and welcome to the board.

Welcome to the forum ! Lot of pics are there and Looking so cute.Here i am looking for same and awaiting for a pics reply.