Grooming a single coated dog during lockdown

[BreathlessCommotion]

Dog was due to be groomed the first week of lockdown. Obviously cancelled. She is really hairy and scruffy now. I'm doing my best with detangler and comb, but it feels like a losing battle.

If I can get some clippers (essential purchase?) has anyone done it before? I've watched some YouTube videos, but I am under no illusions as to how hard it might be.

What are others doing?

I am on the same position. Groom was booked in the same week as lock down. I have a cockapoo, he is so hairy right now. I've tried buying decent clippers but they're sold out. Only ones that seem available look cheap with bad reviews. I've used some scissors to sort out the hair around the eyes. Not looking good though.

I was in the same boat, mine was due to have all his hair cut off too. There's no way he could have gone 3-4 months without a hair cut because he struggles when it gets hot. I bought a grooming table and some good cordless clippers and did it myself. I won't be spending £40 a time ever again. He looks great, I bathed him the day before cutting so I didn't have to do it all in one go.

My foster was booked in the week they all had to close as well...

I’ve clipped his eyes, the rest I’m not touching, I’m not willing to pay decent clipper money tbh, lol

So bath, loads of conditioner after shampooing it and brushing - a quick once over every day or two and with a slicker brush twice a week...

So far that’s been fine, no matting or anything - and his face isn’t well done up close, lol, but he can see and from normal distance doesn’t look hideous, so...

I did try scissors for his face, but that was a hard nope from him.

@MustBeThin sounds like you faced it. May I ask which grooming table and cordless clippers you used?

I meant " aced it! " Damn auto spell correct! 😋

Although cheap, these are very good. Lots of us horsey people use them on our horses

I bought a folding grooming table off amazon, I think it was around £60 and Andies Pulse Li5 cordless clippers, think you get 2 hours use from a 90 min charge. Not the cheapest but not the most expensive and they will have paid for themselves after a few grooms. I watched a few YouTube videos before I started.

You can get dog hair cutting scissors. I got mine here: (I got them last year)

www.christiesdirect.com/Mobile/en/Scissors/m-c-136.aspx

My dog was also due a groom which we’ve missed so I have just chopped him fairly randomly myself. I also have a comb (just a basic human comb) and I make sure that I put the comb through his hair between him and the scissors so that I don’t risk cutting his flesh. It works quite well as if the comb stops at a knot, you just cut. He’s clean and knot free but he looks uneven. So he’s happy and comfortable even though he’s looking bizarre.

@Polkadotties & @MustBeThin thanks for the reccomendation guys, I'm going to look on Amazon now. @rjebgf I have tried with a comb and scissors but my cockapoo has very curly and tough hair. Also he keeps moving (only been for one groom as he is 8 months old) and I'm worried about cutting him. I'm not very confident with the scissors.

You can also use thinning out scissors to keep the coat in check. Especially around the neck and leg areas.

@Beautiful3 I have the same clippers form amazon as polkadotties and they are great x

Thanks @twinnywinny14 that's good to know. @Ylvamoon that sounds good, that would conceal my inexperienced cutting technique!

I'm doing my scruffy boy tomorrow with clippers (DH's spare pair). I used to clip dog myself but got fed up of the mess and dog won't let me do tummy or feet, so for last couple of years he's been to Groom Room twice a year.

My plan is to strip down to bra and pants (easier to brush off fur), tie dog to table leg, sit on towel on floor next to him and orf we go.

@BMW6 let me know how you get on tomorrow! I'm not sure what to do yet as I'm still nervous.

Well it's done Beautiful3

Not too bad - changed my mind about getting down on floor to do it (fears of inability to get back up again ).
Put a cheap shower curtain on table and DH picked dog up (struggles like a crazy thing) and put onto table.

The clippers started off OK and got his head, back and sides pretty short, then they started to give up. I did his legs and tummy with scissors. He looks rather untidy, but did get loads off so mission accomplished.

I have a Coat King (metal comb that thins hair) so will use that on him every few days to keep on top of it. Hopefully.

Good luck with yours!

My mini labradoodle has never been to the groomers had him 2 years now.

Check out my favourite groomer on you tube. Watch for your breed and see how she is grooming them

Brush brush brush. I can not say that enough. The more you brush the less need for having to cut them mega short (which is hard without proper clippers) they won't get mats if they are brushed. For large breeds do a section a day- legs, body, head, tails.

You can use scissors if you can get curved ones better but hair cutting ones are fine. Won't be perfect but use comb or fingers to ensure you don't cut your dog. For furry breeds you need to do the foot pads just take it very slow.

Nails- it's the only thing I can't do I get my hubby to do it but doing daily walks on pavement is keeping them in check.

If you have clippers we do one size for his body and then slightly shorter for the rest of him, scissors for face, ears, tail and around the feet.

I used to have a cavalier and for any inbetween groom trimming I used hairdressers thinning scissors. The comb side was great for making sure I wouldn't hurt the dog, plus it meant there were no harsh/obvious cut marks x

Brush brush brush. I can not say that enough.

^^ Absolutely cannot agree enough. You can’t see the tiny matts forming close to the skin but the dogs can feel the pain and discomfort from them. Brush often and brush well.

Also, if your dog is even slightly nervous about a particular part of their body being trimmed/clipped then don’t do it. You’ll undo all the trust that’s been built up between dog and groomer.

@BMW6 well done. Sounds like hard work but I bet your dog feels so much better (with less fur especially in this heat).
@RedRed9 thanks for the advice, I've spent today combing & brushing him.

We bought proper grooming table for about £40 on Amazon, we already had the expensive clippers( £100+) from previous dogs, some coats can't be cut with the cheap Argos ones, just have a look on youtube and give it a go

Well I felt brave and got the clippers out! I washed and brushed him well, so it was struggle free! I changed the blades to do him again afterwards, even shorter. His face still doesn't seem short enough though. So may do his face again tomorrow long with his front legs. Somehow his back legs look thin and front ones look huge in comparison! Because of his curly hair, I obviously didn't shave them as well as the back!

@Funf the grooming table seems like a good idea. May I ask which make clippers you have? I want to buy some quality ones that will cut through curly hair!

@beautiful3
We spoke to a groomer and rang one of the on line sites and finally bought Andis AGC super as advised by the groomer and on line seller. A big investment but never looked back, we also have been known to do family hair cuts with them!
We must have had them 10 years now but well worth it, we had a dog with a thick woolly coat when we bought them and tried cheaper one but they just wouldn't do it, so bit the bullet and paid for these.
www.christiesdirect.com/en/Andis-UltraEdge-AGC-Super-2-Speed-Brushless-Clipper---Burgundy/m-6625.aspx
We bought them with a 1.5mm blade
www.christiesdirect.com/en/Andis-Ultra-Edge-No-10-Blade/m-734.aspx
Combs for getting longer coats
www.christiesdirect.com/en/Andis-Blade-Comb-Sets/m-801.aspx
A rotating tooth comb is very good if your dog is like ours prone to knots
www.christiesdirect.com/en/Groom-Professional-Rotating-Tooth-Comb/m-6361.aspx
Grooming tables seem to have shot up as we paid about £40 for this last year?
www.amazon.co.uk/TecTake-800673-Height-Adjustable-Protective-Aluminium/dp/B07NWGXYWM/ref=sr_1_40?dchild=1&keywords=grooming+table&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1587489183&sr=8-40
Big investment but how many dog cuts until its paid for? Its also good for Back End trims to stop things getting stuck in the fur!

@Funf wow thanks for all of your recommendations. They are really helpful. The clippers look great,. Thanks for suggesting the accessories, they look perfect. Feeling more confident now about spending serious money on grooming products now 😊

It might be worth trying cheap set then return them if they wont do it, but you do get what you pay for, its a big investment, we used to do the last two dogs on the kitchen work top but the grooming table is so much better, start by just standing them on it so they get used to it.
Should be some videos on Youtube etc