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3:59 pm
January 21, 2011
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Does anyone groom their own dogs and if so do you use clippers on their legs?
4:28 pm
December 28, 2008
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I have, but it depends upon the breed whether you use clippers, and how you would use them. It also depends upon the kind of cut you want them to have.
Are you preparing to show them? Just trim them up a bit? Some breeds are actually cooler in the summer if you leave their coat long, but that also depends on where you are and the conditions the dogs must endure.
5:58 pm
August 30, 2010
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We have a Sheltie, he gets his behind, tummy and the back of his legs shaved on a regular basis. What breed are you working with?
9:57 pm
January 21, 2011
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I clip my two lil girls, a Bichon and a Maltese mix, but I use the clippers on their bodies, but not on their legs. I do them with scissors, because I'm afraid it would cut them. It would be easier if I could use the clippers on their legs too. You think it would cut them?
10:18 pm
February 8, 2009
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I wish I could the dogs myself, but I can't.
My oldest dog is a retriever X and she has the heavy (water resistant coat) once a year I bring her to the groomer and she shaves her like a sheep
Sure would be cheaper when I could it myself.
(my groomer does shave her legs btw)
10:24 pm
January 21, 2011
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Yeah, that's why I started doing my own pets. When you love the dogs like I do you have to learn to do them yourself. My hubby gives them their shots, all but rabies you can't buy, or at least that is how it was in Texas..now here they may have other rules. But anyway, thanks for letting me know the groomer shaved your furbabies legs, Flatlander. :) I didnt know if that skinny part would go thru the clippers teeth. Even that thought scares me!
7:23 am
December 28, 2008
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The clippers should have a guard on them that would prevent that happening. In some ways, the open scissors are more likely to injure the dog because the blades are unprotected. But there are a wide variety of clippers on the market, and they probably don't have all the same attachments.
Do your clippers have one of those attachments with the very long "V" of teeth that is designed to leave a longer coat? I could see how those would be of concern with small dog legs. But, my experience was almost exclusively with using the clippers without any attachments, to do tedious things like clipping around the pads and such. I would imagine that if you were to use the clippers to shave their legs you would be holding the foot in your hand (between the fingers?) to stabilize, then quickly run up the leg with the clippers. Or if the dog is accustomed to standing very still for grooming, you might want to run down the leg – usually not done because the result would likely be uneven coat length. Depending.
1:03 pm
May 14, 2011
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I started shaving my lab/ chow mixes about a year ago. I couldn't afford the 100+ dollars every 6 weeks. I use 2 speed Oster clippers that I also uses on the horses for small jobs like bridle paths and whiskers. I shave everything except their tails and face. I don't use guards just different numbered blades for different lengths. I also recent purchase a professional nail grinder…… I love it. No more worrying about cutting their quicks and I can get the nails much shorter and they are rounded instead of blunt, so they don't scratch the floors up.
3:05 pm
October 30, 2009
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I groom our Golden, but no shaving is involved. I find that a daily brushing (even a quick one!) really helps keep the hair in the house down. I use scissors to keep a tight looking foot and dock his tail. He gets blow dried during wet weather….and he loves it!
Kat, tell me more aobut the nail grinder? How do your dogs to the grinding? Do they mind the sound?
4:13 pm
May 5, 2011
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I still cringe thinking of a time I accidentally cut my dog's skin using scissors. I use clippers with a #3 guard now. I was trimming her belly and around the insides of her back legs, and the skin on there is so thin and loose, I accidentally pulled it up and cut it trying to remove a hair ball. 
For a little cut, it bled like crazy.
You can also take your metal comb and use it as a guard to cut along if you do choose to use scissors on that part. Comb into the fur and trim as the hair sticks up through the comb. It helps trim it more evenly too. This works better for dogs who freak out at the sound of electric clippers.
ETA: My pup, Dana, was a Chow-mix too. Unbelievable the thick hair on those dogs. She passed just before Christmas this year and I am still finding her hair on everything.
4:46 pm
May 14, 2011
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rileysmom said:
Kat, tell me more aobut the nail grinder? How do your dogs to the grinding? Do they mind the sound?
I got one with a flexible wand because i thought it would be the easiest to manipulate. I bought them on-line here: http://www.petedge.com/
They don't seem mind the sound, but the first time I think they were taken back by the vibration. I kinda was also, you have to hold firmly on to the one nail you are working on. It's very quick so they don't have to deal with it very long. All my dogs hate having thier nails done, but I've noticed much less shaking with the grinder that the nial clippers. The first time I used it I tried to make it a very positive, so they wouldn't run the next time. I found it very user friendly product and can't believe I waited so long to buy it.
5:00 pm
October 30, 2009
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Thank you so much, Kat! Riley is not crazy about his nails being trimmed…..and the floor does suffer, sometimes…..it adds to that "rustic look!" If it's quick process, that sounds like a plus. Yes, positive praise goes a long way! Thank goodness no one can hear my " happy voice" words of praise for Riley way out here!! They would lock me up! 
6:36 pm
September 20, 2010
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My little weenies DO NOT LIKE to get their nails trimmed! I have tried everything, so we take them to a groomer and its worth the five bucks a piece! the last time I took them, Sandita was so upset she pooped on the table, yes it was embarrassing, hubby was with me and was holding peanut the other weenie, he has told me he won't go back, its just to upsetting for him! they really are spoiled rotten weenies.
10:48 pm
December 28, 2008
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We have one of those pedi-paws, which the dogs still don't like, but it works great on the rooster's spurs. We got one of ours accustomed to a barrel sander on the Dremel, but I really didn't like using it much – too difficult to stabalize. So for that dog, the pedi-paws is less noisy than the Dremel. A great invention. Wish it had come out years ago.
11:53 pm
May 8, 2011
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We use our sheep shears on our dogs. The more cooperative ones will sit and the others get the leash tied and a girl sitting on them.
6:26 am
September 20, 2010
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On our little dogs I use cat nail trimmers, they seem easier and less bulky than the dog ones. Not that I trim my cats nails NO WAY!! I'd be scarred for life, but they work great on the rabbits and Chihuahuas :)
12:22 pm
October 30, 2009
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lizzie, weenie dogs like Doxies? My dad had Doxies. I always thought that he spoiled them. They both (Fritz and Heidi) were soooo dramatic if you even came in the same room with nail clippers in your hand! We even tried "swaddling" them like babies and it was like trying to hold a worm! You aren't exaggerating!
9:50 pm
September 20, 2010
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Hi rileysmom,
We have two minnie Doxies and they are very dramatic that's why I just take them in to have their nails clipped. They are our babies, Peanut the male still thinks he is a baby, I use to carry him around in my shirt when he was a puppy, he still likes this! sometimes I take him to pick my husband up from work and he stands on my lap with his paws on the steering wheel and drives the car, I know this is not a good thing, but it's really funny. Sandita is the BOSS of the house, and she thinks she is married to my husband, he cannot even hug me when she is around, she will start barking as if to say, " No me first" they have such character and we get so many laughs out of the two of them! They don't have any idea that they are dogs.
9:59 am
August 6, 2010
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My only grooming tip is to start when they are babies–handle their paws, look in their ears, inspect their teeth. brush or comb their hair. And do it often–every time you cuddle with them. They will take it for granted that you will do that, and will not fuss–as much, anyway. And they will behave so much better for the vet or the groomer. This goes for dogs and cats.
Doxie owners probably know this already, but trimming nails is especially important for long bodied dogs–they are prone to back problems anyway, and overly long nails throw their gait off, adding to the trouble.
2:50 pm
October 30, 2009
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Hi lizzie,
You made me smile when you said that you carried Peanut in your shirt! My dad would do that when his were puppies….he even took that "dog" into a Cracker Barrel!
wowzers! Sandita (is there a story with that name?) is jealous! When we hug here, Riley butts in between us to be a part of the hug, too! Our pets are good entertainment!
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