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[Suzi]

Originally Posted by TilliesMom

bwhahahhahaa.... were you the one that said I 'couldn't' scissor cut Tillie?
lol, ya, what can I say, I like a challenge. drives my husband INSANE. He tells me I can't DO something? oh HECK no ... I'm gonna DO IT.
although I am hoping to get some affordable thinning shears before her next trim down (in the spring).

Why do you need thinning shears? I have had great success without! I change the angel of the scissors so it doesn't leave a blunt cut look. My problem is getting every thing even. I'm always going back to the table for just a bit more.

[atsilvers27]

Originally Posted by Suzi

Why do you need thinning shears? I have had great success without! I change the angel of the scissors so it doesn't leave a blunt cut look. My problem is getting every thing even. I'm always going back to the table for just a bit more.

I love thinners. If use properly, they give a natural look vs a blunt obvious scissor cut. It comes down to personal preference. You like blunt cuts in the coat, Tilliesmom likes a more natural, less obvious look. That's all it is.

[TilliesMom]

lol, ya, I don't NEED thinning shears, but would like to try them out!!
I think it would go quicker and be easier to blend it all together and such...
not that I trim her that often (once a year) but ... I want them for my "arsenal"!

[krandall]

Originally Posted by atsilvers27

Hehe, you guys actually do a nice job grooming. I think of all the pics I've seen, and I've looked at tons of photos on here, I've only seen maybe 2 cringe inducing owner grooms. Of course there are always bad groomers, but I think that's a matter of just plain bad luck and a majority of groomers can give a nice, safe and decent haircut compared to a new owner groomer, with the exception of TilliesMom, who did an impressive hand scissor body cut. I think because we are so dedicated to our breed everyone does try to keep up on the grooming and carefully do it. Outside the forum however, is a totally different ballgame. Almost all owners who I've seen take scissors to their dog ruin the face and there's no way for me to fix it because I can't put the hair back on and it just has to grow out. But not without me giving a gentle suggestion to bring the dog in for a quick face tidy, only $6!

On a more serious note just last week one of my coworkers had to shave down a severely matted standard poodle. The owner, an older woman, had tried to cut the mats out with scissors (big no-no, you get written up at PetSmart for doing that) and sliced her dog twice on the thigh. Two thick one-inch scars remained after what I'm sure resulted in gushing blood and possible veterinary treatment. The owner didn't seem too concerned and asked for pom poms (which she of course did NOT get). So glad no one on the forum is like that!

I had Kodi in for his "around the edges" trim this AM, and the other groomer was working on a cat, whose owner wanted it to look like a lion. I asked if the cat had been matted, and the groomer told me, no, the owner just wanted it to look like a lion! Poor cat! Going into winter with NO HAIR on its body! I think the groomer should have refused.

[atsilvers27]

Originally Posted by krandall

I had Kodi in for his "around the edges" trim this AM, and the other groomer was working on a cat, whose owner wanted it to look like a lion. I asked if the cat had been matted, and the groomer told me, no, the owner just wanted it to look like a lion! Poor cat! Going into winter with NO HAIR on its body! I think the groomer should have refused.

Yes, I agree that is cruel to the cat. Cats are from another planet altogether when it comes to grooming. I personally will never groom a cat as I am allergic and one of my biggest fears in life is getting bit by a cat. Most of the cats that I've seen get shaved are those big hairies that get matted when the owners don't brush them or the ones that are a little senior and can't keep up with the self grooming. Long haired cats can get matted between the back legs and then they can't move - like a woman wearing a long tight non-stretchy skirt. Some cats have hairball issues so the owners deal with it by shaving. Cats have paper thin skin and can get a nice big cut along the spine if they have a narrow back. Also as far I know you can only shave a cat, no regular haircut like on a dog, at least at PetSmart. Cats can be a nightmare to try to groom and are much more affected by a groom than a dog. It kind of reminds me of Garfield where the dog is a little dumb, oh, I got a haircut, oh look a squirrel! And then the cat is the intelligent, self concious one OMG I'M NAKED!!! and hides under the bed for a week.

[Suzi]

Originally Posted by atsilvers27

I love thinners. If use properly, they give a natural look vs a blunt obvious scissor cut. It comes down to personal preference. You like blunt cuts in the coat, Tilliesmom likes a more natural, less obvious look. That's all it is.

You can achieve the same look by changing the angel of the scissors I learned it from my hair dresser friends . Horizontal and vertical then tinny snips at the ends.

[atsilvers27]

Originally Posted by Suzi

You can achieve the same look by changing the angel of the scissors I learned it from my hair dresser friends . Horizontal and vertical then tinny snips at the ends.

Seems like a whole lot of extra work, having to criss cross the coat and doing little snips, at that. I'd rather spare the headache and my hand and just spend the $40 for thinners, but to each his own.

[Izzy-bella]

Chica could be an adorable stuffed animal! Well not actualy Chica but a little stuffed toy that looked like him....so CUTE!

I have been trying my hand at grooming...but it finally got to a point that they needed a professional. After this time I am hoping to be able to trim them up for a while and will hopefully be able to wait 6/8 months before going back to the groomers.

I bought the Jodi Murphy DVD, it really helped a lot. I watch it all over again everytime I pick up the thinning shears, love them.

[TilliesMom]

I had to get Tillie trimmed down at a groomers when she was about 9 months old due to severe coat blowing and I just could NOT keep up with 3 hrs a day of de matting!!

I have found that since then I am able to manage her just fine, and have gotten through a few minor coat 'blows' ... the only time I have had to take her in in the past year and 1/2 is when I discovered I am apparently supposed to combed out her BUTT! lol the area under her poop hole was SOOOO matted as I hadn't been combing THAT area!! So I had the groomer trim it down and now I know to comb there!
I don't forsee ever taking her to a groomer again... I trimmed her down all by myself last March and thought not a perfect job, she didn't look 1/2 bad for a novice!