Learning how to groom @ home - YorkieTalk.com Forums

irishawk · 08-31-2006, 06:02 PM

Ever since Howie got butchered at the groomers I've been terrified to take him anywhere. I don't want another bad haircut! I know there are a lot of you on here who groom your own yorkies - how did you get started? I have absolutely no experience with this sort of thing, but would rather screw it up myself than let some clueless high school kid at Petsmart do it.

Are there classes on this? Or teach at home DVDs? Your help is apprecitated!!!

MyTrixie143 · 08-31-2006, 09:13 PM

I can't really help you. I just did mine through trial and error and just keep practicing it. Just get an idea of what cut you want and make sure to only cut off a little bit at a time. You can always cut more off if you need to, but you can't put it back on if you cut too much. Sorry I am not much help, hopefully someone else on here will be able to tell you more or give you a link to a dvd on how to groom yorkies.

SnowWa · 09-01-2006, 01:03 AM

I brought my puppy home when he was 8 weeks old and gave him his first haircut the next day.

I keep him in a puppy cut - this is easy for me.

I have always trimmed my own dogs - I think the hardest part for me to learn to cut was their faces. I remember looking at so many pictures of different dogs - seeing how the hair was cut on thier faces - around their eyes and every place else. And - with a lot of pictures and a lot of practice - I've got it down now.

Good luck!

I did take my Yorkie to a groomer for the first time a few weeks ago - he is almost a year old. And, he really didn't look much different when he came home. Of course, he was clean and smelled good - and his nails, etc. were done. -- but he wasn't cut much different from the way I cut him.

Carol Jean

OLIVIA_KARHIS · 09-01-2006, 02:33 AM

You can try getting a DVD online, that shows you how to do it... I know there is a few out there.

Sorry I am not much help.. I am trying to get my girls hair to grow long for the winter, so I just trim the ears, butt area and feet when they look to long to me.

Hope some one on here can help you better!

Olivia, Bunny and Bella

LuvMySissy · 09-01-2006, 04:49 AM

I own a good pair of hair cutting scissors cause when my daughter and I had bangs it was a royal pain to get to the hair dresser every few weeks and ridiculous to pay to just trim the bangs!!

I just jumped right in with trimming Sissy myself. I am really paranoid about her head being in a noose, particularly since she is very squirmy, so I won't take her to a groomer. If you start by just trimming a little and then keeping it trimmed, it works pretty well. Experiment with different ways to trim the hair. I usually pull it up between my fingers and trim along the finger line (how a beautician will usually cut with scissors). I also have a small buzz trimmer for the rear end area and feet. I find it pretty simple. Good luck!!

Lexi Rae · 09-01-2006, 04:56 AM

i also cut lexi's hair myself now, alittle at a time. last nite i shave between her nose, she just stood there and let me then gave her treats.
im at it all the time.

Nikko's_human · 09-01-2006, 05:00 AM

I think I would do great with Nikko's hair... if the little maniac would stay still long enough for me to get the scissors on him.

I got a cheap pet grooming set of clippers just as a test to see if he would let me clip him. It took me a half hour and about 4 cookies cut up in tiny pieces to clip 1 piece of hair.

Just have lots of patience, plenty of treats and realistic expectations. You may make mistakes but I am sure with practice you should be fine. I think most professional dog clippers come with a DVD so you can start there.

Lexi Rae · 09-01-2006, 05:05 AM

well i through about a cup of cheerios just to trim a little

Breny · 09-01-2006, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

I think I would do great with Nikko's hair... if the little maniac would stay still long enough for me to get the scissors on him.

I got a cheap pet grooming set of clippers just as a test to see if he would let me clip him. It took me a half hour and about 4 cookies cut up in tiny pieces to clip 1 piece of hair.

Just have lots of patience, plenty of treats and realistic expectations. You may make mistakes but I am sure with practice you should be fine. I think most professional dog clippers come with a DVD so you can start there.

That was going to me my next question. HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM SIT STILL LONG ENOUGH???? My Rogan and Meiah are good, but Brodie??? OMG! He starts freaking out if I only brush him. So I don't even get to do that much. Any advice for these situations? Also, does everyone cut the hair between the pads? How do you do these?

Doodlebug · 09-01-2006, 06:12 AM

I just started grooming mine. The only way I could get mine to be still was to buy a table and a noose. I didn't want to spend a lot so I got a folding craft table from Big Lots for $15 and ordered a grooming arm ($20) and a double noose ($4.99) from Pet Edge. It has made a HUGE difference. I also got the safety clip to attach to the noose in case the dog slips or jumps off the table, it has a quick release on it just in case. My dog is now still and at a good height to work on. I use clippers because her hair is extremely thick. People have told me it is really worthwhile to invest in a real good pair of scissors and clippers. I clip the pad hair with clippers if I am doing a haircut, and scissors in between time. I ordered a DVD that shows how to groom a Yorkie online.

ARCHIE · 09-01-2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

i also cut lexi's hair myself now, alittle at a time. last nite i shave between her nose, she just stood there and let me then gave her treats.
im at it all the time.

Hi Gina,
Please tell me what you mean by shave between her nose! I just purchased a moustache and beard trimmer to trim Bud since I am for the first time letting his coat come in. I am not sure how to use it yet. I just want to keep his bottom and underneath free from hair and his face trimmed. I usually trim around he eyes with scissors. He sits like a sweetheart with no problem but am not sure how I would shave his face. Thanks, Carol

Lexi Rae · 09-01-2006, 06:41 AM

hi carol,,, i shave lexi right between the eyes and down alittle further on the bridge of her nose.. its very clean that way, no hair in her eyes..
i used the lady trimmer i have for ladies mustache.. dont laugh..it works

Lexi Rae · 09-01-2006, 06:42 AM

oh and i use the wahl trimmer tooo, that works even better , i forgot to tell you that...

Breny · 09-01-2006, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

hi carol,,, i shave lexi right between the eyes and down alittle further on the bridge of her nose.. its very clean that way, no hair in her eyes..
i used the lady trimmer i have for ladies mustache.. dont laugh..it works

Do you have an upclose picture????

irishawk · 09-01-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

hi carol,,, i shave lexi right between the eyes and down alittle further on the bridge of her nose.. its very clean that way, no hair in her eyes..
i used the lady trimmer i have for ladies mustache.. dont laugh..it works

Very clever!!!

08-31-2006, 06:02 PM	#1
irishawk YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 695	Learning how to groom @ home Ever since Howie got butchered at the groomers I've been terrified to take him anywhere. I don't want another bad haircut! I know there are a lot of you on here who groom your own yorkies - how did you get started? I have absolutely no experience with this sort of thing, but would rather screw it up myself than let some clueless high school kid at Petsmart do it. Are there classes on this? Or teach at home DVDs? Your help is apprecitated!!! __________________ Howie & Sarah Check us out on dogster: http://www.dogster.com/?327817

08-31-2006, 09:13 PM	#2
MyTrixie143 Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,409	I can't really help you. I just did mine through trial and error and just keep practicing it. Just get an idea of what cut you want and make sure to only cut off a little bit at a time. You can always cut more off if you need to, but you can't put it back on if you cut too much. Sorry I am not much help, hopefully someone else on here will be able to tell you more or give you a link to a dvd on how to groom yorkies. __________________ A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi

09-01-2006, 01:03 AM	#3
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	I brought my puppy home when he was 8 weeks old and gave him his first haircut the next day. I keep him in a puppy cut - this is easy for me. I have always trimmed my own dogs - I think the hardest part for me to learn to cut was their faces. I remember looking at so many pictures of different dogs - seeing how the hair was cut on thier faces - around their eyes and every place else. And - with a lot of pictures and a lot of practice - I've got it down now. Good luck! I did take my Yorkie to a groomer for the first time a few weeks ago - he is almost a year old. And, he really didn't look much different when he came home. Of course, he was clean and smelled good - and his nails, etc. were done. -- but he wasn't cut much different from the way I cut him. Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

09-01-2006, 02:33 AM	#4
OLIVIA_KARHIS Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GERMANY Posts: 1,544	sorry not much help... You can try getting a DVD online, that shows you how to do it... I know there is a few out there. Sorry I am not much help.. I am trying to get my girls hair to grow long for the winter, so I just trim the ears, butt area and feet when they look to long to me. Hope some one on here can help you better! Olivia, Bunny and Bella __________________ Bunny &Bella Supporting The Troops

09-01-2006, 04:49 AM	#5
LuvMySissy Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 9,333	I own a good pair of hair cutting scissors cause when my daughter and I had bangs it was a royal pain to get to the hair dresser every few weeks and ridiculous to pay to just trim the bangs!! I just jumped right in with trimming Sissy myself. I am really paranoid about her head being in a noose, particularly since she is very squirmy, so I won't take her to a groomer. If you start by just trimming a little and then keeping it trimmed, it works pretty well. Experiment with different ways to trim the hair. I usually pull it up between my fingers and trim along the finger line (how a beautician will usually cut with scissors). I also have a small buzz trimmer for the rear end area and feet. I find it pretty simple. Good luck!! __________________ Sissy & Angel

09-01-2006, 04:56 AM	#6
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	i also cut lexi's hair myself now, alittle at a time. last nite i shave between her nose, she just stood there and let me then gave her treats. im at it all the time. __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

09-01-2006, 05:00 AM	#7
Nikko's_human Proudly owned by Nikko Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bronx, New York Posts: 768	I think I would do great with Nikko's hair... if the little maniac would stay still long enough for me to get the scissors on him. I got a cheap pet grooming set of clippers just as a test to see if he would let me clip him. It took me a half hour and about 4 cookies cut up in tiny pieces to clip 1 piece of hair. Just have lots of patience, plenty of treats and realistic expectations. You may make mistakes but I am sure with practice you should be fine. I think most professional dog clippers come with a DVD so you can start there. __________________ NIKKO and his mommy NECEE Last edited by Nikko's_human; 09-01-2006 at 05:03 AM.

09-01-2006, 05:05 AM	#8
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	well i through about a cup of cheerios just to trim a little __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

09-01-2006, 06:12 AM	#10
Doodlebug ♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US Posts: 5,786	I just started grooming mine. The only way I could get mine to be still was to buy a table and a noose. I didn't want to spend a lot so I got a folding craft table from Big Lots for $15 and ordered a grooming arm ($20) and a double noose ($4.99) from Pet Edge. It has made a HUGE difference. I also got the safety clip to attach to the noose in case the dog slips or jumps off the table, it has a quick release on it just in case. My dog is now still and at a good height to work on. I use clippers because her hair is extremely thick. People have told me it is really worthwhile to invest in a real good pair of scissors and clippers. I clip the pad hair with clippers if I am doing a haircut, and scissors in between time. I ordered a DVD that shows how to groom a Yorkie online.

09-01-2006, 06:41 AM	#12
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	hi carol,,, i shave lexi right between the eyes and down alittle further on the bridge of her nose.. its very clean that way, no hair in her eyes.. i used the lady trimmer i have for ladies mustache.. dont laugh..it works __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

09-01-2006, 06:42 AM	#13
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	oh and i use the wahl trimmer tooo, that works even better , i forgot to tell you that... __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...