Are You Supposed to go to Groomers?

[beausmom1]

I replyed to a post about trimming the hair between the pup's pads...and it got me thinking...

I do all of Beau's grooming stuff at home: bath, teeth, ears, nail clippings & now hair-between-toes clipping....so, are you supposed to take them to the groomers anyway? Do they do something special? Does anybody shave their longhaired dachsies?

The only thing on Beau that might need a trim is the hair around his collar and not to be gross...but the hair on his butt is so long!! haha.

[fdcutee]

As long as you don't mind doing all his grooming forever (don't just think short term--puppyhood.... you have to sort of commit to doing it for life.... otherwise you want to get them used to the groomer), then I don't see any reason why you have to take Beau to the groomer. I trim my guys nails, clean their ears and teeth, and trim their hair where needed. Granted they're still young, but I plan on still doing all their grooming throughout their lives.

Toby's breeder told me how she grooms her show doxies and all she trims is between their toes and underneath their ears she takes a little off (where it sometimes gets matted).

I've heard of some people having their LH doxies shaved a bit, but I'm pretty sure that the majority don't.

I use a beard trimmer... and it's quiet so it doesn't scare them, and you can put the different blades on depending on how short you want to get. And it's quick and easy. The first time or two, it might be a bit uneven... but you'll be a pro in no time. :)

[dutchman]

I don't know of any reason the average dachshund owner can't do all the necessary care at home.. I grew up with smooths and have had three longs no wires so far. I can count on one finger the number of times any of them had ever gone to a groomer. I took Frank once to see if it would be easier for nail trimming. Now if you are going to be showing your dog you may have better reason to head to the groomer but at least half of the people I know who do show have learned how to do their own grooming. Home grooming require a very minimal investment in supplies and saves a lot of money over the long run.

[kpm_tex]

I do all of Merry, Bart and Badger's grooming at home.. with 3 it is just too expensive not to learn how to do things myself... plus I have two friends who are groomers to turn to for advice ;)
Long hairs should just typically need a good brushing a few times a week to keep mats from forming. Mats are best cut out with a clippers... so it's nice to have one around for things like that.In general I believe shaving long hairs will have a tendency to make their coat turn fuzzy.... I can't think of a good reason to do it. The trimming of the hair between the toes is done to keep the hair from getting long enough to mat or to pick up a lot of mud or burrs. I don't see a reason to do that with smooths but the hair on long hairs and wires will keep growing... although slower there than any place else.

[doxie4u]

Let me ask a queston; if you have shaved a LH (once) will the fuzzy coat ever go away? Mine was so matted when I got him from the shelter there was not way we could comb, brush them out. But Mikey looks like a fuzzy teddy bear now and that has been almost 5 years now.
Ina

[Chris]

I had Mckenzie shaved down during the summer to make her more comfortable with the heat. She had the fuzzy teddy look until january when her hair finally got long enough to lay down again. I hated to do it but she was so uncomfortable before and after she was very comfortable.

I don't do much grooming myself, just comb and brush Mckenzie a couple of times a week. She's so silky after a good combing. Being aesthetically challenged, I have someone with a clue cut her hair when needed. I will cut mats out and cut off the long hairs on the bottoms of her feet myself, but try not to cut anything visible.

Holly will run for her life if she sees a brush. I snuck up on her on the couch one time and started to brush her but she looked so scared I had to stop and just cuddle her.

And speaking of butt hair, Mckenzies is turning blond. :scratch: :dunno1:

[SirOliversMom]

Let me ask a queston; if you have shaved a LH (once) will the fuzzy coat ever go away? Mine was so matted when I got him from the shelter there was not way we could comb, brush them out. But Mikey looks like a fuzzy teddy bear now and that has been almost 5 years now.
Ina

This happened to me once with my Shih Tzu pup. She had only ever been washed and combed. One day a new employee at the groomers SHAVED her. I almost went into shock.:pullhair: To make a long story short, her hair never grew in the same. It should have been long and silky on top with an undercoat but it stayed kind of fuzzy.

I don't know if the same applies to doxies though..?