schnauzer_luv

It's closer to 2 hours than an hour...basically what settlvr said. Lots of firm but fair training, verbal reinforcement and every 30 mins or so I take a little break and have a pat or let them sit and relax for a moment (usually while I'm getting the next piece of equipment ready). I give them a treat at the end when they get down off the table and we have a play and life goes on To answer your other question: yes I have nicked one of my dogs before and it was on the ear, they are probably the hardest bit to do. It wasn't a bad cut and I just wiped it with a tissue and it stopped fairly quickly. You'd have to be cutting like a maniac to do serious damage with clippers...scissoring could be quite dangerous though, although my nic was when I was using clippers

I'm one of the owners turned amateur groomers ;) It ain't easy that's for sure! I only had one MS this time last year and took him to pet care day run by the schnauzer club NSW. I watched him being clipped by an expert who gave me a quick run down as he went, I took a few photos and made some mental notees and I've been clipping ever since. I was sick of paying for bad clips, so that was my motivation. I now have 3 MS under my roof (2 under 2 yo and a new foster) and there are significant financial benefits if you clip yourself. BUT as others have said -It takes a few hours each time -It takes practice -You need quality tools or you've got no chance -You need some friendly folk to give you honest feedback -You need to be firm and train your dog to be good on the table or it's a disaster waiting to happen It's definitely possible, and you get out what you put in. I bought Andis clippers and they are great, I bought a qualtiy slicker brush and I cheaped out on a comb and scissors. I can't stand the scissors or the comb and have a few more blades on my wish list...but it was a reasonable start. Be prepared to fork out atleast $600 to get reasonable versions of everything. It seems like alot, but when you consider 3 dogs at $60ish per clip, 6 times a year, they pay for themselves in no time!

We will see you there! Are you referring to the NSW club-run day? OH and I are hoping to be foster parents in the very new future to a 3rd mini so I will hopefully have some info on a 3 dog household for you soon Becks, those photos were gorgeous...how come they didn't make it to the subforum?

Petbarn figtree has it. I buy it there all the time It's on the Princes Hwy.

One of my mini schnauzers doen't get much hair in his ears, I pluck him every few months and he has never had a problem. My little girl gets a tonne in her ears and will come up and present her ear when she's having a normal scratch and cuddle and loves to have it pulled out and then tries to eat it :rolleyes: She's an interesting critter, that's for sure!

From 8ish until when I posted...

Hi guys, mum fed her 5mo MS puppy this morning (8ish) and wormed her. She just got in the car for a long distance trip and pup has vomited. Should she worm again tomorrow after her tummy has settled down? Not sure how quicklworming tablets are absorbed?

Seems to suit my two so far...although we're on the grain free maximal. They eat it without any accompaniments

My two do something gross atleast once a week and need a bath....I use Aloveen shampoo and the leave in conditioner which helps prevent knots - both of them have shiny coats and NO dandruff. As others have said, I think the key is a good quality shampoo and conditioner.

You're not alone anthony, I though it smelled lovely and rich for a dog food

Artemis is round and flat...it looks identical to Orijen in shape and size if you know what that looks like?

Thanks for the advice guys A drive to Bathurst isn't out of the question...it's not me of course, it's my mum but she has seen first-hand the damage done to my poor boy after a groomer hacked his beard, so she will be motivated to go somewhere good. That's 2 recommendations I've had for Deidre now so I'll pass that info on. Luckypup: I'm glad you think it's not a hard groom, and you have some lucky schnauzer owners nearby if you happily do them The truth is, I've had 3 horrible grooming experiences, I have specifically instructed for certain things to be done (and left alone for that matter) and get smiles and nods, when I return to pick my dog up they are NOTHING like I asked. Mazza (my eldest boy) is still regrowing the top of his beard some 8 months after the last groomer shaved down his nose I now groom them myself, and while they may not be perfect, at least I'm not paying someone to hack at them I understand it's a very specific groom, but if the groomers don't know how to do it they should just say so and save owners the $$ and anguish. Rant over :p

I'll make sure she comes to schnauzer day 2009

Great idea Becks With quarantine here she'll have to send the puppy back for its next clip as soon as the quarantine is finished!!

Mazza (15 month old MS): Came from breeders on eukanuba: persisted for 2 small bags, runny poos 4-6/day, and a battle to get him to eat, dull coat Royal canin: heightened interest in eating for first week, better smelling and firmer poos but still atleast 4/day, dull coat Eaglepack holistic puppy formula: Would eat if mixed with something else but was never crazy for it, poos same as RC but slightly better coat Eagle pack holistic chicken and rice: Same response as puppy formula but occaisional runny poo Orijen Adult: Gobbled every piece down like a starved animal, 2 dark firm poos/day, shiny slick coat Lola (7 month old MS): Came from breeders on supercoat puppy: gobbled it down, most disgusting wind ever and massive poops 6 times a day...didn't finish the bag Orijen Puppy: Gobbled it down, no wind, 2-3 small black but firm poops a day, shiny coat, waggy tail :D