pesh

Hi All Some of you know I'm a groomer on the NSW Central Coast. Not a big compeditor, just enough to keep me going. Sometimes I find when I'm talking to other groomers they have the same complaints as each other - "Why don''t we all get together and have the same prices, why should I give a discount on multiple dogs, etc etc." So out of interest I thought I'd ask some questions. Was setting up a pole but just took too long and wouldn't let me do all I wanted. Are you mobile or shop? Are you independant or franchise? Do you own the business? How much do you charge for: Standard wash and semi dry? Tiny short coated. Tiny long coated. Small short coated. Small long coated. Medium short coated. Medium long coated. Large short coated. Large long coated. Extra large short coated. Extra large long coated. What is included in your basic wash and dry? How long do you give each booking? How about clipping prices? Tiny long matted coat. Tiny long coated. Small long matted coat. Small long coated. Medium long matted coat. Medium long coated. Large long matted coat. Large long coated. Extra large long matted coat. Extra large long coated. These questions are based on a basic wash.......and below Do you give a discount to prebooked regulars, if so how much? Do you give a discount on multiple dogs at one site, if so how much? Do you clip dog nails, if so and it's an extra in your service, how much? Do you charge extra for flea rinse, if so how much? Do you charge extra to clip a dogs rear end, if so how much? Do you charge extra to scissor knots off from behind ears and/or body area, if so how much? Do you charge extra for very dirty dogs? Do you charge extra for ear care? Do you charge extra for a dog that does need clipping, but the owner doesn't want the clip done, just a wash? I'm thinking of time with this question. Do you have a website for people to look at. How much work comes from that website? Do you advertise in the yellow pages? Are you happy with the service? What size advert and do you have, and are you on the seperate internet listing with them? Where does most of you work come from, such as advertising, word of mouth, brochures etc? How many dogs do you estimate you do daily, and are you happy with that amount? You can see what I'm getting at, any other info would be great. Please don't feel you have to answer all or any of these questions if you feel it's not any of my business, I'm just interested in what others charge and how much you advertise, plus how we rate up here on the Central Coast. Thx Sharon

How'd she go?

A blonde moment...........what is it?

Your correct there Oakway to each there own, but never would use Coprice on my dogs, just not the right stuff for our gang. Advance puppy for bitches in whelp, especially from week 5-6. With chicken, beef, eggs or seafoods as others have suggested. Variety the spice of life. lol

I have a OLD dog who belongs to a client and the dogs licking has become a habit. She licks till she has sores. I use malaseb and permoxin on her, doesn't stop the licking but help keep the possible infection at bay. If she is really bad, you could consider an Elizabethan collar so she can't reach the area and it hopefully will break the cycle. If you don't like that idea, how about each time she is licking change what she is doing, distract her. A slow process but could work in the long run. It seems a small dog thing, and I've found Maltese the worst for it. Good luck...............

A teaspoon of oil in the diet, or Sardine, tuna etc in oil, just home brand nothing flash. In summer make it sardine or tuna in springwater, dogs can react to the oil and heat and effect the skin. But your still giving oil in the seafood, just not over doing it. 1/2 a tin twice a week. I don't know about over in WA, but over here in NSW were having good pollen counts which many dogs are reacting to. No real winter, so pollen is really hanging around. Or, washing a dog too often can trigger drandruff skin. Once a month is ideal. Or, poor quality dry food. Or, wheat, wheat product can also create a problem. There you go, just incase you didn't have enough to do. lol Good luck..............

Don't forget she's ready to mate after the bleeding has seemed to stop. Like our female cycle.

Thx everyone...................as for a foreva home, I MIGHT have a friend who will take her. If not, yes I would be looking to rehome the gal. She's so use to one on one and I'm working longer hours and feel she would gain in health with someone home more frequently. Will keep you updated. Thx Sharon

A bit blurd. She's outside and took a quick shot of her. Should have shot it from the rear. Legs spread so far it looks like it hurts. But give credit to her, she's walking and is even trying to play. Plus having a male foxy seems to have taken her interest, lol. No, the owner is not having her back, she's realized what has happened and knows she can no longer cope with her. I get a phonecall from her almost everyday, she's missing her so much, it's sad. Should add, the photo is through a dirty back door. Looks worse than it really is.....................lol

I think around 2.5kg. Will take a photo so you can see how big she still is.

We now have achieved the 6kg mark, and she's going strong. No more fits. You can actually see her neck. So we going well.............................thx for all the help guys, really been great.

How about having a reputable walker come in? There are also puppy play schools, where pup stays during working hours. couple of suggestions for you..................good luck.

I'm with you Wazzat Xolo, I'm exhausted just reading it, back to bed for me. Well put Jed. Hope all the love that the DOL'ers showered over you wasn't too much. They do mean good. Stick with it, you'll find some very interesting info on here. Enjoy that pup, like our kids they grow all too quickly. lol

I'd start now with not allowing biting. When he goes to bite/nip grab (not roughly) his snout and slide the gum with your fingers into his mouth. He will soon stop as it is now hurting him. It doesn't have to be rough, and you'll miss many times, but keep it up. Good luck.................

I would keep trying with bowls, even plastic. Can you imagine the mess when their having an adult size meal on a plate....................... All great advice in here. So where's the picci's. Have you made a file with them, and then used the browse button below, and upload them up that way? I'm no expert, just it works for me.

Yep a stage........sometimes a long one. Also typical of the pug puppy, and you can't help but laugh because of the face flying in the oppersite direction to the rest of the dog. Pups needs to be tired out a little. Have you started walking yet? Maybe putting all toys outside because that's the chosen play area, putting them away when you decide play time is over. Hope those couple of things help.....................good luck, but enjoy

Raz you have a pug...........how cute. My eldest thought the chihuahua was a pug when I brought her home, isn't that sad. I have since found out from the owner she was giving her a whole smacko before bed (yes after dinner), but thought she was being good when she cut it down to half. I can see this is going to be a very long process. I'm thinking of making frozen parcels of meat and veges and giving them to the owner when she eventually returns home. That way it's pre-made and hopefully can't go wrong in that part of this feeding. Once again, thanks for all the info.................

Dinner here for the fat bum is 3-4pm. Many hours left for a walk and peeing strolls. We place her all the way up the yard, so she has to walk. She actually had a little stroll around the yard, made me feel a bit better, don't know about her, lol. She arrived here weighing exactly 7kg, Wednesday 15th. She's now weighing today a mighty 6.6kg, so little by little we'll get there. Yes Toller that is my worry, all this on her and the work we're doing could be for nothing. But I'm thinking, I wash this dog every fornight so keeping an eye on her will be easy. If anything happens to the owner I've told her I will take her. As I've said there's no real family, and it looks like I'm it.................Sucker, lol. Would love to have her teeth done, but money is an issue, plus the weight I don't think at this stage she could handle it. But will bring up the subject with the vet next check up. Thx

Hi All Thx so far. Yes should have added she has been to the vet, had blood test, the once over and diet suggested. Also on medication to assist with breathing. But just wanted to see if anyone out there did have that magical recipe. She's outside more here and loves our foxy, I'm hoping as time goes by she'll want to follow him. I have her on lite bickies which she doesn't seem to like, but just checked the teeth a mess, might be a little sore. Will talk to my vet about that. Tonights dinner (her only meal) is steamed chicken and softened bickies. Will try the vege's also. My lot love their vege's, but she's been a tin gal all her life looking at her teeth. How old do Chi's live for, just out of curiousity? She's 10. Thx again........ Sharon

Hi All I have a real problem and hoping you all can help? I have an elderly client who's not well herself and has no real family of her own and all her attention she gives is for her Chihuahua that she adores, even if it killing the little one slowly. I've washed her Chihuahua for the last 12+ months and I've had an on-going battle with her to get the weight of her dog, with no luck at all. We're now at crisis point, the dog weighs around the 7kg and having fits from lack of oxygen, due to the fat she is carrying ~ the dog feels no pain from them. The dog now is living with us for the time so we can get weight of the poor gal. The owner is in such a state when the dog is having a fit I think she will topple over before the dog. So to cut an even longer story short, what would you be feeding this Chihuahua to increase weight loss? Also when she is lighter, what is the correct size meal for this breed? PLEASE, I DON'T NEED ANYONE COMING IN AND SAYING THE DOG NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THIS WOMAN, AS I SAID THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY AND THE REST DOESN'T RELATE TO THE WEIGHT ISSUE.[/b] Thanks for your help............................... Sharon

Each dog is different, like kids...............some don't need to toilet during the night, but others do. A dogs bladder isn't fully developed until it's 6 months. So if a toilet break is needed that's fine, but if it continues when older take away water so it's not filling its self up with it and then needing to toilet during the night. They learn.

They do get use to it..................my GSD's put themselves to bed. They eventually love having their own space and know where to get it.

I had a GSD that would try it out, and came across it with other dogs at obedience training more than once. Ignore it, just tell her "heal." And when she's up and moving keep it up at a steady pace. Start of moving on with your left leg, that later will become a silent command when she see's you walking off with the left leg, hope that makes sense. The dog needs to be walking correctly to play area, and not before. There's time to play and there's time to walk. Get it right while she's a pup and you'll enjoy your walks. As she learns, then you can give her more space, when she knows what you want and when you know what she'll get upto. Using two leads can help, one for walking and a longer one if needed for play time. Walk to destination with walking lead, then when you get there put the longer lead on. Longer lead only needed if she won't "Come." Or, two leads can be also used for walking. One for training and when you want her healing close to you. The second longer one for her to wonder and sniff about.

Great to hear this.......was reading it yesterday. Never be afraid to get a second opinion if it continues and the vet doesn't seem to be doing much about it...................... Good luck.

Thanks for that................any web site address's would be great also. Hiya Clyde ........Groomers Friend (pet essence) is great, concentrate 8:1. Love the way it works and comes up, pretty good on whites. Easily works in, but then I don't dilute, like it on a really wet dog. Plus to top it off it's Aussie owned and made. I sound like an advert............... Just was wondering about my options and peoples thought. Plus if I was paying too much or just right.