becks

anal glands would be first guess.

That reminds me, I also do a free groom for the puppy if they come back and see me at 4 -6 months. It gives them a chance to have a good chat and see if they are on the right track with the pup and discuss feeding, puppy weights, training etc. as well as being sure the pup gets a decent first full haircut without being traumatised.

As a groomer one thing I do is show the new owners the correct way to groom the puppy and I provide the correct brush and comb to use and they see me brushing the pup so they know pup can be well behaved when it is being done! I don't put photos onto a disc - still not worked out how to do that but will email a selection if reminded.

most seem tpo grow out of it in a few months or so. Best just to usher her outside first thing in the morning and have the exciting welcomes out there.

Depends what you mean by farm environment! They are not a breed to live out, but will enjoy running about the farm chasing small animals, so long as they are with their family they are happy.

Its actually more like 5 - 8mins when it becomes really hot 1) They do warm up quite a bit very quickly.... after a while it does get hot. 2) Yes - 3 drops of oil - i turn it on, place one drop on the right hand side, middle and on the left hand side. Let it run for a bit and then wipe with paper towel any excess. Is this correct? 3) Mostly going in the direction of the hair, minimal going against the hair (probably 10%) I'm using a #10 blade. Is alignment a problem with changing the blade, I've got a spare blade but i didn't want to change it because i am worried i may misalign it. So is it the motor in the clipper i have to worry about overheating or is it the blade itself? You shouldn't be having a problem with just clipping one small puppy. It should all be clipped in a few minutes. It could be your blades are to tight. Mine are next to never oiled and don't warm up that fast.

At that sort of age, I would think abpout just finishing up the bag of puppy food and the next bag would be adult food (with obvious few days to change over the food)

Wow, it's like visiting another world!

I don't charge more for any of the 'extras' you mention as they really don't take extra time. I will charge more for flea shampoo simply because it costs more then the other shampoos I use. I only charge nail clipping if the person is not a grooming client, otherwise they are welcome to come in anytime to have nails trimmed. I'm in anpother country, so no point in talking about prices I charge. I have my own independent shop, was mobile previously. I prefer to do a good job and take my time, charge a little more and not have the stress of having to race through lots of dogs, besides which my back can't take it anymore. Basic wash and dry is 2 shampoos, conditioner if needed, towel dry then brush and blow dry, including knot removal. I just have phone number listing in yellow pages, no advert. Work mainly comes from word of mouth, people passing the shop, I am also listed on my breed clubs groomers lists. In the UK we have price surveys done every few years and it is interesting to see what other people charge but at the end of the day, you have to charge what you think you are worth and what the area is willing to pay.

http://www.ovulationpads.info/ hope that link helps to tell you more about the pads.

If you have taken a wage from your own business, that should give you a guideling of what you can earn as a groomer and a starting point to negotiate - also keeping in mind your own living expenses. (wonder if we pay better vet wages over here as there are a lot of aussie vets, unless they are just touring the world and working as they go?)

The fountain is man made. My town is essentially on reclaimed land, so is very flat. As this is landscape month and what I enjoy taking photos of, I will try to get out and take more (so long as we don't keep getting these heavy aumtumn showers!). I must also get back to the park when the light is better, it was just passed midday when I took those pics, so not ideal as the sun decided to come out.

yay glad to hear you are continuing with the GPs. Fingers crossed for Leoti, I think we have enough pups here now!

It's in a Victorain park in the UK. The park has just had a couple of million pounds spent on it to do it up and supply things like the hideous fountain in the last photo (I had taken a photo of it a few months ago when it wasn't working, and promised folk on here that I would get another shot with the water).

what brand is your dog being fed on now? There are quite a few different brands that do breed specific and size specific foods. I know the royal canin giant breed kibble is about an inch across, so it is much bigger then the average size kibbles. Changing up kibble size will help to stop him choking on an inhaled kibble.

Excuse the dog in one of the photos!

Don't be in a rush for him to grow up, he maybe up with the big boys now, but he is still a puppy and should still be allowed to enjoy it. there is nothing worse then seeing little show robots in classes for young dogs.

Ashli, what on earth is that first photo? I've been trying to make it out but can't work out scale.

A friend of a friend! has had good results doing a swab where the paper turns red/pink when they are ready (I think, we were disussing it while mating our dogs at the time, so I wasn't 100% listening to the process)

A few from me

I'd use a 5f or 4f anything longer and you may aswell just scissor the dog. 10 is handy for any matted areas

in our breed standard is says of the coat 'Very harsh, dense and flat. Never long or woolly.' no mention of 'rather short' so perhaps that is why the dogs don't fit that part of the standard! It may also reflect the way our champ shows fall throughout the year and an onwer pprefering to show a dog in longer coat then miss a couple of shows or them wanting to delay taking to coat out, so they have a good coat in time for a particular show.

I would try giving your dog an antihistamine for a few days and see if there is any improvement.

Groomers evening primrose oil shampoo. I would also keep the temperature of the water and dryer on cool.

Is there any temperament variations between the coat types? Are the different coat types bred together much?