On the bright side, I remembered to take some before and after pics of the entire TWO dogs I managed to get done today.
The first was a badly matted schnauzer. She was a sweet girl, but very head shy which made it very difficult. Had to do alot of scissor work because she flipped out with the clippers. Here she is before:
And After:
Next came Gizmo, a severely matted Shitzu:
As you can see, I had to tunnel my way under this giant pelted mat. As solid as they were though, I was able to do his body with a 5F blade. His legs on the other hand, needed a 7F, and, in some places, even a 10. He was a trooper for the most part. That is until I got to his front legs. He thought he might want to try and bite me, so I had to muzzle him for the last part of his rough in.
Once Giz had been bathed and dried, he'd settled down pretty well. I still had to fight to get those front legs done, most of which were done by scissoring, since he didn't mind that as much. He wasn't quite finished in the 'After" picture, but mom took over to finish him off, and I wanted a picture of MY work. But I was happy to find that there really was a dog under all that hair. And he was a much happier dog when he left the shop.
And last, but not least, I did manage to take an 'after' pic of Molly, the Great Pyrenees that I did yesterday. She was the sweetest thing ever.
Monday I will start making calls to get the electrical work started on my garage/shop. Finally taking the necessary steps toward getting my shop opened. Sure hope my body hold up!
I think that you did great on all of these grooms. It doesn't look like your Mom had much to touch up on the Shih-tzu. I think that he looks very nice in the after picture.
ReplyDeleteGrooming can be very hard on the body. I have had a bad back since they messed up with the epidural during my first delivery. On top of that, I messed up my back even more in a horseback riding accident.
Having an adjustable table helps greatly. But the thing that has helped me the most is my backboard on my table. Keeping those dogs right up next to me so that I don't have to reach across the table has saved me from going home at night with my back burning.
Also, and now you may think me crazy, but I wear a magnetic necklace that has also helped with the back pain. It used to be that if my back started to hurt me while grooming, I was done for the night, but since wearing the magnetic necklace, my back may still hurt some days but once I stop grooming for the day the back pain goes away. Maybe it is all in my head, and if so that is okay. :)
Keep up the good work.
Lisa, MFF
I am sooo glad you posted those pics of the Schnauzer! It looks exactly like Dusty, the dog I took in (the before pic), just a different color. Your pic confirms, for me, beyond any doubt what he is. He seems to be Schnauzer in every way, but all the curls had thrown me off.... I was beginning to think he was crossed with a poodle. Amazing the difference grooming makes. It doesn't even look like the same dog! You are doing a WONDERFUL job! I truly admire your talents!
ReplyDeleteI brush Dusty, and trim off the mats he had (when I first got him) as they grow out away from the skin, but I am afraid he will just look like the dog in your first pic for awhile. LOL, people have a hard time believing he is a Schnauzer because he isn't what they are use to seeing a Schnauzer look like. I find it interesting that the groomed look, on these types of breeds, is what people now commonly associate with the actual look of the breed, me included.
Anna