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Miniature Schnauzer » Miniature Schnauzer Forum
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I'm in a Hair-raising Sitch

This is a forum for bonding with your fellow Dogsters about the traits, quirks and idiosyncrasies of your favorite breed. Please remember that there are absolutely no animal sales or requests for studding or breeding allowed on our sites. All posts and interactions should be in the spirit of Dogster's Community Guidelines and should be fun, friendly and informational. Enjoy!

  
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Rufus

Have teeth, will- bite		 
 
Barked: Wed Aug 27, '08 11:19pm PST 
Well, actually, my mommy is. I like to drive her nuts with my grooming. She says "Hello! Glad to join here!" btw. Mothers.

Back on topic, you getting a brush near me, you can count on me to claw, twist and do whatever it takes to get out of her arms. Even her new velcro mouth muzzle isn't doing the trick, I can thrash my head about on the table until she gives up. What can I say, I'm a brat when it comes to that frilly stuff. She considered bringing me to a professional groomer until a vet told her they might have to sedate me seeing how uncooperative I am.shock

So she's trying to learn how to groom me herself, I suppose. Her problem is, since my (undercoat) hair's all matted up (MAJOR matting esp on the legs) she's looking for any solution apart from having to cut it all off and having me end up all bald. She loves me all fluffy now. She's tried putting conditioner, etc, but it doesn't help when I don't let her brush me at all. Is taking it all off and starting anew the only solution?

Also, since I'm in the asking mode, is it normal for me to have blue-gray circles reflecting in my eyes, when seen at certain angles? I keep telling my mom to chill, it's just developing lenses and not some scray eye condition, but she's worried, esp after reading up on my breed's health profile.

Much thanks, biscuits to you all!
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Millo

pawprints on- pillows		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 29, '08 2:23am PST 
My little Millo had the same problem. From 3-about 5 months he would paw at the brush and bite it. I was surprised because I started with the soft bristles and thought he would like the sensation. I remembered what the trainer told me to do with my other dog. I keep treats close to me and as I brushed him, I talked gently to him and give him treats. Remember to talk isn't easy when you are trying to concentrate on the task and sometimes the silence can make the dog feel insecure. Also, he was deathly afraid of the water and now he sits in the sink and waits for his treats that are nearby and in close view. Once when we visted my sister's house, she had lots of weeds on the side of the house and Mill's had a bunch of those small pricky little small balls attached to him. Don't know what they are called but they are painful because I've had some in my socks. I had to hold him while my newphew cut out the weeds from his hair. On his 6 month b-day he went in for his first grooming appt and he was on his best behavior. He didn't try to fuss and acted better with strangers.
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Millo

pawprints on- pillows		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 29, '08 2:28am PST 
I forgot to mention the eye color. I noticed the same thing and it was only because my other dog is going on 12 and it almost looked like the same type of fog they get as they get older. Now that he is 6 months, I don't notice it as much. I am going to talk to my vet at my next wellness appt. Come to think of it, she didn't say anything the first two time I took him in for his puppy wellness and once again because I wanted to make sure he was gaining the right amt, of weight, so I am not too worried but let me know what you find out
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Uschi

Can I fit my- head through- that?		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 29, '08 7:13pm PST 
The Uschi monster is a monster when it comes to most of the more simple aspects of grooming (the sight of a brush coming her way is enough to start her biting and roaring).

I try to make grooming a neutral to positive experience while keeping things calm (too much energy, even of the happy sort is a bad thing with Uschi). At first I tried to use treats, but I had my reasons for stopping. Now I do most of Uschi's grooming when she's tired or distracted so that she's less likely to struggle.

I don't use a brush if I can avoid it, and since I groom her at least once a week, most of the time a brush isn't necessary. I use a comb with teeth of two different widths for her back and a really fine toothed comb of the sort beauticians use to part hair to work on her eyebrows, beard, chest, stomach and leg hair. I try to determine the difference between tangles and mats by trying to pull them apart with my fingers. If they don't come apart easily, I figure them to be mats and just cut them off. I know cutting hair off isn't always desirable, but I figure if it's a mat it's not worth the effort to try and brush it out when there's the rest of the dog to deal with.

When I work with her I pay careful attention to what her body language is telling me. If she's getting would up and I can tell I'm not hurting her I tell her to calm down. If I'm hurting her, I stop what I'm doing and talk to her until she's calm before carefully going back to working on the area. For really intensive grooming efforts (like the time I discovered that half of her neck hair was close to matting) I work on it a little bit at a time every day.
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Rufus

Have teeth, will- bite		 
 
Barked: Mon Sep 1, '08 10:21am PST 
Hi, Millo and Uschi! My mommy saw your pics and have been ooh- and ahh-ing non-stop. I'm starting to feel insecure, hehe. Especially now that she's cut off the mats on my legs which now look so skinny frown But, hey, it will grow back and so far, my brushing session is less stressful for her and I am lump-free once again. (You have no idea how hard I made it for her to cut the mats!)

And I hear it's off to the groomer soon. Maybe they can do something about the whorl of unmanageable hair between my eyes. It's kinda hard to see. And I want dignified "eyebrows" so I can show off my eyes!

Uschi, thanks! My mommy started brushing me when I'm sleepy, I don't put up as big a fight as I normally do, so good tip... i think... tricky mommies....

Millo, thanks for the tip also, will tell my mom to do that. Normally she wishes she had eight arms just to manage to groom me, but maybe that'll work. I like treats! Learning "Sit!" made it quick for me to learn with the treats, so will give it a go. About the eyes, my vet says not to worry, but won't elaborate further what the circles are thinking Self-research so far results to normal developing lenses....
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Brynn

Nothing but- love......and- trouble :)		 
 
Barked: Sun Sep 7, '08 5:58pm PST 
Hi
Before my momma rescued me, my foster parent would have to have me sedated just to get a comb near me. I was also deathly afraid of the clippers. But after my momma rescued me she started taking me to the groomer. I have the best groomer at Petsmart. They gave me treats and talked to me real softly but the first time there they had to sedate me. since I have been steadily going and I always get the same groomer (Hi Dana) I no longer get sedated. I love going to Petsmart to get my day at the doggie spa. Also, my momma can comb me and I am not scared. My biggest problem is being still. I just can't do that very well. But I am no longer scared of the comb or the clippers. It just took time, patience, and praise and treats to get better and letting my momma keep me looking cute.
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Cody

I love to learn- new tricks :)		 
 
Barked: Fri Sep 12, '08 10:11pm PST 
Hi,

My mom uses a slicker brush. My girl, moms daughter, saw a great show on Animal Planet, that really helped them brush me. My girl holds a treat in between 2 of her fingers while my mom uses a slicker brush to brush my hair. The treat takes my mind of of the brush. They do this once or twice a week....and before my girl used the treat trick...it wasn't fun getting brushed.

I went to the groomers yesterday and the gal that groomed me told my mom that I did great! She said that she would love to groom me again. I think we do better sometimes with strangers...plus they have all of the right equipment. I hope this helps.

Hugs!!
Cody
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Rufus

Have teeth, will- bite		 
 
Barked: Wed Nov 12, '08 5:09pm PST 
You didn't recognize me, huh??

I left a babe and came home a professor... er, a man. This is a pic of me just after my very first cut. I look so serious, I think my mommy kinda misses my baby mop look. I am barely a year old, y'know. Other than that, she loves that she can see my eyes and that I can actually use them, hehe, now that there's no more hair obstructing them. And I've brows party

Brynn, you are so cute! I like the pic in your gallery where you're all tucked in. I was worried they might sedate me too, as my vet cautioned since I'm so hyper, so I was on my best (with shaky legs!) behavior while they groomed me, so that they won't have to.

Cody, though I don't have much fur to brush anymore, my mom still tries to groom my sides, legs, and face, but I still resist! I'd drop whatever treats I have as soon as those needles touch me. She uses the slicker brush, but it annoys me... so she's looking around for a fine toothed comb or something, anything that's not prickly? Btw, my mommy loves your gallery pics, and will copy your 'do. Did I just say 'do?? Woof. Anyway, she thinks it's a great balance between groomed and looking like a baby still-- it's the mustache, no?
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Shelby-Reese

I love Kisses		 
 
Barked: Sun Nov 16, '08 1:02pm PST 
I agree with Uschi I groom Shelby when she's tired before we both go to bed. I have her in her bed in front of me while I watch tv to pass the time and she falls asleep in her bed and I comb any exposed area and she'll wake up and flip over and I'd do that side. The key is patience sometimes it'll take me 30-45 minutes but the tv keeps me entertained. I noticed that as I got more frustrated and tied her down she'd think I'm playing and would get rougher and less workable.

Oh and treats and toys work too I stuff her rope toy in her mouth and get her on her back to brush down her chest and armpit area quickly. Then I go over it with a wire brush and she's all fluffy and she goes to bed and wakes up to get all matted again confused

It'll be easier now that you're starting over with no matts less tramatic for your pup and it'll be easier to get use to being brushed.
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Sandy

pet me, not- Maxx!		 
 
Barked: Thu Dec 4, '08 1:42pm PST 
I freak out when Mom tries to comb me. Usually she can tease knots out by hand or with small hair shears when I'm calm. Last night she actually managed to comb my belly for a few minutes before I snapped at the comb, so this is great progress!
But I don't know those people at the groomer's, so I whine a lot, but I behave for them!
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