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Why do you want to take a dog-grooming course? Didn’t you learn how to bathe the family dog when you were a kid? Probably that is not the best way. You will learn allot in a course that will help you keep your pet clean and healthy without risking injury to your dog or yourself.Learn about different breedsFirst of all, a good dog grooming training course will teach you about the different breeds of dogs and the special grooming needs they have. A silky longhaired dog has different requirements that a fuzzy headed terrier and a good course will focus on the breeds of dogs the owners have. You will learn the best maintenance routine and supplies for your dog’s breed and temperament.Learn about dog grooming suppliesIn a dog grooming training course you will learn about the supplies you will need to carry out a grooming schedule. You will be instructed about good shampoos and skin care treatments for your pet. You will be told the best types of brushes, combs and dematting devices that will work for your breed of dog. Furthermore, the need for and proper use of devices such as toenail cutters with be provided. A good dog grooming training instructor will outline the best way to look for the parasites that love to get into your dogs hair and how to prevent them or remove them properly to avoid infection. Also in this category are ear mites, which you will learn to be on the lookout for and to treat.Learn grooming techniquesIn a dog grooming training course you will learn technique. Your dog is, at best, somewhat apprehensive about this grooming ritual and may even try to avoid it. Most dogs are easily distracted and have too much energy to hold still for long. You will be shown techniques to calm your dog before starting grooming, and to keep him from bolting out of the area covered with suds. You will be shown how to soothe your dog and introduce him to dog grooming tools like blow-dryers and electric trimmers. He may never get to like the buzz of an electric motor, but you will learn the best way to calm him or her enough so that he will stand still for it.In short, a good dog-grooming course will provide a roadmap for successful maintenance of your pet and the proper tools to use to do this safely and efficiently. It will also give you the confidence and know how to groom your pet in a loving way. A good dog-grooming course can be a giant step in forming a good relationship with your dog and keeping him healthy.
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Getting A Mobile Trailer For Dog Grooming
0 Comments | Posted by admin in Lhasa Apso Grooming
Tired of packing your big, hairy dog into the car for a ride across town with a panting, barking animal for his weekly groom, only to find your car needs one too afterward? Mobile dog grooming has become a necessity for many of us who don’t have time to get the pooch and the car washed in the same day. The demand for this service is ever growing, causing many dog-loving entrepreneurs to consider taking up this business.When looking to start a mobile dog grooming business, the most important asset will be your mobile trailer. What kind will you start with?First of all, size does matter. Even if environmental considerations are not primary on your list (and they should be) an overly large trailer is a poor choice. The larger your trailer is the more gas you will consume, thus eating into your profit margin. A large trailer will put more strain your vehicle’s suspension and brakes. You may think it looks grand but in reality anything over a 5 foot by 8 foot trailer will be very difficult to maneuver in traffic and hard to see around in your rear view mirror. Remember, you will be spending almost as much time driving as brushing and bathing, so look for a trailer that is easy to tow and inexpensive to maintain.Price is always and issue and depends upon your individual budget, in the final analysis. Should be able to purchase a trailer with all you need for between 15, and 25,000. It will be your decision to personalize it and make your mobile dog-grooming trailer a good advertisement as well as a rolling pet care salon.Your other major choice is whether to buy a bare trailer and outfit it yourself or buy one fully equipped. I would personally opt for the other every time for the convenience and time saving aspects. But if you choose the other direction, you will need a good-sized water tank, grooming station and bathing areas, a floor drain, air-conditioning and several sources of natural light. These are not just things to enhance your work environment; they are essentials to performing the work professionally.The material of choice for your trailer is easy to clean aluminium or stainless steel. After purchasing a trailer with these basics, you may want to choose from many useful add ons. Look thoroughly at the various types of equipment offered and choose those that will come in handy and really make your work go more smoothly. Avoid impulse buying when viewing extra equipment.A wise “extra” is a special paint job that will make your van a good source of advertising. Decorate your moving billboard in an eye catching manner, with your telephone numbers and website plainly visible. You may include your hours of operation or the breeds of dogs that you like to handle. Do not include price information or too much wording that could get in the way of your important contact information. Of course, you will also want to advertise in conventional ways, such as the yellow pages, on the Internet, in the local newspaper and, occasionally, handouts and flyers posted around the neighbourhood.Armed with the proper equipment and advertising, you are off to a good start with your new career keeping spaniels shiny and poodles pouffed!
Now that you have figured out how to best feed and exercise your pet, or made the decision to provide dog grooming services yourself, just what do you need to carry out your good intentions?Bathing supplies and area You will, of course need an area to bathe your pet, complete with good drainage and a hose device for quick and thorough rinsing. Specially formulated shampoo and conditioner are must haves and you may have to spend a bit of time researching and trying several before you find the best for your breed of dog. After bathing, your pet needs to be patted down with a designated, super absorbent towel and a quick blow dry. You may even want to invest in a commercial dog blow dryer that comes on a stand that the dog can be strapped into. This is a real aid for long haired dogs and their owners, since drying time can be prolonged. It is important to dry the dog’s coat quickly before it develops tangles and become matted.Brushes and combsBrushes and combs are important not only as a beauty aid to provide a silky coat but for maintaining a healthy coat. Even short haired breeds must have regular brushing to remove excess hair that allows the skin to breath. Brushing with a soft brush feels good, calms the dog and makes the coat shine. But using a hard wire brush and/or comb, is the only way to remove debris and tangles. It is also a good way to check for ticks, fleas and other parasites. The brush or comb may be made of metal or hard plastic but must have fine enough to ferret out those invaders and stand up to tangles without breaking. Dog toenail clippersDog toenail clippers are a must have and come in scissor or guillotine style. They should be used biweekly or more often, according to how fast the nails grow. Keeping your pets nails trimmed will prevent nail splitting. Scissors and trimmersScissors and trimmers should be specially designed for your breed of dog. Scissors should be blunt ended to avoid possible injury from a jumpy pet and trimmers must be strong enough to do the job efficiently. Get an electric trimmer with enough power to quickly shave and trim areas of dense fur without clogging and stalling.Together with these must have dog grooming tools is your love and dedication to keeping your pet clean, attractive and healthy. Your attitude will help make dog grooming less of a chore and a really pleasant bonding experience.
The Shih Tzu is sometimes called the “little lion” because this is a small dog with a huge heart and even bigger personality. It’s fairly well accepted that the Shih Tzu is the result of crossing the Lhasa Apso and Pekingese. The origins of the Shih Tzu can be traced back several centuries to China where this breed found favor with many of the nobles. It’s said that some kept extensive kennels of this particular breed and that some worked at furthering the breed, at least to some degree.
While many dogs were freely traded, spreading various breeds throughout the world, the Shih Tzu was protected by the Chinese for many centuries. In fact, it wasn’t until less than 100 years ago that the first of these little dogs was allowed outside their native land. During the early years of this breed, trading, selling and transporting of the dogs to anyone who would take them out of China was strictly forbidden.
The Shih Tzu has a double coat with the outer coat growing to several inches long. The hair just above the nose grows up and this feature has given the Shih Tzu another of its nicknames – Chrysanthemum Face. This nickname derives because the little dog’s face looks almost like a flower, framed by this profusion of hair.
Anyone who loves a furry dog will likely find the Shih Tzu irresistible. Most owners tie up a topknot of hair on the top of the Shih Tzu’s head. This isn’t a fashion statement, but a matter of convenience for the dog. Like unruly bangs, this hair hangs down into the dog’s face, obscuring his vision and sometimes irritating the eyes. For this reason, many owners create the topknot and use the opportunity for pretty bows or ribbons.
Shih Tzus come in a variety of colors, though it seems that black and white are among the more common. It’s been said that show judges tend to look for a white forehead and seem to prefer that the tip of the tail is also white, though that’s not an official requirement. As a rule, the color of the eyes varies with the color of the coat – darker on dark dogs and lighter on the pale colored dogs. Regardless of the color, the eyes always seem alert to anything going on around the Shih Tzu. It’s almost as if these little dogs don’t want to miss out on anything, so they remain extremely watchful.
The personality of the Shih Tzu varies from one dog to the next and is one of the best characteristics of this dog. Most Shih Tzus are very playful, but have a stubborn streak and can be a bit grouchy if treated roughly. As a rule, a Shih Tzu will act differently depending on his mood and the situation. He can appear completely above the goings on around him, or be right in the middle of everything. That’s not to say these are standoffish dogs – quite the contrary. Most Shih Tzus want to be included, but will act aloof if it seems to suit their purposes. Perhaps they simply want to be begged into play!
