Don't Shave My Dog!

I've been in the grooming industry for three years and one of the biggest complaints that I get is to not shave down a customer’s dog. The poor dog is usually a toy or miniature breed of some sort and has a long or curly coat.

What most pet owners don't understand is that they have a "Groom" dog. Maintenance is usually required for these breeds. Some breed examples are Poodles, Bichones, Shih-Tzu’s, Maltese, Havanese, and Schnauzers. Again, these are just some examples.

If you keep your dogs coat long make sure that you are brushing/combing at least every other day. Matting occurs when the dirt and oil build up on the dogs coat causing the strands of fur to adhere to each other. Over time this process builds on its self and your dog develops a nasty matt.

Matting usually occurs on the face around the muzzle, on and behind the ears, and legs.
In extreme cases matting occurs all over the body, even around the private areas.
This is not only painful for your dog but can cause skin issues as well. Moisture grows under the matted fur causing yeast infection as well as a host of other skin issues. Yeast infection smells like nasty toe jam. Don't be afraid to stick your nose to your dogs’ fur.
Does this happen every single time? No. But rest assured that it will happen sooner or later.

Usually the request we get is to "just pull the mats". It's not that simple.
Pulling small mats in a localized area is possible and ethical. If a groomer states that they will pull heavy mats on your dog then your groomers’ ethics are in question.
Plain and simple, it HURTS and there is no reason to put the dog through this.
Not to mention that your groomer does not want to be bit that day. Your dog is not biting because its mean, it's biting because it hurts.

Your groomer should use a #7 or #10 blade to shave down your dog. Some times your groomer will use a combination of blades to get through the coat.
In bad cases, your groomer may advise that you go to your local vet for the shave down.
When your dog is in this type of condition, know that you run the risk of your dog getting knicks, cuts, and burns.

This does not happen every single time but it can happen on badly matted dogs. Remember your groomer does not go out of their way to hurt your dog. They take every precaution against this and care about their furry customers welfare.
That being said, if your groomers’ equipment is not in good shape, such as dull blades, old clippers, extra blades to swap when one blade heats up, Kool Lube, etc... Then burns and knicks could happen. (Kool Lube is a brand of spray for hot blades.)

Just be aware that if you bring your dog to the groomer in horrible condition, you should not complain to your groomer about knicks, burns, and cuts as you were not doing your job at home.
Don't be surprised if your groomer charges you more for this visit. It takes the groomer longer to shave down a matted dog. This extra time could have been used to groom a dog in good condition.

Don't be afraid to ask your groomer how to take care of your pets coat. She/He should be very happy to show you. Your dog will love you for it.
If you have a dog that bites you for brushing and combing then you might want to check into some training. Don't be afraid to ask your groomer or vet for some advice. Chances are if your dog bites you, your dog will bite anyone else trying to groom them.

Remember the vast majority of groomers are in the business because they love animals and have an artistic gift to make them look good. If they say your dog(s) need a shave down, chances are it’s for their own good.