Ultimate Dog Grooming - Softcover

Geeson, Eileen; Vetter, Barbara; Whitmore, Lia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554073286 ISBN 13: 9781554073283

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2007

Synopsis

Ultimate Dog Grooming reveals the secrets of the industry's top groomers. Featuring more than 500 full-color photographs and hundreds more step-by-step sketches of grooming techniques, this book provides specifics for 170 dog breeds.

The first section of the book covers caring for and grooming a pet dog: how to keep its coat healthy; tips for routine care; how to bathe a dog; and how to choose a groomer. The second section covers grooming as a profession, including starting a grooming business; choosing and buying equipment; how to detect coat and skin disorders; and tips on handling problems that commonly arise.

The third section covers specific grooming information for the 170 individual breeds. Each chapter is dedicated to a type of coat and then further organized into step-by-step instructions for grooming each breed from start to finish. Insider tips on preparing a dog for show are also included.

Ultimate Dog Grooming is the ideal reference for learning how to clip, strip and blow-dry a dog. Pet owners as well as professional groomers, handlers, trainers and dog-daycare specialists will treasure this definitive reference book.

About this title

About the Author

Eileen Geeson is the author of The Complete Standard Poodle and a contributor to the grooming section of Ultimate Puppy. A championship show judge, she has a world record of Standard Poodle entries and 30 years dog grooming experience.

Barbara Vetter owned a grooming shop for 15 years.

Lia Whitmore has a Masters Certificate with the National Dog Groomers' Association of America.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: COAT TYPES

Many people think grooming is all about clipping Poodles, but it is much more than that. Grooming is the act of keeping the skin and coat in a healthy, clean, balanced state. It also involves the maintenance of teeth, ears and nails.

Grooming is an integral part of dog care. Not only does it keep the animal clean and looking good, but it is also a social act that strengthens the relationship between handler and dog.

How you groom a dog depends on the breed, coat type and the owner's personal preferences. Anyone can put a dog on a table and brush its coat up and down for a few moments, but with a little thought and hard work, both dog and owner can enjoy the experience and, who knows, you may be a future Groomer of the Year as a result!

Buying a Dog: Coat Considerations

Among the many breeds of dog, there is a tremendous difference in the types of coat. Certainly, one should take this into serious consideration before taking on a breed of dog.

• Can you cope with the hair?
• Will the dog require professional grooming help? (See Chapter Four.)
• Can you afford the outlay of regular trips to the grooming parlor?
• Are you, or any of your family, asthmatic or allergic to shedding dog hair or dandruff or both?
• Could you cope with all those long curls that get covered with mud during a wet walk?

These are just a few questions that need to be considered before deciding on the right breed for your family. It is wise to speak to owners of your shortlisted breeds before making your final choice.

Your national kennel club will be able to put you in contact with breed clubs of those types of dogs you might be interested in. The club representatives can tell you how demanding the coat care is for their particular breed so you will know exactly what you will be taking on.

It is a good idea to consult a groomer to inquire about the cost of grooming sessions before making a final decision on which breed is right for your family. Additionally, groomers, who have worked with dogs of many breeds for many years, often have valuable knowledge to impart about the characteristics of different breeds.

For full information on grooming different coat types and the equipment needed, see Part Three.

Puppy Coats

Puppies of all breeds have a softer coat than they will have on gaining maturity, and it is easy to underestimate the grooming that is required as the dog matures.

Poodles, for instance, have a soft, fluffy wool coat that is easy to keep until they are about 7 months of age, when the coat will thicken. Unless it is properly groomed, the coat will mat or felt against the skin, especially if the coat gets wet and is left to its own devices to dry.

Basic Coat Types

There are many different types of coats. Part Three of this book is organized into the following categories:

• The short coat (example: the Whippet)
• The long coat (example: the Yorkshire Terrier)
• The corded/curly coat (example: The Curly-Coated Retriever)
• The medium/silky coat (example: the Irish Setter)
• The thick coat (example: the Finnish Lapphund)
• The stripped coat (example: the Airedale Terrier)
• The trimmed/clipped coat (example: the Bichon Frise)

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1554073286
• ISBN 13: 9781554073283
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288