Category Archives: Grooming aka Bath & Body Work

Shih Tzu Day 43: Practice for Final Dog Grooming Class

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dog grooming class: bathing is for the birds

two female shih tzus in a dog bedMy homework for the Gentle Groomer dog grooming class last night was to bathe Candy before grooming class today, and do a little tidying up before the finishing touches. I watched the video with John (after figuring out how to use Mac’s Preview), and we began by putting cotton balls in her ears to prevent water getting in them, and in ours, as a reminder to take it out of her ears later, as I learned in dog grooming class. We didn’t have our dog shampoo yet, so, per Lia’s instructions, we diluted no tears baby shampoo with three parts water in a large squeeze bottle.

Shouldn't I get more food, since Flower has been bad?We washed the dirtiest parts first, which happened to be the feet and legs. We carefully cleaned between her toes and scrubbed her legs, leaving the shampoo on while we finished up with her back and face, being careful not to get water in her nose.

I know that she hates the blow dryer, but I didn’t want to leave her wet, so I held her firmly and got her at least partially dry. We had to do a little clipper trimming later, and she fought us, but eventually calmed down enough to allow us to get quite a bit done. I also have to get dog toe nail clippers, so that will have to wait.

Flower shows her trust in mommy

I'm trying to trust you, Mom. Flower surprised me and John by letting me get near her with the trimmer. Although she was dismissed from dog grooming school today, I was determined to get further with grooming her, since Lia had left half for me to do. I brought the leash to Shih Tzu Central, and Flower halfheartedly attempted to escape, but then let me put it on her.

She tried to run when I gently pulled her towards me, but quickly stopped fighting. She stayed still while I ran the clipper down her back and trimmed her ears. She put her head down on my knee, and although I knew I wasn’t supposed to let her, I left it there and took the opportunity to pull a little hair out of her ears. I was going to try to trim the pads of her feet, but I couldn’t remember how to swap out the blades, so I decided to leave that for another day.

Lia had told me that the final dog grooming class would be a good opportunity to have someone come and videotape it, since we would both be working on dogs. Rema and Oriana thought it sounded like fun, so I told them Leticia I would pick them up a little before 5 o’clock for the final dog grooming class adventure.

Shih Tzu Day 42: Kicked Out Of Dog Grooming School

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dog grooming school practice

Dottie went yesterday. Who's going today?I might have a hard time composing myself to write this, because I had a very hard day! It’s all the fault of Mom and that lady named Lia at Gentle Groomers. And maybe it’s even Candy and Dottie’s fault! I know it’s not mine. I didn’t decide to go to stupid dog grooming school!

The day didn’t start out all that bad. We had our yummy food outside, and then Dottie and I went inside. Candy likes to be by herself, so she went and sat under what the man calls a trailer.

You come near me with that water, and you will live to regret it!Later, the man went and brought her inside. Mom said since she couldn’t figure out how to watch the videos from dog grooming school, she’d have to do her homework by memory, with his help. She got that obnoxiously loud thing and cut fur off of Candy. The lady named Lia at the dog grooming school said she had to cut fur off of her paws and her “woo-hoo.” Giggle. Her woo-hoo! I guess that’s where we have to wee-wee. Anyway, I’m glad it wasn’t my woo-hoo they were trimming for dog grooming school. I like my woo-hoo as it is.

Didn't I warn you!!We decided we weren’t going to spend much time with Mom today, because of this dog grooming school thing. Plus, I don’t like the fact that Mom makes me drag this leash around behind me. I don’t know what she thinks she’s going to accomplish that way. Someone told her that if she did that, we’d learn how to walk with her on a leash. No way!

dog grooming school dropout

I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti! Silence of the Shih TzusMom made us get in the car again and took us to that strange place again. Having to take the car ride was bad enough. Then, this time, instead of getting Dottie out of the kennel, they got me out. It wasn’t funny! Mom let that lady set me up on that table. She put that thing on my neck that she told Mom would keep me from jumping down. She told Mom that she would do “half” of me and Mom would groom the other half. I sat there patiently for a while as she clipped me, but I didn’t like it. Then, she did something that didn’t feel good, and I decided that I’d had enough. I started fighting them, until Lia put a “seat belt” around me, to make me stay on the table. I really don’t like this woman!

I pretended like I was getting calm to make them take the seat belt off me. After they did, I got even. I waited for my chance, and then I jumped up, pulling my neck out of that noose, and jumped backwards off the table. You should have seen their faces!

Thanks, Flower! I bet they would have left me alone if it hadn't been for you!Mom and Lia tried to catch me, but they couldn’t. I was angry, but I was a little afraid, too, and, well, you know what I do when I’m afraid. I can’t help it. I heard Mom say she’d get a paper towel and pick up the poop off the floor. Lia told her I needed a bath, because she couldn’t finish grooming me. Good! I didn’t want to be groomed anyway.

Lia put me in this tub and put something around my neck so I wouldn’t try to jump out, but I was sick of her touching me! I jumped and fought and scratched and kicked — except I guess I wDo you think you could blow that another way? Like towards Flower?as fighting with myself. Lia and Mom just stood there watching me. Mom got concerned because Lia told her I bit my tongue. I did, and it hurt! It also hurt when I hit my head on the tub, several times. I thought if I kept banging it against the tub, Mom would come to my rescue. What’s a dog supposed to do when they don’t want to be groomed or take a bath?? I wish I could talk to someone about animal abuse, but Lia said I was doing all the damage. Well, I guess I was, but it really was their fault.

My shenanigans, as Mom calls them, worked. Lia said I didn’t have to get groomed after all. In fact, she recommended Mom take me to obedience class and gave her some names. That will be the day!

Shih Tzu Day 37: Candy The Lap Dog – Kind Of

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Candy, the sort of lap dog

I have been wondering how the shih tzus would handle their next round of company: my mother, her niece, Becky, visiting from Midland, Texas; her daughter, Teresa; Teresa’s 16-year-old daughter, Heather, and her 19-year-old son, Alex.

When the visitors first arrived, the shih tzus exhibited their normal unsocial behavior. Candy fled to her corner in the dining room, beyond the table and chairs. Flower ran from Shih Tzu Central, jumped up onto my couch, jumped back down and ran to hide behind the dining table. And, yes, she did leave a trail of poop behind her, particularly on the couch where I had been planning on having my guests sit. I explained her problem and went around the living room and dining room, picking up poop.

Dottie stayed at Shih Tzu Central, growling her disapproval. It always surprises me when she growls, since she is so passive. Shiloh, of course, wandered around visiting everyone personally.

All of our guests are dog people. Heather and Alec attempted to get to know all of the shih tzus. Dottie eventually took treats from them, but the other two kept their distance.

I did something I hadn’t ever attempted to do. I went and got Candy, picked her up and held her on my lap, even though, like her sisters, she is not a lap dog. She stayed there, calmly, for at least thirty minutes, before letting me know she was tired of company. When I let her down, she wandered back to the corner in the dining room, where she could watch at a comfortable distance. I explained to our company that, regrettably, none of the girls were lap dogs.

who stole the Milo’s Kitchen chicken jerky?

While our visitors were here, we watched YouTube dog videos they told us about. One particularly funny one was about a guy trying to find out which of two dogs had stolen the cat’s treats. The video was even more appropriate after I returned from a late lunch.

When I walked in the living room, I spotted a torn and empty Milo’s Kitchen chicken jerky bag on the floor. I realized that after letting Alec and Heather try to bribe the dogs, I hadn’t put away the treats. I don’t know where they had put them, but someone had found them. I thought that the 18 oz. bag had been at least half full.

I assume that the shih tzu sisters shared the bag, while poor Shiloh, in his kennel, had to watch them have all the fun without him. What surprised me was that none of them exhibited signs of an upset stomach. Of course, no one confessed to the crime.

Shih tzu poopy

While I was cleaning up poop earlier, my mother commented that she never expected to see me cleaning up after animals. I agree. This is all new to me. John was the one who mostly cared for Joey, a genuine lap dog.

I definitely am getting a lot of experience in the clean up area now. After company left, I had to give Flower’s back half a bath. After using plenty of shampoo and water and using the scissors to cut out some particularly problem areas, Flower was back to normal. I only hope I can keep her that way for a while.

I also made a discovery today. I know that at least one shih tzu uses the training pad regularly. I know Dottie does, although she gets as much on the carpet as the pad. This evening, I watched Flower squat down right next to the pad. I ordered her to stop, but before I got there, she had done her business.

We still have plenty of work ahead of us, including housebreaking and creating a genuine lap dog or two!

Shih Tzu Day 34: Flower Makes a Record Jump

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Flower Gets Jumpy

Dottie and Flower came “Sesame Streeting” up to the bed at 6 this morning. They came and left several times, with Shiloh jumping up and down off the bed constantly. I finally told John this morning that when he gets up in the early morning hours to take Shiloh out, I’d like him to put him in his kennel until after the morning greetings with the girls are over.

This morning, however, since that hadn’t started yet, when I felt paws land on the bed, I thought it was Shiloh jumping up from the floor. When I opened my eyes, both Shiloh and Flower were sitting on the bed.I couldn’t believe Flower had made that jump, with those legs. Down, I’d believe, but not up. She must have just done it to prove she could, because she only sat there for a few minutes before jumping back down.

Of course, none of it was on video, since none of the shih tzus appear to want to be on camera.

Dottie kept pawing at the bed, but when I tried to pick her up, she wouldn’t let me. She finally did, and she stayed on the bed with us for several minutes.

Bath Time Again

The girls weren’t happy to find out that it was bath day. I had been threatening to bathe them again, and told John this morning that since we were up a little early, I thought it was a good day.

It’s the first time John and I washed all three of them together. We had it all done by 8. The bathing went pretty smoothly, except Flower bolted when John first started helping, then she calmed down.

We did Flower first, since she is the pack leader, then Candy, since Dottie does better.
I should have taken time in between to try to comb them a little while they were on my lap. Flower might have done okay. Dottie sat on my lap patiently and let me comb her. I love how soft they feel when they’ve had a bath. When I tried to approach Flower again, she ran like crazy. Candy let me pick her up but fought when I tried to comb her. I gave up on that idea. I also didn’t try the blow dryer. I’ll see what Lia teaches me about that.

Dottie and Flower liked the Cesar Softies filet mignon treats I gave them afterwards. Candy tried a few, but spit it out each time. Shiloh didn’t get a bath, but he got the treats anyway.

Shiloh Makes a Friend

It was cool in the evening, so I took Shiloh to Bed, Bath and Beyond and left him in the car for about five minutes while I went inside. When I came out, a guy who had pulled up next to me was saying hello to Shiloh, who was standing up in the passenger seat, looking out the window. The guy said he was very sweet. I should have said, “And he’s looking for a home.”I think I should ask Delores for one of those “Adopt Me” harnesses, to call attention to him.

I gave the dogs each a couple pieces of Pup Corn after I got back from the store. To continue trying to get them used to John, he gave them small pieces of Milo’s Kitchen beef jerky outside. We were pleased that Flower didn’t bark, so they were all more relaxed. Also, Flower came up to him more easily for her treat than usual.

Shih Tzu Day 27: In Need of a Dog Groomer

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Flirting with Shiloh tired me out.

Dog Groomer Needed!

After Flower finished her wild romping with Candy and Shiloh, she paid me a visit on the couch. While she sat with me, I called Clear Creek Animal Hospital, to find out how much it would cost to take these little shih tzus in for grooming, even though I don’t want to do anything until the are comfortable in the car. I assume it will be roughly what we used to pay for Joey, times three. Gulp.

The hospital’s dog groomer has been on leave, so they referred me to Lia at the Gentle Groomer in Arvada. I called and had an interesting conversation with her. I asked her if she thought it would be possible for me to stay with the shih tzus if I brought them in, since they were fearful dogs. I know; I sounded like an overprotective mother.

Lia told me that she had been dealing with fearful dogs for years, since many animal rescues refer people who need a dog groomer to her, and that from her experience, it was best to act like there was no problem, and the dogs would follow the lead.

I don't suppose you want to give me another treat?Getting to a dog groomer

I told her that their fear included car rides, so I thought it would be hard to get them to a dog groomer. She said that what works for many people is loading the dog up and taking it to McDonald’s, buying something on the menu and sitting there with the fearful dog, giving it some of the hamburger or fries, whatever catches their attention. She said to do that three days in a row, and the dog will associate the car with the pleasant experience and not be afraid anymore. She also suggested taking a bag of hot dog pieces with you to the vet or dog groomer and having the person feed them to the dog to get rid of that fear.

Lia didn’t have any immediate openings, but she said if I came by, she would talk to me for a few minutes about small ways I could groom the girls in the meantime. I decided I was going to take Dottie to the dog groomer with me, and afterwards, we’d stop at McDonald’s. I’ not sure how good the idea is, since many people would probably say I shouldn’t give them junk food, but I might as well give it a shot.

I was having a great day until you made me wear this harness.Lia and I talked about the idea of me taking a grooming class from her, versus paying a dog groomer the cash (approximately $40 a piece) needed to groom three dogs every six to eight weeks. I am deciding if I want to do that in August. It would be $100 for the dog groomer class, but then I would need to buy the grooming tools. I am also going to contact a mobile dog groomer I heard about. Delores at BFF Rescue had thought that would be a good solution, but if I can get the girls used to the car, I probably won’t have to do that.