EnChanted Paw- Pet Designs & Spa

Wire Fox Terrier puppy 1st hand strip

An Open Letter to Doodle Owners There’s a conversation going on in the grooming world, and it’s one that I think our clients should be privy to. The topic? Dood...les. And I’m talking labradoodles, goldendoodles, sheepadoodles, bernedoodles anything that has been mixed with a standard (sometimes mini) poodle or already existing doodle. The truth is, the popularity of these dogs is on the rise but the education that potential owners are getting regarding them is dropping. This can be attributed to a few factors, ranging from a breeder spreading lies to sell a puppy, to a family so entranced by the cuteness of a fluffy puppy that they overlook the potential high maintenance of what they’re getting into. So what I want to do is address these issues, include these owners in the conversation that’s happening in grooming salons all over the globe because as groomers we are frustrated! We are frustrated because so often we have to shave doodles due to matting, and those owners are frustrated because they don’t know what they’re doing wrong and like their dogs fluffy, and in turn get upset with the groomers, who are upset with the breeders for not giving out proper information to the owners when they take home a puppy! This can really hurt the rapport between a groomer and their clients, something we’d all like to avoid. The BIG untruth I’d like to address about these dogs is that they are low maintenance. This could not be further from the truth. If you are getting a doodle, you need to expect and prepare for daily home maintenance. This includes brushing AND combing, everyday. (With a slicker brush and metal greyhound comb). The end result should be the ability to get the comb from the root to tip of the hair. You always want to start with the slicker brush, as this will help break up any knots, and finish with the comb. Now, because doodles are not purebred (meaning they do not breed true, which is the characteristic of being able to predict and expect how the puppies will turn out) you may end up with a doodle that has a very thin and easily manageable coat, but you should always go in expecting the alternative. With all that being said, and this may seem counterintuitive, but what this routine should NOT include is baths at home. Without the proper tools, baths at home will only cause and expedite matting. Long coats need to be blow dried completely, and if they are towel dried and left to air dry and not brushed out, they will mat up. I will attach some pictures to show some examples of matting, because when you don’t use a comb and go all the way from the root to the tip, the top coat may seem mat-free while the root of the coat is completely matted. In addition to this point, if you want your doodle to have that well-known long and fluffy coat, they should be at the groomer every 4-6 weeks. This is in addition to the daily home maintenance. Bringing them to the groomer will ensure that they are clean and thoroughly brushed/combed. You can get them full haircuts or just trim ups the possibilities are many if the coat is well-maintained. The cost of grooming a doodle is not small. That’s the plain and simple truth of it. Doodle baths/grooms can range anywhere from $50 to upwards of $200. There are many things that are factored into this price. The type of coat the dog has, the condition of the coat, his/her behavior during grooming, and the time spent on the service. Many groomers have a base price for the breed, but this price will increase based on all of these factors. The last thing I want to address is when breeders say that doodles should not/do not need to be groomed before they are a year old. When this happens, their first groom is almost always a shavedown, right to the skin. Introducing grooming at an early age is imperative! Most groomers will have a puppy special of some sort, which is offered as early as 8 weeks. This will typically include nail clipping, ear cleaning, a bath, and a trim around their face, paws, and potty areas. If you don’t want your puppy to have a full haircut, you don’t have to! But you will still need to bring them in every 4-6 weeks both to get them acclimated to the grooming process and to keep them in the best shape possible. Their coat changes around six months of age and transitions from light, fluffy puppy hair to their adult coats. Their adult coats can have a variety of thicknesses and textures, but this transition can often lead to matting which is another reason to establish a regular home grooming routine and to be in to see your groomer every 4-6 weeks. The last thing a groomer wants to do is disappoint their client, we want you to love the work we do as much as we love it! That is why it is crucial to be fully educated about the maintenance of the puppy you are getting, to find a groomer with great reviews and have a conversation with them, learn from them, and take your pooch to see them often! Attached you will see a variety of pictures, volunteered from my peers around the country, demonstrating different types of matting. Many of them don’t look matted in the before pictures, but as you can see, their coats come off in complete sheets. It is DIRE to add that when dogs are in this shape it is EXTREMELY painful for them. Quite often underneath the matting we find bruising, hematomas, skin infections, etc. There is no option other than shaving to the skin in those cases. Please note that this is fully avoidable with proper and regular maintenance! I have also added pictures of a few of my doodles clients in longer coats, so you can see the other side of things. *****Please note! I am in no way saying that you must or should keep your dogs in longer lengths. If your dog is active or you prefer them short for easy maintenance, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! I am just trying to avoid any animal from becoming so matted that they face severe skin problems and injuries. And trying to prevent heartbroken or angry owners from vilifying their groomer for shaving what can only be shaved. *** This information is not isolated to doodles! Any dog with a longer coat needs regular maintenance! Dogs with shorter coats that shed need maintenance! All dogs need their nails clipped/filed. Every breed and every dog has its own requirements, so please, do your research!***

The patient once attached to this tooth had so-called ANESTHETIC-FREE teeth cleanings performed regularly for 5 years. According to his owner's, his teeth alway...s looked very 'clean'. The dog only presented to a veterinarian when the owner noticed worsening "doggy breath" and "wiggly" teeth. Following X-rays of his mouth (while the patient was anesthetized) the real problem was revealed and it lay beneath the gum-line (an area which receives zero attention during ANESTHETIC-FREE dentistry). EIghteen heavily diseased, incredibly PAINFUL, *healthy-looking* teeth were extracted from this poor dog's mouth that day. Can you see the rot on these tooth roots? Anesthetic-free teeth cleanings are worthless at best. Most of the time, they're dangerous because they deceive well-intentioned owners into believing that their pets' teeth are receiving adequate care. Proper dental care includes x-rays, a careful examination and a thorough scaling *below* the gum-line of every single tooth. Having someone merely clean the top of your pet's teeth is NOT dentistry, it's mere tooth-dressing. And it WILL hurt your pet in the long term. Please don't do it.

Had the privilege to groom this sweet little girl for @rockyroadrescue. She had quite a bit of matting, but with a little bit of patience I was able to get her cleaned up. She took it like a trooper and her personality really started to come out afterwards. Hopefully Sweetpea finds her forever home soon. She really deserves it. She currently isn't up for adoption yet, but if anyone is interested, keep an eye out on the Rocky Road Rescue's website for when she is posted for adoption.

Groomed the lovely Tilly yesterday. She is the sweetest mini schnauzer

Shih Tzu puppy 1st haircut

Hairless Chinese Crested with acne. Pictures are Before & After of doing 1 salt scrub using Dead Sea salt and mud. After picture was taken about 2-3 weeks later, but improvement was noticed a lot sooner.

It is extremely important to keep up on the maintenance of your dog's coat. As groomers, the overall safety and comfort of your pet is the utmost of importance. Matting is extremely painful and cuts off the blood circulation. Expecting a groomer to "brush out" an extremely matted dog in a few hours is unrealistic and no amount of money will persuade a reputable groomer to put a dog through that. If the matting is to the skin, solid, and cannot be brushed out within 30 minute...s max, then whatever blade that can safely fit between the mat and the skin will be used for removal. Many times have I heard the excuse that the dog was brushed out last night and that it matted overnight. Or, "I brushed him this morning, it happened on the way here". That is not how matting works. Brushing and maintaining your dog's coat at home is important. I know that sometimes it can be hard to maintain the long coats that people want, so it is important that you see your groomer regularly. If you are unable to brush at home at all, then go with a short style. Generally, a good rule of thumb for maintaining a haircut is every 8 weeks. If you like some length, don't want the "shaved" look, and have a hard time with brushing, then 1/2 inch of coat left on every 8 weeks is a good idea. Haircuts leaving on 1 inch or longer, it is very highly recommended that you come in every 8 weeks for a haircut and just for a bath and nails on the 4 week mark so your groomer can keep up with the coat. (Unless you are able to be extremely thorough with your brushing). It may take a couple visits, but your groomer can work with you and figure out your needs and the frequency/ length that works best for your lifestyle. Your dog will thank you. https://www.facebook.com/JustinChant/posts/10160113237970602