My previous dog Kaya, a German Shorthaired Pointer (now deceased), was certainly low maintenance when it
came to grooming (pretty much the only thing she was low maintenance at!).
Except for routine nail clipping, the occasional bath (we live near the beach
so her frequent swims often saved me the trouble), and a quick once-over with
the slicker brush, she’d always look perfectly groomed, beautifully sleek and
shiny. My new dog Penny is another story altogether. A Wirehaired
Dachshund with the propensity to grow a rather unwieldy, shaggy coat that tends
to pick up fallen leaves, twigs, dirt and other debris definitely requires some
regular grooming time. The only problem is, my incredibly busy schedule makes
it nearly impossible to get myself to the beauty salon, let alone my dog. So, I
came up with a solution…  I decided that I’d brush-up (pardon the pun), on my
home grooming skills. I enlisted the help of some of my pet industry friends
who carry top of the line grooming products and other helpful items to make
Penny’s and my home-grooming time together a stress-free and enjoyable
experience. Here are some of the products I use:

I really, really love the smell of Gordon McIntyre shampoos (especially Hyland Snowdrops), they lather up beautifully and leave a luscious, light and lingering scent.

 

 

Bathtime used to mean I ended up soaking wet but not now that I’ve enlisted the help of my trusty Crypton apron. Its integrated moisture barrier keeps me dry and my grooming shears, nail clippers, comb and brush are within easy reach in the handy front pockets.

 

After I towel Penny dry she goes crazy running around shaking and trying to wipe herself off  on rugs, pant legs, and,  you name it! Not anymore. Now I wrap her up in a Furminator FurDry robe (the velcro tabs enable a snug fit) and the fabric wicks away moisture and Penny remains calm and warm as she dries off.

 

Prior to getting my Andis Gentle Dry pet blow-dryer, I had to be super-careful when using my own hair dryer on Penny as if I left it one spot to long, it could burn her. The Gentle Dry incorporates loads of blowing power and two heat and airflow settings for quick and gentle drying.

 

Getting ready for the next grooming  step meant finding a surface that was high enough for me to comfortably work at. The kitchen counter was the right height, but then I needed something to cover it up all the while providing a comfortable and non-slippery surface for Penny to stand on. The answer? My new Pet Vet Mat. It comes in various sizes, the back is made of a slightly padded, non-skid material  while the top features an anti-microbial,  non-slip oil cloth giving Penny secure footing while providing me with an easy-to-wipe-clean surface.

 

Next comes the part I was the most nervous to do, the clipping. It was actually a lot easier to do than I first thought it would be. My Andis grooming kit  comes complete with shears, comb, clipper, clipper oil and various sizes of attachments so that you can choose a length of cut that  best suits your dog. Also included was a grooming DVD that I watched a number of times before I actually got started. It was super-helpful. When we were done, Penny looked almost as good as she did when she came home for her professional grooming session.