MOVING TARGET

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

How do you keep your doodles still when you are brushing them?  I feel llike I am chasing Ginger around the house with a brush!!!

 

 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

There you go Sandy, something else we need to buy!!!  I think that looks like a great idea.

[Richard Crowe]

Maltese need LOTS of grooming.  Luckily, we no longer show Maltese with their exceptionally long (and beautiful) coats...

However, even when the Maltese are kept in a shorter puppy cut, they still need lots of grooming...

 

Judy uses the same grooming table for both the Maltese and when she grooms the Doodles.  We are fortunate to have a room which is pretty well dedicated to the dogs.  It was the third bay of a three car garage that we had professionally converted to a dog and Judy's hobby room.  Although Judy would like a larger grooming table for 65-pound Holly; the table is just fine for 40-pound Sophie or 32-pound Skye.  Here is Skye on the table getting groomed.  BTW: a professional dryer (the blue device in the background) is great if you have the space and groom lots of dogs. It beats the heck out or trying to groom a dog using a hand-held ladies hair dryer.

 

All three adult Doodles are very cooperative when being groomed but, the puppy, Zoe, is a work in progress.  Judy places a mat on the table so the Doodle will have better footing.

 

I use the table when I am assembling things like our Floormate and when I need to build something without bending over. I also often use a grooming table when I shoot pictures of our Maltese or even bigger dogs like these boxers...

 

Judy uses the groming table for her crafts (when she has time to work with her crafts - which is seldom with 10-12 dogs in the house) and we have used it to display items for garage sales, with a table cloth for a serving table at a cook out. 

 

So, all-in-all; the table is quite a useful piece of equipment at the Crowe house.  It folds up but. most of the time we keep it set up by the window.  With anywhere from 10 to 12 or more dogs at any one time  in our house, there is seldom a day when the table doesn't get used.

[Adina P]

If you can't get a grooming table, at least keep a leash on her.  Does Ginger have a crate? If so you can use the top of her crate for a grooming table.  Just toss on a rug or something non-slip. If it is a wire crate, take out the plastic or metal pan from the bottom and put it on top for grooming with one of those anti-slip rug things between it and the wires.

[Lorraine Bromley]

I would LOVE a real blow dryer. Neely is great on the raised surface too. He isn't bad with just regular brushing on the floor with me but for big groom and trim the table is the best.

[Carol Brand]

Anyone who is full time grooming their own dog should also have a professional dryer.  For Doodles I would recommend the K9II  http://www.petedge.com/product/K-9-II-BlowerDryer/44513.uts      Holy Cow!  This thing is really powerful.  I can dry a Standard Poodle in full show coat in 45 minutes (regular stand dryer takes 2 hours!).   

 

As a bonus, you can routinely blow through the coat which removes dust and dirt and also allows you to see where webbing and matting are forming in the coat.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

What works for me is a grooming table, it keeps them in place. I purchased mine from Dr's Foster & Smith but I can see that some people really used their minds and came up with some great alternative ideas. Anne & Mr. Haley above have an awesome table :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

It's a tagteam effort for us. DH holds her and brushes her with the easy brush - Les Pooches. I tackle the harder to get matts with the steel comb.  We give her treats periodically.  But, she is a mini......

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I taught them slowly with a few strokes at a time and a treat, Repeat with a few added strokes and treat, Again and again gradually increasing strokes until I have the whole dog. Now they just wait till I'm done and get thier treat. Sometimes I don't treat so it works with lots of praise too. I don't have one special place, as wherever it's convenient for me and my time is where and when I get to brush them, so I just give them a stay command and begin. But having one designated area sounds great.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have Darwin sit, they lay down on his side. He can't run when he's laying down! It's a routine for us so he's learned to do it very well, he even falls asleep during brushing now.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

It sort of fits right in there with training.  You need to work on Ginger's sit/stays and then discipline her when she tries to get up.  Dogs always behave better when they are up on a table or something up high.  I groom Gracie on a grooming table.  If I try to do it with her standing on the floor she tries to walk away.  Same thing with brushing and combing.  Also, don't let Ginger win.  Anything you are doing grooming wise (nails, cutting, clipping, ears) you have to be the boss and not let her dictate how it is going to be.  When I do Gracie's nails (which she hates) I may not always get all the paws in one sitting but I always am the one who decides when she is done...sort of a win win for both of us since she didn't get it all done at once...ha ha.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I have a grooming table with a grooming arm.  It keeps Harlow from running away when we brush her.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We have a grooming table (not adjustable) it is much easier than trying to get them on the go. Anytime I go near the table Myla runs-the hard part is catching the little bug! I found mine on craigslist brand new for like $40 the ladies dog bit her when he was up there so she didn't want it anymore, Originally bought from petedge.com