Blaster

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Since I was feeling a little sorry for myself, me at home with a bug and Boris awaiting surgery I thought I would treat myself to an early Christmas present. I have ordered a blaster which has three speeds and is not too loud. I am going to do a major pre-holiday groom on both boys and also if Boris goes for surgery I want him looking his best (even though I know they will clip him) Thing is I don't know how to use a blaster. so if you use one or can point me to a video that would be great.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm not sure what a 'blaster' is, but am wondering if its a bathing system? Years ago I posted about the, 'Texas Bowser Blaster' I assembled using items from a home improvement store, although it sounds as if you have something already assembled and store bought:

 http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming/forum/topics/texas...

[Lynda Kamrath]

I don't know what a blaster is either, but maybe a hair dryer.  We have two hair dryers that are attached back to back that we use on our dogs.  I guess it could be called a blaster.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am pretty sure Nicky is talking about a hair dryer.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Oh I'm so sorry, I do mean an air blower, not a hair dryer but it does warm up a bit. Big blast of air LOL (laughing so much here at our translation problems)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

OK, gotcha... the way I use mine, and I followed explanations from grooming sites, is I put the hose head (sometimes without any attachment, sometimes with the round concentrator attachment) close to the skin and work in small circular motions one section at a time. I use the highest speed for the body and legs and the lowest for the face (and I hold the hose out a few inches around the face, shielding the eyes and ears as I go). It takes a while to get all the water out of the hair. Both my doods are cut pretty short but I think the same technique works on longer hair too.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

One thing I forgot... I also use a slicker brush while I'm drying just to get the hair straightened out. Its not absolutely necessary, but I've found straighter hair helps in getting a better clipper cut.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks Debb I guess I will just have to see how it goes but I'm pretty excited as up to now have just been using a regular  hair dryer.

[Diane Sloan]

I use mine every couple of days to blow the dry coat and it is amazing the dander that blows out!  They get nice and fluffy and we keep our dogs long.  They also smell better with all that dander blown out.  This has helped with the amount of time I spend brushing.  I washed the dogs a few weeks ago and went to start the dryer and it did not start! I had to use a smaller Metro dryer that I also have and boy did I miss the big CC dryer!  Thankfully there is a repair guy up the street that was able to fix it before their next bath.

I use the nozzle first to get out a lot of the water then I change over to the hose only.  When I blow them and they are dry I use the nozzle.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks Diane, it arrived today and I couldn't wait to try it out. I brushed Boris, washed him and towel dried him and then went to work with the blaster. He now looks like a great big ball of fluff, not one mat and he tolerated it very well even though he did lean into me when I was using it on his face. I am going to clip him a little tomorrow and then blow his coat again. Then it is onto Riley...tiring work all this grooming stuff ;)

[Diane Sloan]

Oh yes the grooming is tiring but I enjoy doing it myself I may not do it perfect that is for sure but I have high powered clippers that I use and that makes life easier.  The hardest part is the legs sometimes they don't look the same and I keep clipping for days and they eventually look better.  My doodles are really long which is probably easier to trim as it hides a lot-  Si does have a spot on his side where I did cut a mat instead of being patient and I just trimmed it out.  Oh well its hair it will grow back.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I never use the clipper on the legs, I use a thinning scissors and just blend it in. I only use the clipper along the back and down the sides a little and around the neck and under the ears. Oh and on the belly and around the privates.  The rest I use scissors. I use a mat breaker if I find any and use a leave in conditioner which seems to keep the mats at bay.  Boris is going for surgery next week and I am really not sure what shaving they are going to do and I am dreading him coming home with big patches of his beautiful coat gone....I know it will grow back but it will be hard looking at it until it does.