Hello - I have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (both adopted, not bought, naturally). Will submit requisite picture in next post.
Anyway, normally you don’t have to groom this breed too much, but for some reason mine have wild hair even though they are purebreds.
I have the money to get them groomed monthly, but
don’t want to spend it in this economy
there are TWO of them
don’t really have the time (I own my own business and work 6-7 days per week) to take them and pick them up
would rather spend more time with them anyway
So, they don’t really need baths more than once every 3-4 months and I’ll just take them to the groomer for that (and she can express their anal glands thankuverymuch). But, to the point, I would like to shave them. I already trim their nails, brush them, and do some touch up shaving. So do I just get the shaver and go to town? I don’t show these dogs, obviously, so should I just learn by trial and error? It won’t matter if they look a little funny for a while.
For those of you that shave your dogs:
what # blade (or whatever you call it) do you put the electric trimmer on? I want them to still be warm, but have short, not fly-a-way hair.
did you learn from a book? If so, which one?
do I need a pet trimmer from say Petsmart (which are much more expensive) or will a regular trimmer for a person be good?
should I get them groomed first and just touch up from now on, rather than doing it the first time by myself?
how important is a grooming table? I have a large back deck and huge yard.
Other information:
My dogs are very tolerant and trusting of me. Never been abused.
They love the attention of me even cutting out mats, so I don’t think this will be an issue.
You lucky duck! Cavaliers are my favorite breed of little dog. I am not a groomer, but used to work at a shop as the receptionist. IIRC, our groomer used Andis brand clippers. (I would imagine that a human hair trimmer would be OK, since you don’t plan on using it too frequently.) For an all-over body cut, most dogs would get a #4 or #7 blade. Any number higher than that is going to be really short. Or you could also use a snap-on guard to give them a longer 'do. For areas that need scissor work, like around the feet or on the ears/tail, I would suggest using thinning shears instead of regular scissors. Thinning shears don’t leave such a severe line, so you get a softer look. While you don’t have to have a grooming table, it’s much easier on your back if the dog is at your height while you’re standing.
As far as techniques go, I can’t really help you there. Amazon.com has a wide array of books and DVDs available, so you might try there. Best of luck!
I have two cocker spaniels, who I groom on occasion, but I don’t have any formal training. Their traditional cut is similar to a King Charles. I tend to do more of a “puppy cut” on mine… less skirts and fluff and more of a trim look.
My sister took a grooming class at a local community college, and she showed me the basics. So now I can neaten them up a little bit-- usually following along with what the groomer has already done. I probably get them groomed once or twice a year, and then kind of follow the outline the groomer left the rest of the time. (I also do this with my eybrows and waxing!)
One thing, though…it really depends on the dog. Groomers do have some specialized and expensive equipment that makes their job a lot easier. Most dogs behave better when they are up on a grooming table with a leash on. This is hard to duplicate at home, so I usually have my husband assist me with their grooming. The air blowers that the groomer uses are also much more effective than a human blow drier. I try to give my dog breaks in between each phase, since they have a little ADHD.
I use a #7 or # 4 clipper for the most part on their backs and heads. I use mostly scissors and just do some trimming on their skirts and ears. The hardest part for me is their feet, which I can never get right. I’m also not great at getting their little behinds to look perfect. I also have a hard time cutting their nails, mainly because the nails are black and I’m nervous about cutting the quick, coupled with the fact that they absolutely hate it.
When I first started, I began with the easy areas, like their backs and then for cutting their ears. As I got better, I now do their skirts and the rest of their bodies. Admittedly, I make mistakes often, but they’re all temporary!
It’s much easier to keep them maintained with regular nip/tuck grooming every few weeks that to wait until they actually need it. I use a thinning shear as well, which really helps keep their undercoats in check and removed emerging matted hair. Sharp scissors are an absolute must.
As I sit here, I’m thinking that both of mine could use a little freshening up for spring!
My partner grooms our cocker spaniel and what Jane said sounds about right. Ours loves it and will stand perfectly still for as long as it takes. The only thing he doesn’t like is having his paws done. We cut it shorter than a standard cocker cut because we live in the country and he’s like an animated dustmop and drags all sorts of things in that are stuck in his coat. In the winter he looks pretty funny with longer hair to keep him warm on top while his feet look like a poodle’s, and in the summer it’s so hot that he gets a buzz cut.
Besides, if you do it yourself you can give them a mohawk along the wauy just for fun.
I groom my cocker as well. I would suggest you use clippers made specifically for dogs. Regular clippers for people tend to clog pretty easily in my experience. My dog’s hair is too thick to cut without having to stop every few seconds. I use these clippers. They are pretty durable, cordless, and the charge lasts for a while. For the nails, I find it’s easier to use a dremel rotary tool to “sand” down the nails rather than cut them.
