Grooming Marathon

More new grooming clients are pouring in this week before Easter: Wednesday.  Chester lives in a nearby subdivision and is the darling of his three teenage peep sisters. He was a rescue and is about four years old. No one knows what breed this 20+ pounder is. Why don’t you leave your best guess in the comment section? His personality includes sweet and loving, a bit timid, very close to his family, and absolutely terrified of baths. He’s strong (Note to self: ask for help from husband/son next time I give him a bath), but definitely not a biter. Isn’t his shaved coloring absolutely gorgeous!?

Today – Friday: I booked in five dogs. That’s something I haven’t done for years, so I did my back exercises before and between a couple of them. The first to arrive was Emmy, a darling  9-year-old shih tzu. I only took an after picture of her, since  she is on my “3 week plan.” Emmy first came to me six weeks ago via the Neighborhood website. She was full of mats, and I had little choice but to shave parts of her ears and other places to save her the suffering of me working the mats out. She returned in 3 weeks for a mini-groom. This includes a good brush out, nails, face, paws, and a bath at a discounted rate. Today, 3 weeks later, she got a full groom again. Ears are still growing out.

Next came two new pups, whose Moms also found me on the Neighborhood website.  Charlie is a 4-year-old long-haired dachsund. He only gets groomed twice a year, and he gets a complete shave-down. Charlie’s another one who hates baths. He scared me half to death when he screamed as I was cutting his nails. I thought for sure I had cut into the quick and hurt him. I pet him and told him how sorry I was. Then I looked at the nail, and there was no blood. I placed the nail clippers on the next nail and he screamed again.  He was anticipating pain. (Note to self: get ear protection) He also doesn’t like his paws shaved. Or his tail. At least he did no more than grab my hand once. I reflexively screamed, anticipating a bite. I guess we’re even.

Charlie’s  sister Rosie, an 11-year-old mini long-haired dachshund, was next. She lost her left eye to a possum a few years back. Talk about the perfect lady on the grooming table!

I asked their Moms why they didn’t just get short-haired dachshunds! Turns out, Charlie was a rescue, and precious Rosie was an unwanted puppy (by original owner). After the Moms saw their groomed dachsies, they asked how often people usually bring their dogs, and I saw the wheels turning. Maybe I will see them again soon. Now, where to get that hearing protector…

To finish off a great day, my two favorites showed up. I have been grooming them on my “3 week plan” for four years. In May of 2013, Jeff and I were taking Lexi for a walk and saw neighbors out with their small schnauzer and shih tzu. When they found out I groom Lexi, they asked if I would groom their dogs. That’s how I got started “grooming for pay” again. I only took “after” pics since they are never in bad condition. Just one more way Lexi enriched my life!

  Maggie

Dora

Thanks for following along on my grooming journey, and I hope you are enjoying it, too.