ItzaClip! Tip's

How often can i bathe my dog?

10/18/2011 09:17:00

There are many myths and ideas about how often you can wash your dogs and if it is healthy/beneficial to do so or not. Let a professional put your mind at ease.

Myth#1 you shouldnt wash you dog too often.

If you have ever seen the beautiful long flowing coats on show dogs running around the ring, you might not realize that those dogs are bathed, conditioned, and blowdryed every 3-6 DAYS. It actually is better for the coat to only brush out clean conditioned hair, if you use good enough quality product, and follow certain technique.

Many of my grooming clients come in on a 2-4 week rotation. If they are not super dirty, i will forgo the second bath and scrub them in a gentler shampoo, and always follow with conditioner.

**TIP*** to do a spa deep condition, apply the warmed conditoner solution, then place syran wrap over body and wrap in towel, or run hot water over a towel and wrap dog in warm towel. soak for 5 minutes, then rinse in lukewarm water to seal the hair shaft.***

Myth#2 you should never bathe a cat

actually cats are greaseballs and without regular bath & brushouts they will attract more dirt and matt more easily(same with dogs). Cats do not need conditioner, just a good degreasing shampoo. It is not safe to use "just anything" on cats as their liver cannot process chemicals well, so stick to cat approved shampoo only, no dishsoap!

Best brand is Les Pooches F & T- but expensive

my fav is TP degreaser because it only has 3 ingredients and is sea salt based.

***TIP** cats can be totally bathed and blowdryed in a low stress manner if introduced right from kitten, even older calm cats often let me completely bath and mostly dry them. put a towel on the bottom of the tub to give them somthing to hold on to, dont spray them with water, mix it up with shampoo in a jug(nice and warm)and slowly pour while rubbing cat, stay calm, and scruff if nessisary to keep from getting scratched or bit. Usually its best left to professionals, unless the cat is ok with baths.

Myth #3 outdoor dogs dont need baths

This is completely untrue! outdoor pets espesially need healthy skin & coat to stay warm or cool. without removing the dirt, oil, dander, and dead/loose hair, they quickly matt up and moisture and bacteria forms under the layer of matts. This is an ideal spot for flea's, tick, and maggots to set up shop. ungroomed Dogs are colder in winter and hotter in summer because thier layer of insulation has been reduced to the equivalent of a damp blanket. even if you dont get them trimmed for winter, regular bath, dry and brushout will keep them the warmest in winter and coolest in summer.

***TIP*** make sure you request your groomer not "scoop out" the pads of the feet of an outside dog, trimmimg them flush will leave some protection against the snow and ice(as long as they are not matted)***

**TIP** while your dog is sudsy, use a slicker brush to brush out matts & loose hair, the suds acts as lubricant, and the dirt which holds the matts in is gone.

Myth #4 short haired breeds dont need baths/grooming

Smoothcoats benefit from regular bath & conditioner just like other breeds, and infact you can greatly reduce their shedding and keep their skin healthy by following these simple tips.

**TIP** Use an old scrub mitt to lightly exfoliate, always massage in shampoo & conditioner, rinse with tepid water to prevent shedding(use warmer to stimulate shedding), and finish with boar bristle brush to stimulate skin, distribute oils, and promote healthy cells.

By following these simple tips, you can sucessfully have a clean, warm, matt free pet at home, and by doing this in between grooms, you save money in dematting fee's.

COMING SOON: how to properly bathe your pet(with pictures!)

how to stop eye stains on white dogs

07/14/2011 22:17:00

There is a way to get rid of eye stains! Nobody likes to see those redishy brown stains on their dogs eyes, especially as they get bigger and bigger. even genetic problems aside(irritaion causeing tearing) eye stains are caused by the yeast in the dogs body, so in order to stop the stains you have to stop the yeast.

Where does the yeast come from?

food containing high carbs and low protein(desireable is around 35%). other causes are unfiltered water.

Many people wonder why some dogs and cats eyes water, which causes a stain on the fur just below their eyes. This condition is called epiphora. When the facial hair is wet from excess tearing it is the breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Not only is it unsightly but may be very irritating to your pet. The staining may also emit a moderate to noticeably strong odor.

Up until now these reddish brown stains due to tear pigments were hard to eliminate completely. Tear staining can be traced to health and diet, as well as genetics. Here are some helpful tips to improve your pets well being:

Keep your Pet Healthy: Have your pet checked at least twice a year by your veterinarian for ear infections and ear mites, gum infections, common yeast or bacterial infections of the eye (especially Red Yeast) and for clogged tear ducts.

Check your Pet’s Diet: Artificial food colorings (dyes), artificial food additives and preservatives, corn, wheat and soy can cause allergies in cats and dogs. These allergies can cause tear stains. Also check for face rubbing, licking of front paws, head shaking, and ear inflammations these are other signs of allergies. Water minerals can also add to tear staining. Use bottled or filtered water in a stainless steel bowl.

How to get rid of eye stains:

you can use products such as Angel eyes which is made out of beef liver and an antibiotic called Tylosin to stop the bacterial infection. If you dont want to use an antibiotic long term then follow these proven tips:

Use bottled or distilled water(The reddish brown color in the stains is from Porphyrin pigments (iron/magnesium) in the stains.)

Add a few drops of apple cider or red cider vinegar to their water( is antibiotic and antifungal-prevents infection)

give 1.5 tsp a day for 30lb dog of Buttermilk powder or yogurt(contains beneficial bacteria to combat infections)

Choose a food WITHOUT beet pulp in it.

Dogs on a raw diet(like Winston to the left)

will also not have eyes stains due to the proper balance in the body that raw food provides. ask us for more information!

Nothing in life is free

05/09/2011 14:41:00

Sometimes we get so caught up trying to train our dogs, that we forget that we are training them 24 hrs per day anyway. There are all kinds of things that your dog finds rewarding besides food and toys. Not using those things to your advantage is a missed opportunity.

Next time your dog nudges you to pet it, ask it to sit or lie down first. If it doesn't, simply ignore it or walk away. If it wants to go outside, ask for another sit or down, when it complies, let it out. If it wants to play with it's friends at the off leash park, wait till it offers attention, and then perhaps ask for a bit of off leash heel work before taking off lead and telling it to "go play".

Instead of mindlessly throwing a ball for your dog, ask it to do things before each throw. You will find your dog's responses speeding up considerably once it learns that the faster it offers the behavior asked for, the faster it gets to chase the ball.

The first few times you try this with your dog, you might be surprised at how long it takes your dog to offer correct responses, especially if it has been used to getting everything for free. Once it catches onto the game though, it should be more than willing to offer behavior quickly and with enthusiasm. The added bonus is that your dog will start to realize that there is always the possibility for reinforcement which means that you may find that you wind up with a more attentive dog in general. the other nice thing is that "correcting" your dog can be as simple as removing or withholding whatever it is your dog wants. This is both powerful and much better in the long run for the relationship you share with your dog.

How to brush your dog-Part two -Technique

05/05/2011 19:44:00

choose you position, a lot of owners and show people teach thier dog to lay on thier side, back, then roll to other side.This is very handy for dogs with a lot of coat as they can relax and even sleep while you can get every nook and cranny.

*Remember though that most dogs wont lay down and relax at the groomers so it is very considerate to also teach that they must stand when asked, otherwise they will lay down constantly during the groom resulting in a tired groomer and possibly a higher fee. **

1.Start at the back end, divide the dog into mental sections(left rear leg/right rear leg etc) with your left hand grip the leg and hold the hair up above the ankle area. with right hand brush in downward motion. You will see a "line" dividing the hair to the skin. This is why it's called "line brushing" . As you progress up the leg, your brush pulls down more hair, moving the "line" up as you go. Make sure you do the inside and back of leg also from paw to top. Pic shows right rear leg, just above the brush you can see the "line"

2. Repeat method described above on all four legs, body, neck, tail, head and ears.

*The longer the hair the more you need to lift up to get the under layers.

*make sure you keep your brush parallel to the skin as if you don't, you will scratch and cause irritation*

3. Next take a comb and repeat the line combing though all body parts. you can go with the grain(lay of the coat) or against. Usually you go with the grain first until all the tangles are out.

pic shows combing against the grain.If you can do this, you know you have gotten all the tangles out. Don't forget the smaller areas of the leg around the joints, where hair and matts like to hide.

also ears and tail have longer hair so make sure to comb them out more often.

To choose the right tools for your dog, stay tuned for our next blog.

How to survive puppy nipping and teething

05/05/2011 17:20:00

If you have a new puppy, or an older puppy, or planning on getting a puppy this article is for you.

What your dog does as a puppy plays a vital role in the social development of your dog as an adult. How long they are left with the litter to interact and how often are exposed to humans and other situations makes a huge differnce.

read on.

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/3249

How to brush your dog- Part one: introduction

02/08/2011 23:19:00

First you need a schedule of regular maintenance. A properly educated breeder should start the introduction to grooming at 3 weeks old, with weekly grooming sessions consisting of baths, blow drying, brushing, combing, nails, and handling exercises, so hopefully your puppy has come to you with prior experience and nails,face,feet & fanny trimmed.

It is very very important that you start the introduction to grooming as soon as you get your puppy(or older dog), even if he/she has short hair or you "don't think they need it yet" because at this point we are teaching tolerance to grooming that will benefit the dog, owner and groomer for the rest of the dogs life.

Grooming your pet should be a relaxing, bonding experience for guardian and pet, therefore it should be introduced in a relaxed and gentle way.

#1- make it a regular event, usually nightly as that's when puppies are tired out and willing to be handled more.

#2- Be consistent. follow a regular routine. for example start with dog sitting between legs or on lap or table, with left hand on front chest(to prevent leaving) and with right slowly stroke down head, back, and legs.

make sure you touch, and pick up each leg and foot and handle each toe and nail as well as in between the pads of the feet. inspect the insides of ears, teeth, mouth, & eyes.

#3- Build a relationship with your groomer. Just as you feel more comfortable with a dentist you trust working on you, your puppy needs to spend some time with your chosen groomer to build a trusting relationship, after all they are going to ask him to let them restrain him, stare in his eyes and do some mildly uncomfortable or scary things, and if he trusts them he will learn that they are not going to hurt him.

#4- Make sure you continue the handling through the first year at least weekly, as they go through different phases,too many owners stop after 6 months thinking "well they are trained now.."

stay tuned for part two: Brushing & Combing Techniques

Make your own Dog Beds!

01/31/2011 21:20:00

ShareSuper Cheap Dog Bed Trick

So instead of buying fancy expensive dog beds each time they get flat, go to walmart and in the craft section, you can buy precut sections of foam($3-$5) or memory foam($10). I bought the two layered foam/memory foam ones for $10 each(it takes two to make a bed big enough for my big dogs)

Sunglo brand 24"x16"x2"

Clean odorless, non-allergenic, mildew resistant, hand washable.

Then i grabbed a $6 micro fleece throw to put on top, and Vola! You could also use pillow cases, or sew your own.

my old arthritic pups ran and layed on them so fast i barely got the blankets on, now if only they would stop snoring....

Yummy treats to keep your pup warm

01/15/2011 20:10:00

Oatmeal Spice Dog Bone Recipe

4 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup minced apple

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon ground cloves

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. I found that the dough wasn’t wet enough, so added a bit more water to make it all stick together. Roll dough on floured surface to 1/4″ thick. Use cookie cutters to cut into bone shapes. Place cookies on ungreased foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes. Makes 5-6 dozen.

The treats smell great and I had to nibble one of them …. yuck! Not for human consumption :-)

Which brush do I use on my dog?

10/18/2010 21:13:00

One of the most common reasons for a groomer to have to do a "smoothie" (shave-down) on your pet is because of matting due to incorrect tools and technique during home grooming sessions. Just the other day I did a consult with a show Newfoundland that was badly matted all under her backend and rear legs and tail. Now this client was brushing her dog diligently every day trying hard to keep her hair in good condition....so how did this happen?

First of all this was the owners first hairy dog, second no one had bothered to teach her how to brush and what tools were necessary. She had been sold a brush at the local pet store that was as helpful as wishing your dogs matts away.

This Bristle/Pin brush combo is useful on smooth or very short coated dogs and is good for stimulation of the skin and hair follicles as well as spreading the oils. Certainly not practical for a big hairy Neuf. Pin brushes are gentle on the hair shaft, and are good for keeping long silky hair and show dogs in good condition. The only brand pin brush that is decent is Chris Christiansen or #1 All Systems. I even use #1 all systems on my own hair.

I only like Paw Brothers brand slicker brushes, generally they will remove more hair as they power through the tangles, but for pet owners or matted dogs its negligible . A slicker's curved pins separate the tangled hair and make it easier for a comb to be worked through.

Paw Brothers Double Sided Soft and Firm Slickers are the softest and most flexible brushes I have ever found. I use the small soft on all Bichon's, Shih Tzu's, yorkies, Maltese, Pom's, etc and the large soft on all med size or smaller thick coated dogs. The Neuf requires the Large Firm. The brushes feature a black firm side and a white soft side so you get two brushes in one!

For any short coated dogs like jack Russel's, Pugs, Rotti's, Labs, etc, use the Kong Zoom Groom, this brush pulls hair out like you wouldn't believe! just check out our video on our website or youtube called "so you think your short haired dog doesn't shed". Best used dry before the bath and during the bath. Excellent cause its safe on legs and other sensitive areas. Follow this with a furminator tool after bath and dry to really get the hair out.

For Smooth coated fellas like bostons, boxers, danes, etc, you have to be very careful about using a furminator tool. Instead use a boar bristle brush which really makes them shine, and creates healthy skin.

Stay tuned for more lessons on how to brush...

DE-Skunk solution that works

09/04/2010 19:47:00

So skunk season has hit and with local people trapping up to 11 skunks on thier acreages, people need skunk solutions that work.

As a groomer I have tested EVERYTHING on dogs, every product, every recipe. This one works the best. The faster you apply after spray happens the better the results.

What You Need:

1 quart (32 fl oz, nearly 1 liter) Hydrogen Peroxide 3% (U.S.P)
1/4 cup baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) *NOT baking powder or washing powder*
1 to 2 teaspoons liquid soap (such as Ivory™ Liquid Cleanser or Softsoap®)
1 quart lukewarm water (only needed for very large dogs)
A clean plastic bucket, bowl or other mixing container (do not cover)
Clean plastic utensils for mixing
Protective eye ointment or mineral oil (for your dog's eyes)
Latex or rubber gloves
A protective apron and eye goggles if possible
Plenty of towels

Instructions:

Bathe the dog outside or, if it's too dark or cold, in the bathroom with the door closed and window opened. or ask your groomer to borrow their tub!
Combine the ingredients in an open container (do not store in a sealed bottle--it will explode).
Using gloves, wash your dog with lukewarm water and the mixture while the mixture is bubbling. Work the mixture well into the fur.
Be sure to concentrate on the area that was sprayed.
Keep mixture away from your dog's face and eyes (it's a harsh solution). (If your dog has been sprayed in the face, try Tricotine Liquid Douche Concentrate or any over-the-counter douche.)
Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes or so before rinsing off.
Rinse the dog with lukewarm tap water. Don't wash the mixture into your dog's eyes (use a washcloth to cover the eyes if you're rinsing the head).
After bathing, check your dog's eyes. If they are red and watering, your dog may have taken a direct hit in the face. Skunk spray won't blind the dog, but it's very painful. Contact a vet.

How it works

First a quote from Dr. Caceci of Texas A&M University:

Forget what you have heard about tomato juice--it doesn't work. Skunk spray is mainly composed of low molecular weight thiol compounds. ("Thiols" are compounds with the "-SH radical" attached to a carbon atom.) In industrial applications, alkaline hydrogen peroxide (HO) is used for scrubbing similar compounds from waste gas streams.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, when combined, become a "chemical engine" for churning out oxygen. That's why it has to be used immediately after mixing. The soap breaks up the oils in the skunk spray, allowing the other ingredients to do their work.

The hydrogen peroxide mixture must be used immediately after mixing and will not work if it is stored for any length of time. DO NOT STORE IN A CLOSED CONTAINER - it releases oxygen gas so it could break the container. This mixture may bleach the pet's hair.

WHY TOMATOE JUICE DOESN'T WORK

Tomato juice does not work to neutralize or deodorize skunk spray. Bathing an animal in tomato juice seems to work because after lengthy exposure to strong odors, the human nose quits smelling the odor (olfactory fatigue). When this happens while bathing a pet in tomato juice, the odor of tomato juice can easily be detected. A person suffering olfactory fatigue to skunk spray will swear that the skunk odor is gone and was neutralized by the tomato juice. Another person arriving at this point will quickly tell you that the skunk smell is still present.

(Paul Krebaum's Recipe from Chemical & Engineering News , October 18, 1993, p. 90).

Wash colorfast inanimate objects ( buildings, decks, etc.) that have been sprayed with one cup of liquid laundry bleach per gallon of water. CAUTION - THIS MAY BLEACH THE BUILDINGS, DECKS, ETC. Try it on a small area if bleaching may be a problem. The bleach must come in contact with the spot where the secretion was sprayed. Repeated applications may be necessary for large amounts of the skunk spray. DO NOT USE BLEACH ON HUMANS, PETS OR CLOTHING.

The yard:Spray that has drifted over a large area can be neutralized by mixing 1 gallon of clear vinegar and 1 cup of non-foaming cleanser (such as liquid dishwasher soap) in a backpack garden sprayer. Spray down the area with the skunk smell; it will be neutralized on contact.

If a skunk has sprayed underneath a house, place a plastic tarp in the crawl space and put 25 pounds of charcoal on the tarp. The odor in the air will be soaked up by the charcoal. Be sure to ventilate the living space within the house. (These last two odor solutions were provided by Pete Bromley, Fisheries & Wildlife Coordinator, NCSU Dept of Zoology.)

Other products that work to a degree and help "finish off" the smell and make the coat nice are "Skunk Off" brand shampoo and soaker, also TKO orange cleaner, and Murphy's oil soap(most recommend this one for dogs with skin issues as it is gentle & made from vegetable oil)