Do you take your pet/dog to the groomers or do you cut and groom them yourself?

United States
July 8, 2007 3:41pm CST
We used to take our cocker spaniel, Sassy Sue to the groomers and it costs us approx. $35 each time. Well we bought us some doggie clippers and my husband has been grooming our dog. The last three times he groomed her and he did such a good job I told him he could keep doing it and save us $35 each time. He doesn't think he does a good job, but I do. Cocker spaniels have to be groomed alot as their hair curls and gets maded if you don't keep them cut and brushed. I was curious if you groom your own pet/dog or take them to the groomers?
4 people like this
15 responses
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
8 Jul 07
I have a doberman, so it'd be pretty silly for me to bring her to a groomer just for a bath. But if I had a long haired dog, I'd probably let a groomer keep the coat trimmed. I don't think I'd be able to do a decent job cutting the hair, but I would do the brushing between visits myself.
1 person likes this
@Inky261 (2520)
• Germany
8 Jul 07
Great, this way you do something for the breed. A dog should look like the standard of the breed, a pride and joy. If it doesn`t, the buyer has bought the wrong breed and I think the breeder must cry when he sees what has become out of the puppy he sold.
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
8 Jul 07
If I were showing my dog, I'd probably take him to the groomers, but my dog is a mutt. (Half golden retriever half yellow lab) We try to brush him daily, and he loves that! We bathe him ourselves, too. Sometimes when I'm bored, I'll attach hair ribbons and curl the hairs on his tail. Just kidding.
• United States
9 Jul 07
Yeah I could understand if I were showing her but we don't. We give our dog a bath also about once a week. We don't want our house smelling like a dog. LOL about the ribbons and curling his tail.
@Phlamingho (7825)
• Denmark
8 Jul 07
LOL it's a dog, they did fine before there were such a thing as a dog groomer and imo they will continue to do fine without them ;-)
@Inky261 (2520)
• Germany
8 Jul 07
You are wrong. This pure breed is having way too much fur. Mats build up and underneath excemas grow. the uncut ears get way too hot and wet and they get bad ear infections from this neglect. The expenses for the vets are much costlier than a well groomed dog. The animals do not do fine like you say but the vets get rich from people with your line of thinking.
• United States
8 Jul 07
I think she looks just like the groomers were cutting her. We don't have her grow a skirt and we do not show her professionally. Our friends think her hair cut looks just like we did take her to the groomers and it saved us $35 so I am happy. Thank you for your comments.
• United States
8 Jul 07
We keep her cut and brushed and she doesn't have matts. She has gotten them before but she doesn't have them. Also we keep her ears clean and the only ear infection she has ever had was from swimming which was last year. I understand (INK) that you are a professional groomer. All I was asking is how many people here groom their dogs themselves. I was just curious. That's all I was asking.
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
21 Jul 07
I think your dog, Sassy Sue, looks really gorgeous. I have two miniature poodles, Secret is an unusual looking white and black dog. Magic is a more ordinary looking little black dog. When I first had Secret I took him to the groomers. He came back with some very smart hair cuts but it was often nothing like I had asked for. Then one of my friends lent me a grooming kit. I then began to groom Secret myself. I liked doing it so much I bought my own grooming kit. When I bought Magic she was covered in flakes and it took a while to sort her coat out. I brush my dogs as often as I can otherwise they get mats.
@Inky261 (2520)
• Germany
8 Jul 07
American cocker - Perfect haircut for expositions for an American cocker spaniel.
I am a breeder of English cockers and a professional cocker groomer. American cockers are much more elaborate than English cockers. 15 years ago I took a course in my Cocker club, learning just to groom my own dog. This course was of half a years duration. It took me years to groom all the different dogs of my kennel and also other dogs. I am really astonished that one buys s o m e clippers (we need special grooming tools) and does a good job. I attach a picture of what a groomed American cocker should look like. I have not seen the artistry of your husband but tend to think that he is right. So you better compare this picture to the haircut that your husband gave your dog. Of course I groom my dogs myself for expositions and would never let a salon do it as they do not know how to groom a cocker in perfection.
• United States
8 Jul 07
Thank you for your response. However we do not want her to have a skirt and look like the picture you posted. That is too much work. He cut her just like the groomer has been doing. We do not show her or anything and she looks so much cooler without all that hair. We will still continue to take her to the professional groomers every once in a while but hey it saved us money and she is resting alot better without all that hair.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jul 07
p.s. her hair does look like this just without all the bushy skirt. She is shorter on top and then has curls on the side and legs.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
9 Jul 07
i use to take my mis terrier for grooming but when i was not satisfied with their service i started doing it myself and save me from spending money for it anyway its a great one for me to coz i enjoy it..i spent 500 pesos in out currency so that would be $10 if converted..
• United States
9 Jul 07
I took my cat Goldie to get groomed at PetSmart, but it can be a hassle because it gets expensive and my cat does not always want to go, so I just give her a bath when I can.
@SimplyMe (373)
• United States
8 Jul 07
My dog hates to be groomed. She has been professionally groomed several times, but I feel terrible for the groomer because my dog turns into this evil creature. They have to muzzle her just to do her nails. I recently purchased a trimmer thing because it has been so hot here, I wanted to shorten the little devil's thick coat. It took forever and she wasn't very nice about it, but I got rid of most of the bulk. I think I will try it at home again, but I won't try the nails--those little teeth are quick and sharp!
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
9 Jul 07
My husband normally grooms our dog but he has a groomer for a client and they only charge $26 for nail trim and clip (and I think bath). Anyway we decided to let them do it and I was well pleased. My husband had trouble the last time (think it was the clippers) or we would probably do it ourselves. He is cocker/pomeranian mix.
@tombiz (2036)
• Philippines
9 Jul 07
Taking good care of our dogs (and even cats) these days really cost some money. Here in my country, we learned to do it ourselves. In fact, we also have type of dogs where maintenance is just so low. Sometimes it cost more to take care of them than taking care of people. But we could not say no to them, we love these pets of ours.
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
9 Jul 07
I have three English Springer Spaniels and they need a lot of grooming also. I stopped taking them to the groomer's the last time I took my youngest one because she ended up infested from fleas from the kennels there. I do it myself now.
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
9 Jul 07
I'm the one who manage to groom my dog Wopie is a kinda small and easy to handle and she like to be groom too. Recently I just cut her hair for it is very thick. And I cut her finger nails and my daughters stich her a beautiful dress.
@brand4less (1061)
• Indonesia
9 Jul 07
i have a persian cat in my house and i found very difficult just to take her to her bath.she always freak out everytime she sees the bathroom and gave me and my hubby some scratches if we hold her.so i better go to salon than having a lot of scratches :))
@Seaclans (215)
• United States
9 Jul 07
We recently had a groomer come to our home to clean and brush out our three dogs, usually we do it ourselves but everyone was unable to do it and they really needed it due to shedding their winter coats. Bathing our dogs can be a real struggle since they are afraid of the tub. Maybe someday we will have enough funds to invest in a really good dog washing station. that would be ideal.
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
8 Jul 07
Lucky for me I have short haired dogs...But if I did have to groom them I would do it myself...