Hair Rebonding and Hair Loss

I had this special request from a customer to do a hair re-bonding for his dog. Curious, I asked around and found out that this practice is only done in a few salons in Singapore. Besides hair coloring, hair re-bonding could be the start of a new trend for our canine friends. Here’s the question. How would a groomer straighten the fur of dog breeds like Poodles, Schnauzers and Malteses’? My suggestion is to brush the coat, sector by sector, in one direction and with the aid of a hair dryer, this will make the dog’s fur straighter and fluffier, the two main points needed before you can actually trim the coat of these dogs. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary solution, as there is no chemical or straightening iron out there that can be used for dogs. Personally, I feel that this practice of re-bonding does not benefit our furry friends as it may cause long term damage to its coat and the underlying skin. Something as simple as regular brushing of your canine best friend’s coat will be good for it and it will also keep its coat more manageable, neat and matt free.

Hair loss for dogs is common, especially in hot climates, like what you find in Singapore. Dogs shed their coat to renew their inner coat. Breeds like the Siberian Husky, Jack Russell and the Golden Retriever, all possess an inner coat that helps them to keep warm in cold climates. It’s part of their body’s renewal system that allows their body to shed their inner coat. So the next time you start vacuuming your hose, don’t be surprised to see tufts of fur lying around. Dogs that shed a lot, must be groomed every 1-1.5 months.
There are also other reasons why dogs shed a lot. Factors like dietary changes, stress, hormone changes or imbalances, skin and health disorders (kidney problems, ringworms, ticks and fleas) contribute to this as well. Some owners rely on dietary supplements to facilitate a healthy coat for their canine best friend. Consult your vet on what supplements are suitable for your dog.

American or English Breakfast - Cocker Spaniel

Does all Cocker Spaniel look alike?? No they are actually not. There are two types of Cocker Spaniels; American and English. The one on the right is American Cocker Spaniel and left is English Cocker Spaniel. How can we differential from their look? The English Cocker Spaniel is slightly larger than the American Cocker. The most obvious difference can be seen in the head shapes. Compared to the English Cocker, the American Cocker's skull has a distinctly domed skull, as well as a deep pronounced stop and more clearly defined eyebrows. Also the American's lips tend to hang down farther and more loosely, and its eyes are slightly larger and set more to look straight ahead than of the English Cocker Spaniel. Finally the American Cocker has a more profuse coat than the English Cocker. I meet Whisky weekly for shower or grooming. He is such a lovely boy, when his daddy was away he boarded at his nanny's place. He made the family love him so much. He's going to join Milo at India soon. Really hope he can adjust himself well. He usually has weak stomach and hopefully those curry don't make him upset easily..
hehe :P
Cocker Spaniels are quick-to-learn, obey easily and have a sweet and trusting nature. They are generally good with strangers, but make an excellent watchdog when they feel that the home is threatened. They are amazingly adaptable. If you’re an active hiker, these dogs will keep pace with you all the livelong day. If you’re a couch potato, your Cocker Spaniel will gladly join you on the sofa. They’ll be perfectly happy in an apartment or house, as long as they get a decent amount of exercise and attention.
Things You Should Know

Being a popular pet for several decades, Cocker Spaniels have suffered from over-breeding, which has caused a number of health and personality issues—e.g. aggressiveness, shyness and roaming—that are not typical of the breed. Take care to socialize and train your Cocker Spaniel puppy to make them comfortable with children and other animals. Cocker Spaniels need daily grooming—washing and brushing—to keep their lovely coats in shape. Also, clean their ears regularly to prevent infection. A healthy Cocker Spaniel can live as long as 15 years. Common health problems include eye issues (glaucoma, cataracts), spinal problems and skin problems.

Shih Tzu- Russ Russ

Dogs are like human being, they do have temper. When we groom a temperamental dog, the whole grooming section will be very tense for both the groomer and dog. The dog may feel insecure and in order to protect themselves, they will tend to bite the groomer. As a groomer, we have to protect ourselves as well as the dog's safety. During our training, we have to observe how temperamental dogs will react and groomer should tame them down in order to continue the groomer section.
Recently, there was article on a groomer that killed a dog while grooming. I guess this had made owners more conscious on their dog’s safety and how the groomer's would react. When owners are around during grooming section, our fury friends are more coquette and tends to make noise to attract attention from their owners.
Russ was having a moody day when I groomed him. He tends to show tantrum when I pick his ear and trim his nails. Which made some degree of difficulty during grooming section. While, I should remind myself to bring along the muzzle next time. At the end of the day, we want both the dogs and the owners to be happy after the grooming section.

Things You Should Know

Shih Tzu usually adapt well to adults and children alike. Not especially suspicious of strangers, they still make an alert and consistent watchdog, barking heartily when people approach the house. They require more care than other breeds, especially when the hair is kept long. They need daily brushing and regular haircuts to avoid tangles. However, they shed very little dander, making them a great pet choice for people with allergies. Though good family dogs, Shih Tzu are not especially good with very young children. They cannot be handled roughly or awkwardly and tend to get snappish when their patience wears thin.

Feeding note: Keep an eye on Shih Tzu while they are drinking. Because their noses are so centrally located, water can easily block their breathing. A healthy Shih Tzu can live as long as 15 years. Common health issues include hip dysplasia, ear and kidney infections, and eye problems. Check their ears and eyes regularly for cleanliness. (You can even find special eye drops for them). They are great apartment dwellers, but not happy in hot climates. And while they don’t require as much exercise as a Lab, a daily walk is necessary.

(BTW, the photo was taken from a famous Shih Tzu breeder; Kitti Kongsricharoen from Thailand. He had won many awards on his Shih Tzu.. and thanks to my colleagues on some contributions when I have urge to write during my working hours Opps!! )

Final Grooming for U Baby - Miniature Schnauzer

Finally get to say goodbye to you Elmo. I believe you should be going home soon. On this particular weekday, I quickly rush home to groom him as I know this would probably be the last opportunity that I have. He is usually calm and steady when he is at the grooming table. It's good to train your dog to stand on table so that they feel more comfortable during grooming section. That's how Show Dogs are trained. Show dogs do have to practise standing straight and proud on table everyday.
I still prefer to have his coat short and neat as Schnauzers have beard. When they have their meals or drinks, its always very messy and wet which makes them untidy. Grooming them once a month would be a good. Schnauzers do have pointed or loop ears. My previous dog Gigi have pointed ear which makes her look like a goat. For Show dogs, when they are about 8 to 10 weeks they will have their ear crop as this will make their ear sharp and pointed. Though they look more alert and smarter but going through cropping at such a young age can be quite cruel. That's why Singapore ban this cropping of ears years back.

Things You Should Know:
Miniature Schnauzers are high-energy dogs. Without lots of exercises and activities, they can go a little stir-crazy and buggy and mischievous. Miniature Schnauzers, if neglected or not sufficiently exercised, can become destructive or get into other types of trouble.
Miniature Schnauzers need to be brushed regularly to avoid matting. You might want to occasionally trim their beards as well. A healthy Miniature Schnauzer can live as long as 15 years, aging gracefully. Relatively healthy, they can sometimes develop eye problems, kidney stones and diabetes.

Back to India - Milo; Silky Terrier

Remember that silky terrier from my gallery? He is migrating to India coming Monday. He will jumping and kiss me when I am at his place weekly to shower him.
He is good boy when I groomed him. Sad to see him leave.. Bon vonyage

The Silky Terrier originated when Australian breeders mixed Yorkshire Terriers with native Australian Terriers to improve the latter’s blue & tan coat color.
Silky Terriers get along very well with children, but they don’t have the patience for sudden moves and rough play. Also, they can sometimes be demanding and stubborn if they don’t get their way. Make sure they get plenty of exercise and attention, and they will have a consistently great attitude. They can live as long as 15 years. A relatively healthy breed, some Silkies can develop diabetes and epilepsy. Grooming can take a little time and energy, but it’s worth it: Daily brushing and bathing can prevent their long hair from becoming tangled or matted. Some trimming is required, and some owners choose to tie their dog’s head hair in a bow so it doesn’t fall over the eyes.