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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on March 28, 2011 at 9:22am

I think it's about what you want to do. Since you know the groomer this will be better. I have only had my rescues groomed and my own get tub baths maybe once a year unless they get into something smelly or really dirty:)

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 28, 2011 at 10:22am

It all depends on what you are looking for.  Both mine just had a bath on the weekend and between the two of them, it took maybe a half hour.  As you know, they don't need special grooming or clipping the way some breeds do, and I'm perfectly capable of taking care of the basics.

That said, we got Maddie from a show breeder as an adult, and she had bathed her and blown her out before we picked her up.  Wow, did she look fabulous, and I must say she's never looked as good in the time I've had her.  I mean, her coat is as shiny and full and she's as healthy and fit--- and probably more muscled out because it's very hilly where I live.  But the blow-dry job is something I can't do a good job of myself, and it makes a difference in how they look.   The breeder is not a professional groomer, but does all her own dogs for the shows.   You could tell the difference.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on March 28, 2011 at 11:55am

i have been told that corgis look great after a blown out but i have never seen a corgi there before. i could imagine she did look great:). i guess what i am looking for is a really good bath in some nice shampoo to help his skin because i have tried so many times to get to the under coat but i havnt been very successful lol and to make his fur feel great again. he gets a bath once a month as i was told it was bad to wash them too much. i also want to get out as much dead fur as possible as its kinda hard to get him to sit still as he just loves to be brushed.

 

im not trying to be lazy or anything as i love to groom him but i thought since we have the extra money and he needs a good brushing/moisturizing bath it would be a good thing. because i already brush his teeth,fur, and do his nails

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Permalink Reply by David on March 31, 2011 at 1:53am

I take my two knuckleheads to the groomer about once a month.  They do look gorgeous after they are done.  Another thing is the groomer uses a medicated shampoo, which smelled like sulfur, during the summer to prevent any fungus or skin disease.  They never have any skin problem in Taiwan's humid heat in the summer!

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Permalink Reply by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on March 28, 2011 at 10:28am

Rebbecca its all personal preference and afforability... since i have two now  ill probaby be doing most of the grooming my self. haha Carly and i both have to get in tub together she is a hand full...shes one of those corgis!!

she has issues with her feet so i have always had them trimmed by the groomers i take her to. its $21 bath, nails and blow out.. pretty afforable for one, but not two, for me.. so ive bathed and trimed my new pup with no issues..

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 28, 2011 at 1:32pm

Why pay somebody to have the pleasure of grooming your dog?  It's excellent dog-time. And nobody's going to inspect your dog as carefully and lovingly as you are.

For Al, combing is a massage; he practically falls asleep in my arms.  I only do this when the mood strikes; one must be in the proper frame of mind to comb a corgi. Sometimes, if I'm emotionally distressed, combing the dog can be a relief, a calming meditation.

I can trim their claws in less time than it'd take me to get them out the door.

Fragrance?  On a dog?  How do you know the dog doesn't hate it (unless they have, like, cat poop, dead earthworm, or eau de horsepiss -- which can be had for free)? 

I've heard that unscented baby shampoo is good for dogs.  I've tried using nothing at all, just water, to get the mud out and leave their skins oils alone.

Once I made the mistake of using plain bar soap -- plain simple castile soap -- and it left the fur so sticky I couldn't comb it and had to re-wash with the dog shampoo we had.

Ours need bathing late at night, home from a hike, when no groomer's available.   I just get into the bathub with them -- I will stand and rinse them under the shower head, but I wouldn't recommend this, it's very dangerous, you could fall or drop the animal.  A good screen for the drain is essential for the hair and sand.

I'd like to get a hair dryer -- since it's basically the opposite of a vacuum cleaner (the hated enemy), they'd probably LOVE it.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on March 28, 2011 at 4:02pm

i love to groom teddy but i just figured having a professional do it would be great since i know its spring time and the shedding is going to get worse. i didnt really want a fragrance lol it was just included. i love to brush teddy,brush his teeth, and trim his nails. he just lays there until im done. that i wasnt worried about i just wanted them to get all the lose and dead hair out as i only have a bath tub and a furminator. he likes to bathes(i know a shocker!) but having to lean over the bath tub hurts my back after five minuets. it is pretty hard to get through that thick under coat too

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 29, 2011 at 1:23pm

I could never bend over the bathtub.  I take a bath with the dogs (one at a time).  Fine steel-mesh drain screen.

I've never had a furminator, just a regular coarse steel dog comb, kinda like a metal Afro comb; I fear the furminator's cutting edge will take out too much fur.  I guess I've gotten a high tolerance for animal fur in the house.

We can overdo this pampered-pet stuff.  I doubt poor Welsh farmers spent much time combing and bathing their working dogs.

I'm amazed how clean the corgi coat is.  Sand and mud just fall out when it dries -- it falls out inside the house, unfortunately, if I don't wash/comb it out first.  I ask visitors if our house smells "doggy", they say no.

I took Al on a 100+ mile wilderness backpacking trip in wet autumn weather; he slept inside my sleeping bag on top of me 6 nights; I don't remember dirt being an issue and I didn't have a dog towel.

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Permalink Reply by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on March 29, 2011 at 1:43pm

John your hard core what can i say...lol... and your also right about the welsh farmers...  I get upset when frankie digs in the dirt , thats pretty stupid of me i know.. So im trying to ease up a bit on the dirt, knowing it will fall off... Problem is i let them on my furniture and it not that resistant.

I cant imagine holding on to Carly and taking a shower.  make me laughs just thinking about it.. right now  i might be able to handle frankie in a shower,  hahah but hes just 13.5 lbs at 12 weeks... Im guessing the time is short that i can actually lift this little tank.

I agree about the brushing , i am not a fan of the furminator, but have one, and its not any better than the rake as you were saying.. I sure hope my house doesnt smell doggy..  I dont like candles and smelly sprays they give me a headache, so i just have to go a-la-natural

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on March 29, 2011 at 1:58pm

i honestly dont brush teddy that much as i have the same fear. so i only brush him once in awile but i do see what u mean about the farmers back then and i do see what your saying:) whenever teddy does get dirty its like u said, the dirt just comes off but then theres times when i give him a bath and didnt realize how dirty he was! lol

 

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Permalink Reply by Lucy & Ricky (Wendy/Jack ) on March 30, 2011 at 9:58pm

I bathe my two in the laundry room sink, only when they need it...maybe once or twice a year. For other smelly jobs we use the garden hose.

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Permalink Reply by Solomon & Naomi's Page on March 28, 2011 at 9:03pm

I loved taking Chloe to the groomers.  I live paycheck to paycheck but it was sooooo worth it to take her.  The put low shed on her and she didn't shed bad for months.  We of course make a big deal over her, telling her how pretty she looks and she just ate that up.  I haven't taken Solomon yet, I have been doing his grooming because he is 4 and not use to alot of things, so we are introducing to new things slowly!!!  Can't wait till we do! 

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