Tail Waggers now offers Grooming Classes for those who want to know how to maintain their pets coat and hygiene between grooming appointments. We will be covering the basics like:
Brushing properly to remove/prevent mats and shed
Brushing teeth to ward off invasive procedures
Ear Cleaning
and the Do’s and Don’ts of bathing your pet at home
Classes are Monday and Wednesday night starting July 19th and the cost is only €15 per class. You will also receive a 20% discount on all grooming products like Tropiclean Shampoos, Conditioners, and Cologne Sprays as well as Mikka and Vivog slicker brushes and 10% off any grooming appointments booked the night of the classes.
If you or anyone you know is interested in taking these classes please contact Tail Waggers to book your slot. And don’t forget to bring your furry friend along to practice on.
In this episode I take you into my grooming salon and show you how to properly brush out and de-mat your dog prior to bathing them. I also give you some tub tips to help with during and after the bath as well. If you have any questions or comments we’d love to hear them.
It’s about that time of year where seasonal shedding is starting to happen. Usually twice a year your dog or cat will shed it’s entire undercoat leaving a glossy thinner topcoat that’s easier to maintain. I say usually because most pets are kept indoors and the seasonal shed can happen all year long from the heat going on in the house. This is what I refer to as ‘non-seasonal’ shedding. Another example of non-seasonal shedding is when the animal’s topcoat also sheds. This should never happen as it is a prime example of an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency and/or food allergy.
Most of the pet foods on the market don’t provide even the most basic of nutrients, one of course being EFA’s. As noted in a previous post about hyperactivity in pets, EFA’s are necessary for proper brain development as well as moisturizing the skin and coat to keep that vital topcoat from shedding out. Supplementing EFA’s like Cod Liver Oil or Sunflower Oil are a great way to provide proper nourishment but it’s best if the food already contains one of these oils as that may mean the food itself is healthier.
Luath’s and Robbie’s from Land of Holistic Pets is the only food I recommend. I could carry any food on the market right now but that is the ONLY one I will sell as I swear by it. It’s reversed, dare I say cured, so many problems in the pets I’ve put on it that I’ve lost count. Problems like unseasonal/topcoat shed, eczema, pancreatitis, dandruff, hotspots, yeast related ear infections, eye drainage, dull dry coat, and even insulin dependent diabetes in a cat. No joke!
Getting your pet to a groomer on a regular basis, every 4 to 6 weeks, will help keep your home furball free when the shedding season begins.
Grooming will also take your dog from looking like this…
…to looking like this…
See how happy she looks. Show your pet you love them by keeping them healthy on the outside as well as in. (:o3
Times like these we’re all thinking of ways to tighten our budget. We cut out certain expenses such as going out on the weekends, buying a new frock once a week, and we even surrender our beloved pets to animal shelters for lack of a better option. Well I’m here to say you can STOP surrendering your pets because I’ve devised a list of ways we can all save money on our pets.
1. Feed Healthier Foods- This does not mean run out and buy the most expensive food on the market. On the contrary. One company that’s out there (that I carry and stand behind 100%) is called Land of Holistic Pets. The two brands they have are Luath’s and Robbie’s Holistic Pet Foods. These foods have all of the nutrients every pet NEEDS and none of the fillers they don’t. It has Omega fatty acids, minerals from seaweeds including Spirulina, veggies, meat, and herbs like oregano (cancer fighter) and parsley (kidney tonic). This food is far less expensive than Veterinary brands and wont cause the problems the by-products and fillers in those brands do. Therefore your pet will stay healthier and wont need to frequent the vet for symptoms of ill health. Contact me for pricing on Luath’s and Robbie’s brand foods. It’s so inexpensive you wont believe it.
2. Home Made Flea Control and De-Wormer- Most people think the only way to prevent fleas and worms is to either use a spot-on treatment or get a pill from the vet. These methods are very expensive and quite toxic actually. Not to mention fleas can build up an intolerance to certain spot-on products rendering them useless. I have an easy and cost cutting way to protect your pet and rid them of any parasites they already have.
Ever heard of a little thing called Garlic? Garlic has many medicinal properties such as anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and even anti-viral. I just so happen to have a great recipe on how to make Garlic Oil to drizzle on your pets food. Keep reading…
Recipe:
Ingredients-5 Cloves Fresh Garlic*
1 Cup Olive Oil
Take 5 cloves of fresh garlic and crush with a spoon.This takes them from an Allin form to their medicinal Alicin form. Drop them into a cup of oil, stir, and allow to infuse for a day or two. Once the oil has a pungent smell of garlic put 1/2 tsp for small dogs and up to 2tsps for a large dog on their food once daily.
Garlic used as Flea Control- The odor from eating garlic oil comes out in your pets’ skin. We can’t smell it but the fleas and ticks can and they don’t like it. And if they do bite down it will kill them all the while making your pet healthier.
Garlic used as a De-Wormer- As the Alicin form of garlic oil goes through your dogs’ GI tract it irritates any adult parasites and “chases†them out of the body. To be sure you rid your pet of all life stages of worms follow up with another second round of garlic oil 2 weeks later.
*Note: Garlic is a blood thinner. If your dog is on blood thinners or is anemic or pregnant do not use this recipe. (See my video on Natural Flea and Tick Spray)Also if you notice loose stool or diarrhea lower the dose and feed only 3 times per week.
3. Grooming- You knew I couldn’t talk about pet health without including this vital step. Grooming your pet can be a very costly endeavor. Large breed high maintenance dogs, like Standard Poodles, can cost anywhere up to E100 ($120) or even more depending on where you live. Between groomings you can do a few things to make your next grooming more of a credit crunch cost.
Brush them every day. I know we all lead hectic lives but if you do this every day it will take literally 10 minutes and you can prevent some pretty costly matting
Don’t bathe them. Sounds gross but unless your willing to use conditioners and dry them properly you can actually cause more harm than good. Getting mats wet and then not putting in conditioners, or hand drying and brushing at the same time, will make them worse. That increases the time your groomer takes to brush those babies out and your price will skyrocket.
Get a “sporty†cut. I call it sporty but what it really means is short. And no I don’t mean bald! Shih Tzus and Bichons, while they look lovely all long and fluffed out, really need to be a more manageable length. Ask for a 4F or 5F or even a 7F length and you’ll be able to postpone your next appointment a couple weeks. And trust me, they’ll still look adorable. But you will need to put a coat on them on those blistery cold winter nights.
Don’t miss your appointment. Many groomers out there charge a cancellation fee so be sure not to miss your appointment and if you need to CALL THEM! They may waive the fee for the courtesy of the call.
And lastly, brush their teeth. No one usually thinks of this vital step in pet health but they need dentals just like humans do if the plaque and tartar build up too much. This means a trip to the vet, anesthesia, and possible extractions. Save your pet the trip and your wallet the dent and brush their teeth a few times a week.
4. Exercise- Pet’s, just like people, need exercise. It prevents them from going stir crazy and destroying your house as well as keeping their weight down and heart healthy. They have the same complex systems we do, just a shorter digestive tract. If you do a little research you will find that more pets are getting human diseases like pancreatitis, diabetes, heart attacks, and even liver failure from poor diet and lack of exercise. This will certainly raise your vet bills and may even cause you to consider putting the animal down. These are all preventable conditions that cost very little money and saves your pet a world of suffering.
The Best Protection is Prevention. Prevention is KEY!!
Here’s another video (and yes I look goofy in the still shot) about a question I had on my Facebook page “Tail Waggers Holistic Grooming and Suppliesâ€. I love answering questions and even more so on video so I can show you what I’m talking about. Please feel free to contact me either by email, comment on my blog, or visit my Facebook page and post a question on there. Thanks for watching and subscribe to my youtube channel to be notified of any new videos.
We had a fantastic time at the Claregalway Market on Sunday. Hundreds of people came and loads of them got free samples of Luath’s Holistic Pet Food from me. Next weekend we’re having a raffle for a Doggie Bag filled with lots of fun stuff for your beloved pet. Stop by the table at the Claregalway Market on Sunday November 22 and enter to win. Also, any bookings I take for a grooming appointment will be 10% off!!
Tail Waggers has teamed up with Hound-Dog Pet Services to offer a Pet Taxi Service. On Tuesdays Ruth, owner of Hound-Dog, can come out to your home and whisk your pet off to their spa appointment and return them when they are finished. Ring Tail Waggers to book your appointment and let us know if you require this service.
Hiya! Back again with another video for you…This time I show you how to cut a dogs nails. I swore I would never make this video but I had the pleasure of grooming a wonderful German Shepherd that was kind enough to let me video his nail trim without a fuss… Watch this video and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or email me directly. Have a Great Day…oh and don’t forget to rate me 5 stars. hee hee! x
Working with animals for the past 20 years I learned a thing or two on how to properly care for them. I’ve condensed that knowledge into ten easy steps.
1.Brushing- Slicker brushes are the best tool for keeping up with a long coat for both detangling and seasonal shedding. A once a year brushout is painful and traumatizing. Brush your dog once a week for regular maintenance and a pain free experience.
2.Medium Tooth Comb- To be done after brushing. Make sure you get the comb right down to the skin to lift up the undercoat and prevent it from matting to the skin.
3.Trim Nails- With all breeds, no matter the size or weight, nails must be kept up on. I cannot stress this enough. If they are not, your dog will end up with a condition called ‘slipped wrist’. It’s an arthritis that results in a double jointing of the wrist. It’s very painful and your pet will no longer want to walk around to get the exercise it needs to stay young and healthy. If you are too nervous to do it, bring them to a professional. It’s usually only a fiver.
4.Bathing- Bathing your pet should be done no more than once every 3 to 4 weeks and with only a special shampoo made specifically for dogs. Humans have a different pH and the oils in our skin replenish much quicker than a dogs’ does. If your dog gets muddy simply rinse off with warm water and only use shampoo at the ends of the fur. If they go in the ocean be sure to rinse them thoroughly as the salt water can crack their paw pads and cause excess drying of the skin.
5. Eye Cleaning- Most long-haired breeds like Shih Tzus, Bichons, and Yorkies, as well as larger breeds like Wheaten, Wolfehounds, and Standard Poodles, grow long fur around their eyes. That fur gets caked up with tears or eye discharge (usually brought on by food allergies). Keep this area trimmed and washed using a warm wash cloth to remove any buildup under their eyes.
6. Hygienic Area- There is nothing worse than an unkempt hygienic area. Keep this area just as clean and clear as the eye area. Caked up feces will eventually block the area entirely resulting in a raw inflamed, and infected, rectum.
7.Check For Fleas and Ticks- Whenever your pet comes in from the outdoors you should do a full check for fleas and ticks. Simply comb the hair backwards from the root and look for any signs of pests. Signs would be a black peppery type dander (flea dirt) or red and irritated skin (flea bite dermatitis). If you do find fleas or ticks give your pet a bath with all-natural flea/tick shampoo and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. Ticks may die but they don’t let go so you will have to remove them yourself. Use a tick remover or dab tea tree or lavender essential oil on them and pull them off with your fingernails. NEVER use spot-on flea/tick medications! They cause are extremely toxic to you and your pet. Symptoms include: central nervous system disorders, organ failure, and premature death.
8.Healthy Diet- This goes for all breeds. Many pet foods on the market are loaded with by-products, preservatives, salt, sugar, and allergens like corn, wheat, soy, beef, or dairy. Be sure to check all labels and don’t be fooled by companies claiming to have a different food for every breed. Every dog I’ve seen on this food “specifically made for (insert breed)†has a weight control problem. Go for a food that is simply complete nutrition and an all life stages formula. The brand I carry, Luath’s, is just that. The few ingredients it has are hypoallergenic and packed with nutrients. And always supplement with raw meat like chicken, turkey, venison, lamb, duck, and fish. The enzymes in raw meat aid indigestion and help keep teeth clean and healthy.
9. Exercise- This also goes for all breeds. Pets need exercise just as much as we do to keep their hearts healthy, low body fat, and digestion moving. This will also combat annoying habits like accidents in the house and chewing everything you own. They get bored just like people so a good walk or run will burn that excess energy.
10. Love- Show your love and appreciation for your pet by doing things they like to do. Throw a ball for fetch, go for a walk, play tug-of-war with a rope toy, or simply sit with them on your lap and pet them until they fall asleep. Doggie Daycare is a growing trend in the States. So for busy professionals with no time for fetch or too exhausted from a full days’ work to go for that night time walk, check your local area to see if this service is available.
If you maintain all 10 of these steps your pet will be the happiest and healthiest it could possibly be. And you can say goodbye to annoying vet bills for preventable health complications.
For more information on pet health please call into my shop for a wellness consultation. Natural Remedies coming soon!
Before buying a dog research the breed you want and find out if it’s considered High, Medium, or Low Maintenance.
Here are a few examples of breeds that are considered “High Maintenance†and what that means.
Shih Tzu
Bichon Frise (pictured above and below)
Poodle (all sizes)
King Charles Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
English Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Yorkshire Terrier
West Highland Terrier
and many more…
High Maintenance means regular grooming is an absolute must. That consists of a good brush out at home every few days and a full grooming (at my shop) every 4-6 weeks. If this doesn’t appeal to you consider buying a medium to low maintenance breed like a Labrador Retriever, Boxer or Jack Russell Terrier.
By the time most high maintenance dogs get to me they either need large mats shaved out and the rest just trimmed or a complete ‘summer shave down’ because the matting is so bad I can’t tell where the fur stops and the dog starts.
Here is an example of a grooming left too long.
It came off in one huge piece. I do have to say this was one of the better situations where the dog was brushed and washed regularly but the matting got out of control. So thankfully I didn’t have to shave too close to the skin in most areas. Other dogs haven’t been so lucky.
So please, when a groomer tells you you need to come in on a regular basis it’s not for our health, it’s for the health of your beloved pet. And remember…
Tail Waggers now offers Grooming Classes for those who want to know how to maintain their pets coat and hygiene between grooming appointments. We will be covering the basics like: 
Tail Waggers has teamed up with Hound-Dog Pet Services to offer a Pet Taxi Service. On Tuesdays Ruth, owner of Hound-Dog, can come out to your home and whisk your pet off to their spa appointment and return them when they are finished. Ring Tail Waggers to book your appointment and let us know if you require this service. 
