Susy the Groomer Producer (00:36)
I'll fix that in post. Hi
Barbara (00:36)
Yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (00:38)
everyone. Welcome to episode 492 of the groom pod. And Barbara, I forgot to tell you I have a what's new also. Let's start with my what's new, all right?
Barbara (00:48)
Okay, what's your what's new?
Susy the Groomer Producer (00:50)
Well, there was a comment on the Facebook group from a lady in England who bought a bathing beauty, which I think is super cool. Her name's Sally Henwood, and she says,
Susy the Groomer Producer (01:03)
She needs some advice at the moment. I'm using I'm only shampooing or using conditioner, and I would like to do a separate shampoo and conditioner, but get rid of the suds in between. And this is always a problem for shampoos that aren't built for the recirculator because people like suds. They like foam. They think it makes you clean better, but in reality, it's
Susy the Groomer Producer (01:27)
Not it it helps a little bit to distribute the surfactants, but it really isn't the main focus of the cleaning. It's just put there for our cleaning benefit. Exactly.
Barbara (01:37)
Yeah, it's sensory. It's it's trackled for your hands.
Susy the Groomer Producer (01:43)
So if you're in a spot where you're just using a regular shampoo and you're putting it in your recirculator, the chances are you're probably using more than you need, number one, because they want us
Barbara (01:51)
Probably.
Susy the Groomer Producer (01:52)
Yeah, they definitely want us to do that. The other thing is though
Susy the Groomer Producer (01:58)
What remains in the foam after you've drained the tub? It is my suspicion, and Barbara, that's why we're gonna talk about this for a moment. It's my suspicion that there is not a very much surfactant being held in the foam. So when I empty the tub, then I used to fight to get all the foam out, and this is all new in my new van because in the trailer I had a three inch drain pipe and everything just went whoosh and it was gone and there weren't leftover suds or
Susy the Groomer Producer (02:28)
anything it just swooped itself right down the drain but in the new van the new to me van it's a lot more tricky to get rid of the suds if I use too much shampoo or if I'm using a shampoo that is not built for that.
Susy the Groomer Producer (02:43)
So back in the old days I used to take diluted fabric softener and put it into a spray bottle.
Susy the Groomer Producer (02:50)
And that does work well. I mean it works fine. But and also I was going to say, HydroSurge had a product that they sold in a gallon that you could just put in. But it cost a bunch of money and if you just have this.
Barbara (03:05)
Yeah,
Barbara (03:06)
why why pay for that when you
Susy the Groomer Producer (03:10)
Yeah.
Barbara (03:10)
get the same result?
Susy the Groomer Producer (03:12)
my question to you, Barbara, is
Susy the Groomer Producer (03:15)
Exactly how much shampoo is left in that foam because what I find is that if I get most of it out, I I don't try to get all crazy because I have a basket strainer now and it catches the foam. I'll just plug it up, I'll refill the bathtub with water, I'll put the conditioner in, and it neutralizes the foam pretty quickly, with the conditioner in there, and it's not choking my pump down anymore. And actually how much surfactin is in that foam?
Barbara (03:43)
Well, foam is mostly air.
Susy the Groomer Producer (03:47)
That's what I thought. So why does it matter h if we get it out or not?
Barbara (03:52)
Well, just
Susy the Groomer Producer (03:52)
This
Barbara (03:52)
for total efficiency, it probably is a good thing not to mix any conditioner, any shampoo into the conditioner because it's going to attract some of the conditioner to it, which will neutralize it and or
Susy the Groomer Producer (04:15)
But
Susy the Groomer Producer (04:16)
okay, but if I'm using half an ounce to an ounce of shampoo in an entire bathtub of water, I mean not a f you know, not a human size full, but I mean with a filled bottom bathtub of water, and I'm letting all of the water back out, what's left in that foam? There can't be that much surfactant in there.
Susy the Groomer Producer (04:38)
It just seems like to me it's not affecting my conditioning at all when I do it that way. I've only recently started doing it that way because occasionally I get, you know, it's stu the foam is underneath the grate and I don't even see it under there. And then when I fill the bathtub out, it kinda comes back out. So I've just been like, screw it, I'm just gonna condition on top of it and
Barbara (05:02)
I
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:02)
it seems to be fine.
Barbara (05:05)
I hear ya
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:07)
Okay.
Barbara (05:08)
and I'm making a note.
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:12)
To to check the science on this? See, this is why I'm asking you.
Barbara (05:14)
Yeah, check the check the
Barbara (05:16)
science on this how much I'm writing it out.
Barbara (05:21)
Mm-hmm.
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:22)
This is science at work, people, right in front of your very ears and eyes. Because I assume you're watching us like a movie at this point. If you're not, come watch us like a movie. Because we're on YouTube. And you can see Barbara thinking. You can watch the wheels turning in her head. You can see me vaguely
Barbara (05:39)
Okay.
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:40)
staring off in the distance as I get lost in my own thoughts.
Barbara (05:42)
Question question to investigate.
Barbara (05:47)
I will investigate that question and get back to you next week.
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:50)
Cool. In the meantime,
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:54)
get a spray bottle, and spray those suds down that way
Susy the Groomer Producer (05:57)
I wanna know what the science says, that's why I've act s
Susy the Groomer Producer (06:01)
That's why I've accidented. That's why I've asked our science specialist, Barbara, to look into this so we can find out. Barbara, you said you had a what's new too. What's your what's new?
Barbara (06:12)
Sure, well I just wanna report that last last February, March when I was at the Groomed in Atlanta, Equus gave me a free bottle of this detang Survivor Super Detangler.
Susy the Groomer Producer (06:33)
Yeah, so you got that for free?
Barbara (06:36)
So I got that and what has happened is I have been so neglectful. I am such a bad mommy with my pets. I've been so dealing with their yeasty skin that I haven't dealt with combing out their tails for a long time. Okay, months?
Susy the Groomer Producer (06:57)
Ha ha ha.
Barbara (06:58)
And
Barbara (06:59)
part of the reason is because they're so sensitive. And I I really wanted to get the them combed out. I did not want to do shave the tails. I can't stand the piggy tails,
Barbara (07:17)
I used the Equa Survivor and this comb that I got from the manly long
Susy the Groomer Producer (07:26)
Mainly long hair.
Barbara (07:28)
website that we
Susy the Groomer Producer (07:28)
People. Yes.
Barbara (07:30)
talked about a year ago over a year ago I love this brush because it really it's a master detangler now it's it's gonna help detangle the big stuff and then as you get down into the lesser little tiny nerdy clumps you have to use a comb but this really
Barbara (07:55)
helps break it up and I I saved the tails on both of these dogs without any screaming, I mean no yelping, no no leaping, no nipping, no without it was painless. I just used my
Barbara (08:21)
Masterful de shedding technique, I have to admit I am I mean I having started out with Laza Opsos for show, I can demat almost anything. And I was just like so relieved that this had sort of a really strong fragrance going on. But last night in bed I sniffed them and they smelled
Barbara (08:50)
delicious and not overwhelming at all. So I'm gonna just be a good shout out for Equis Survivor and for the what does this say on it?
Barbara (09:05)
Yeah, I gotta look at that.
Susy the Groomer Producer (09:09)
Okay, meanwhile, while you're looking at that, Barbara, I'm gonna pile on to your Equus Detangling Gel comments because I absolutely love it. And this is why. I'm gonna show you why right now. Here you go. You're gonna check this out. This is
Susy the Groomer Producer (09:30)
The amazing Maisie. And you'll notice she has substantial tangles in her hair right there. Do you see all those tangles?
Susy the Groomer Producer (09:41)
I use the the Equus Gel to get the big stuff out. And it her tail as well. It's really long. This her mane actually goes down below her neck. So you can see
Barbara (09:51)
Okay.
Susy the Groomer Producer (09:51)
how tangly it is. And not to mention how beautiful she is in her gummy bear blanket, which I think is absolutely adorable. So we
Barbara (10:01)
Wanna shut off your new
Barbara (10:03)
horse blanket.
Susy the Groomer Producer (10:06)
Well
Barbara (10:07)
Working it in good way.
Susy the Groomer Producer (10:09)
Yes.
Susy the Groomer Producer (10:11)
She has
Susy the Groomer Producer (10:12)
she has an amazing amount of mane and it's beautiful. And obviously, since I'm a groomer, I want that to look good every time we go out. So I use the Equis gel to get the big dreadlocky ones, which she does get all kinds of the yard in her mane, and that's what tangles it up so much. And then on top of it, I have a spray bottle with the max diluted in there. So I do the big detangle with the Equus gel, and then I do the regular maintenance with the best.
Barbara (10:40)
It's funny.
Susy the Groomer Producer (10:41)
The max, and with some of the other horse products, when you use them as a spray on, like Cowboy Magic, the hair actually feels sticky afterwards. But with this, with the gel, also with the Beshot spray, there's no stickiness, and with the Beshot spray, it lasts for days and days of detangled. I mean, it just falls back out. And the Equus gel smells fantastic, and so we usually put it.
Susy the Groomer Producer (11:11)
it on before we go out so that everyone behind us because we always earn the lead, everyone behind us can smell her because it's such a nice smell. But I that product is an essential part of my horse grooming and I use it with the dogs as well, but mostly for the horse, but it's the best. And they are really good company.
Barbara (11:32)
I I think that I'm going to use it on myself because I get math and I I have hair products that I use that have cyclomethicone in that help. But this is so effective. I think I'm just gonna use it. Dogs, cats, puppies, and Barbara.
Susy the Groomer Producer (12:00)
Yes.
Susy the Groomer Producer (12:03)
It is. It's fantastic. And speaking of
Barbara (12:05)
'Cause you know
Barbara (12:06)
like th this hair, this old sixties si but no, it's not sixty eighty six. I almost call myself sixty-eight years old instead of eighty-six, you know. I think I could get away with it actually. So
Susy the Groomer Producer (12:17)
I'm good with that. Do it. I'll back ya up.
Barbara (12:23)
this hair is just terribly porous and it's practically not there.
Barbara (12:31)
I have to admit, it's fine, it's porous, it just snaps on a dime.
Susy the Groomer Producer (12:39)
You too can have beautiful hair if you use Equus Detangling Gel. It is fantastic.
Barbara (12:44)
Yeah.
Barbara (12:46)
they used to have Lady Equus. They had a human product. They had Lady Equus. I remember I had some. I can't remember if it was a a skin oil or h I can't remember what it was. Bubble bath, I don't remember. But they just don't do that anymore. They don't need to.
Susy the Groomer Producer (13:10)
That's funny.
Susy the Groomer Producer (13:13)
Yeah. Well, because
Barbara (13:13)
They
Susy the Groomer Producer (13:14)
we all use our own animal products anyway. I mean, do. All
Barbara (13:21)
Yeah,
Susy the Groomer Producer (13:21)
right. Let's take a break. We'll hear from our sponsors and we're gonna come back with our first appointment, which is about grooming senior dogs.
Susy the Groomer Producer (14:43)
Senior dogs are some of my favorite to groom. I especially like it, Barbara, when you start with a puppy and you groom it through its entire life and then you help it into its senior years. And it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy to be part of a family like that for that long, especially when you're a mobile groomer and you're in the house and you really get to know these people and you get to know the dogs. And I'm not taking any new clients and haven't for quite a while, but I'll almost always.
Susy the Groomer Producer (15:13)
Take a senior dog because I know I can make a difference in that dog's life because it's kind of my gig, it's my area of expertise, is dealing with special needs dogs, and I definitely consider seniors special needs dogs. It's super rewarding, and I encourage everybody to be there for the lifetime of the dog and help them in their senior years. So, what we have to make adjustments though as they age. And Barbara, let's talk about some of the ways you can tell when a dog.
Susy the Groomer Producer (15:43)
is aging. What are some of the things that you see as your dogs are aging, Barbara?
Barbara (15:48)
Well, their coat gets dirtier faster.
Susy the Groomer Producer (15:54)
Yeah, why is that?
Barbara (15:56)
Well, that's because it's like mine. The hair is more porous, it's weaker. you know, can break the hair more easily, and then that leaves a little raggedy bottom edge that can tangle more up with its neighbor hair strands. So
Susy the Groomer Producer (16:17)
Right.
Barbara (16:19)
senior ducks tend to get dirty, they tend to tangle easier.
Barbara (16:24)
the hair just isn't as robust and happy and dry skin is a very common accompaniment to aging in the dog. It is in the person too.
Susy the Groomer Producer (16:43)
Yes.
Barbara (16:45)
That's why hyaluronic acid is such a money making ingredient because it just really
Susy the Groomer Producer (16:53)
Absolutely.
Barbara (16:55)
adds humectant moisture moisturizing to the products. So that's one thing. And then they and
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:04)
There's also
Barbara (17:07)
also there there seems to be a point at which
Barbara (17:13)
An elderly dog draws the line and doesn't want to do it anymore. And you get the IL drawn.
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:20)
The end of tolerance is
Barbara (17:21)
And sometimes they'll it's almost seem like they're apologizing to you. It's like, I'm sorry, lady, but I can't stand this shit anymore.
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:33)
Yes. That is so true. And then
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:37)
as as they age, sometimes we see things that the owners don't see. Like for instance, when you see a dog walking with its feet out front instead of underneath them, what do you think?
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:51)
He can't see. He
Barbara (17:52)
It's for duty weather then.
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:54)
can't see. The dog is losing sight, so they start to walk with their feet more in front
Barbara (17:58)
yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (17:59)
of them than underneath them. It's something to watch for. The other thing is you've done this dog its whole entire life. You turn the dryer on, and the dog has always reacted to the dryer, and all of a sudden, zero reaction to the dryer turning on as they lose their hearing.
Barbara (18:15)
yeah, you can it that that's a sure sign. They'll ha have just a freaking anxiety attack under the HV dryer, and just be screaming nonstop until you stop. And the best thing to do when that when
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:33)
Yep. Sensitivity.
Barbara (18:35)
that happens, put the dog up. You know
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:40)
And stop what
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:41)
you're doing. For heaven's sakes, don't keep drawing the dog.
Barbara (18:42)
Stop what you're doing and put
Barbara (18:44)
the dog up and let it distress.
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:49)
Or set it on the ground just
Barbara (18:50)
it I usually put it in a crate,
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:54)
Yep.
Barbara (18:54)
because that's a little safe space for your dog.
Susy the Groomer Producer (18:58)
Indeed,
Barbara (18:59)
And it is that's one of the things that I liked.
Barbara (19:03)
about having a salon was having available crates and using them. and so dogs get so used to being in and out and that becomes like their private space for their stay with you. now that you don't tend to do that so much when you're doing one at a time grooming like but if you
Susy the Groomer Producer (19:31)
My solution to that
Susy the Groomer Producer (19:33)
is to always have a handheld dryer because dogs that don't tolerate the HV dryer will often tolerate the handheld dryer just fine. And since it's warmer, it still is pretty effective at drying and straightening the hair. It straightens the hair well, but it's still effective at getting it dry in a reasonable amount of time if you're doing one at a time. So that's another thing that'll show up is the fear and anxiety on the table if they can't see.
Susy the Groomer Producer (20:01)
can't see the edge of the table really well. They'll start to kinda back up against the corner or the anything that they can kinda butt up against.
Susy the Groomer Producer (20:10)
As they age, we'll see disease type changes. For instance, there's cognitive changes that can happen. You can see the dog is just not tracking the same way anymore. Or arthritis, where the dog is uncomfortable and starts to pull away when you're handling their feet, their little bones and their feet get arthritis, and then we pick them up like that, and we're squishing that together, and sometimes that's uncomfortable. There's cushions and addison's, there's the heart cough. These are all things that are telling.
Susy the Groomer Producer (20:40)
You that this dog maybe needs to transition into senior special needs type grooming. Bad teeth.
Susy the Groomer Producer (20:49)
Bad teeth we've talked about fair amount on this show, but bad teeth are also make it difficult for you to do the face. And all of a sudden your dog is fighting you and the face will lift up that lip and take a look and see what those teeth look like and then recognize that you can't hold a dog by the side of the head anymore because those teeth are painful, those gums are painful. and the last thing that I just want to mention as they age are the freaking landmines, the warts and lumps and bumps and
Susy the Groomer Producer (21:19)
Things that ooze and seep and you got you gotta clean up or do you hide You know, all of these choices have to be made be made with these senior dogs and I bet senior people too, because all of a sudden I've got like a weird bump on my arm. You know, sh you just grow these things as you get older. When stuff like this shows up, it's time to prepare the client.
Susy the Groomer Producer (21:43)
for the transition and grooming needs and capabilities, because truthfully they can't handle what they could, just like you were saying, Barbara. So what are some of the things we can adjust in the beauty process that will make the dog or cat more comfortable?
Susy the Groomer Producer (22:00)
And sometimes I just think getting it done more quickly. And other times I think getting it done more slowly. Sometimes you gotta hurry and get it done because that's all the dog can tolerate. Other times maybe it's necessary to break the process up into a couple steps, right? Have them come, do the bath, then have them come another time and do the haircut, like maybe the next day, come back and do the haircut. Also, I'll use my owner helper.
Susy the Groomer Producer (22:28)
Owner helpers sometimes are really good as their dogs age because they're bathing them at home anyway and they've somehow learned to give a good bath. So if you have a dog that doesn't tolerate the dryer or that that that doesn't tolerate the length of the process, have the owner bring the dog in clean. I always say this with a little trepidation because sometimes they don't give a good bath.
Barbara (22:50)
Too trepidation,
Barbara (22:52)
they they don't do as good a job as you would like. But it's a time for compromise, and that includes your compromising as well. And I had a little old lady with a little old shih tzu.
Barbara (23:11)
And I used to go to her home and she would have her daughter come over the night before and they would bathe the dog. And it was okay, but of course they didn't fluff dry it or, you know, it was wavy and yuck and I had to give it a a short clip. But short clips are a good thing when you're older.
Barbara (23:41)
Ha ha.
Susy the Groomer Producer (23:41)
says
Susy the Groomer Producer (23:42)
both of us with our long hair.
Susy the Groomer Producer (23:45)
True though. I mean you see lots of people transition to shorter haircuts too. For me, a shorter
Barbara (23:51)
Yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (23:51)
haircut would be a nightmare. Number one, I've never had one. But then you have to like maintain it and stuff. I don't want to have to maintain my hair. That's crazy talk. But yeah, so the conversation is the important part here is when you're starting to see these signs, you've got to talk to the owner about what you're seeing, what you think the dog can handle, and potentially what they can.
Susy the Groomer Producer (24:15)
Handle. I explain why I need to adjust the grooming and I let the owner contemplate it for a couple more grooms. I don't think like I give him a good warning, okay, we're getting older. I think we're gonna need to make some adjustments. We're not there yet.
Susy the Groomer Producer (24:31)
But I need you to start thinking about that because here's what I think we're going to need to do. And I kinda lay it out for and I let chew on it. The owners, not the dogs. I don't ever tell the dogs as they hate a bad haircut. It's nothing worse for a dog than a nudie cut. But yeah, so for the owners,
Susy the Groomer Producer (24:50)
I want them to think about it. And and so they can adjust to the idea of functionality versus beauty. You know, yeah, we all like to leave the hair on. Everybody likes to have the hair on. But if your dog can't tolerate the grooming process, you've got to come up with a different way to do it. So let's talk about comfort in the tub. What do you have in the tub when you're grooming senior dogs that's helping you out?
Barbara (25:16)
Well
Susy the Groomer Producer (25:18)
You had something very special in the tub that I don't have.
Barbara (25:20)
Yeah, well I had
Barbara (25:21)
a I had a whole built in rack system. over
Susy the Groomer Producer (25:29)
I'm so jealous of that.
Barbara (25:30)
the tub over the tub pole that I could attach you know,
Barbara (25:38)
I could attach a flank strap to, for example, and keep that rear end up. But the other thing is you can let them sit down.
Susy the Groomer Producer (25:51)
Yes, yes,
Susy the Groomer Producer (25:54)
absolutely. Let sit down or lay down.
Barbara (25:55)
there you have to negotiate
Barbara (25:58)
you have to negotiate with the dog. You know what pissed me off? I'm gonna tell you something that pissed me off. I had these two standard poodles that I did since they were I did them for their whole lives. And she chose me because she heard that I would do I would groom a poodle, make it look poodly. And she wanted that.
Barbara (26:20)
And I did a number of different cuts on their two dogs. I worked on them for like ten years. one of them started to get really, really touchy about his feet. He did not want the shaved poodle feet done. the dog would beg me. I mean
Barbara (26:41)
Am I gonna have to bite you? he was just like, Lady, I can't take it anymore. You know, and he was just like that and droopy and and all unhappy and and all touchy and it was just like harder and harder to do it. And so finally I sat down with the owner and I said, you know, he has
Barbara (27:10)
communicated we've we've talked. Yeah,
Susy the Groomer Producer (27:14)
Yeah.
Barbara (27:16)
we had a heart to heart. he has communicated to me that he just can't stand this foot shaving I promised I would discuss with you the possibility of having teddy bear feet and
Barbara (27:35)
So she we agreed and I started doing nice and tidy teddy bear feet on the dog. And then when I left, the groomer, the next groomer, went back to shaving his fucking feet.
Susy the Groomer Producer (27:54)
What a bummer.
Barbara (27:55)
Okay.
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:00)
Yeah, that's frustrating.
Barbara (28:02)
You know, like I just I almost cried. I just felt so bad for Garner because it was such a clear communication that we'd had. And he was just
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:12)
Yes.
Barbara (28:13)
like so much happier that I didn't have to do that. I still did the bottoms of the feet. I
Barbara (28:19)
I made them look good. And
Barbara (28:22)
if a style needed close feet, I could scissor down pretty close. So, you know.
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:28)
Yeah. And that's what that's what
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:30)
our purpose is here. We're not i in my opinion. This is not everyone's opinion. In my opinion, it's
Barbara (28:36)
Yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:37)
not about the haircut. It's about the experience. But that's my focus anyway. So I always have an anti fatigue mat or a bath mat in the bathtub so that the oldies have something to stand on that they can actually
Susy the Groomer Producer (28:52)
relax and it's cushy on their feet and it's not a grate. There's no toes getting caught. There's I use that for every dog, but especially for seniors. And if they do sit down, it's it's not on the grate. It's it's on a nice soft surface. Or I'll let lean in the back. I think it's important to recognize whether they can tolerate water pressure or not, because some dog's skin gets very sensitive as we learned a couple podcasts ago when we were talking about the neuroscientific
Susy the Groomer Producer (29:22)
Of touch that some dogs get very sensitive to the touch and the pressure of the water on their skin. Also
Susy the Groomer Producer (29:30)
Use cooler water than you would use for a younger dog. Not cold water by any means. But if you put warm water on an older dog, it will put them into a I don't know what else to call it, but a trance. It just shuts them down, they're whole, they just stand there and start they can practically fall over when they're standing in the bathtub. Yeah.
Barbara (29:51)
I've had that happen. I've had them actually fall over
Barbara (29:56)
in the tub and
Susy the Groomer Producer (29:58)
And I wonder how many
Susy the Groomer Producer (29:59)
are recognizing it that's the heat of the water that's actually starting this process that then ends up with the dog falling over. So use a little bit cooler water on these guys. Right, right.
Barbara (30:09)
It took me a while to arrive at that conclusion. No, I had to do
Barbara (30:14)
it about three times.
Susy the Groomer Producer (30:17)
All right, well let's move on to comfort drying. So we've got comfort in the tub. Now we need to comfortably dry these dogs. And I think that a passive drying method
Barbara (30:25)
I can't read it.
Susy the Groomer Producer (30:27)
for the older dogs is helpful.
Susy the Groomer Producer (30:30)
So when you're drawing, use a happy hoodie or don't use a happy hoodie. Some dogs, especially if they've had it on all their lives, a happy hoodie is no big deal. Other dogs you put a happy hoodie on in their senior years when they're just coming to you and they don't like it, it disorients them. It's a weird feeling. I get it. I'll also let them sit or lay down when I'm drying them.
Susy the Groomer Producer (30:53)
And I think an important thing that oftentimes we forget is wrap a towel around the dog and let it wick off some of that moist moisture. You know, you can even do that and put it in a crate in my case where I d I do have a crate now, which is really cool, is you can put the dog in a crate wrapped up in a towel so that it wicks off some of the moisture to make the drying easier. or use a cage blower
Barbara (31:20)
or you can get bathrobes. You can get
Susy the Groomer Producer (31:24)
Ha yes.
Barbara (31:25)
what you get they make them. You can get body dryer robes. You know, they're out there. and it it can really help.
Barbara (31:39)
But y you do always, always wanna do as much towel drying as you can on all of your dogs. It just makes a huge difference in drying time and the experience for the dogs.
Susy the Groomer Producer (31:57)
also today we have pretty cool handheld dryers. We didn't have them when we started out. We were just having like human hair dryers which didn't have enough CFMs to really blow the hair around that much. But now they make those like the little Dyson type dryers that have a whole lot of oomph in them. And also the neck dryers
Susy the Groomer Producer (32:20)
And the brush dryers. And I know you have some experience with those. Tell us about the neck dryers and the brush dryers.
Barbara (32:28)
Well, I haven't actually used the neck part of the neck dryer because
Susy the Groomer Producer (32:35)
Ha ha
Barbara (32:36)
I just
Barbara (32:37)
because my hair just
Susy the Groomer Producer (32:38)
Okay, fine.
Barbara (32:40)
gets in the way and it's really weird and but I have I have a really good brush dryer and it's not the cheapest one it's a little bit bigger but it really helps and I use the neck dryer
Barbara (33:02)
drier part handheld. It do it works great on my Maltese. you know, and they're not in full Maltese coats. They're in fact
Barbara (33:17)
Little has toothpick legs.
Barbara (33:19)
my
Susy the Groomer Producer (33:24)
That's funny.
Barbara (33:26)
But but if I put her in her pajamas, she c nobody can tell that she has a toothpick legs. You know, I'm at
Susy the Groomer Producer (33:35)
Right.
Barbara (33:36)
I'm at a cross point. This is something. Do you want to shave down an older dog I am in a dilemma.
Susy the Groomer Producer (33:43)
outline.
Barbara (33:44)
I wanna
Barbara (33:44)
hear what you have to say about that 'cause I'm on the fence.
Susy the Groomer Producer (33:48)
in my opinion, it's an individual dog thing. But let's talk about comfort on the table. anti-fatigue mat on the table. I don't mean a yoga mat. I think the yoga mats, I'm not sure what the purpose of the yoga mats are, but they are not sturdy enough to be used every single day for X amount of who knows how long. But Costco has kitchen floor.
Susy the Groomer Producer (34:14)
f anti fatigue mats that are cushy and they don't soak up water
Susy the Groomer Producer (34:18)
I think that is a better answer than a yoga mat myself personally. But if you don't have an anti fatigue mat you can put on your table, put a yoga mat on your table or something so that the surface of the table isn't messing with the little tiny old lady pads of the feet. And
Barbara (34:34)
Yeah, I've got
Barbara (34:35)
a I've got a bath mat.
Susy the Groomer Producer (34:39)
Okay.
Barbara (34:40)
that I liked in my bathroom and I just got concerned about my dog's comfort on the table and I just took it out of the the bathroom, put it on my table. It's a perfect fit. It's
Susy the Groomer Producer (34:57)
Nice.
Barbara (34:58)
it does take some of the water, which is good when you're when you're forced drying you want, you know, I used to use these
Barbara (35:08)
I what is it? Etsy. I used to have this place on Etsy that I would get Terry cloth table covers with an elastic around the side of them. But they don't hold up very well. And it was just i it was kind of an expense. But I like to have something that takes the water.
Barbara (35:31)
is cushiony and I think that almost all of the table mats that are in our industry that you find at Trade I think they're just like way overpriced. Like way
Susy the Groomer Producer (35:45)
And they don't last.
Barbara (35:47)
and they don't last. And you know
Susy the Groomer Producer (35:49)
Yeah.
Barbara (35:50)
like way, I I would try the kitchen mat that Susie tried. Haven't been to Costco in a year, two years.
Susy the Groomer Producer (35:58)
you must
Susy the Groomer Producer (35:59)
be having withdrawals. Okay, I would be
Barbara (36:01)
No.
Barbara (36:04)
It's really hard when you're living alone to get full
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:07)
I know.
Barbara (36:08)
value out of Costco. You know, I just don't
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:10)
I get it. I get it.
Barbara (36:12)
really want a pizza this big, you know.
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:15)
Yeah,
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:17)
I eat at Costco all the time because you get a pizza and a drink for two dollars and sixteen cents here in in the northwest and a hot dog for a dollar fifty and a drink. So Costco is great for eating. Yeah. Anyway
Barbara (36:28)
Yeah, the hot dogs, but I I we used to get
Barbara (36:32)
but we used to get in Tucson right on the corner there was a street vendor that sold Sonoran hot dogs. And if you've never had a a Sonoran hot dog, you're missing out. And they were like three
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:49)
Yeah.
Barbara (36:50)
bucks and they were like
Barbara (36:52)
beans
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:52)
I had one.
Barbara (36:53)
and salsa and they were just like yeah
Susy the Groomer Producer (36:56)
I didn't have it with the stuff though. I had a naked one when I was
Barbara (36:59)
well you just had it f plain. But they're fresh. They were you know like
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:02)
A hot dog, yes. Yes.
Barbara (37:05)
they were fresh. And
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:07)
Yep.
Barbara (37:09)
and then you would have a hot pepper wrapped in bacon. Mm mm mm mm mm mm
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:17)
Yes, I remember
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:18)
that. So
Barbara (37:19)
I miss Sonora
Barbara (37:20)
and hot dogs so bad I've started making my own.
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:25)
Well good. That's the way to do it.
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:27)
I want to encourage everyone to use all of your support systems that you have available if
Barbara (37:31)
What?
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:33)
you're going to be grooming senior dogs. For
Barbara (37:36)
What?
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:36)
instance, the lip system, the hip straps, the hammocks, the groomers helper, the cross tie. Because as they lose their sight, they can easily s step off a table and snap their neck and nobody wants that. I mean, you really don't want that to happen. Yeah. So just use every
Susy the Groomer Producer (37:53)
you've got. If you have to use a muzzle, I choose an e-collar, not a muzzle, because of the teeth problems that are often common in old dogs. Plus at that age, you know, you just don't want to be compressing that area up there, in my opinion. So I'll use a an e collar for that.
Susy the Groomer Producer (39:22)
if there comes a time when you need meds, you should go get meds, like at the vet. Go talk to the vet. Sometimes over-the-counter stuff helps. Sometimes it doesn't. They can usually break through the meds no matter what they are, if they're super stressed. But with some of these oldies, they've done it for so long. They know what's gonna happen. If you can just take the edge off a little bit, then they will get through the grooming a little more comfortable. Also pain medication if they have arthritis badly.
Susy the Groomer Producer (39:50)
Pain medication on grooming day is like medicating your horse before the shoeer comes. It's really helpful. It makes it more comfortable and not such an not such an aggressive action that's going on. And you know, keep your grooming area calm if you can. Okay, let's go to the haircut. I usually, for the oldies, we'll do one length all over.
Susy the Groomer Producer (40:15)
And I've talked about it before,
Susy the Groomer Producer (40:16)
I choose to use the Romani number three comb because it has a rocker bottom. When we started grooming with combs, Wall came out with a bunch of rocker bottoms, rounded bottom combs. They're inefficient as all get out in the larger sizes, but in the number three size, it's a super gentle.
Susy the Groomer Producer (40:36)
way to go down the legs because you were asking a little bit earlier about whether to cut the dogs down or not. Using that number three comb is short, but it's not super short. It's not shaved. But it gets around the bumps and the bony protuberances on the arms, the elbows and the feet much more gently. It's nice and rounded on the back. If you use suction, it works fantastic. So basically this is mostly for people with suction. I'm not sure because I don't groom with outside
Susy the Groomer Producer (41:06)
Section
Susy the Groomer Producer (41:06)
how it would work with a regular just running it over the dog, but it's way more gentle on the legs. Sometimes I will just scissor the legs. Believe me, that's not my forte, so it's like my last option, but sometimes I'll scissor legs. Oftentimes I will do the legs where they stand instead of picking the foot up and trying to manipulate it, especially if they've got arthritis and you know it.
Susy the Groomer Producer (41:33)
Do I think that shaving a dog is better than not shaving a dog? I would say it depends on their tolerance for grooming. As my dogs age, especially the Maltese and the Havanese and the Shih Tzu's, which are mostly the ones who have the oddly shaped front ends and stuff. For those guys, I think that some of them do better if you shave it off with like a five blade and then
Susy the Groomer Producer (41:58)
Don't have come in for another three months and then you just shave it off and then have come back in in three months. Nobody does any detangling. It's less stressful for the dogs. It's not necessarily right for every dog, because some dogs
Susy the Groomer Producer (42:14)
don't like to be cold, they don't like having no hair. So with those dogs then I do the scissor the legs thing and I brush out what I can. I can usually
Barbara (42:21)
Okay.
Susy the Groomer Producer (42:23)
always use a comb on the on the jacket, but that's how I approach that. What do you think of that method? You just kind of go individually by dog.
Barbara (42:30)
Yeah.
Barbara (42:32)
Yeah, I here's where my dilemma comes in, because I now understand that the reason the dog, the canine, has thinner extremely thinner skin than human is because it has hair coat. So that hair coat
Barbara (43:00)
It's part of the barrier system for the skin. It's part of what keeps stuff from getting into the stratum corneum of the skin and going down below that level into where you can activate allergies and stuff. And here I've got these two fourteen and a half-year-old Maltese.
Barbara (43:29)
That have yeasty skin that's been diagnosed as an allergic problem. And we're living in South Carolina where there's a lot of pollen. And we live in a little valley that's between two intersecting interstates. So there's a lot of traffic and a lot of
Barbara (43:56)
Crap in the air.
Susy the Groomer Producer (43:58)
It gets stirred up.
Barbara (44:00)
It gets stirred up and and you know I do have an air filtering system in my bedroom now, but I don't know how good it is. taking
Barbara (44:11)
I argue with myself about should I just shave that down and have a better access to the skin? Or if I shave it down, are the are the irritants gonna have a better access to the skin?
Susy the Groomer Producer (44:26)
this is one of the reasons why
Barbara (44:26)
No
Susy the Groomer Producer (44:28)
I choose that number three comb instead of taking a seven blade
Susy the Groomer Producer (44:31)
but yeah, I leave I always leave a little hair. The three comb pretty much is the shortest I go with suction, which is like a four blade. But that's still pretty short.
Barbara (44:44)
And I don't like
Susy the Groomer Producer (44:45)
I showed
Susy the Groomer Producer (44:46)
up at a house yesterday with my two westies. The people have had the dogs at a pet sitter. Something happened. Because I can normally brush those dogs out. They would not tolerate any brushing. So I was like, Wow, this is drastically different than it was. I I do the dogs once a month. I said
Susy the Groomer Producer (45:06)
D what did did something go on this last month and they said, Well, we were gone most of the month and the pet sitter was watching them and she said they were very difficult to brush and I was like, Don't let the pet sitter brush the dogs ever again, please, because they were horrible today. So sometimes you gotta do a little investigation. They were horrible. They wrecked she wrecked in a month. I don't know if
Barbara (45:27)
And so the and
Barbara (45:28)
this is true, and this is true of owners too. They you
Susy the Groomer Producer (45:32)
Yes.
Barbara (45:32)
cannot expect pet owners to know how to brush out their dogs. You just can't expect that because it is a learned skill. It is not just an intuitive skill, you know,
Susy the Groomer Producer (45:51)
Yeah.
Barbara (45:52)
and you
Susy the Groomer Producer (45:54)
They're westies. Leave
Susy the Groomer Producer (45:56)
alone, please. They're pr they brush out just fine.
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:00)
Yeah. Yes.
Barbara (46:04)
it's too bad. And that, you know,
Barbara (46:07)
like that might be an ongoing problem for you now because
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:13)
Yep.
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:14)
I'll just
Barbara (46:14)
They've
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:14)
use my equus gel to get out what's in there and keep their hair coated for the couple months until some of that stuff grows out 'cause yeah, it it was a shame. I knew something was off because they were always fine. One of them's less than two years old. And I've only been the only person who's ever touched them and they've been great. Now all of sudden it's like It's like, holy cow, what it what in the world? What are you telling me? What is it you're telling me?
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:42)
me it's obviously something so I mentioned before
Susy the Groomer Producer (46:46)
using caution around the mouth w as they age because of the teeth problem so
Barbara (46:51)
yeah, my dogs
Barbara (46:52)
don't neither one of wants me to have anything to do. And yet yesterday I did some work around faces with the survivor and I got a start at it. and we reached at that point I'd already done the tails and you know, I'd
Barbara (47:13)
also done eye boogies and which can be a big deal. And I had done toenails, which can be a big deal.
Susy the Groomer Producer (47:21)
See you're breaking it up. You're
Susy the Groomer Producer (47:23)
doing exactly what one of the methods that works really well, break that grooming up. And when they're in your own house and you're the groomer, that makes it even easier.
Barbara (47:29)
It went yeah,
Barbara (47:31)
right. So when you ha when you're a home groomer, you can do that. And I I never fault my owners for breaking it up because it's better not to get frustrated with it.
Susy the Groomer Producer (47:44)
Yep. And I don't hesitate to ask the owner to stay and help if I think it's going to help and if I think they're teachable, then I will have them, you know, stabilize the dog or talk to the dog while I'm doing the stuff it doesn't like and then I'll send them on their way or
Barbara (48:00)
Well, and sometimes
Barbara (48:01)
that's the best way to teach the owners is to have them watch you help you do it and then they see what layering is you know
Susy the Groomer Producer (48:14)
And they also see
Susy the Groomer Producer (48:15)
how their dog is tolerating or not tolerating and will often heed my request to change the haircut if they watch the struggle
Barbara (48:23)
Yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (48:24)
or have to help with that. So if you're not comfortable doing older, possibly unhealthy dogs, then pass them to someone who is. Because frustration is not your friend with these dogs. You have to roll with the punches, you've got to keep calm, you have to think outside the box and be ready to.
Susy the Groomer Producer (48:44)
pivot and if you don't feel comfortable or you're finding yourself getting stressed a vet groomer is often the best option for these guys because if they're gonna have a heart problem or they're gonna have a seizure or something's gonna go wrong where they wiggle and you cut them you're actually at a facility who can help you immediately so it's always an option there's lots of vet groomers out there and you know they're trained in this stuff so or if not if not they certainly learn it after they've been there for a while. So the
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:14)
That is that. Now, Barbara,
Barbara (49:15)
Brave and price.
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:18)
I know, but we've been talking for just about an hour. And the question is, do we continue on and do another at least half hour? Because I'm sure the botanical thing is gonna be, or do we skip it for next time, in which case I will not prepare
Barbara (49:31)
Yeah.
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:32)
anything.
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:34)
you know what?
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:36)
let's permanently put you first. We'll do the what's new, and then you'll be the first appointment, which will be Bird's classroom, Let's do that. So
Barbara (49:44)
Let's try
Barbara (49:45)
it for a little while and see how that works.
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:48)
Well, because I can still I'm I'm because my cells are younger than your cells, that I can keep my attention a little better
Barbara (49:55)
No chicken.
Susy the Groomer Producer (49:58)
at the end of the show. So that sounds good. Let's
Susy the Groomer Producer (50:01)
plan that for next week. Okay. Thanks
Barbara (50:03)
Huh?
Susy the Groomer Producer (50:04)
for being here, everyone. We're gonna shake things up next week because Barbara's gonna go first or we're never gonna get to her topics. And that takes a little pressure off of me because you can talk long. Yes.
Barbara (50:11)
And I'm gonna talk about mechanicals.
Barbara (50:15)
Yes.
Susy the Groomer Producer (50:15)
Botanicals. Yep, we'll do botanicals
Susy the Groomer Producer (50:18)
next week.
Susy the Groomer Producer (50:18)
thanks for being here. Please support our sponsors. Please help us by donating at our website or and or joining us on Patreon. And happy grooming, everyone. See you next time on the groom pod. Bye.
Barbara (50:32)
Take care of yourselves. We love you.