Groomers not taking new clients! Help!

[Lindz]

We have a 20 week mini black and silver boy who desperately needs grooming. He's had one introductory puppy groom, but no fur off yet.
We are living between north London and Manchester for work at the moment and both places that come highly recommended (by owners of minis who I have met and admired) are not taking new clients until September. Groom boom!
The place I wanted to go to in north London is Stathams and the place in Manchester was Barkside.
Any recommendations gratefully received. We don't want to strip him.
Thanks!

[zeta1454]

Hi Lyndsey, you could check out the Miniature Schnauzer Club list of groomers for any within your commuting distance. I can imagine that you may find it difficult though to get a good dog groomer who operates a general grooming business with vacancies in the immediate future as my impression is that most are not taking new clients for months ahead due to delayed bookings for current clients after lockdown.

http://www.theminiatureschnauzerclub.co ... /groomers/

Could your puppy’s breeder not help in the interim?

You could try home grooming which could work out a lot less costly and more convenient in the long term. There are some excellent guides to grooming miniature schnauzers online or DVDs to purchase especially if you are not planning on stripping him. The coat will always grow back too so no worries if there are some grooming blips initially. I would recommend Linda Forsyth’s DVD if you did want to learn how to groom your mini schnauzer yourself as she demonstrates clipping (and hand stripping) very well

https://redcape.co.uk/product/the-styli ... -and-clip/

[Lindz]

Thanks very much - I will look at the list. He is such a naughty pup - bites me and the brush when I brush him. Every single time! So I don't think he and I would get on well with clippers! A battle!

[Dawnspell]

Sounds like a normal schnauzer pup We've all been there but it takes time and patience. Jasper was not only all teeth but the wiggliest and couldnt keep still for 5 seconds and would dance about.

You are still going to have to tackle the combing even if you dont groom yourself as they need coat care between grooms. Keep your sessions really short a minute or so. To start just get the brush out and reward for him every time he looks at it. Then gradually build up to touching with the back of the brush etc before you try to actually do brushing. Its easier if you have one person rewarding and one person doing the combing when you initially start combing so he can be drip fed treats. As a puppy if hes got some knots just cut them out its not worth creating a bad experience by trying to brush them out. I used to have 2 combs with wooden handles he used to bite one and I combed with the other

[Schnauzerluv]

I find my pup likes to chew on a bully stick when I groom. He'll automatically grab one when I start. Alison uses a licky mat. It helps if they have something to do instead of just standing there. He likes to be brushed (if there's no pulling) now and I kind of pet him when I do it. He'll roll over so I can get his belly if he's in the mood haha.

But as mentioned, I started with treats and 2-5 minute sessions to get him accustomed.