The Buzz: Heather, meet clippers
By Gina Spadafori
May 30, 2009
All my life I have had dogs and cats with coat, lots of coat. I never shaved a dog down, with the exception of the occasional rescue Sheltie for whom a buzz cut was far kinder than any effort to de-mat a coat that was basically a layer of felt against the skin.
A few years ago, though, I started having my neighbor Judy give Heather a “Lab look” for the summer. In her old age nad post spaying, Heather’s coat is thick and wooly, and when she swims, it take hours to dry. With her joints not working as well as when she was young, she can’t squat all the way down to pee, so that wooly coat would aborb some dribbling. Not mention, she’s just didn’t seem comfortable.
The first time we buzz-cut her, I couldn’t believe how much better she felt. Every year since, she’s usually buzzed early spring and mid-summer. This year we’ve had some relatively cold patches, so today was her first buzz.
Heather will 13 in the fall, and up to a year ago she was still able to jump on the grooming table. Those days are gone, but she didn’t fuss when Judy and I lifted her up. Judy has been grooming dogs all her life, and she’s an artist with the shears. Today’s work was round one; after a couple rounds of warm baths, Heather will get some touch-up work to even rough patches and clean up around her ears and feet.
But I can tell already she feels a LOT more comfortable.
The after pic is below, with the hair that came off her. Click here for the “before and during” slideshow.
Heather has the most wonderful face. My starting to be “older” dog’s coat would never grow back. I keep her thinned the best I can.
Comment by Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT — May 30, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
Dear Heather, you look beautiful no matter what!
Bogey
Comment by Verde — May 30, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
May I ask what blade used? I’ve always had terriers, so since an Australian-shepherd-mix adopted us I’ve been at a loss as to how to clipper him. And his coat shows it!
She looks happy to be free of all that hair.
pj
Comment by Paula Joseph-Johnson — May 30, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Heather- u look just great, no question
Comment by pet — May 30, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Heather—you look great. I hope you enjoy your summer coat. It looks super on you!
Comment by Colorado Transplant — May 30, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
hey, i knew i recognized Judy! :o)
great haircut on your doggie. i always thought clipping down older dogs seemed to perk them up a lot.
Comment by stellaluna — May 30, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
Just got the blades sharpened and am ready to buzz my near 15YO who has 3 times the fur she needs. And the neighbor’s Golden from show lines who has 4 times the fur he needs.
Comment by Deanna — June 1, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
I thought of Heather’s hair cut when I had to have my Golden girl, Allie, buzzed after a swim that turned her tresses into dreadlocks. She, too, seems much happier.
Comment by Susan — July 15, 2009 @ 10:21 am
We’re in a hothothot cycle here — 100 plus every day. I think Heather really appreciates the short ‘do now. And she does dry off in a flash. The other two adult retrievers don’t have a thick, wooly (and, yes, smelly) old-dog coat, so they don’t need the help from the clippers.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 15, 2009 @ 10:30 am
I was reading an article on hot weather and dogs (where??)and they were claiming you should never ever give a dog ice or ice water because they could have muscle spasms that cause bloat.
Has anybody had any experience with these that? I’d never heard of the ice water thing anywhere else. Sorry I don’t have a source.
Comment by Original Lori — July 15, 2009 @ 10:45 am