Pantops Pet Salon & Spa
Charlottesville's Professional Dog Grooming

Basics:
Country of Origin:  Italy
Group:  Toy
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Height:  No standard
Weight:  4-7 lbs
Color:  White
AKC Rank 2006:  18

The Maltese
This is one of our favorite companion dogs.  With proper breeding, they are highly affectionate, well-mannered and adjust well to a family environment.  Due to their petite size and gentle nature, they are perfect for adults and older children but handling by young children (below 10 years) should be monitored.  Minimal exercise and quiet are fine for this easy-going dog.

While the breed standard calls for a long coat well to the floor, all of our customers like some scissoring to minimize brushing and combing and to maintain cleanliness.  The hair on the top of the head, if allowed to grow, is tied up into either one or two top knots (pony tails).  Most of our Maltese owners prefer not to deal with tying up the hair and choose bangs instead.
The most popular cut is our summer cut with bangs.  We scissor the legs, chest, and tail to between 1.5 inches to 2 inches.  In addition to bangs, muzzles are trimmed to 1.5 inches as well.  We also do a lot of “personality cuts” where the body and legs are clipped all over from 1/4 of an inch to 1 inch all over with bangs and a short beard.

When it comes to grooming, this is a gentle natured dog.  Keep in mind that the longer the coat, the more frequent your combing and brushing should be at home as they can matt up quickly.

Basics:
Country of Origin:  Germany
Group:  Terrier
Lifespan:  12-14 years
Height:  12-14 inches
Weight:  13-15 lbs
Color:  Black-silver-grey
AKC Rank 2006:  10

The Miniature Schnauzer
Adjectives used to describe the Miniature Schnauzer say it all:  engaging, bouncy, spunky, scrappy, playful and alert.  This most popular of the terriers is a great family pet but would definitely demand and deserve a lot of attention.  If you have a nice fenced-in back yard or plan to go on long walks daily, all the better.  But if you want to lead a quiet lifestyle, stay away from the Schnauzer!

Our experience in the shop has been that the Schnauzer typically does not take well to grooming, but can be taught.  They are almost considered non-shedding which is a plus for many owners. But they do have a double coat and their fine undercoat needs weekly brushing.  Neglect of the beard and leg feathering leads to matting in very short order.  Due to their propensity toward matting, we are called upon to scissor beard, chest, and legs more than the typical show standard calls for.  If you are able and willing to brush and comb regularly of course we can leave the feathering to please.
The Schnauzer haircut calls for the head and ears to be clipped closely to about 1/8 of an inch, the back and tail clipped to ¼ of an inch and tapered into the sides—higher on the hips and lower on the shoulder.  The hair on the back legs is clipped to the top of the hock.  Eyebrows are scissored long and pointed, beard combed out and left natural, legs scissored into cylinders and chest to one inch in length.  While this is the breed standard, keep in mind that most of our Schnauzer customers want the beard and feathering scissored some for ease of maintenance.  Long beards tend to get messy in food bowls.

So if you have a schnauzer or are interested in one, understand that they are highly engaging, require weekly grooming at home and training to be able to accept professional grooming (clippers, dryers, bath).

Basics: 

Country of Origin:  Scotland
Group:  Terrier
Lifespan:  14 years
Height:  10 inches
Weight:  14 lbs
Color:  All colors but white,
black tipped ears, tail, muzzle
AKC Rank 2006:  48

The Cairn Terrier
Historically the Cairn was bred to control vermin which seems typical of the small terrier group from Britain.  They are also known as “earth dogs” due to their use in chasing foxes, badgers, and rats out of their den.  What this means for an owner is that, while they can make wonderful family pets, they would do best with older children and a fenced in yard.  Also, don’t be alarmed if they dig in the garden as is their natural inclination.

Early in our marriage, Loretta and I moved to Charlottesville and shifted from a single family home to an apartment.  I was just getting out of the service and before leaving Fort Hood Texas, I gave my German Shepherd to one of my company NCOs.  I wasn’t here long when we decided it was time for another dog—but smaller.  We happened upon Cairn Terrier pups and thought that getting a dog like Toto from the Wizard of Oz was great.  Scruffy proved to be lots of fun but did experience some skin allergies which are not unusual in the breed.

Cairns have a course primary coat and it is often accompanied by plenty of undercoat which requires brushing and combing once a week.  While it is not necessary to have clipping performed, it is accepted for the back to be cut to about 1/2 an inch in length and tapered to the sides.  The ears are clipped close inside and out.  Thinning shears are used in front of the eyes.  This is what we consider our standard “breed groom.”  Many of our Cairns get their entire body and legs done to 1/2 an inch all over to minimize care.  Tails are left full and lightly scissored.  Since the coat is so coarse and dense, it will matt with neglect.

Basics:
Country of Origin:  England
Group:  Toy
Lifespan:  14 years
Height:  No standard
Weight:  15 lbs
Color:  Tan and blue-grey
AKC Ranking 2006:  2

The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier originated as a typical terrier of England.  It was bred and used as a ratter for the coal mines of Yorkshire.  From this rugged beginning, the use of Yorkies has evolved into that of a companion dog.  Instead of the Terrier group, they are classified as Toys.  Their personality is described by such adjectives as “bright, inquisitive, self-assured, stubborn and at times, aggressive.”  With a description like that, there is no doubt that the Yorkie’s ancestry stems from terrier heritage.  To suit their more recent use as companions, they are being consistently bred to be half their typical 14 lb size and their long satin coats are more beautiful than ever.  Yorkies tend to exercise themselves and are best with attentive adults instead of children.  They rank #2 in the AKC’s count of registered breeds.  I expect that the Yorkies of the future will continue to be smaller and happy in disposition.

The coat of a well-bred Yorkie is floor-length, straight, soft and silky.  It is believed that Maltese were part of the original breeding to give the Yorkie that lovely coat.  But owner beware—this coat requires weekly brushing followed by combing to keep it tangle-free. 

The standard breed groom calls for the top of the ears to be clipped short inside and out.  The edges are scissored to a point.  The hair between the pads and the groin area is also clipped. The coat is to be brushed and combed thoroughly.  Yorkies are bathed with our Best Luxury Shampoo and coat conditioner is optional.  The outside edges of the feet are trimmed to give them a round appearance and the skirt is lightly scissored to remove dead ends and provide a clean line. 

Most of our customers prefer the “summer cut.”  They like the chest and leg feathers to be scissored 1.5 to 2 inches in length.  With less hair comes ease of maintenance and cleanliness. 

We do a number of total body clips that range from 1/2 to 1 inch in length as well.  Most customers prefer the top knot to be scissored into bangs instead of tied up in a ponytail.  We generally scissor the face round when shorter body cuts are asked for.

Since the longer coats will require a lot of brushing at home, getting an early start on grooming is necessary (as with most breeds).  Anytime between 2 and 3 months for a first visit would be great, even if it’s just for a bath and nails.  Follow-up visits for Yorkies should be every 4-6 weeks.

“Dog Whisperer” and Grooming

Cesar Millan and Treat Training

Dog Whispering — Leashes

Grooming the Senior Dog

The Time it Takes and Why

Puppy’s First Visit

A Career as a Dog Groomer

Grooming is a Great Experience — For all of us!

Breeds We Don’t Do

A Variety of Coats

Grooming and Breed Selection

There are a host of factors to be considered when selecting the right dog for you and the amount of grooming required should be high on the list. Want a dog who is energetic, willing to run and happy to catch your frisbies? Sounds like a Lab, Golden, or better yet, a Border Collie. But on the other hand, if you want to minimize the grooming you’d better lean toward the lab. Golden and Border Collie coats will “matt up” with neglect. Think that a short coat like a Lab or Dane will shed less? Guess again or ask any Lab owner–they shed like crazy!

Read the rest of this entry »

Dealing with Doggie Anxiety

Breeds We Don’t Do

Cats and Dogs