A reader with concerns common to many toy poodle owners wrote to us recently about grooming tools:
“I am retired and have twin poodles. They are three years old and I am finding I cannot afford the grooming rates here in Washington. I would like to buy clippers but am very perplexed. My dogs have been traumatized by groomers in the past. We have been very careful to select subsequent groomers but not knowing what goes on when we are not there leaves us with questions. So, due to finances and this reasoning, I want to start grooming them myself. Can you help?”
I am not a professional groomer but I am “learning.” I purchase my grooming supplies from PetEdge. They’re located in Massachusetts, prices are excellent, and the selection is wonderful. I have been buying stuff from PetEdge for more than 10 years.
My Monique is going on 16 years old and many groomers simply won’t take old dogs. For this reason - and the economic downturn we are all facing - I groom all four of my pet toy poodles myself.
I recommend the Master Grooming Tools (MGT) Ultra Violet SLM Trimmer (Cat. #TP22580). It’s advertised for “trimming,” but I find it’s great for my toy poodles since they are such small dogs. It’s a cordless trimmer although I often use it with the AC adaptor because the battery doesn’t hold enough juice to do more than one dog at a time. I use the 9 mm comb attachment that comes with the clipper. The MGT trimmer costs $19.95 and has lasted me for a year. It shows no signs of failing. It is advertised as “quiet” and it is! Best of all, it is lightweight and doesn’t tire my hands the way heavier clippers do.
Because my dogs, like yours, are sensitive to noise, I also bought an Andis Model QD-11 dog hair dryer. It’s only $29.99, has a stand which is repositionable; you can tilt it at different angles. It’s catalog #AD12011 in the current PetEdge catalog.
For an investment of less than $50, you’ll get a decent trimmer and hair dryer. Add a good pair of hair-cutting scissors, dog nail clippers, and assorted brushes and combs and you will be set up to groom your own pets. The tools will probably pay for themselves the very first time you use them!
Until next time,
Mr. Dibs
