Digger Dogs Pet Grooming is known for letting dogs roam free, and letting owners leave their dogs with us almost all day long. Most dogs love this atmosphere and it's what most of our clients have come to expect, and what they seem to love most about Digger Dogs. But it is not for everyone.

We understand that sometimes your schedule is demanding and you need to have your dog returned earlier, or at a specific time. That's absolutely fine with us as long as we know ahead of time. Unfortunately, when working with live animals, it's extremely hard to predict a day's outcome for everyone.

There has been a recent review about us that we wanted to share and use as an opportunity to explain and discuss why some days fall behind schedule. Here is the 1 star review:

will not return
digger dogs does nice work on our dogs but each time we have a 9:00 am appointment and cannot pick our dogs up till 3:30. that is entirely too long and very stressful on our pets. this has happened each time we have had a appointment. if you are given an appointment time it should not take over 6 hours to wait at home for the phone call to pick up. it is just not a good system. sorry

As our website states, most grooming shop requires approximately 4 hours to groom a dog unless they are a specialty shop or mobile groomer  that works straight through each dog one at a time (and they charge much more).  Therefore having 2 dogs could very well take longer. We also state that time (and pricing) depend upon the condition and behavior of your dog. Therefore, a once-a-year grooming will be more difficult than a dog who is groomed more frequently, which is the case here.  Lastly, when you show up for your appointment on the wrong day, and we tell you this but squeeze you in anyway, we'd like to think we'd get a bit of leniency regarding how long we have your dogs that day.  This was also the case with these dogs. People make mistakes, ourselves included, so we try to be fair when people arrive on the wrong day, or at the wrong time. It happens.

But there are loads of other factors that play into how our days run:
We may get a surprise by someone who booked one dog but brought in two. Or someone decides last minute to get a shave when we thought we booked a bath. A new dog may come in who  needs much more attention than we anticipated. And of course we can NEVER  guess how difficult a haircut will be until they are on our table.  All of these factors, and many more, will dictate how fast we can get each dog home. That's just the nature of working with dogs. Not to mention we like to take our time with each dog to ensure they have the best experience possible.  When we send a dog home late, or keep an owner waiting 5 more minutes, it's tough on us too because we don't like to disappoint. And we don't like to see our dogs stressed out by seeing their owners come back before they are finished. It's not fair to the dogs.

For the most part - our clients are amazing! They come in on time, they give as much info as possible when booking their appointment, they tell us when booking if they need their dog back by a certain time, and they forgive us when we have unexpected long days.

So while we understand our system is not for everyone, we wanted to take a moment to explain WHY we are sometimes behind so that those who may not understand can have a better idea. And actually, and more importantly, we wanted to THANK all of our amazing customers who DO understand and WILL return.

We can't tell you enough how much we love you!!!

So you want your dog to have a fuller coat for the winter time? That's nice.  
Well, you may be disappointed to learn that your dog could very well be better off with a wig like  William Wegman's Penny shown above.  Of course, in her case it's not because she needed to shave off her beautiful locks of hair, it's because she was modeling for National Geographic. (hear about the photo shoot here: William & Penny )

Sadly for many dogs, the truth is that they simply don't have the option to have their fur combed out. Having a groomer doesn't mean you don't have work to do at home.  If your dog hasn't been brushed in months, or brushed properly, than you lower your options for keeping that lovely winter coat. 

Real Quick about why we can't always save a coat: 
When was the last time you tried to brush a knot, or worse, a dread-lock out of your head? In case it's been a while, let me tell you that it hurts. So imagine having messy hair all over!! Ouch. Certainly some knots and tangles can be worked out, even a few matts here and there, but more work = more time = more costly for you.  And if the fur is so bad it causes excess pain to your dog, we won't do it. It's just not fair. 

But we can be tricky and hide shaved out spots. Check out this little pup who was matted pretty darn solid around the chest, armpits, and belly and had to be shaved super short in those spots only: 

But how does one keep up with their dog's long hair to begin with? Well, that's what we're here to try and help you with. Here's a few tips on how to keep that hair longer for the winter: 

But before we start: Don't get stressed out! This is not a contest and we don't judge people or condemn them for their busy lives and lack of proper brushing We understand that life gets in the way. 

Here we go:

1. DON'T BE OVERWHELMED: Don't tell yourself you need to brush the entire dog every night, or all at one time. Break things down for yourself to make it easier.  A  dog  has 4 legs (God willing), 2 ears, 1 tail, a fluffy head, a hairy face, and of course everything in between.  Pick one or two areas on your dog to work on a day.  

2. HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS: Most dog coats will require a slicker brush and a comb (see our previous post about these tools here: "Grooming Tools For You!" ) and you may also be in need of a good de-matter similar to something like this: 

3.  FIND TROUBLE SPOTS: You may not even need to brush every day, but at least keep an eye on the spots that tangle up super fast. Some dogs it's the ears, some their tail, others their legs!  Don't be fooled by a lovely looking coat on the body that will just look silly if the legs have to be shaved. :(

4. ADD A STEP TO YOUR WALKING ROUTINE:  With longer hair, a collar, harness, and sweater can cause major trouble spots.  The hair underneath a sweater, even just a collar, can quickly tangle - it's like having "hat head" but worse.  Keep your brush and comb near your dog's leash, and after you remove your walking equipment, give those spots a quick brush through. 

5. MAKE IT A GOOD TIME: This isn't punishment for you or your dog. It should be a great bonding experience. Many mammals in families or packs often groom each other just to show love. If your dogs hates it, bring some treats to the event and teach them that being brushed is an awesome experience! 

6. BE CAREFUL BATHING: Some people think a bath at home is a good way to keep their dog in good shape. But if you let that wet hair dry naturally,  or wet hair that's already matted, you may be adding to the problem. Be sure that your home baths always include brushing and combing as well. 

7. GET HELP:  If you are a regular customer AND have had an appointment within the past MONTH, we offer free eye scoop/trim so your dog will look just a bit fresher and neater in between groomings. We can even help with a quick trim on the "back end" for sanitary reasons should that be required. 

8. GET MORE HELP: If you have succeeded in achieving your long coat but it's just looking shabby, make an appointment for a grooming. Just because you're going to a groomer doesn't mean you have to be getting a short haircut!!  I don't  use my hairdresser for just drastic haircuts!  I need her on a pretty regular basis to help me keep my hair long and healthy. The same thing goes for your dogs' hair.   A Full Grooming is a bath, nails, ears cleaned, hair brushed out, and the haircut of YOUR CHOICE. If you've done your work at home, we will gladly shape up your dog and leave as much hair as you'd like. Check out Buddy here after his holiday trim up. He's trying to grow in a longer coat so he didn't really get any length taken off, just brushed out and shaped up all over: 

So the more work you do at home, the more options you have for your dog's grooming. Do you HAVE to keep long hair for winter. Nope. That's why there's dog sweaters!  (which we hope to talk about next!) But if you've been  struggling with achieving a long coat for your dog, we hope this winter is the year you succeed.  

As always, feel free to ask us any questions; we're here to help!

cheers, 

-ingrid

This is my girl Scarlett Grey. When she's in the shop she likes to pretend she's a grooming dog. Clearly she doesn't require anything other than a bath, nails and ear cleaning. Even then, there's not much to do.  I hardly have to cut her  nails at all.  So she is a great example to help me explain what it is we mean when we tell you "We could only tip the nails." 

What exactly do we mean by this? Well, quite literally, we could only take the very tip of the nail off.  If we were to go any farther, the nail would bleed. This is because dogs have veins in their nails.  Unfortunately, some dogs' veins are very very long, so while their nails seem like they need cut,  we can only do so much. We can only go to the quick.   At  a glance, it sure looks like Scarlett has some crazy long nails that are in need of trimming!

On closer inspection, we can see that her veins are far too long and we would risk making her bleed, which for the majority of dogs, is not fun!  At Digger Dogs, we try to avoid putting our dogs through any stress and try not to give them anything less than an awesome experience. So we will not risk trimming nails too short if we think the quicks are too long. 

 Take a look at my girl's nails and see if you can see the pink inside. 

In her case, I may try to take just the tips off in hopes that it will make the vein recede, but that doesn't always work. Also, with an antsy dog, we may accidentally take more than just the tip!!! Again, it's just not worth it. 

What about a dog with black nails you say? Even trickier! We do our best to gauge the length of the vein based on the shape of the nails, the time between groomings, the age of the dog, etc. 

So what's the alternative if you can't trim your dog's long nails as much as you'd like?  Walk your dog!  It's not a 100% guarantee, but I'd have to guess it's at least 90% for those walking on pavement.  That's why Scarlett's nails look so long in this picture; because it was taken just after all of our horrible heat waves. We were not getting many walks in that horrible weather.  Now that fall is here we'll have a chance to get those nails back in shape!

Remember, every dog is different not only in their physical make up (one dog with long quicks, another with short) but in every way. One dog may not be phased at all when we are trimming their nails, and I've even seen dogs not take notice when we've hit a bit of the vein.  Then there are other dogs who are instantly terrified the second they even SEE the nail cutters.  Both of these responses are normal, and we work with them as needed.

Being careful and minding the sensitivity level of your dog ensures that everyone has a good day and a healthy grooming. It makes for a happy pup, and that's what we like to see! 

As always, if you have any questions about this please feel free to comment below or email us at diggerdogspetgrooming@gmail.com.   

Thanks again for stopping by our blog, and we look forward to seeing you in our shop! 

Cheers! 
-ingrid

This is Onyx. She is a Chow mix that came to us a week or so back for her first grooming at Digger Dogs.  She may look like a young puppy in this photo, but she's actually more around 8 years of age.  As a rescue dog, the owners were unsure of how she would behave in our shop. Well, I guess after all she's been through, getting groomed was no big deal, in fact this lady seemed to really enjoy her day at the spa; away from it all.  I mean, just look how happy that face is: 

You'd be happy too if you'd hit the lottery like she did. Onyx has only been with her current owners since the beginning of 2012. Previously, she was living a life, (if I remember this correctly) filled with stress, and lacking love and attention. She had lived with a pack of unfriendly dogs that bothered her, picked on her, and the guess is that they beat her up a bit too. Bunch of bullies! 

This is what prompted her new owners to suggest removing her from that situation and they generously offered her a new life with them.

Now - this alone is a sweet rescue story, but there is more. What the new owners didn't realize right away, was that Onyx was pregnant. They had no idea who or what the "dad" was so they didn't know what to expect. They nurtured Onyx through her pregnancy and she eventually gave birth to 6 puppies!! But Onyx was just newly rescued, not in the best of health and certainly not emotionally strong. She lost 4 of her pups pretty much right away. The two remaining puppies (black fuzz-balls) still had a battle ahead of them as their mother  wasn't doing well feeding them.  They had to be bottle fed. 
Can you imagine rescuing one dog only to find out you have 2 more and that those two extras need to be bottle fed if they are to survive! I can't. That's a lot of work. 

Well thank goodness Onyx's path brought her to such wonderful people. They did all they could and ended up saving those two pups. Now they have three chow mixes!  The boys are only about 6 months old at this point, but they too came in to Digger Dog's with their mother for their very first grooming.  I won't lie:  as a groomer, it was a challenging day having a family of new chow mixes come into our shop for the first time. They were scared, unsure, protective, and the boys clung to their mom like glue!  But as I said, Onyx seemed to be in Heaven, and seemed to enjoy a few moments alone without her sons. If Calgon sold dog shampoo, Onyx would have been a great commercial for them! We purposely groomed her first hoping her boys would watch and learn, and be a bit  less frightened.  She seemed to understand our tactic because she pranced around all proud and pretty when she was done! 

Her sons, Little Bit and Biggins, weren't so sure about this whole grooming business. And just like a couple of brothers, we had to separate them in order for them to behave.  (we hear this is common at home as well - haha)  
First up was Biggins who did his best to behave but couldn't help expressing just how nervous and afraid he really was (but don't tell his little brother that!). He never did sit still long enough for us to grab a snap shot of his gorgeous face, but we snuck this one before he left. 

Little Bit was like night and day. He came in our shop making the most fuss, acting the most upset, barking the most and loudest, and we honestly weren't sure if he was going to make it through the grooming. But we gave it a try and I don't want to jinx anything, but he did really darn good for his first time. Maybe having his brother out of sight, and his mom in sight helped, I don't know. But to look at this photo you'd think he was a regular! 

But don't let that face fool you, he was super scared, poor guy. We were so proud of him and his brother!! And after all his fussing and barking before his grooming and bath, Little Bit was so happy to be back with his mom that he settled down for a little nap. 

So that is the story of Onyx times three! Not one dog rescued, but all three.  They're getting the love and attention they need and deserve with their wonderful new owners, and we are so very happy to have meet the entire family!!  
As for Onyx, well that pretty lady really did hit the jackpot didn't she. These stories make our hearts sing! 

If you have seen our Facebook page, or have looked through our photos here on our website, you may have noticed we have a lot of Shih-Tzu in our shop. 
Ut-Oh!  Did I keep that singular? Yes I did, because the word Shih-Tzu is both singular and plural, much like the word sheep, or fish.  I have only recently learned that little fact. It made we wonder what other little bits about the breed I may have not known.  I love learning about breeds, hearing their origins, and comparing their ancient lives to their modern lives.  That is why we have decided to select a breed each month for discussion so we may share what we know, and learn what you know!  

Our first choice, is the Shih Tzu! Time has changed things for so many breeds, but actually, not so much for the this breed. 

I'm sure everyone knows about how Shih-Tzu came from China, and means "Lion Dog", but do you know why?  Apparently, the breed was designed to look like the Buddhists' idea of what a lion looked like.  The lion was a significant image because in the story of Buddha, when he came to earth from heaven, he rode on a lion.  In fact, many sources say that the Shih Tzu really originated in Tibet, going as far back as the 17th century where it was considered a Holy Dog.  This is perhaps the biggest difference between then, and now.  The Shih Tzu is no longer reserved for only the royalty and holy men, in fact it's one of the most popular breeds in America.  (according to the American Kennel Club, as of February 2012,  "the Rottweiler  made news by unseating the Shih Tzu - which had been in the top 10 since 2000. "  http://www.akc.org)

You may also know that Pekingese have a similar history and are equally as 
"royal" in ancient China. But don't be fooled when looking at historical pictures that feature dogs. One way to tell the Pekingese from the Shih Tzu is that the Shih Tzu will have little bumps on its head which is their top-knot, or pony tail keeping their hair out of their face.  Today mostly only show dogs have that style as it requires vigilant upkeep, but we still love to decorate our modern day Shih Tzu with bows and such, if not for the same purpose, but simply because they are so darn cute! However, we do have a few Shih Tzu on the longer side. 

Another thing I think is probably a well known fact, is that this breed tends to have respiratory issues and therefore should not be over exerted. I did a little research to find out what games or sports are best for this breed, and it turns out, they are pretty darn good at nose work! You'd think that with respiratory concerns that wouldn't work out real well for them, but my research finds many sources suggesting a game of "tracking" or "find it". (hiding a treat or toy around for them to find)  Other websites mention that more and more people are getting their Shih Tzu into agility as well, but for the most part, all agree these are lap dogs.  Again, that has not changed too much over the centuries. 

For such a popular and ancient breed, it's hard to believe so many end up in shelters and pounds across the country. Because they are so popular, and so stinking cute, it's super easy (and tempting) to breed and sell puppies just about anywhere.  But when people find out that they are a lot of work grooming wise, or learn their dog is not good being left alone, or any other number of possibilities, these dogs end up homeless.  It's hard to believe, I know, and yet there are Shih Tzu rescues across the country specifically working to help re-home all the unwanted Shih Tzu.  (United States Shih Tzu Rescue)

It is always best to research a breed before purchasing or adopting, and this blog post has only been a tiny bit of information about this breed. They really are fun, funny, cuddly dogs with so much to talk about and we just LOVE them.  And regardless of all the books, all the history, all the breeders'  knowledge, you can bet there are exceptions to the "rules".  If you have any unique or funny stories about your Shih Tzu, (or Shih Tzu mix) or any pictures, please share. We'll post them on our Facebook page if you don't mind. Send them to us via Facebook, or email them to diggerdogspetgrooming@gmail.com. Tell us what you've learned about the breed and what you've proved wrong! 

Thanks again for stopping by, we'll have another breed to discuss next month! 

-ingrid

Our front desk isn't just a place to check in dogs, do paperwork, schedule appointments (and entertain grandkids), it's also where Donna spends a decent amount of her time answering questions.  Our clients have a variety of dog questions ranging from behavior to fashion, and Donna is happy to answer any and all questions.  With that in mind, I sat her down and asked her a few questions of my own. 

Mainly, I wanted to know what the most commonly asked question was regarding grooming. Donna stated that many people inquire about which tools they could be using at home. Her answer to that, she said, is almost always the same:  A slicker brush and a comb.  But does everyone need them?  And why these specific tools?

Let's first tackle who would want these tools. Obviously not your short-haired dog owners. These tools are more for thick coated dogs and/or long coated dogs. If you like the full look of your dog's fur, then doing some work at home may be necessary. For example: 

Toby here has a nice full coat, long tail, and long ears, not to mention his lovely full face.   His hair is similar to that of a Poodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and all "non shedding" or single coated breeds.  The fur doesn't shed, but if it's not brushed, all that hair gets tangled extremely easily causing solid matts like rocks that must be shaved.  Often times, these breeds require much more maintenance than double coated dogs, especially if the owners desire a full, flowing or fluffy look. 

Another type of hair is that of the "shedding" or double coated breeds such as  Goldens, Shepards, Huskies, etc.   This type of hair doesn't quite tangle up the same way as Toby above, (although it can) instead, these dogs have a heavy undercoat that can get so thick, it turns into a solid layer of hair (almost like a rug) that must be shaved. 

Now onto the why:  
What's so special about these simple tools? Donna says that often times, people who are brushing their dogs at home are only "surface brushing". By this she means that the tools they use, or technique, is not getting down to the skin; down to the real mess. So while the top layer looks all nice and pretty, hidden below are those matts and stubborn hair.  That's why she says these tools, when properly used together, are the best for "at home maintenance." 

The slicker brush will pull out all the thick undercoat on those thick double coated dogs, (long or short actually) and will pull apart that poodle-type hair trying to mat up. This brush is also good on those shorter coated dogs that shed (like labs and such).  Even though they don't really need to have home maintenance, if you'd like to keep some hair off your floors, a slicker brush is a great choice.  All in all, for a majority of hairy breeds, this is the brush for you.  No need to purchase this ergonomic style we have, that's mainly for groomers who use it all day long.  Anything similar should do the trick.

The comb is good back up to the brush, and by itself also a golden tool to own. As a back-up, after you've done some good brushing, this is where Donna says you should get "down to the skin". Use that comb to make sure your brushing did enough work. The comb will really 'get in there" to reveal undercoat and will reach whatever the brush couldn't, or what ever the brush loosened up but didn't remove.  And on the non-shedding breeds with little knots everywhere, the brush & comb team work to keep those knots in check. 

By itself, the comb works great to keep that long flowing hair in good shape, just as we humans comb our own hair to keep knots away. The comb is also great for ears and tails that are so prone to tangle up.  Gentle, regular combing will keep them from needing shaved because once they knot up, those sensitive areas are too delicate to be pulling and working out mats. 

Again, it doesn't have to look exactly like this comb, anything similar. In fact, these tools come in many sizes depending on your needs. 

These tools can be found in almost any chain pet supply store, and even online at places like Amazon.com.  Remember, not everyone needs these tools, and not everyone has the time to use them even if they wanted to. But for those of you curious as to what type of home maintenance you can do, this is Donna's most famous answer. 

Still have questions? Feel free reach out via email, Facebook, or hey,  just ask us at the front desk!  

Thanks for stopping by!

-ingrid

Donna once said that her shop is much like a Barber's shop in that the clients come in and share stories, and it is so very true for her dogs.  If you are reading this, chances are you're a dog person so you understand completely how every dog has his or her own story.  These stories, are possibly one of my favorite parts of working at Digger Dogs. I absolutely love hearing owners talk about the adventures, quirks, dramas, and habits of their dogs. We'd like to start sharing some of these stories with our readers and to start off, here is our first dog story. 

I will openly admit that my favorite stories are rescue stories.  This particular story is probably my all-time favorite, and maybe that's because she's a family dog. However, she wouldn't be a family dog if I hadn't been for Donna and her love of her dogs. 

I can't even tell you how many dogs Donna has helped place, rescue, relocate, re-home, ect. So when one of her favorite pit-bulls needed a new home back in 1999, she pushed that girl on me. (which turned out to be the best turn of events in my life ever) From then on, I advocated for the breed and learned all I could.  This is why, when my parents' neighbors found a stray pit-bull just a few years after I acquired my pit, I ended up being involved. 

The husband found her on the streets of N.E. Philadelphia all battered and filthy. He was a delivery man at the time and this street dog ran out in front of  his truck and proceeded to follow him around with her little limp.  After knocking on a few doors, he brought her home. Already owning two large rescue dogs, they weren't keen on owning another.  They searched all over for the owners to no avail, and "rescues" at the time, (because of her breed) were only offering to euthanize the dog for them.  When they had no where to turn, they knocked on my parents' front door hoping to get my contact information knowing I loved the breed.  My mother wanted nothing to do with a stray dog of any kind and was happy with her lovely pure-bred yellow lab puppy.  She admits that she had no plans on telling me about this stray figuring I had "enough to deal with at the time." As fate would have it, I just so happened to be stopping by unannounced that very moment, literally pulling into the driveway as the woman was turning to go home.  And so I had a peek at the little dog, and my mother begrudgingly went with me. 

The neighbors had her in a kennel on their back porch. When we peeked inside, the little pup exploded with happiness and sprayed us with the blood, urine, and fecal matter she was covered in. (so gross).  I HAD to bathe her. When we removed her from the kennel what we saw brought us all to tears. 

A busted back leg that was deformed and not grown as the other legs, a busted shoulder, a broken bleeding tail, she was covered in briars and ticks, five 2inch scars around her neck, and an entire side of her body covered in cigarette and cigar burns. Well, at that point it was obvious her previous "owners" were no good.  So we knew she'd need a new home, but  we had to get her fixed up first. No one would take a dog in this condition and with major pending vet bills. But who would keep her for now? 

I was living in an apartment with a 1 dog rule so my parents agreed to be temporary care-givers. We tested out her temperament, we slowly introduced her to my pit and my parents young lab.  (she did great) And the neighbors all pitched in to help with vet bills which would make her an adoptable dog. Throughout this process, Donna and all at Digger Dogs kept an ear to the ground for possible new homes for this girl. 

That was over 9 years ago.  Needless to say that my stubborn mother and father, after all their fuss about not wanting another dog, caved in to her cuteness and never let her go. They figured it was fate that her path led her to them and it was just meant to be.  "Sometimes we choose our dogs, sometimes they choose us." 

She won their hearts and the hearts of their entire neighborhood. She was fixed up just fine, both her shoulder and leg looking healthy as ever. Her 5 scars are mostly covered with hair at this point but she does suffer some rather unsightly skin conditions seasonally.  She took years to overcome her fear of lighters and matches, and even longer to overcome her fear of bathtubs. (the most likely place to "bleed" a fighting dog in order to "prep" them for "pain tolerance" - sick, I know)
For the past 10 years she has enjoyed numerous trips to the beach, loads of camping trips, countless numbers of belly rubs, 1 skunk as a meal, the destruction of 3 expensive dog beds, countless pounds of table scraps, and a few  escapes from her yard to romp around the neighborhood.  

Briar Rose, as she was named, has an extreme fondness of  the neighbors who found her and will often sit at the fence for hours waiting for them to come over and say hello. She seems to never have forgotten they were the ones who brought her to this great new home.  She loves everyone and loves to be loved.  

As for my mother's precious yellow lab, well, who do you think taught Briar Rose everything she knows?  This oddball pair are about the funniest pair I've ever seen.  The LOVE each other.

Their ten years together has produced countless new stories and adventures. That's because dogs really are individuals. They have their own personalities, their own friendships, relationships, they have their likes and dislikes, they have strengths and weaknesses, and they are just as affected by their environment as any human.  So when they come into Digger Dogs for their grooming, yeah, they have a lot to share with us and the other dogs. It's always a good time! 

Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing all your dogs' stories - keep 'em coming! 

-ingrid

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous heat, Or to take arms against a sea of hair and by opposing - shave them. 

Sorry, Shakespeare nerd here.  But it truly is The Question!  So many people ask us if they should shave their dog. Is it healthy, is it safe, and most common; "Doesn't their hair keep them cool?"  So, here we go:

There are certainly pros and cons to shaving your dog's hair, but first let me state that by "shaving" we do not mean taking a Bic to your dog and making them bald. For those who have never seen the look we are describing, here is a lovely cocker spaniel (Hanna) who has been "completely shaved" (that means, ears, top of head, face - ALL).

So you see, it's really just a super short haircut, not a "surgical shave" one may see in small doses during vet visits.  Is she cooler? You bet!!  Let's do some quick pros/cons.

Pros: short hair means better grooming management, better view of any pests, get to reveal any hidden skin issues, less hair in your home, and a much cooler dog.

Cons: now the mosquitos can get a better chance at that skin! Thin coated dogs should watch for sunburn for the first few weeks after grooming (as any short-haired breed dog should be monitored for sunburn),  and lastly, you may not like the look. 

Now to answer a few common questions:
YES, the hair will grow back, albeit at different speeds for different dogs. 
YES, the hair will grow back with the same look. Sometimes older dogs who have been shaved multiple times per year over the course of their lives have strange growth patterns as the hair returns, but it's not common and most owners simply keep shaving them for comfort reasons. 

Lastly, "doesn't the hair keep my dog cool".  The answer is Yes AND No. 

The full coat of hair is meant to keep a dog cool by way of a "fur insulator" which is meant to keep a pocket of cool air close to their skin. Keep in mind these are man made breeds, not wild animals.  Wild animals with loads of hair don't tend to live in hot regions. If they do, they have options to hide in cool caves, swim in lakes, and migrate to cooler areas. Our pets are not migrating (one hopes) so it's up to us to keep them cool. This means the hair needs maintenance. If those pockets of cool air are filled with matted hair, dead hair, or any other sort of dirt and debris, there goes the "fur insulator".  Yes, if you are vigilant you can brush your hairy partner to keep that coat in full function. If it's not a total mess, we can do that for you as well, but either way, it needs to be maintained throughout the hot, humid season.   Unfortunately, we don't all have the time we wish we had. This is why many owners decide to shave. Shaving the dog will help get air to the skin when the fur has become too thick and even though dogs do not sweat through their skin, shaving a thick coat of unbreathable fur will certainly help!! ESPECIALLY, if the dog is matted. At that point not only do you risk an over heated dog, but sores and such from the matted skin. Brushing is no longer an option, so shaving is indeed your best bet.

The bottom line is time, and preference.  Do you have time to do a percentage of the work at home? Keeping your dog fairly brushed and clean? If so, we can do something like this: 

Salute here was in pretty darn good shape for all that hair! Some tight knots in the back end required going a bit shorter, and some matting behind the ears (VERY normal) had to be shaved, but all in all - this was a very do-able brush-out!   Other breeds are harder to keep up with. Many of us don't have time, or maybe just no time this particular season, or simply LOVE the look, not to mention the clean house one gets from a short-haired dog! (you long-haired breeds know what I mean, it's not just the little hairs everywhere, it's the tumbleweeds blowing around from room to room!)  So here's an elkhound (Damien) who's hair was so thick this year, he was loving his shave-down. 

This breed has probably one of the most drastic changes for a shave-down, Collies and Shelties would be other examples. Dogs with that full mane look always seem totally changed when shaved. Yes, he lost his dark colored fur, yes he looks very different, but it'll all grow back. And when it does, his owner will have a better chance of keeping that coat in check.  Plus- it's kinda hard to make this guy look bad, we think he looks handsome with his new look!! 

Now, for fear of turning into a full-length Shakespeare play, I'll end this humble blog post. I hope we answered your questions, but if you have more, by all means, post them in the comments or shoot us an email! Thanks for stopping by! 

-ingrid

We recently found an old newspaper article from 2007  that featured Donna and Digger Dogs Pet Grooming. The article was published in the Bucks County Courier Times and talks about her beginnings and how she became a dog groomer in the first place. Here are the photos and some of the article.

Bucks County Courier Times (Levittown, PA)
Date: January 8, 2007 
Section: LOCAL 
Edition: CTI EDITION1 
Page: B1 

GOING TO THE DOGS
A former barber has made the transition from people to pets.
- BY WINSLOW MASON JR.

COURIER TIMES

Over the course of her career as a barber, Donna Worstall's customers have gone from two legs to four.

The Bristol resident owns Digger Dogs pet grooming business on Mill Street in the borough. She cuts hair and nails and bathes her four-legged customers. And, she said, she pampers her dogs just like she pampered the men who were her customers when she ran a barber shop from her Bristol Township home.

Instead of keeping her canine customers in cages while they're awaiting service, she said she lets them walk around the shop and play with the other dogs. In fact, she said, many of the dogs have formed friendships and even cliques.

"My dogs look forward to coming to the shop because they know they're going to see friends," she said. "It's just like a regular barber shop. My dogs don't just get groomed. They hang out with each other. They talk to each other. It's fun to watch."

Her 317 Mill St. location is her third. With more than 1,000 customers, she has outgrown two other shops she had in theborough. And she plans to expand.

"The pet grooming industry has been holding steady for the past 10 years," said Jeffrey Reynolds, executive director of the NationalDog Groomers Association of America, a trade group.

He estimated there are between 25,000 and 35,000 dog groomers nationwide. The industry has high turnover because of the back-bending, dog-chasing work involved, he said.

Pet grooming is also an unlicensed profession, he said. To survive, groomers have to be good with animals and provide quality work.

Worstall said she became efficient with scissors and a hair clipper after attending barber school in Philadelphia

She said she learned the business side of grooming while managing her sister's beauty salon in Bristol. There, she helped manage thefinances and schedule customers while cutting hair (mostly for men) at her home.

When her daughter took a job bathing dogs at a local groomer, Worstall said she got the idea of getting into the pet grooming business. She served for a year as an apprentice for a local groomer and attended pet shows to improve her techniques.

"Being a barber definitely was an asset," she said. "Of course, dogsare little more difficult because they don't sit still. But I love towork with them. I always wanted to be a veterinarian, but I wentto barber school instead. As a pet groomer, I can still be close to the animals."

Judy Potter, Worstall's assistant, also runs a hair salon out of her Bristol Township home. She said making the transition from cutting human hair to pet hair can be fun, but she said there's an advantage to working with two-legged customers.

"My customers don't bite," she said with a laugh. "Donna has a gift.The dogs love her."

Jeanette Rawle of Bristol Township praised Worstall's work. Brandy, Rawle's yellow Labrador, has been a customer of Worstall's for five years.

"When we tell Brandy she's going to the beauty parlor to see Donna, she gets so excited. We used to have to sedate her to get her nails done. But she'll sit still for Donna," Rawle said.

Worstall said she's found a way to communicate with the animals just like she'd talk to any other customer.

"I bond with them and ask them how they're doing and what they like," she said. "It's a lot of fun."

Winslow Mason Jr. can be reached at 215-949-4170 or wmason@phillyBurbs.com. 
January 8, 2007

Hey there! Welcome to the first post of the new blog by Digger Dog’s pet grooming. 

We hope to bring you lots of fun stuff from inside our shop, lots of pictures, and of course informational posts you may find interesting. So many people have questions for Donna regarding pet care, dog training, breed questions, product review etc., that we thought we should start to share her wisdom with everyone.  Not to mention we plan on picking the brains of all the trained professionals she has working with her. 

Other than her knowledge, if you know Donna, then you know she has a very colorful personality, (as do all Digger Dog employees) so who knows what else you’ll find posted here. We hope you’ll enjoy, share, and become a part of our fun Digger Dog’s family!

Thanks for stopping by!