Some Of Our Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find some of the answers to our frequently asked questions. If you have a question that still isn't answered below, please don't hesitate to contact us with your question.
Q: I've just got a puppy, when is the best time to start getting him groomed?
A: We recommend you start taking your puppy to the grooming salon after around 14 weeks once they are fully vaccinated. Most grooming salons including Cheshire Canines, require your dog to be fully vaccinated, flead and wormed. But we recommend you get your puppy used to being groomed at home straight away. You can do this by just doing a few little things which will make the experience in the salon less daunting. This includes gently bathing your dog, regularly touching their claws, paws, pads, ears and mouth. Get them used to being brushed regularly, which isn't easy with a puppy!
Q: What happens the first time I bring my puppy?
A: The first time you bring your puppy, you will be asked to fill in some forms like all new clients. Your puppy will then get a fair bit of attend from the staff before the puppy groom begins! The puppy groom is designed to introduce your puppy to the salon gently and in a fun way, so your puppy grows up with no fear or anxiety about being groomed. Your puppy will have a gentle brush and check over. Its claws will be clipped, ears and eyes cleaned if necessary. Then a bath and dry will be done. On the first groom, we will towel dry mainly and try to introduce the drier in short bursts to get your puppy used to being dried. Your puppy will then be brushed and either lightly scissor trimmed or lightly groomed depending on what was discussed on arrival.
Q: Am I required to stay whilst you groom my dog?
A: No. It's unusual for us to require you to stay whilst your dog is groomed. The grooming process takes a minimum of one hour and many dogs get distracted and cannot settle if they can see their owner but cannot get to them, making the groom much harder and stressful for the dog. On occasion we may ask you to return earlier and spend a few minutes helping with your dog if we are trying to do something that your dog finds distressing, such as cutting of the claws. If you are bringing your dog in for a face trim or claw cutting, which only takes a short amount of time, we may ask you to wait whilst we carry out these procedures.
Q: Are the groomers qualified?
A: Yes, this salon is run by Sheila and Kim, a mother and daughter team who are both qualified with a commercial Level Three Diploma in Dog Grooming. They are both also trained and certified in Canine First Aid. Sheila is also a qualified SQP (animal medical adviser)
Q: Do I need to brush my dog between grooms?
A: Yes. Depending on your breed of dog and its coat, we recommend your dog is brushed anywhere between twice a day and twice a week. Paying particular attention to their ears, tails, muzzle and armpits as this is where most matting occurs. We sell all the brushes required for brushing your dog at home in our shop and can advise you on the correct brush for your dog.
Q: I don't really know what kind of groom my dog requires, can you help?
A: Of course! If you are unsure what it is your dog requires, contact the salon and we will be able to advise you on the correct groom for your dog. Depending on the breed of dog and its coat, it will require either a groom and scissor, de shed or a handstrip. These are all service we offer and can explain them in full on enquiry.
Q: What is ear plucking?
A: Ear plucking is a none invasive procedure whereby the hair is removed from the inner ear. This is usually required on long coated dogs and is done to avoid infection and irritation in the inner ear. it is done by placing a powder on the fur in the ear and gently pulling it out. The fur here cannot be felt as it is pulled and is completely painless for your dog.
Q: What is handstripping?
A: Handstripping is carried out on most wire coated breeds such a border terriers. These breeds have a thick and coarse primary hairs and softer secondary hairs. The secondary hairs share the same follicle as the primary hairs, and cannot always get though due to the thickness of the primary hairs. This causes irritation and swelling in the follicle. Hand stripping is simply the removal of these primary hairs by pulling it out of the follicle allowing the secondary hairs to grow. This procedure is completely painless for the dog. It is important the a dog that is supposed to be handstripped is done so and not clipped instead, as this causes even more irritation and potentially sores. Most terriers, Italian Spinones, Schnauzers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Wirehaired Vizslas, Cocker Spaniels and the Wirehaired Dachshund should all be handstripped.
Q: Do you do anal glands?
A: No we don't. The emptying of anal glands was recently re classed as an invasive procedure, meaning it can now only be carried out by a vet or a groomer who qualified before the change in classification.
Q: I've just got a puppy, when is the best time to start getting him groomed?
A: We recommend you start taking your puppy to the grooming salon after around 14 weeks once they are fully vaccinated. Most grooming salons including Cheshire Canines, require your dog to be fully vaccinated, flead and wormed. But we recommend you get your puppy used to being groomed at home straight away. You can do this by just doing a few little things which will make the experience in the salon less daunting. This includes gently bathing your dog, regularly touching their claws, paws, pads, ears and mouth. Get them used to being brushed regularly, which isn't easy with a puppy!
Q: What happens the first time I bring my puppy?
A: The first time you bring your puppy, you will be asked to fill in some forms like all new clients. Your puppy will then get a fair bit of attend from the staff before the puppy groom begins! The puppy groom is designed to introduce your puppy to the salon gently and in a fun way, so your puppy grows up with no fear or anxiety about being groomed. Your puppy will have a gentle brush and check over. Its claws will be clipped, ears and eyes cleaned if necessary. Then a bath and dry will be done. On the first groom, we will towel dry mainly and try to introduce the drier in short bursts to get your puppy used to being dried. Your puppy will then be brushed and either lightly scissor trimmed or lightly groomed depending on what was discussed on arrival.
Q: Am I required to stay whilst you groom my dog?
A: No. It's unusual for us to require you to stay whilst your dog is groomed. The grooming process takes a minimum of one hour and many dogs get distracted and cannot settle if they can see their owner but cannot get to them, making the groom much harder and stressful for the dog. On occasion we may ask you to return earlier and spend a few minutes helping with your dog if we are trying to do something that your dog finds distressing, such as cutting of the claws. If you are bringing your dog in for a face trim or claw cutting, which only takes a short amount of time, we may ask you to wait whilst we carry out these procedures.
Q: Are the groomers qualified?
A: Yes, this salon is run by Sheila and Kim, a mother and daughter team who are both qualified with a commercial Level Three Diploma in Dog Grooming. They are both also trained and certified in Canine First Aid. Sheila is also a qualified SQP (animal medical adviser)
Q: Do I need to brush my dog between grooms?
A: Yes. Depending on your breed of dog and its coat, we recommend your dog is brushed anywhere between twice a day and twice a week. Paying particular attention to their ears, tails, muzzle and armpits as this is where most matting occurs. We sell all the brushes required for brushing your dog at home in our shop and can advise you on the correct brush for your dog.
Q: I don't really know what kind of groom my dog requires, can you help?
A: Of course! If you are unsure what it is your dog requires, contact the salon and we will be able to advise you on the correct groom for your dog. Depending on the breed of dog and its coat, it will require either a groom and scissor, de shed or a handstrip. These are all service we offer and can explain them in full on enquiry.
Q: What is ear plucking?
A: Ear plucking is a none invasive procedure whereby the hair is removed from the inner ear. This is usually required on long coated dogs and is done to avoid infection and irritation in the inner ear. it is done by placing a powder on the fur in the ear and gently pulling it out. The fur here cannot be felt as it is pulled and is completely painless for your dog.
Q: What is handstripping?
A: Handstripping is carried out on most wire coated breeds such a border terriers. These breeds have a thick and coarse primary hairs and softer secondary hairs. The secondary hairs share the same follicle as the primary hairs, and cannot always get though due to the thickness of the primary hairs. This causes irritation and swelling in the follicle. Hand stripping is simply the removal of these primary hairs by pulling it out of the follicle allowing the secondary hairs to grow. This procedure is completely painless for the dog. It is important the a dog that is supposed to be handstripped is done so and not clipped instead, as this causes even more irritation and potentially sores. Most terriers, Italian Spinones, Schnauzers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Wirehaired Vizslas, Cocker Spaniels and the Wirehaired Dachshund should all be handstripped.
Q: Do you do anal glands?
A: No we don't. The emptying of anal glands was recently re classed as an invasive procedure, meaning it can now only be carried out by a vet or a groomer who qualified before the change in classification.