| We have a wonderful gentle natured dog that I | | | | told her there had been a mishap with the clippers |
| adopted about 8 years ago. Unfortunately she was a | | | | and she was too short in some areas and only half |
| bit neglected and was very timid when I brought her | | | | way trimmed in others. I DID NOT volunteer that I |
| home. She had previously belonged to someone who | | | | had caused all these problems, but I did not blame it |
| lived nearby and I had spent the last few months | | | | on anyone else either. I just kind of left it up in the |
| making sure she had food and fresh water so we | | | | air.So the next day when I took her in they |
| were already well acquainted.Meisha is her name and I | | | | commented on what an awful job someone had |
| would say she is a cross between a collie and a | | | | done and they could not believe that someone had |
| husky. She is a beautiful mix of grays and white with | | | | been foolish enough not to have the guard secured |
| a little black mixed in. Up until a couple summers ago I | | | | or at the least have noticed right away when it fell |
| had always taken her in to be groomed and trimmed, | | | | off. They made these comments before I could say |
| but I had forgotten to make an appointment for her | | | | anything and volunteer that it was me who had |
| one time and the next thing I knew her groomer | | | | gotten my dog into this predicament.One groomer |
| was booked up for the next couple of months.Well | | | | made the comment I hope you will never let the |
| my sister-in-law and I decided instead of looking for | | | | person that did this near your dog with clippers again, |
| another groomer we would just take care of it | | | | and I just commented that I didn't think we would |
| ourselves. No big deal. We had decided it was just so | | | | ever have this problem again. I knew we wouldn't |
| darn hot and she always sheds so bad that we | | | | because I was just sure I would never forget to |
| would really give her a trim and make her more | | | | make an appointment again and attempt this myself.I |
| comfortable.I didn't have any dog grooming clippers | | | | left Meisha and went back to get her later and she |
| but my neighbors did and they volunteered them for | | | | looked really great, except for that darn strip across |
| the task. My first clue that this might not be a good | | | | her back. They gave me instructions that I should |
| idea was that although my neighbors had clippers | | | | probably put sunscreen on her back for a week or |
| they still took their dog to the groomers for a trim. | | | | two until it grew a little longer. Of course I had |
| Why did I not think to ask why they did that when | | | | brought my then 4 year old daughter with me to |
| they had a perfectly great pair of trimmers at | | | | pick up Meisha and as children will do they often pipe |
| home.We got out the clippers and were really going | | | | in with comments we would rather left unsaid. I think |
| to town, poor Meisha was not impressed but she | | | | her comment was that after she saw what I had |
| really wasn't too tough to handle. We were feeling | | | | done to Meisha she was no longer going to let me |
| pretty proud of our beginning results but as we got | | | | trim her bangs anymore.Of course dead silence |
| going we realized this was not going to be a quick | | | | resulted, and I felt I had to make my excuses. It all |
| chore. To get everything done and looking great it | | | | ended up with laughter (at my expense) and the |
| was going to take some time, and we were | | | | promise that next year I should just let them know I |
| wondering just how long Meisha was going to good | | | | was Meisha's "mom", and they would fit me in no |
| naturedly cooperate with all this when disaster | | | | problem.So the moral of this story if you want to |
| struck.How it happened I don't know, and I'm not | | | | trim your own dog, go for it, but don't let the guard |
| sure how we did not notice but the guard came off | | | | fall off the trimmer and not notice!! You might also |
| the clippers and before you know it my poor dog | | | | want to read the instructions that come with it too, |
| and a reverse Mohawk that was extremely short. | | | | just to be sure the guard is secured on!There are |
| We didn't get her skin or anything but we had | | | | some great trimmers out there and I was |
| definitely trimmed her much much shorter that we | | | | contemplating getting one and attempting it again but |
| desired.Of course at this time the neighbor came out, | | | | then I happened to run across a picture of what |
| the kids came by to see what was going on, and my | | | | happened a couple years ago. Instead I picked up |
| brother stopped by. Everyone just looked at this | | | | the phone and called the groomer for an appointment |
| poor dog that was only halfway trimmed anyway | | | | to have her trimmed in a couple of months. I decided |
| but she also had this extremely short strip right down | | | | I didn't want to take any chances of not getting in |
| the middle of her back.To top it all off Meisha | | | | before it got really hot. I swear my dog looked at |
| decided she had had enough and took off to the | | | | me gratefully after I hung up, and my daughter still |
| back of the yard to lay in the shade of the peach | | | | won't let me trim her bangs!Robin Reckard, |
| tree.My daughter was mortified with what we had | | | | co-founder of Lifestyle Magazine, keeps busy |
| done and my brother and neighbor could not quit | | | | producing, writing, and editing for the magazine as |
| laughing. Now my sister-in-law and I did not think it | | | | well as raising and enjoying her six year old |
| was so funny. After all we had a half groomed dog | | | | daughter.Visit Jorbins Pets section to read more |
| that was now thoroughly tired of our well meaning | | | | great articles about dogs and pet care.Copyright |
| efforts and to top it off she almost had a bald strip | | | | 2006, Jorbins Inc. - Reprints of this article can be |
| down the middle of her back.We decided it was time | | | | made as long as the article is in it's entirety, |
| for an expert and started calling groomers. I finally | | | | unchanged, and the resource box with links and urls |
| found one that could take her the next day, I had | | | | remain unchanged. |