New to Standard Schnauzers, grooming?
Posted: 05 Jul 2021, 15:50
Hi guys,
I'm from Florida, and am going to be getting a Standard Schnauzer Puppy in about 2 weeks. Super excited!! This is my first post, so please excuse any long winded stuff....
I'm used to training dogs, albeit, usually a bit older, like around a year old, we like to adopt rescues typically, this will be my first pure bred, but I'm proud to be getting one, as all my friends have muppets for dogs (Labradoodles).
Our other 2 dogs is a fat Chihuahua named Chicken Buritto and a Chug named Beanie Weenie. Beanie is definitely the "derilect" of the family, but I was successful on training him. My proudest moment was him not crossing the threshold of the house, when unloading groceries and such. So looking forward to training a new dog, but up the ante, like my old dog.
I have hobbies now, gunsmithing, reloading, an 89 Jeep YJ that's a bit suped up, and I suppose now I'm taking up grooming, lol. My old dog (passed away last month), Rusty, he was a mix, imagine a Malinois but brendel and about 50 pounds. Bad hips got the better of him, at 15 years old, but he had a good life. He used to get the undercoat fluffing about 3 times a year and I'd hand pluck it outside. Our local birds probably have the softest and most luxurious nests this side of the state, lol. So I'm used to grooming. And his coat would bead off water like a duck, but he never smelled, was quite amazing actually. I'll admit, he probably couldve used hand stripping, but to be honest, no vet ever told me about it, and the pin brushes seemed to work decently. He started to get warts in his old age, once read that no hand stripping can cause this, made me wonder.
Anyhow, I can handle grooming and maintenance of a standard, and would like to strip him, unless the FL heat would be too much for him. Part of the reason I'd like to hand strip is to spend time with him and build a bond. I like to go out in the woods and theres nothing worse than a dog with something in his foot and he wont let you touch it to take care of it, just as an example. Grooming can build a trust, IMHO.
Only thing, is that I'm confused about the knives and the sizes. I've watched countless videos, hold knife 90° to fur, light pressure with thumb and short straight action in direction of fur, wrist stiff, almost like widdling. But they have so many different sizes, and some say dull, others say not to. Another question, is the stones, Pin Brushes, etc. I'd assume pin brush is for daily maintenance, and stoning is for after stripping?
I find lots of answers for the Mini Schnauzer, but not standards, and just want to get the right tools.
Thank you in advance, I know this has been asked extensively. But there doesnt seem to be many groomers in Saint Petersburg that seem to do this. Maybe it's like Carbeurators on old cars, lost art and the folks doing it are retiring out. I'm into old ways of doing things, and do a skilled trade that is also lacking people, so understand importance of keeping some things around and alive, even if it's just for tradition sometimes. As a side note, I find the "old ways" typically better in function, too. My old Jeep has never let me down, and easy to fix, my wife's Ford Edge ST? Look at that thing wrong and a light is popping on, lol. Guess I'm a gears and cog kinda guy, and if I could have a beautiful and impressive dog with some nice SS scissors (regular and blending, correct?), knife and comb? That's my dream right there!!
Sorry.... I like to talk, lol
I'm from Florida, and am going to be getting a Standard Schnauzer Puppy in about 2 weeks. Super excited!! This is my first post, so please excuse any long winded stuff....
I'm used to training dogs, albeit, usually a bit older, like around a year old, we like to adopt rescues typically, this will be my first pure bred, but I'm proud to be getting one, as all my friends have muppets for dogs (Labradoodles).
Our other 2 dogs is a fat Chihuahua named Chicken Buritto and a Chug named Beanie Weenie. Beanie is definitely the "derilect" of the family, but I was successful on training him. My proudest moment was him not crossing the threshold of the house, when unloading groceries and such. So looking forward to training a new dog, but up the ante, like my old dog.
I have hobbies now, gunsmithing, reloading, an 89 Jeep YJ that's a bit suped up, and I suppose now I'm taking up grooming, lol. My old dog (passed away last month), Rusty, he was a mix, imagine a Malinois but brendel and about 50 pounds. Bad hips got the better of him, at 15 years old, but he had a good life. He used to get the undercoat fluffing about 3 times a year and I'd hand pluck it outside. Our local birds probably have the softest and most luxurious nests this side of the state, lol. So I'm used to grooming. And his coat would bead off water like a duck, but he never smelled, was quite amazing actually. I'll admit, he probably couldve used hand stripping, but to be honest, no vet ever told me about it, and the pin brushes seemed to work decently. He started to get warts in his old age, once read that no hand stripping can cause this, made me wonder.
Anyhow, I can handle grooming and maintenance of a standard, and would like to strip him, unless the FL heat would be too much for him. Part of the reason I'd like to hand strip is to spend time with him and build a bond. I like to go out in the woods and theres nothing worse than a dog with something in his foot and he wont let you touch it to take care of it, just as an example. Grooming can build a trust, IMHO.
Only thing, is that I'm confused about the knives and the sizes. I've watched countless videos, hold knife 90° to fur, light pressure with thumb and short straight action in direction of fur, wrist stiff, almost like widdling. But they have so many different sizes, and some say dull, others say not to. Another question, is the stones, Pin Brushes, etc. I'd assume pin brush is for daily maintenance, and stoning is for after stripping?
I find lots of answers for the Mini Schnauzer, but not standards, and just want to get the right tools.
Thank you in advance, I know this has been asked extensively. But there doesnt seem to be many groomers in Saint Petersburg that seem to do this. Maybe it's like Carbeurators on old cars, lost art and the folks doing it are retiring out. I'm into old ways of doing things, and do a skilled trade that is also lacking people, so understand importance of keeping some things around and alive, even if it's just for tradition sometimes. As a side note, I find the "old ways" typically better in function, too. My old Jeep has never let me down, and easy to fix, my wife's Ford Edge ST? Look at that thing wrong and a light is popping on, lol. Guess I'm a gears and cog kinda guy, and if I could have a beautiful and impressive dog with some nice SS scissors (regular and blending, correct?), knife and comb? That's my dream right there!!
Sorry.... I like to talk, lol