KC's Blog
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Ares (aka Airhead, Airyhead) the whippet
who could never figure out that you needed to move your back legs as well as your front to swim (Ol'Man Plod);
who enjoyed walking in slow motion under scratchy trees,
and visited rooms on average 6 times before recalling why he went there.
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Gizmo (aka Gizzie, Gizmodo, Giddy) the miniature poodle
who was our first dog after we lost Tara and the whole reason we became dog groomers;
who loved wearing his own life jacket on Dad's boats (all named after him of course - Gizmo I & Gizmo II);
and claimed all children's boogie boards as his own to float around the pool.
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Ted E Bear (aka Teddy, TeddyBBear, Teddybears) the miniature poodle
who HATED being clipped, put up with my sisters endless craving to dress him up in clothing - even pajamas!;
& adored my little nephew until the very end.
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Lady (aka Ladyflop, The Flopdog, Floppydog & Laaaaaaaaady) the border collie
who was our 'customer service' specialist on the truck;
adored going to work with Dad & was my Grandma's special girl.
Lady visited me many times up here in QLD to check out my new place & help with yardwork.
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All were lost too soon, some suddenly and some we wouldn't admit we knew it was approaching.
Even though all five lived long & entertaining lives, it feels like our time with them was cut too short.
I am sure a few of you will know the poem Rainbow Bridge oft quoted at the passing of a pet, of a furry family member.
While I love this poem, I have recently found a quote which I would like to share.
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
Airhead, Cookie, Giddy, Floppy & Teddybears, you are loved and will not be forgotten.
Thank you for sharing your lives with us.
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19.09.11
A quick update...
Hi KC followers!
t has been a while since we last updated our blog here, we apologise.
We are currently making some changes to our web site but you can expect a blog entry in the next few days;
along with a new grooming article on heat & distress prevention during these warmer months.
So stay tuned.....
30.05.11
Grooming Advice of the Week
It has been a while since we have written our weekly grooming advice, our apologies! Unfortunately a few things have gotten in the way
but we're back at it :)
Just before we get into this week's article on nail clipping, we would like to announce that Wendy's pup CJ won Best of Breed at the
2011 Royal Easter Show!
At just 8 months old, CJ performed beautifully on the day and we are so proud of her achievement.
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Now for the main part of today's blog entry, nail clipping. It is a phrase that can convert even the most brave of dogs into
a shivering, howling bundle of wriggles. But does it really have to be that hard?
For the most part, nail clipping is simple and, if carried out regularly, a fairly quick task.
It is always best to start the habit from puppy age however this is not always possible.
Firstly, let's look at exactly how to cut nails. You will need a pair of nail clippers available at any good pet store such as
We prefer the Kramar scissor action clippers for ease of use.
A dog's nail is made up of a hard shell covering the 'quick' - blood vessels and nerves in the toenail.
In dogs with white nails, the quick is easy to see, however it can be a bit trickier in those with black nais.
If you cut too much of the nail, it is likely that you will hit the quick, resulting in bleeding and pain for the animal.
This bleeding can persist for several minutes and is similar to cutting your own fingernails too short.
The best way to avoid the quick is to trim a small amount of nail at a time, sloping the clippers in line
with the end of the nail to avoid cutting too short.
There is a great article on how to clip nails here which also features photographs for further clarification.
A few handy hints:
If you do cut the quick, don't panic. Although it does cause pain for your pet, it should not cause any lasting damage.
To stem bleeding from nails that have been cut too short, drag the nail across a moist bar of soap to seal the wound.
It is always best to have two people present when clipping nails - one to clip and one to hold the dog still to prevent slippage of the clippers
Dew claws may be located further up on the leg of your pet and require clipping as well.
Back toenails usually require less frequent clipping than front toenails
If the dew claw - or any toenail - has grown around and back into the skin of the animal, it is best to contact your vet or groomer for assistance.
We can remove some ingrown nails dependant on severity however some require surgery at your vet clinic
It is a good idea to clip nails a minimum of once everything 2-3 weeks, especially if your pet lives inside
or spends most of their time on grassed areas
Animals who spend a fair amount of time on concreted areas will wear down some nails more efficiently
and may require clipping only once per month.
The more often you trim their nails, the more the quick shrinks back!
If you have any questions about how to clip dog's nails, please give us a call :)