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Grooming Your Mixed-Breed Dog

© John Hopkins

Okay, so your dog's a mutt. That doesn't mean it shouldn't look good. But how should you groom your mutt? A Poodle is supposed to look like a Poodle, a Bichon Frise like a Bichon Frise, a Yorkshire Terrier like... well... you get the idea. But what about your mutt? One nice thing about having a mutt is that, barring the obvious constraints of hair length and texture, you can groom it pretty much any way you want!

Many owners of mixed-breed dogs will choose a style similar to that of the dominant breed in the mix. However, some hybrids like the Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Schnoodle, etc., take on a style all of their own. My best advice is to study your dog, see what styles look good to you, and take it from there. We prefer the Benji cut or a standard Puppy cut, similar to this one used here for a Maltese.

Your next decision is whether to use a professional groomer or do it yourself. If all you ever need done is face, feet, and tail (FFT), you might want to stick with a groomer. A good FFT costs around $20 to $25 and includes a nail trim and trimming the hair on the face and in the ears, hair around the feet and pads, and hair around the anal area and genitals. The average dog will need an FFT approximately bi-monthly.

If your dogs are like mine, however, they need an all-over clip at about the same regularity. And needless to say, having that done by a groomer would be expensive (say $40 to $80 monthly to bi-monthly, per dog). So what's a dog owner to do? How about do-it-yourself. For around $250 to $300 you can get about all you need to clip your canine friend, and you'll save that back in no time. You'll need some clippers (regular and touch-up), a small grooming table with an adjustable arm, a nail clipper or grinder, scissors, a good comb, a slicker brush, and maybe a de-matter.

Prices on these items can vary from store to store, so it's best to shop around. However, your best bet may be to try one of several wholesalers with shops on-line. We order from New England Serum Company and have been very satisfied with their prices and service. Similar stores include Care-A-Lot Pet Supply Warehouse and The Dogs Outfitter -- An official supplier of Intergroom. All of these stores sell more than just grooming supplies, so be sure to consider them when you need crates, collars, toys, treats or anything for your dog or cat.

The copyright of the article Grooming Your Mixed-Breed Dog in Mixed-Breed Dogs is owned by Deborah Kompare. Permission to republish Grooming Your Mixed-Breed Dog in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.