Maggie feels that a quick plunge into the ocean or fresh water should pass as a bath. Needless to say that won't wash! Maggie, being a Kerry Blue Terrier, requires a full brush, wash, blow out, and trim, at least every 6 weeks.
Hopefully before you chose your canine companion, you gave some consideration to the grooming time your breed required and that this requirement fit your lifestyle. Grooming requirement is a good question to research of the breed you have chosen and a good breeder will often offer you assistance in learning the "cut" if you plan to do-it-yourself.
Dog owners have a number of options when it comes to grooming. You can take your dog to a salon, have a mobile grooming service come to you, or you can do it yourself. Having gone the salon route, I can tell you it is pleasant to drop off your doggie smelling buddy and return to a trim and sweet smelling canine beauty. Unfortunately, if your pet requires an unusual cut you could be disappointed. Maggie has returned on different occasions looking like a poodle, a schnauzer, and a short Airedale (this was the best). Price may also become a consideration at $50- $60 a visit (slightly higher for the mobile service).
I purchased clippers ($350) and scissors ($80) and vowed to do at least 8 sessions myself. This I found to require approximately 3 hours (per session) of my time. First the brush out, then the wrestling match in the tub, on to the table for the blow out, and finally the trim; this wasn't easier but the results were more to my liking!
Now I have refined the operation to include a visit to the groomer's for the bath and blow out ($30) followed by a home session for the trim. This allows me to approach the trim with enthusiasm and attention to technique, rather that a "let's just get this over with" attitude.
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