I'm a hazard to myself!!!

Well I have been a dog groomer for almost 10 years.... wow! That seems like a long time. It has some great days when you can take a dog that looks like it rolled out of bed right in to the dirt....

To looking like something you could cuddle up in bed with....

This is Polo one of my long time clients, his entire hair cut is done by hand scissoring (with the exception of his face feet and private areas.) Polo is a typical standard poodle, he may leave my shop looking like a foo foo dog but while he is away he plays hard like an athleate!!

Then there is the miniture poodles.... most of them are little princesses... boy or girl they are little lap dogs and spoiled rotten!!

Then there is the latest CRAZE.... the ever expencive "doodle". Gunner is a "Golden Doodle". Call him what you want but he is still a Golden Retrevier Poodle cross. Though it really says something when the owners tell you that their dog arrived on the short bus!

Gunner is another one of my dogs that plays hard while he is away but when he is done being groomed looks like a plush toy to cuddle with.... even if he is a little slow on the uptake I still love him!

Then there is Bo.... I'm not really a fan of Cocker Spaniels, but Bo is the exception to the rule. He is just a happy go lucky dog, kinda reminds me of a lab. My friend is the daughter of the couple who own Bo and wanted to see what he looked like with a mo-hawk.... So just for her I did it and took pictures. I knew her dad wouldn't aprove so after I took the pictures I shaved it off, but boy was it fun to do something creative!

Well in nearly 10 years at a job there are bound to be accidents! Thankgoodness they are rarely wtih the dogs.... unfortunatly that leaves me!



About a month ago while helping our new groomer.... Well I had a bit of a accident! That day I had just gotten my scissors back from being sharpened, lucky me! My coworker needed help trimming the eyebrows on a schnauzer. So while attempting to trim the eyebrows the dog jerked his head suddenly. In an attempt to not poke the dog in the eye with the scissors I also jerked my scissors away.... unfortunately for me I caught my scissors on a part of the table and in turn sliced my chin open with the tip of the scissors. Thankgoodness it wasn't too deep, I was able to patch it up wtih a little skin glue and avoid stitches. Though boy did it hurt! Don't run with scissors, standing still with them is bad enough!

A Dogs Life

Mom sent me this story the other day and it suits life just perfect!!

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old). Why dogs don't have to live so long.Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.' Startled, we all turned to him.What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

-When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

-Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

-Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

-Take naps.-

Stretch before rising.

-Run, romp, and play daily.

-Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

-Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

-On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

-On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree

.-When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

-Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

-Be loyal.

-Never pretend to be something you're not.

-If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

-When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY! Handle every stressful situation like a dog.

If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.