tatty bichon frise

crisgal | 01:59 Tue 19th Sep 2006 | Animals & Nature

10 Answers

i can't afford to have my bichon clipped as often as he should be. he gets all matted despite being brushed and usually has to have a very short cut. we don't mind, it suits him. but it's so hard to find the money in my very tight budget!
I have found dog clippers on t'internet, and wondered if i could do him myself. They are very expensive but only what I would pay for 5 clips at the groomers.
If we don't want the crufts fluffy look, i should be able to do it, shouldn't I? And then just take him to the groomers for his anal gland, ears and nails.
What do you think?

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eyeshade

Of course you can clip your dog yourself, providing you do it properly and carefully. We used to do our standard poodles years ago, no problem. However some of the postings read here in the last few weeks, makes me think people get dogs without realising the work and expense that goes into them. They are a full time job! If you are not showing him, them just clip him sensibly. The clippers will be a good investment by the sound of it.

crisgal

Question Author

thanks eyeshade. We waited until our first child was five before buying our dog - despite years of begging. It is not something we went into lightly.
We were fully aware of the care a bichon needed and he has always been to the groomers regularly.
It is just since my husband was made redundant, we have had to prioritise things differently.
As much as we all love him, when there is only enough money for either food or a doggy hairdo, i'm afraid the kid's tummies have to come first!

eyeshade

Redundancy changes everything! You'll be fine clippig him yourself you don't need to go to the groomers, and once you have done it the first time, it will be a doddle, you can also use it on hubby and kids (if they're boys)!

crisgal

Question Author

it would be easier to keep the dog still!

maggie01

You get a cd or video with some clippers to give you an idea how to clip them. Please let us know how you get on as we have two shih-tzu's who go every 8 weeks and its costs us �54 for the two, which at certain times of the year is a bit of a struggle. Have not had the nerve to try it myself yet.

ebbalily

You can certainly clipp your Bichon your self,its quite easy if you follow instructions.
Go for a clipper called Andis or Oster A5 and a No:5 blade.
And get a good book on the Bichon breed only .
If you lived near me I could teach you how to clipp his coat,do his nails and his ears.Anal glands should not be done often any way ,so thats not a problem.

horsestache1

Before you buy your clipper, check out e-bay, you may be able to get the ones you want at a fraction of the price, then you only need to buy new blades, which you can also find on e-bay.

Good Luck

crisgal

Question Author

I think I might go for it!

I would need to trim some parts with scissors though, wouldn't I?

Yours is a very kind offer, ebbalily, whereabouts do you live?

emma_26

instead of taking your dog to a posh parlour if you are worried about doing it yourself have a look locally for people who do it from home as i have a lhasa apso who needs to be pampered every 5-6 weeks and it costs me �15 and he has everything, bathed, clipped, ears, nails, etc she is very good cuts away all hair from inbetween his pads and has even pulled out grass seeds from them and given him ear drops if needed!