Blog Post Archive

Last week I groomed Hank. He is a gorgeous Golden Retriever with the disposition of a saint. So sweet, loving, easy going and just so good. He is a solid big boy and loves to hike in Marin and Napa. I understand that swimming is also one of his favorite outdoor pleasures! Since he leads such an active life when he is not lounging on his porch, I was asked to trim his hair so that it is easier for his owner as well as for him. Hiking in Marin with long furnishings that pick up everything ie: foxtails, branches, burrs etc …. can become a bit labor intensive every day. A shorter doo is just the ticket. And in regards to swimming, less is more. His hair dries much more quickly and keeps the house a lot cleaner.

As you will see in the videos below he is quite a handsome fellow and I think his haircut compliments his athletic 8 year old physique. Most times I help him up on the table but, for this video he actually jumped up all by himself. I think he knew he was being filmed. Maybe I should name him Hank the Ham :).

After I bathe and dry him, I use a special technique that my mentor Edith Hoeltz taught me when I apprenticed at Canine Styles in New York in 1989. I use a 7 blade and 1/4″ by 1/4″ I skim the hair until I attain the length that I want and then hand scissor his entire body. I achieve a very smooth and even finish and simultaneously leave at least 2-3 inches length overall. I guess this would be considered a puppy cut. I never use clip on combs. It does take more time but, the end result is far more professional and the haircut lasts so much longer. My clients always tell me that my hair cuts last weeks and sometimes months longer because they grow out so evenly. That is the measure of an excellent groomer!

Below are two little videos of Hank the Hiker.

I am featuring a video below of two darling mix terriers named Sally and Mason. Sally was rescued from Pets in Need in Redwood City, CA and Mason from Save a Dog Today, SADT.
It’s amazing how similar they look; they look related. They are hand stripped and I keep the flowing tendrils of hair at the very tip of their ears long. I just think it makes them look so adorable!! After their groomings, they jumped on their sofa with the LOVE pillow and I just couldn’t resist capturing it on video. It was a kismet moment!

Home Grooming can be challenging sometimes because of the clients location. This particular client lives in Nob Hill where there is virtually no parking and she works outside her house so…. sometimes I park in her garage or sometimes use her driveway on the street. Being flexible is the key. She is kind enough to give me the keys to her home so she can go off to work while I stay in her home and groom her dogs and when I am finished I lock up. I treat my clients’ home as if there were my own. I consider it a privilege that my clients’ trust me enough to be able to groom in their homes.

I love when the dogs are great, the client is great and everybody is happy! Another great day in the Home Grooming business.

As many of my clients know, I now only groom small to medium size dogs now. Throughout my grooming career, I have groomed Bouviers, German Shepherds, Royal Standard Poodles, Irish Wolfhounds, Bernese Mountain dogs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards and the list goes on …… but every once in a while I make exceptions. I feature two fantastic Golden Retrievers on my website, please see gallery 1 in my portfolio and most recently a received a request to groom a black Chow Chow named Big Boy.

His owner had never had him professionally groomed for fear that a shop would be scared of him and treat him poorly. So, his dog walkers were bathing him at a self bathing place without any brushing and combing prior to the bath. This went on for four years!! YIKES. So, when Betty called me through a dog trainer referral and describe the situation, yes “the situation” I was very worried to see Big Boy’s coat. Well, needless to say poor Big Boy was matted to the bone. It was a complete and utter mess. Betty begged me not to shave him, as all the other groomers said must be done prior to calling me. Dematting is my forte. I will do everything not to shave a dog if it is within my ability. SO ….

I told Betty that I would dematt him over four grooming sessions, three hours each. Not only did I have to patiently pick through his coat 1/4″ by 1/4″ but I also had to train him to
accept the grooming table and learn to stand. He had never been on a grooming table so he was a little scared and tentative. I never use a “rake” but, methodically cut through the mats with my very, very sharp shears on the vertical/with the grain and then use my slicker brush and then comb. That process had to be done on his entire body. It is meticulous work, almost like surgery. There is a rhythm to my dematting process that allows the dogs to trust me. My hands and the dogs body almost become one.

I have now groomed Big Boy for over a year now and his coat is magnificent and I go every three weeks like clock work. I have trained him to jump into the tub for his bath and he stands patiently. I use a large dog grooming table with the Metro Master Blaster Dryer and he now behaves like a perfect grooming client. I am very proud of him! Below is a little video of his magnificence.

I am originally from Manhattan and moved to San Francisco in 1993. I would say that each and every day I think about my days in the Big Apple and in particular the heart and soul of the people and place. It is truly a remarkable city. I have watched many of the memorial shows including the Steven Spielberg produced ” The Rising – Rebuilding Ground Zero” which was so incredible. New Yorkers’ spirit and dedication and devotion to the fallen and the commitment to the future Twin Towers leaves me speechless. But the 2 hour documentary tonight hosted by Robert DeNiro filmed by two French documentarians who were actually in the buildings completely by accident as the planes struck was extraordinary, heart breaking and overwhelming.

This is the first anniversary since 2001 where I have really allowed myself to feel the devastation and loss. The thought that New York has to be patrolled by police with machine guns and terrorist squads is so profoundly sad to me. I knew the New York where a 12 year ( myself ) could walk the streets with my Golden Retriever, Sir Chipper of Kent and feel completely safe. It’s true. I walked him all over Manhattan for miles and miles. That dog started my deep and profound attachment and connection that I have for canines.

I am blessed that I have the career I do, it has given me purpose and I know I affect people’s lives with joy and happiness. I know there is so much I have not done yet in my life, I guess we all have something we could have accomplished but haven’t, but one thing I do know without any doubt is that the decision to become a dog groomer and particularly a home dog groomer was the right one so, if I had to endure a 9/11 I would feel a sense of peace for my soul.

To all the people who perished, you are not forgotten.

The pictures and video below are of Andy the Westie. A very sweet 17 year old Westie that has an amazing benign growth on the left side of his face very near to his eye. Today was my first time grooming him. His regular groomer declined to groom him because of this growth so, his owner had to find another groomer to give him a haircut. Sadly, he also has another benign tumor in his rectum.

When I arrived at his house I sat on the floor and he immediately came up to me and wanted to be patted. Inspite of his age and these growths, he has great vim and vigor, loves his food and loves to be patted and showered with attention.

Grooming a dog that is 17 years old is always a challenge because they can be feeble and somewhat cranky so I did it in stages. Firstly, I removed the long hair, basically gave him a rough cut so that he would not have to tolerate lengthy drying time and then put him in the garden to have a quick pee. I then bathed him and washed around the facial growth gingerly and softly. It didn’t bleed. Since it was very hot in Marin today, I went back into the garden with him to allow the sun to dry him naturally for 5 minutes. The bath was little stressful so allowing him to stretch his legs again relaxed him so I could then dry him and give him his final haircut. I scissored all around the growth, it was like surgery and he behaved like a prince. I had the scissors right next to his growth and he didn’t flinch, quite the contrary. I felt him surrender into my trusting hands and allow me to work on his face with patience and accuracy.

It took me many, many years to gain the experience to accomplish this grooming today. I felt a great sense of satisfaction knowing that Andy is so much more comfortable and that his owner is happy that her dog in his final months/years will be groomed lovingly and expertly as this growth grows and changes and as Andy ages.

Emily Pottruck invited me to be included  in a wonderful project. I was truly grateful that I could participate in such a project to help all animals. Each and every participant wrote from the heart and the photographer did a great job in capturing each families special bond with their beloved pet/pets. Below are photos of me and my little herd. The book is offered on Amazon.com so, please take the time to place an order. Thank you.

This coffee table book of photographs of San Franciscans and their pets is a visual testimony to the very special relationship between pets and their families. Opposite each full page photo is a letter written from the “parent/family” to their pet(s) or written by the pet(s) to their “parent/family,” in answer to the question: “If you and your animals could communicate via this piece of paper, what would you say to each other?” Nothing is edited or altered. Original letters are scanned to maintain the integrity of the handwritten or hand-drawn document.
All proceeds—100%—from the sale of Tails of Devotionwill go to The San Francisco SPCA, the Friends of SF Animal Care and Control, PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support), Pets Unlimited and Rocket Dog Rescue. Each of these non-profit organizations is profiled in their own two-page spread to highlight their mission and work. Emily and David Pottruck are not recouping their costs. As such, the purchase of the book is considered a tax-deductible expense.

The pet lovers pictured in this book represent a cross section of San Francisco neighborhoods—the diversity of its people, its families and its pets. It includes local luminaries Amy Tan, Robin Williams, Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani, Isabel Allende, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, Ronnie Lott, Peter Coyote, Mayor Jerry Brown, Jessica Aguirre, Mark Bittner, Jessica McClintock, Traci Des Jardins, Mimi Silbert, Orlando Cepeda, Stephan Jenkins, Michael Tilson Thomas, Lisa Vroman, Mickey Hart, Jan Wah and Tammy Nelson from the cast of Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon.

Since last summer one of my dogs Niblet, the star of my Welcome Video and Makeover Madness video has been suffering from a number of ailments. He has liver disease, a collapsed trachea and an enlarged heart. Needless to say, he is on numerous medicines. I know that Pill Pockets can be great for dogs when they have to take pills but, it just wouldn’t work for my little Niblet. I hated having to shove numerous pills down his throat with a fragile trachea so, I researched a pharmacy that specializes in liquid medications for dogs.

It’s Road Runner Pharmacy in Phoenix, AZ. They are great. They offer the medications in so many flavors. The regular ones like beef and chicken but also, butternut vanilla and marshmallow and many. many more. It makes giving medicine so much easier and less stressful. Often times dogs refuse to allow being given a pill and no matter what you hide it in they figure a way to spit it out. Liquid formulated meds are a great alternative.

And as a thank you gift for placing your order, they will send you a doggie toy. Just tell them the breed of your dog and they choose the right size.

http://www.bouletteslarder.com

Boulette’s Larder is a store in the Ferry Building at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco. I first heard about Boulette’s Larder when I asked one of my clients what she served her dog. After the grooming, Ann heated up this little frozen gem in the microwave and her dog Pu devoured it. Pu is a Ocherese and is featured in gallery 1 on my website.

Recently, one of my dogs Niblet my darling Black and Tan Pomeranian featured in my Welcome video and Makeover Madness video has developed a number of illnesses and in the beginning of June 2011 I thought I was going to loose him. Thankfully, he has recovered with the assistance of a lot of medicine and diligent veterinarian care. His appetite was very poor in the beginning and I tried everything to encourage him to eat. Then I remembered how Pu devoured her food and I headed straight for the Ferry Bldg.

These little morsels contain poached chicken, carrots, a combination of cooked grains all encrusted in raw sesame seeds. Of course, all the ingredients are organic. Each is shaped lovingly by hand and then packed into a take out container of 10. Not only are the healthy and delicious, yes, I did try a little for myself, but I love the presentation. One pet boulette is the perfect serving for a small dog the size of Niblet.

When I got home, I heated one of the Pet Boulette’s in the microwave and Niblet devoured it!! I was so pleased. At very chance I try to go to Boulette’s Larder to stock up on their Pet Boulettes.

Today I groomed a little Pomeranian named Poof. As you can see from the photos and video she is truly gorgeous. She weighs about 4 lbs. max but, the amazing thing about Poof is that she only has three legs. She was born this way. ( Not to copy Lady Gaga 🙂 ) It took over 2.5 hours to completely groom her. She was very matted all over but, especially around he rear area. I enlisted her owner to assist me in supporting her at certain times during the grooming due to the fact the it was difficult for Poof to stand for any length of time. Her owner Jillian was terrific and with just a little instruction, we worked very well together. Believe it or not, it took over an hour and a half to just demat little Poof. She was extremely matted but, I slowly and patiently brushed and comb her hair 1/4″ by 1/4″ and with minimal scissor thinning, I was able to completely demat her without any damage to her skin or any visible damage to her magnificent POOF coat!

I am including a little video and two photos of her for your enjoyment.

Sometimes Home Dog Grooming can really put a smile on your face. I am featuring a little video I took of one of clients surrounded by all his dogs. Three Yorkies and three Brussels Griffons. The other two Yorkies are owned by one of his friends and were having a play date with his other canine friends. When I came upstairs and saw all the dogs on the bed with Matthew watching T.V. I just cracked up! Enjoy.

I have received a number of emails regarding my Dog Travelogue ” Emma in Paris ” inquiring about the details of the trip and the collaboration with the photographer, Kersti Malvre.

At least once a week, I receive an email commenting that this little gem is unique, clever, entertaining and funny. I’m so pleased that people like it.

In the Spring of 2009, I went to groom Emma at her house in San Francisco. Her owner told me that they would be leaving for Paris (where she also owns a house) for 6 months. I cried “Quel Dommage” given that six months is a very long, long time between groomings. Emma is a Hand Stripped Norwich Terrier and is kept beautifully. Thankfully, her owner had to come stateside for business in two months and asked me if I would like to baby sit her in PARIS! OMG! Well, what could I say. In less than a swish of a dogs’ tail, I said yes!
I immediately called, Kersti Malvre, the photographer I used for www.kentskanines.com and asked her if she would like to join me to document the trip with pictures, of course she said yes.

We were there in April 2009, April in Paris! Each day for 5 days, I would start the day grooming Emma in her “pied-a-terre” preparing her for her day of photo shoots while Kersti and I would plan the itinerary for the day. Both of us had been to Paris many times so we knew the city well. Emma went everywhere with us, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Le Metro, Carousels and even Notre Dame on Easter morning! I popped her in her tres chic travel bag and she sat perfectly quiet in the 1000 year old cathedral. Notre Dame Cathedral on Easter morning is magnificent. We went inside restaurants and cafes and tea salons with Emma. In each and every location, she was the perfect model and very patient with me allowing me to place her ” just so ” so Kersti could create her photo magic!

We met fantastic people all over Paris and it was a trip of a lifetime. Once we got home and edited the photos and began to create a narrative, it flowed quickly and was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Can’t wait to set the wheels in motion to create a series to rival Eloise at the Plaza!!

Once again, thanks to all for letting me know you love Emma in Paris!!

When I first created kentskanines.com I knew I wanted to include testimonials. But the question was how to do that with a creative twist. I really wanted the words to be from my client’s hearts so, I had a great idea. I would ask them to write thank you/testimonials on their personal stationary. Some people actually created hand made cards with a drawing of their dog. One of my clients even created a collage card featuring a rendition of their dog. They have been a big hit!

As many of you know, my website which features all of the hand written testimonials (in News) is Flash which, unfortunately is not compatible with IPads so, I am slowly going to feature some items that are on my website on kentskaninesblog.com so people who are checking out my blog can see the testimonials. Here are the first ten.

Click here to see the Testimonials of kentskanines.com