grooming...

Question
QUESTION: Hi Keisha!  I have purchased a grooming table with a noose etc. and have started grooming them by myself.  Well, the first time went well (anal glands and all) with my male poodle...Prince has a fabulous temperament and loves everyone and he was easy to groom.  My female, however, was a different story...although she is sweet when you get to know her, she is always a bit guarded and apprehensive of new things.  She was more difficult to groom...acts very scared of the table...I have had them groomed elsewhere so I thought they'd be used to it.  Can you offer any tips on easing my grooming process with Princess?
Again, thanks for any information...you are so knowledgeable...so glad that I found you.

As far as my females health after breeding, she gains her weight back (around 11 pounds) in no time...so, I think I will breed her next heat in six months...then, I'd like to do it every other heat...once a year.  I would love to find another female so I could breed year round...I really enjoy it and so love poodles!


ANSWER: Sorry dear I had to run out of town suddenly and am just now getting to your guestion.  I appologize.
Sounds like you are on the right track with your breeding program.  And sounds like you really enjoy it and that makes me happy.

Now on the grooming.  Is she nervous on her face and feet?  Or just all over.  I find that if I rub the clippers on their face and feet with it off and let them get used to that and then turn it on and just hold it to their face without shaving it really helps.  They realize it wont hurt them even if it is noisy.  You can always tuck her under your arm when doing her feet.  That is what I do with new puppies to get them used to it.  Sometime you can get them used to have their face shaved if you turn the dog so its facing away from you and look over their head and shave down their nose.  Dont do the whole face that way but just a few swipes.  That will sometimes get them used to it and find out it doesnt hurt.  I think it has something to do with not being able to see if coming LOL.  Let me copy out my grooming article and see if there is anything in there that will help you.  I also highly recommend Shirlee Kalstones book on poodle grooming.  Without that book I would have been lost on the show cuts.  But there is a LOT of info in their on doing pet clips too.
If you go to this link you will find a lot of info on grooming your own poodle
http://qtpawzgrooming.tripod.com/index.html
There is more information on my main site.
http://qtpawzpoodles.tripod.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Keisha...I am terrified that my sweet girl is expecting once again...what do you know regarding a dropped uterus?  To refresh your memory...she had her first litter after her second heat...then another litter 9 months later...now, 6 months later she is in heat again.  Remember I told you that she had the shot?  How long is that good for?  He got her again this morning because my husband let the male out of the room I had him in because he was crying and the rest is history.  Is it when they are bleeding that they are fertile?  I hope not, because she has been bleeding just a bit...I'm very concerned and ready to have her spayed...I'm having so much trouble!

Answer
That shot will take care of it.  You male will think that she still smells like she is in heat but what that shot does is abort the litter.  She will sluff off the lining of the uterus (which means she will bleed) and the eggs that she produced along with it.  Its just like a human having an abortion.  She will still smell like heat to your male but her eggs should be gone by now.  It usually take 24-48 hours for the shot to do the work.  I have never once heard of a female retaining any eggs for a male to fertilize after having the shot.
A female has a  week heat cycle (this is just a generic period of time it can vary by a few days depending upon the dog).  They usually bleed for a week, then are ready to breed for a week and then go out for a week.  However a male can get a female pregant at any time during those 3 weeks.  Most females though are typically only fertile from day 13-16 although I have heard of some being fertile up to day 20.  You also have to remember that a males sperm can live in the female for up to 72 hours.  This is what accounts for a female seeming to become pregnant before that 13-16 day window.