Freedom
Posted : 4/5/2013 11:25:16 AM
Many of your specific questions would be well addressed to a groomers forum. I have used The Groomers Lounge and found the folks helpful.
I have bichons and started grooming them myself a bit over 2 years ago - when I reached 5 dogs.
I am lucky to live in driving distance of Pet Edge, so I went to one of their outlet sales and picked up a table with the arm, high velocity dryer, and clippers.
I have used the double loop on one arm, to keep them standing while I work on them, and it is a help. Just last month I finally spent the money for a second arm, so now have a single loop at the neck, and a single loop around the "waist." Wonderful! The thing I found with the double loop, was that the dog can spin. My dogs are all rescues, some of them got a grooming once a year, not used to it at all. So the spinning was an issue. And my boy Willy thinks primping is nonsense and will bite if he can, with the 2 arms and 2 separate loops he can NOT reach my hand. HOORAY! Those loops are not expensive so you may want to try with the double and see if it is enough for your Phoebe.
At the end, I remove the loop around the 'waist," (whether I am using the double loop, or the 2 arms and 2 loops set up) and run the clippers along that area as you end up with longer hair where the loop sits. You can TRY to work around and under the loop, I ended up just cutting the loop ha haaa.
As for which blade to use for what, that is going to be dog specific so I can't help. A groomer on the bichon forum I am on told me what to get and what to use where. This is how I do my bichons:
#10 blade is for paw pads, and sanitary.
#30 blade with a #2 comb is for the dog's body, legs. (I use a #4 comb on Willy as I need to go as long as possible between trims to avoid bites lol)
Pet Edge is THE Place for buying supplies!
I have these clippers: http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Clippers-Blades/Clippers/Andis-AGC-Super-2-Speed-Clipper/pc/190/c/330/sc/397/44077.uts
This is the comb set- you use combs on #30 blades ONLY! : http://www.petedge.com/product/Wahl-Stainless-Steel-Attachment-Clipper-Comb-Sets/46343.uts
For bichons, you must blow dry and brush out the hair so it is straight, before you can use the clippers. I do not know how you dry a cocker. This is the dryer I got, LOVE it! http://www.petedge.com/product/B-Air-Bear-Power-Pet-Grooming-Dryer/46602.uts WOW just saw the price! I was at the outlet sale, that was just $60 two years back. The outlet sale is where they sell anything which was returned by a purchaser - it may be still in the original box, unused as my dryer was! The person just ordered the wrong Bahr dryer (there is a monger one which is a higher power). Anyway, that dryer has NO heat element, it is forced air only. Again, you need to learn what the steps are for your breed.
If you do need a dryer, pay attention to the amps; these products are made for groomer salons, i.e. commercial use. A home wiring system may or may not be able to support the product. My home is a 15 amp service, and this dryer is the largest I can safely run, it needs 11.5 amps. Any higher and I'd be tripping the circuit breaker (or blowing fuses if I had a fuse service in the cellar).
I have slicker brushes in soft and medium bristles, and in wide and narrow head sizes. I also use a greyhound comb as well as a poodle comb. Again, you need to learn what the proper tools are for your breed. We never use a pin brush on a bichon coat. In addition I have 3 sizes of scissors plus one pari of curved scissors. The bichon is a high maintenance coat! You likely have different needs for the cocker coat. I am sharing the specifics so you see that it gets involved with this breed, and you will learn what sorts of things to ask about from groomers who know the breed.
Some of the videos you have may also explain the items you need. Have you searched on youtube at all for cocker grooming tips? That is another place to learn what you will need.