Hairedayle

You know I said in my last post that Aunty Kim was cleaning out the garage & that's why her & Paddy couldn't come play in the snow? Well, seems mum was right & she was setting up her grooming table for me!

This was how my Saturday morning began. Dad put me up on the table so I wouldn't wriggle so much while he combed out my legs before I had a shower. They were really tangled up from getting so wet over the last few days playing in the snow. Does that look like a happy face to you?

Once that torture had finished it was straight upstairs to be dumped unceremoniously in the bath. Now I have to admit I don't actually mind having a bath per se, I just don't like being clean and smelling of shampoo. And I especially don't like dad aiming the shower hose at my butt. What is he doing back there???

This is the stoopid girlie shampoo mum makes me use as she says it smells all nice like baby powder. I don't want to smell like a baby, I was to smell like a handsome young chap. Can't she get something like "C K9" or "Tommy Holedigger" so I can smell all rugged & manly. The bottle even has two cutesie-pie girlie puppies on it & says "Molly & Daisy, beauty queens" for pete's sake. See my not impressed face.

This has to be the No 1 most unflattering photo EVER! I look like a scawie monster!

After my bath mum went out to get her nails done. She goes every 2 weeks & always has pretty patterns on her nails. Today she got some Valentine hearts, aww.

Once she was back, off we went to Aunty Kim's house. Now I have to admit that I was a little bit worried about getting my hair cut by her because she has 3 poodles, and beautiful as they are, I didn't think I'd suit a poodle top knot. Mum assured me that she had given Aunty Kim a step by step guide that she found on the internet & she would stay with me the whole time. That made me feel a bit better, and going to Aunty Kims has to be better than going to the grooming parlour again.

I was a bit unsure of the table at first as it seemed a bit small for me. But I was a good boy & stood very still, so Aunty Kim didn't have to use the harness.

She did my back and tail first. It felt a bit tickly, but not too bad at all. Her clippers were nice & quiet, and mum was giving me treats, bonus!

Next she moved onto my head & face. She did this shorter than my back. It was a bit tickly, but she said I had to stand really still so I didn't lose my eyebrows, eek!

She clipped carefully all around my ears, and inside them. The had been getting a bit itchy as they were furry inside, but they're much better now. Dad kept having to give me ear rubs, so he should now be relieved of that duty for a while!

Here I am just checking with mum that she's keeping a tab on things & that I'm still looking handsome. She assured me that all was well.

Woah, that's a lot of fuzz. I'm glad the snow has gone or I'd be f-f-f-freezing.

Part way through, mum & Kim had a tea break. How am I looking? Kim still has my legs & underside to do.

I love Aunty Kim. I'm glad that she is learning how to groom me so I don't have to go to the groooming parlour any more. Uncle Charlie is fitting out the garage for her so she'll have a proper set up next time I come with a bath, grooming table, drier, etc. The walls are going to be tiled & it'll be very fancy. I guess when you have 3 poodles to groom you're spending a lot of time out here so need somewhere nice!

Here Aunty Kim has brushed out all my leg hair. She said I have quite a few places where the hair is short or even a bit bald, & that my beard was the same. Mum said it's because I eat the big white rawhide chew sticks, which I hold between my paws and gnaw on, & all the gunk gets really stuck in my beard & legs. Mum said "right, no more of those chewies so your hair can grown back nicely!!!". Any ideas for non gunky chews you guys?

Nearly done now & feeling a lot more relaxed & happy. Aunty Kim was pretty nervous about messing up as she had never cut an Airedale before, but mum kept saying she was doing good, and do I not look like a satisfied customer?

Just my back legs & tail to finish off now. Sunshade , I have to tell you that my "muscle butt" that you so admired was infact all hair from the weird way the lady at the groomers cut my back legs last time! My black saddle is coming through nicely now though.

My cute butt!

Freedom! I finally get to have a run around in Aunty Kim's garden (see, the poodles aren't allowed on their lawn either - they have mean parents too!). This wicker pig's ears weren't as tasty as the pigs ears mum buys me!

I think Aunty Kim did a really good job. She said I was a really good boy to stand so still & stand, sit, turn etc when she wanted me to. I have a show in a fortnight, so she's going to give me a quick tidy up that morning, and you know what? I think I'll actually qute enjoy coming back. Especially as the "Poodle Parlour" should all be finished by then!

Licks

Oscar x