The count down....

[randymerta]

........began at 0800 this morning. I took Pretzel to a pet grooming business to get him a Airedale standard hair cut. The morning started off with Pretzel and I standing outside the store waiting for them to open. A nice lady in a black dress had her lap dog and was waiting at the door before I arrived. I took P out of the truck and took him for a short walk while waiting. I seen the lady had entered the building so I waited a few minutes and we walked in. Boom right off the bat there is a rabbit sitting in the corner. I had to hold P back from having some rabbit for breakfeast. He was pulling so hard and choking/sniffing/snorting to get at that rabbit. The lady in the black dress walks into the lobby and said "oh look its a Airedale" " they use those dogs to hunt bear" I told her yes they do and this is very much a hunting dog. So we get past the rabbit and the lady in the dress and go into the room where the store owner is. She said 'theres Pretzel' and asked me for my info. I hand her the leash and started to walk out when I heard her say "now you be a good boy" and I looked to see her holding Pretzel back as he was trying to get to a cat on the grooming table. Pretzel was giving the cat the look like Hulk Hogan gave Vince McMahon when Hulk lost the title.

The lady at the grooming place told me the cost was 45.00 for a Airedale Standard cut. I figure my bill will be about 19 times that when I go pick up Pretzel later today. I plan to buy a trimmer and do it myself but wanted to see what a professional groomer could do with the beast.
I took some before and will take some after pics later today.
Now waiting for the call to pick him up.
Randy

[hicntry]

Good story Randy. And....I can just picture you....proud as a peacock at Pretzels display. ;D ;D... And rightly so. ;D

[jackie]

Randy,
I'm waiting to see those pictures too. Good story. I've been trying to strip my Airedale's coat and then have the dog groomer do some triming; fixing up. I stopped by to see the groomer before hand to get advice. It's my first time at it. Doesn't seem so hard but does take time. Otherwise it would have cost over $100. This is an option for those who want to strip the coat economically. In the winter I'll let her go natural, but it's very hot during the summer here. And yes, Airedales just can't resist rabbits... Jackie

[jackie]

Here is a picture of Patty somewhat trimmed up playing with a toy rabbit:

[http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo173/desertholm/Patty/2007PattywithRabbit.jpg[/IMG]

And one of her in full coat after running a rabbit, note the hair and foaming slobber, this was today, October 16th. We had seen a rabbit and came up on it slowly, jumped it out of some grease wood bushes, and my husband shot and missed, I was holding the dogs and teaching Patty to be steady!!! I sent her and the pup after the rabbit, then he left because he had to do some work. I went after the dogs a ways and then called them back. Patty came nicely but then wanted to go back to where we jumped the rabbit, I was about to get mad when she went right to the bush and sure enough there was another one still in it, a real big jack that sure could run, he took off like a shot with Patty in hot persuit, she is getting so fast she almost nailed him, I shot 3 times, mostly because Patty loves it and the Pup needs to get used to it, but that rabbit had us until next time that is :

[img][/img]

I like coat her both ways.

Also, here is web-site that has stripping and clipping instructions just for AD's:

members.tripod.com/WharfeAire/groomingpage.html

[jackie]

OK, here's another try at the pics:





And, the with the pup: