Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

One of the things all of us Cocker owners know is that it takes a lot of work to keep those long Cocker coats looking good! To avoid the shaggy look, you have to trim the face every few weeks, and the rest of the body approximately monthly.

Paying a professional groomer to do this gets expensive... especially if you own more than one Cocker. So, most Cocker owners sooner or later will decide to start doing their own grooming. Not only does it end up saving you a lot of money, but it's a lot less stressful for the dog to be groomed by someone they love rather than by a stranger.

For years, people asked me for tips on grooming their dogs... and especially if I knew of a good video that showed how to do it right. After hearing that request over and over enough times, I finally decided to make a grooming video of my own!

Those of you who have been part of our forum for a long time already know this... so this note is mainly for the "newbies". I just want to let you know that information about my Cocker grooming DVD can be found at http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/Grooming.html

If you've already got a copy of the grooming DVD... feel free to post your comments here! The most common reaction that I hear from people is that it is informative AND entertaining!

I would also like to mention that Julie Hydro, a former professional dog groomer and experienced handler of Cockers in the show ring, is featured quite extensively on the second DVD. (It's a two disc set.) Even I learned a few good tricks from Julie's portion of the DVD! To show my appreciation for Julie's part in creating the grooming video, I send Julie $5 for every one of the grooming videos that I sell.

I highly recommend the Grooming DVD. I am a visual learner. I can read and read about something, but show me a picture and the light bulb comes on. Show it to me on DVD, and I really get it.

The DVD takes you step by step through the grooming process and explains everything you need to know to get started. Watching the DVD gave me the confidence to give grooming a try. Thanks Jim and Julie!

I got mine yesterday, and my daughter Julie and I have watched about half of it, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I ordered our clippers this morning - and I NEVER thought I'd be saying that! I was scared of even the thought of doing it myself. Seeing it done, with great explanations, makes it seem do-able.

Great job, Jim! You and Julie Hydro make it look easy - seems to me the hardest part will be keeping the dog from wiggling! I love Julie's tip about picking up the alternate foot to keep the one you're working on still!

Just watched your grooming DVD. I have been grooming my own cockers for 20 years, and I still learned a few neat tricks! Most importantly, my cocker, Bailey, loved it! I had to hold him to keep him from leaping onto the laptop!

Thanks for making this DVD.

I ordered mine today! yay! I have clippers, scissors, and am going to order the Mars Coat King. Yep, I can do this!

Plus my brother has a cocker that they always get shaved. maybe I can convince them to let me trim her!


Peg

I just wanted to add a post that I thought the video was great. I ordered mine a little over a month ago and it is so easy to understand and when I got my puppy up on my table, I actually kind of felt like I knew what I was doing. My redneck grooming table, by the way, is a table that is part of my porch furniture put up against my glass front door. My plug in is right next to my door for my clippers and I put one of those suction leash things for bathing on my glass door and wha-lah...a grooming table. Anyways, I am still learning and I watch the first DVD before I clip each time just to refresh. Thanks! You have made being a Cocker newbie much easier.

Just finished watching my DVD. Jim, I LOVED it! It was so informative. Thanks to you all who made it! It's a great tool for those of us who want to groom our own dogs.

Oh, and Missy says "Thanks alot Jim, now I have to put up with the crazy woman with the clippers again tomorrow!"

Peg

I love mine. It makes a big difference when you can bo back and re-play something,especially for me. Thanks so much for all the time Jim and Julie put into making this for us.

I got it...my grooming video. Two of the dogs that I groom or should say attempt to groom got if for me. I asked the owners they would get me that instead of money and believe it or not she ordered it on Friday and it came today..Monday..it said 1-2 weeks so I am thrilled. haven't watched it yet (time), but can't wait and also can't believe it came all the way from California to Ohio so soon..patti

These dvds are so great, and I SO depend on them, that I ordered a second set today as I have misplaced my "Julie Hydro" disc and I really need to watch it again!

Thanks again for taking the time to put this together! Just think of all the Cockers enjoying extra time with their moms and dads, thanks to the Zims and Julie helping us all to learn to take better care of our furbabies!

I only got to watch a few minutes of the dvd and already I learned something I did not know. I always used the Kool Lube but did not know the blades needed to be oiled before every groom job. I have 4 cockers for pet grooming today, but unfortunetely I don't have time to watch it yet. Thanks Jim!!

patti

Hi Jim - I finally got a chance to sit down and watch your grooming video that I ordered... it's wonderful! Very informative and detail oriented. Thank you so much for producing it. You're going to save me big buck$!

Take Care,
Val

P.S. You come across as a really neat guy. And funny!

I have been using Jim's grooming video since Mirabelle arrived one year and 2mos ago. Of course I do not do a perfect job but I try and she is somewhat cooperative so we go at it. Usually I have to trim parts every two weeks so she doesn't look scruffy.. Not that she is pleased and then the bath. Well that is another milestone as she very meticulously showers the bathroom walls with her idea of climbing out of the bathtub. The video is a great source of learning how to try and do it correctly!

I think I'm asking for the grooming DVDs for Christmast this year. I have always said I don't have the time, patience, or confidence to try grooming Sophie myself...but with the recent parvo outbreak, I'm seriously thinking it's time to bite the bullet and see if this old dog can learn some new tricks (and I'm talking about ME...not Sophie!!! )

Stacy, if I can do it, ANYONE can! And I never thought I'd be able to, but I'm so glad I got the DVD and took the plunge! It's so nice to trim up bits and pieces at a time, and not have one huge shaggy mess to deal with!