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Spring is in the hair!

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:16:32 +0100

Have you noticed your house getting a little furrier in the last few weeks? All this warm weather and the lengthening days is triggering your pets to start shedding their winter coats. Fear not, there are some things you can do to fight the fur and hopefully salvage your clothes, furniture and sanity.

Shedding is normal. First understand that all pets shed, even those labeled "non shedding" breeds. The only pets that do not shed are hairless pets. The reason some pets have earned the title "non shedding' is due to the fact that their fur has a longer growth cycle which means they usually have to be trimmed or groomed before the hair dies and is ready to fall out. Check out our previous post "Are you ready for some shedding?" to explain coat growth cycles. If your pet is shedding abnormally, like large clumps or excessive shedding for extended periods of time, it may be a sign of ill health. Schedule a visit to your veterinarian to eliminate any underlying health issues.

Regular Brushing. Start a regular routine, both at home and professionally. Regular brushing not only promotes healthy skin and coat, it also is a bonding time for your and your pet. Plus hair you brush out, contain, and throw away is easier to control than hair that randomly falls out all over your house. Don't waste your energy, use the correct tools to maximize your grooming sessions. If you are not sure what brush to use on your pet, stop in the salon we are happy to direct you towards the best brushes for your pet's coat type.

Bathing. When you bathe your pets be sure to use a little elbow grease. Wet hair is much easier to pick up and will cut down on your brushing time. Use a rubber scrub brush while shampooing and conditioning this will remove a lot of dead hair also cutting down on drying time. Our deshedding package includes ReFurbish, a special conditioner that helps remove dead undercoat while also moisturizing the skin and coat. Be sure to use pet shampoo as human shampoo does not have the correct pH level and can dry their coats out. Dry coats are dull, frazzled, brittle and can break off which is just more shedding in your home.

High Quality Diet. This step is of the utmost importance. Imagine what your skin, hair and nails would look like if all you ate was candy, McDonalds, and cereal. The pet food industry is not regulated, so you have to be diligent in knowing what is in your pet's food. Often times it is their only source of nutrition, so best to make sure it is a good one...no, a great one. Not sure of where to start? Check out www.whole-dog-journal.com or www.dogfoodscoop.com for trustworthy advice on pet food ingredients, quality, and suggestions. Adding a fatty acid supplement may also help your pet, but always research and talk with your vet to determine what is the best option for your pet. Feeding a good quality food will cut down if not eliminate itching from food related allergies. Itching produces a lot of loose hair, so stopping itching is twofold.

Lastly, during the spring which is notoriously the worst shedding season, you can place covers on your upholstery which is like a magnet for dead hair. If you have multiple pets, buying those sticky rollers will save you a lot of frustration. In the end, dealing with fur is a part of owning pets. These tips are just some ways to make pet ownership a little easier and more enjoyable. If you really can't stand the fur, well, there are a lot of cute hairless dogs out there just itching for fur free home.

Animal Planet has a hit!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:07:33 +0100

Came across a show on Animal Planet tonight that I have now set on my TiVo, My Cat From Hell. Jackson Galaxy is the cat world's Victoria Stilwell (from It's Me or the Dog for those of you who don't know, check it out). He is a cat behaviorist who deals with kitty conundrums and helps families live more in harmony with their feline friends. I highly recommend watching it if you have cats, are considering getting a cat, or just want to learn more about how to handle cats. It's obvious from his actions that Jackson is truly connected with cats. If you have ever owned a cat then you know they are not easily fooled, if you are unsure of your actions they will take advantage of you in a heartbeat. Too often people try to "fake it" with cats, but they see through your facade and take over. Jackson Galaxy is genuine, experienced, and fun to watch. I highly recommend it. Let me know what you think of it after you watch. Some good things to learn, not just with cats, but also for pets in general.

Need some good reading material?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:55:21 +0100

Here's several blogs that I often frequent. I know many of the people writing these blogs and they are caring pet professionals with a wealth of knowledge that is apropos to both pet stylists and pet parents. Thought I'd share these treasures with you as I enjoy getting lost for hours in their posts and you may too!

Pet First Aid and Care written by Mary Oquendo C.M.P.T.I, C.C.S. Mary is not only a good friend of mine, but also a very active player in advancing pet first aid knowledge around the country and around the world. Visit her website to read more about her mobile salon in Danbury. I have take the PetTech first aid course taught by Mary twice and have learned vital, life saving tips for the pets in my car.

A Day in the Life of a Pet Stylist written by Daryl Connor. Great information written mostly towards the pet groomer, but some useful information here for pet owners. Daryl is a pillar in the grooming industry and always a pleasure to listen to her seminars at the trade shows.

Calling all Cats! written by Danelle German CFMG, CFCG. This is the wave of the future, the National Cat Groomers Institute of America was formed in 2007 and has flourished since day one. There is a difference between someone who grooms cats and a cat groomer. Make sure you know which one your groomer is. I am proud to call myself a cat groomer and look forward to the day I become a Certified Feline Master Groomer.

For the Love of Dog written by several bloggers from Dogster, Inc. Some silly, some fun, some helpful but always entertaining dog stuff.

My Cat Has a Blog written by Jasper, a 5 year old Tuxedo cat with a great sense of humor. A must read!

Well, this is enough for you for now I hope. Have fun, grab a cup of coffee and expect to laugh out loud or learn some new tidbit. Happy reading! :)

Yes, we have Twitter and Facebook

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:24:10 +0100

Follow us on Twitter @LittleShopSalon. Let us know when your baby is in and we will tweet a before and after pic of them! There's also a lot of great info as well as pictures and video of our shop kitties, Audrey and Steve.

Facebook is a great place to post pictures of your pet after they're done as well as find out about shop news and specials.

Say hello to my little friends, Audrey and Steve.

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:20:24 +0100

On a beautiful day in August with the sun pouring in our open doors, a customer asked us who's kitten was walking around the reception area. I looked out to see a tiny orange kitten walking right up to the customer's German Shepherd! No fear, tail high in the air as if to say, "Hi, will you take care of me?" It was love at first sight! I knew in an instant this was going to be the shop cat I had been wanting for years. We took her to the vet for an upper respiratory infection. Within 2 weeks she was a brand new kitty and already showing us her fabulous personality. Ever since she has only grown on us and everyone who sees her. "There's just something about her" we here on a daily basis. We named her Audrey after the man eating plant in Little Shop Of Horrors, we thought it only fitting.

Some people asked if we would get her a friend. I said no, I was going to go broke if I had anymore pets, and then one day Tina was approached by a gentleman from the dog show next door at Paws. He told her there was a dying kitten in the parking lot. I don't think he even got the words out of his mouth and she was out the door and back carrying an unresponsive kitten, even smaller than what Audrey had been when she walked in about a month before. She was in the shop just long enough to grab her keys and was on her way to the vets. The vet didn't even think he was alive, they took him into the examination room and stood there sad that they had lost such a cutie, when he took the slightest breath. They jumped into action pumping him full of IV fluids and warming him up. Within 2 hours he was up and eating on his own! They called us and said he was ready to come home. Again, I knew it was meant to be, how could I refuse him? Tina so graciously financed his first vet visit and so was given the honor of naming him and Steve was what he was dubbed.

So now we have 2 of the most adorable little kittens you'll ever see. Audrey is the red classic or bulls-eye tabby, and we have learned that it is quite uncommon to have a red female. Perhaps that is part of what makes her so special, but this little girl has pulled at so many of our heartstrings. Her attitude is to die for and seeing her everyday is such a joy and brings a smile to all of our faces. Stevie Wonder as we call him (cause it's a wonder he's alive) is a brown mackerel tabby, with a most elegant tail. He's a little more timid and not yet fond of his canine counterparts, but he is definitely gaining some confidence.

They love visitors and of course attention, especially Audrey. Please come in to visit them and say hello. In the meantime, here are some pictures of our new babies that we love so much!

Resting in their kitty condo.

Audrey's first bath....she was less than pleased.

Audrey resting in Tina's arms.

Steve's first day at the shop. You can see his little bandaged paw from the IV.

Snuggling in their favorite spot.

Audrey snoozing.

Ok, I'm going a little overboard with the pictures...I can't help myself. Check back because I am going to make them their own special page so I can share lots of pictures with their fans!

To groom or not to groom?

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:14:10 +0100

As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, you decide to go a little longer between your pet's haircuts so as to keep her warm. Oh, and don't forget that chic sweater you bought to help keep the chill off. Then you take her into the groomer and they tell you it's all tangled and the best option is to clip her short and start again, what went wrong? The first problem is that your groomer most likely sets up a haircut that works in your usual timeframe to keep your pet matt free. When the pet becomes overdue for a haircut it begins to matt and pull on the skin making clipping it off really the only humane option. The next issue is by adding a sweater to the mix you have just sped up the matting process exponentially. There is, however, some simple solutions to this cold weather conundrum.

If you are the pet sweater type, then your best plan is to keep your pet on their regular grooming schedule and either clip them a little shorter, yes you read that right, shorter so they can wear the sweater and not get tangled so easily. Since they will be wearing their canine couture you won't have to worry about warmth as that is what the sweater or jacket will be doing for them. Be sure to comb through your pets after removing the sweater/jacket paying special attention to the collar and armpit areas.

Think clothes on pets are for the birds? Then you should still bring your pet in on their usual monthly or month and a half schedule even if it is just for a bath and brushout visit. This means the pet can continue to grow their coat, but it is maintained and kept free of matts and tangles. As the pet's coat grows, at-home combing and brushing will become necessary, or you can increase the frequency of salon visits during the winter, again, not to trim the pet more, but to help keep them free of matts. This way they are able to grow more of a natural barrier against the elements without the discomfort of a tangled coat.

Lastly, while growing some extra coat in the winter months does help somewhat, your pet will still be cold, just as you will even with a winter jacket. So it is not a necessity to leave more length unless your pet spends extended amounts of time outside during the winter months. If it's just to exercise and potty that they go outside, then it's up to you to weigh the extra work of daily maintenance at home to keep that longer coat maintained.

A weekly brushing followed by a thorough brushing is helpful year round, but especially as we head into the winter, so pick up those tools and begin to bond with your pet while helping keep them happy and healthy.

Holiday survival guide: pet section.

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:43:47 +0100

When the house begins to fill up with family, friends and more importantly food, it can get a little hairy trying to keep both visitors and pets happy. Here are some ideas we've come up with to help ease the stress on all involved.

- Give your dogs a good walk or romp in the yard early in the day to help tire them out and release some of the tension they've been sensing in you and other family members leading up to the big day. Not only will it help to stretch their legs, but it's a good way to relax yourself as well and take a moment to enjoy the upcoming festivities. Cats may not be as open to such rowdy behavior and may prefer to simply bask in the warmth of the kitchen or the solitude of the bedroom.

- Feed your pets before guests arrive. This will cut down on some of the unsightly table side begging without the feelings of guilt on your part for not sharing the delicious spread on the table. I usually give my dogs a large raw knuckle bone in their crates which makes us both happy. They are out of the way during dinner but at the same time I know they're enjoying their special treats in a safe manner. Kongs, Busy Buddies, or other such time consuming treats/snacks are helpful in holiday situations.

- Don't let guests feed your pets table scraps. I like to let my pets have a little taste of what we had for dinner, but I know what they're getting and how much. If visitors are giving them a little here and there, then you aren't able to monitor it as closely, so better to tell everyone in the beginning to not feed the animals.

- Cooked bones of any kind are very dangerous, do NOT let your pets eat them. They can splinter and cause serious damage in their intestinal tracts. Raw bones are safe but should still be supervised. Check out our "Howlidays approacheth" blog post for more information on toxic food items to avoid.

- Consider keeping your pets contained while guests are over. True pets are an integral part of our family, but with numerous visitors during the holidays risks of escape or eating something they shouldn't rise, especially when our attention is split between entertaining and cooking. Perhaps the best bet is to settle your pets into a quiet room where they can relax enjoy some down time.

We hope these tips will help keep you, your pets, and your visitors happy and safe this howliday season. At the end of the day (every day, not just holidays!) be sure to give your pets some extra attention to let them know they are loved and to build your bond with them. Making us happy is what they live for.

This Sunday, Oct 23rd!!

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:05:28 +0100

You're invited to the 4th Annual Cut-a thon at Joiya Day Spa and Hair Design to benefit Hamden Happy Tails Foundation. We will be there offering nail trims and pawdicures. Don't miss out on the excitement!

Where: 2349 Whitney Ave, Hamden CT (Corner of Whitney and Dixwell)
When: 10am - 2pm

See the flyer for an itinerary and more information.

The Top 10 reasons your dog's haircut costs more than yours

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:00:27 +0100

Your hairdresser doesn't wash and clean your rear end and then follow up with a sanitary trim.
You don't go 6-8 weeks without washing or brushing your hair and rolling in the yard in the meantime.
Your hairdresser doesn't clean your ears and eyes.
Your haircut doesn't include a mani/pedi.
You sit still for your hairdresser.
Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head, not your entire body.
You don't bite or scratch your hairdresser.
Your hairdresser doesn't give you a bath.
Your hairdresser doesn't offer to brush your teeth, express your anal glands, pluck the hair from your ears or remove parasites.
You don't poop or pee on your hairdresser (at least we hope not).

We hope this silly yet true post sheds a little light into our everyday world while working with animals. :)

Take a tour of our salon!

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:05:35 +0100

While you are always welcome to come visit us and have a tour of our facility, we thought we would make one available to you while in your own home. We will be adding some pictures of the grooming and bathing area soon, but here are a couple shots of the reception area as well as the self serve pet spa. Enjoy!

Our front doors and reception area....

Reception desk, viewing areas into the grooming salon and the wall of fame...

Retail section and door to self serve....

Self Serve Pet Spa with a view into the bathing room on the left...