Rain A Maltese

This is a stinky Rain!
A Cute stinky Rain

He's adorable and I should say quite easy to handle, except for some ear cleaning which he detest. But all in all, everything is good.

I shaved his body down, leaving only his little head

And off he goes into the shower ..
So while waiting for the soak in, I took some photos of the kelian face..

HE LOOK SO CUTE RIGHT !!

Then after blow drying...

See!! He is CUTE I say!

He's already over 10 years of human age and yet he is still so lively and cheerful....... and a little barkish. But his barks are so soft no matter how fierce he tried to be.. (LOL~)

So, today I learn how to trim his face, a puppy face

That's all.
Today's a short lesson.

Old Patches

LESSON FIFTEEN

He is a senior Shihtzu with a tongue sticking out all day. Laoshi says it's a defects in most shihtzu, especially when they get old. 

He is a cute patch.
He has many patches.

Partially blinded, but you can feel his love when you care for him.

He dislike people touching his nails.

He dislike showers in his face.

I still groomed him, anyway.
Glad that he went back, clean.

On the next table was a little puppy, snoozing most of the time.

Cute lil girl. :)

Today learnt scissoring, trimming the ears, mouth area, eyes, and limbs. Oh, and round paws!

Yuri the Cross Russell

Lesson Fourteen

She is a Jack Russell cross with some Terrier. She've got a cute face, long body, and rather short limbs. Roughly 4 years of age, hyper active with lots of energy!

Yuri.

She has wired hair but doesn't shed easily.
With minor skin problem, and a handful of ticks!

Here is her shave down

And shaving down her face and limbs

Here... Now she looks fat! Opps!
So after shaving the face, laoshi taught me how to hold a scissors the correct way.

It reminded me of my band days, when all of us just got our new instruments. We didn't have enough breath to hold a bar or two, neither we have the energy to keep playing for continuous 2 hours. I am filled with excitement, and will spend some time practicing my scissoring.

1000 vertical lines per day of practice.
This is laoshi's standard.

Wish me luck!

RODI's Shave Down

Lesson Thirteen.

Rodi the Medium Poodle (male)
He is a good boy today :)

(BEFORE)

I have successfully passed my exam the previous week for basic grooming, and today I'm learning new stuff - A Shave Down !!

Usually for dogs with skin problems, heavy matts, or as per request by customer.

(Half body shaven down)

And the face before shaving

And after (Poodle Face) with botak nose until neck.
If you notice, there is a V near the neck area.

Feet, laoshi taught me poodle feet today..
(This is before)

And after..

Now I can groom Niki and Winter by myself !

Gucci's Exam

Lesson Twelve

Face_of_the_Day

Medium Poodle - Gucci is here for exam today.
MY exam, not his.

I really need to say that I'm lucky to have him for exam as he is a still dog. Meaning, he don't move that much and doesn't bite. Maybe just the ear cleaning part is a little tough, but he is okay. :)

I reach school with a tired face and immediately laoshi noticed it. And that's where her leniency kick in. She is aware and even commented "Wah, only started work 1 week and you so tired?" and she laughed at me :(

But it's okay, she is a fun loving individual that no one will reject making friends with her.

I tried very hard to focus, but the rabbit grooming beside me keeps shedding and it flew into my eyes. I had an infection throughout the whole day.

But luckily, laoshi knew that I had put in enough effort, and that today is a bad day for me that's why my standard dropped a little. She gave me a pass and told me to go back and rest. I am grateful to her.

I felt pretty guilty for not doing well as I usually do.

But it's ok, at least now I know I need to put in extra effort.

Medium Poodle - Kuro Lady

Lesson Ten & Eleven

Just like Lesson Eight, I was suppose to complete a Medium Poodle, Nara, but I didn't managed. Here am I today, handling another medium Poodle, Kuro.

I spent one full lesson (5hours) just on brushing =.=
And the following lesson was to shower her and trim her ears, paws and nails.

After brushing:

After shower and all done

*happy* 

Next lesson will be my exam day.
Am looking forward.

On my next table is a 10 month old Westie!

SOOO CUTEE !!! 

I was telling hubby that Winter is so huge compared to him :S

FUTU the Cute & The 1 Month Old Puppy

FUTU!!
Lesson Nine.

Yes she is a poodle also, and she is so obedient ! I have no problem grooming him today, done within 3 hours (incl shower)

Laoshi taught new stuff today!

See the "ribbon" on his ears?

This is actually to protect his ear fur as they are trying to grow his ear fur long. It prevents rough playing and breaking of his fur. So, laoshi have to comb it every day, remove this wrap and re-wrap it ON DAILY BASIS!

Cute little thing. <3

So since I'm early, lesson should end at 5pm, but i'm done at 3pm, so laoshi brought this 1 month old puppy from his cage to me. He, the puppy, is actually the son of Handsome (the shihtzu cross maltese) and 小小公主 !! 

See the size 

I was trying to trim his nails and he was trying to chew on me. It's his first ever grooming session and he is so so scared that he kept whining. And the mum, 小小公主 which is just at the next table, barked at me.

He doesn't have teeth yet.

SOOOO CUTEEE !!! 

Both the parents is a shihtzu cross maltese.

WHY SO CUTE !! 

Dirty Medium Poodle - Black Black

Lesson Eight

No photos of him, as the session was messy and dirty. I didn't allow myself a break cuz I wanted to complete the brushing and combing asap.

ZZZ !!! 

I did not manage to complete the grooming again.

Black Black is a medium size poodle exactly look like the photo below: 

I have a little secret actually; I am fearful of big dogs, even if it is a gentle Poodle.

So, this day finally came and I have to face it. 

I have learnt that the Poodle family is huge. Ranging from Toy, Miniature, Medium to Standard size Poodles, comes is a handful of colors, cross or not, usually are gentle and easy going.

Here, a Poodle puppy to end this post. :) 

The Carpet Matt - Toy Poodle II

Lesson Seven

I didn't manage to complete de-matting this little poor girl. 

And my lesson for this week ended.

The Carpet Matt - Toy Poodle

Lesson Six. 

Groomed Brush Natsuri, the toy poodle, today.

Her tangles were so bad that people will shave her down the moment they receive her. But "Every groomer will have to go through this" my laoshi says, so I continued de-matting her with a pinch of salt.

She look like some abandon little dog.

(P/S: her bad matt is due to bad fur condition, plus her hair tie which she scratches on)

After 7 hours of hard work, her messy head is gone, and her neck and shoulders. Not even half her body done yet. *Grossly over matted*

"The more grooming you do, the more patience you will get" - laoshi

...... to be continued ......

A Chin That Bites

Lesson Five

Still practicing on Basic Groom, and today failed terribly.

Nikki the Japanese Chin.

I arrived on time (consider myself late actually) because I went to SGH early in the morning to submit my medical report from Woodlands Polyclinic. No breakfast, no lunch and canteens are nowhere to be seen! I'm so famished but I have no choice but to proceed to school.

Cute little face with the same name as my Baobei #1 - I thought my day would be great. Started his grooming and I found horror. This is a little monster that bites!

Laoshi saw him snapping at me fiercely (finally!) and decided to activate the muzzle as he already left some ugly markings on my hand. (FYI, he looked like an old dog without fangs, so all the bites are depressed teeth marks without blood) 

MUZZLE - 0

NIKKI - 1

Due to his short snout, muzzling failed.

Laoshi finally took out a secret weapon, GLOVES!

But frankly speaking, it didn't help a lot. The gloves prevented Nikki to bite into my skin directly, but the more I ignore his bites, the harder he chews. Ended up I still get red marks from his biting. Worst thing is, he refuse to let go my fingers after biting it hard. I can feel my knuckles breaking....

*cries*

Shredding Pugachine

Finally I have some photos to show!

Here is my 'School' at Bukit Timah, right opposite Beauty World Center. Bus 961 takes me from Woodlands Interchange to Beauty World Center within 30mins. The bus stop is just 10mins walk away from my school at Chun Tin Road.

P.G.A Since 2001.

I'm still doing basic grooming and there are so much to learn!

*BACK TRACK*

First lesson was CanCan the (male) Toy Poodle, cuddly and friendly. 

And I showered Handsome the shihTzu cross Maltese (male) which look so much like Niki!

Second lesson was with Lambery the (male) Toy Poodle with lots of matts on his body.

 Combing him along took me 2 hours.

Third was with Alska the very tough (male) Toy Poodle. This is a tough character! I had so much struggle with him and throughout the 4 hours of grooming him, I still have not completed ear cleaning and nails clipping. He hates especially shaving of the paws. Ended up laoshi did most of the things. :X

Now the fourth lesson today.

Showered ShihTzu mama: 小小公主 (little princess) 

Yes her name is 小小公主 (little princess) 

Not too sure why this name came about but there are way too many dogs there. 

Showered and cleaned her ears.

She just gave birth to 1 puppy two weeks ago and she is breastfeeding. We can hear her pup whining at basement one. She is a pretty tzu. :)

My next encounter was with this Pug. 

Her nickname: 小豬 (little pig) 

Her actual name was a japanese name which I couldn't remember, but anyway she can react to being called 小豬 (little pig) 

She sheds ALOT !!

Give her a light pat on her body and all her fur comes flying around. I spent some time brushing her and was horrified by the amount of hair she is dropping until laoshi told me that it's normal.

Sigh.

She is cute, but I hope no one brought her home just because of her cuteness and overlook on this fur-shedding machine. 

Diploma in Pet Grooming

via Prestige Grooming Academy 

I signed up for their Diploma in Pet Grooming in September, so here I am, having 1K sponsored by my previous employer. Can I say that I'm taking my diploma now? hehee... 

This is my laoshi, Zayne.

She's my inspiration. 

 To be frank, the beginning few hours was bad. 

I was learning how to do a proper brush and all negative stuff starts filling up my mind. I keep asking "WHY I landed myself into this shit".

Yes, that bad.

I stopped and took a sip of my Pokka Green Tea and told myself, "NO! I should STOP all the negative thinking! I MUST persist! I am responsible for my own actions! Every first steps are tough! I have to finish what I want to do! I have my dreams waiting for me! I want my own shop!" 

That was a leap.

I manage to convince myself that I'm doing the Right thing now. I have dreams and I need to fulfill them. And so.. For the fact that was my very first lesson, I have already picked up a full basic grooming! And was praised by my teacher and my classmates that I'm a fast learner *proud*

I was done earlier than expected and moving on to my 2nd doggie for the day! (Usually people will take one lesson to complete one dog in the first lesson, and I did two!)

And I came home, EXHAUSTED and hungry... but Happy.

It's been a long time since I've been into something. It's satisfying. 

I didn't manage to take any photo with the two cute lil pooch! (Poodle Can Can and Shihtzu x Maltese, Handsome!) I will do it next time :D