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Fresh starts

Shelter dogs get ready for new lives with new looks

Janet Simons, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 12, 2007 at midnight

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Maybe you think dogs that look like mops with wet noses are cute. If so, you also might think professional grooming is just for show dogs.

But you'd be wrong.

Don't you feel good after a shower? Dogs feel better when they're clean, too.

To demonstrate the power of grooming, we took three homeless, shaggy dogs from two metro-area shelters and a rescue society and treated them to doggy makeovers.

When the volunteer groomers stepped back to admire their handiwork, our tramps had been transformed into two ladies and a gentleman. They're ready to go to a ball - or, better yet, to good homes.

Oona Gebauer, owner of Oona's Dog Groom & Spa, 4611 E. 23rd Ave., was appalled at the condition of Scarlet, an 11-pound poodle-terrier mix.

"Her coat was matted clear down to her skin," Gebauer said. "Just think how you'd feel with matted, dirty hair. Scarlet came in as a raggedy, uncomfortable mess who couldn't see. That's neglect, and there's nothing cute about it."

She said Bailey, a cocker spaniel from Vintage Dog Rescue in Littleton, was in better shape.

"He'd been brushed, but much of his coat was matted, and I wound up shaving him. A cocker spaniel's hair keeps growing, so they should get haircuts every four to eight weeks," she said.

Nickole Toney of the Wag Shop, 1222 E. Sixth Ave., groomed our third dog, Angel, a 60-pound mixed breed from the Colorado Humane Society.

Angel didn't look all that different after her makeover, but Wag Shop owner Dave Hered is confident that she feels better.

"Every dog needs to be groomed," he said. "I can't think of any breed that doesn't. And with a dog like Angel, it's important to get the undercoat out with a professional grooming three times a year."

Hered noted that one of those professional groomings should come in the spring so the dog's coat is thinned before hot weather sets in.

Angel

Considering that almost everyone who meets Angel falls in love with her beautiful smile, it's hard to understand why she's spent so much time at the Colorado Humane Society shelter.

She originally came in as a stray and was adopted, then returned by the owner because she was "overly protective of the yard," which probably means "she barks at people passing by." She's placid, gentle, loving, good with children and well leash- and house-trained.

She's probably at least 5 years old. The Colorado Humane Society calls her a Great Pyrenees mix, but Wag Shop owner Dave Hered, who owns a dog that could be Angel's twin, thinks it's more likely that she's a shepherd-spaniel mix. For more information about Angel, call 303-781- 9344 or go to the Colorado Humane Society Web site at .

Bailey

Bailey is an exuberant, affectionate 6-year-old cocker spaniel who's still really a puppy. And that might be his problem, says Susan Lummanick of Vintage Dog rescue, who has been caring for him since his owner surrendered him. The owner said he couldn't handle Bailey because he was remodeling his house, which probably means Bailey isn't perfectly housebroken. Bailey is most likely to have accidents when he gets excited. Fortunately, it doesn't happen all that often (only once during the day he was groomed).

"It seems no one who wants a 6-year-old dog wants one that acts like a puppy," said Lummanick. "And no one who wants a dog that acts like a puppy wants a 6-year-old dog."

For more information, call 720-320-2413 or go to the Web site for the All Breed Rescue Network, .

Scarlet

Scarlet was found whimpering by the side of the road before she was brought to the Max Fund shelter. Although she hadn't been spayed and was extremely unkempt, she had been fed, house-trained and leash-trained. She's loving and active and is probably no more than 2 years old. Everyone who sees her seems to think she's at least part poodle, but the rest of the mix is up for grabs. Cocker spaniel, bichon frise and cairn terrier are among the many suggestions.

Scarlet has been adopted, but the Max Fund has many other adorable pets. For more information, call 303-595-4917 or go to the Max Fund's Web site at .

Picking a groomer

Five steps to finding the perfect groomer for your dog:

1. Ask for recommendations from your veterinarian, fellow pet owners, animal shelters, rescue groups, breeders and pet-supply retailers.

2. Set up appointments to meet groomers who receive multiple recommendations.

3. Bring your dog along for each appointment. Get a feel for the groomer. Examine the work area for cleanliness and safe accommodations for your dog while it's waiting to be groomed. Ask the groomer to show you the tools of the trade and make sure they're designed specifically for canine use. Ask for a demonstration of how the dogs are restrained during grooming.

4. Ask about the groomer's background, training and professional credentials or associations. Discuss your dog's grooming needs and ask the groomer for references. Ask what the groomer expects from the dog and owner, including size or age specifications and vaccination records.

5. Talk to the top two candidates' references. Make a decision based on what you hear, what you see and what you otherwise sense about each candidate.

Brush up on grooming needs

Here's how some of Denver's popular breeds rank on a scale of 1 to 5 for grooming needs; breeds ranked 1 need the least grooming.

If your dog is a mix of breeds, groom according to the higher category.

1. Brush weekly to remove dead hair:

Beagle, Boston terrier, boxer, foxhound, German shorthair pointer, greyhound, smooth-coat dachshund, Rottweiler, Welsh corgi

2. Brush once or twice a week:

Basset hound, bulldog, Chihuahua, German shepherd, Labrador retriever, pug

3. Brush two or three times a week, with an occasional professional trim:

Bernese mountain dog, border collie, golden retriever, Irish setter, long-coat dachshund, Pomeranian, schnauzer, Newfoundland, Scottish terrier, Siberian husky, springer spaniel

4. Brush layer by layer and section by section down to the skin two to three times a week (daily when shedding); visit a pro every two to three months:

Afghan hound, Airedale, chow, cocker spaniel, English sheepdog, Lhasa apso, rough-coat collie, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire terrier

5. Brush and comb every other day, professional clipping and scissoring every two months:

Bichon frise, Maltese, Pekingese, poodle

or 303-954-2547