To Groom or Not to Groom

It's that time of the month again. No, I don't mean THAT. I am talking about Jelly's monthly grooming session which she is now due. If you own a miniature schnauzer, you would know that because of the fur's texture and length, he/she does require some form of grooming.

At a pet shop that I frequent, a RM70 package would include bathing, nails cutting, ears cleaning and shaving. Not just any old shave but the `classic schnauzer look' - bald at the top half and hairy at the bottom half.

Some people have commented that Jelly actually looks cuter with her unruly, messy curls than perky and neat after being shaven. I tend to agree to a certain extent. But the problem with having `long hair' is that dirty things tend to get stuck in her wiry fur and she always looks kinda yeah, dirty.

Then there's another problem which occurs everytime after shaving. Jelly would develop rashes on her skin. I have asked the pet shop people as well as the vet but they insisted that skin problem is very common among schnauzer.

However, I realised that everytime Jelly developed the skin rash - actually it is more than a rash, it is like little warts - it was always after she has been shaved.

Now it is about a month after she was last groomed and her skin is back to normal.. smooth and nice.

Yes, her nails have grown very long and when she jumps onto you in excitement, she inadvertantly leaves red and painful scratch marks on your skin!

Maybe I will send her just for cleaning ears and cutting nails.. After all, I am quite curious to see how a long and furry Jelly looks like.

Oh I have met a pair of schnauzers at obedient school and I could hardly identify them as schnauzers. Their owner had kept their fur unshaved ever since they were puppies. They actually look pretty cute though unconventional!

So, which is your pick? Jelly `before' or `after'?