A close shave......

Despite the fact that we've been rather preoccupied with the disruption of all the work going on outside, yesterday's status as a red letter day shouldn't go unremarked.

I refer, of course, to Small Dog's inaugural trip to the dog groomer for her first ever 'professional' haircut!

We've always trimmed her ourselves, with varying degrees of success.  During her standard 10 minute goodwill period, PP can usually do her face and head but thereafter all bets are off and it's every woman and dog for themselves.

It's not unknown for a Small Dog haircut to take several days, in stages, during which she refuses to be seen outdoors for fear that some wag might say,

"What eedjit's been cutting your dog's hair....?" 

We've been contemplating having her professionally clipped for some time now, but we were sure that she would hate it, and we would hate it, and she would hate us, and we would hate the groomer, and so it goes.

However, following a recommendation from our vet, we decided to give it a go.  So when, after speaking to the groomer by telephone, and describing Small Dog's many foibles, she was undaunted, we decided to give it a go.

Of course, as we didn't actually witness proceedings, we have no idea if her reported exemplary behaviour was accurate.   Certainly, when we returned to pick her up she was newly trimmed and clipped, toenails cut, ears plucked, anal glands expressed (Ewwwww!), freshly washed and blow dried.

All in the space of just 60 minutes!

To say we were shocked and amazed is a massive understatement.

I suspect Small Dog felt much the same.  Anyway, here's photographic evidence of the transformation.......

Before

After

It feels as though we have a new dog........