Dog
 Grooming

Cat 
Grooming 

  
  Dog & Cat
  Supplies

Specialty
Foods &Treats

•Baths
•Brushing/Dematting
•Hair Cuts
•Fluff Drying

Hand Scissoring is the art of sculpting hair with scissors.  It is considered to be the most difficult aspect of pet grooming to master and perfect. 

Styling is an art which requires knowledge of breed profiles as well as an artistic eye to create balance, line and form.  Pets may be given a traditional style haircut which follows the breed profile (often with allowances made for such things as coat length that may be difficult to maintain) or a completely new pet style can be created which enhances the the positive attributes of the pet or reflects the owner’s personal taste or preference.  We can also create wonderful, unique styles for mixed breeds.

Fluff drying is a process where the pet is placed on the grooming table and dried with a hand held dryer.  The hair is brushed while it is drying.  In the case of most dogs having a scissored style (such as Poodles and Bichons) the coat is also straightened to allow for a more even cut and better finish.  Some pets may start the drying process in a cage with warm (not hot) air blowing on them.  Most pets are finished on the table being fluff dried to add body and style to the final look.        

Hand stripping and carding are very specialized skills which are performed on predominantly those dogs in the terrier group.  There are few groomers in Maine that are able to hand strip to the professional level offered here at Yankee Clipper.  Terriers that are going to be shown must be hand stripped to maintain the required harshness of the coat. We offer a modified stripping technique for pets that maintains good coat texture and skin health.  The process involves plucking the dead hair out of the coat leaving the harsher guard hairs.  As it is a time consuming process and is therefore a bit more costly, many pet owners opt for a clippered trim which closely approximates the traditional look.  The coat of a clippered terrier may be softer in texture.
Brushing and dematting is one of the most frequent services we provide and one of the most often misunderstood.  In order for us to properly groom a pet, the coat must be completely tangle free.  This involves being able to run a fine toothed comb from the skin out to the end of the hair shaft.  Many owners who “just brushed him last night” may actually only be brushing the top of the coat and missing dead hair and undercoat next to the skin.  All areas that have friction such as armpits, groin area, under tail, behind ears and around the collar area are prime spots for mats.  Because we often have to spend extra time to remove mats and dead hair we must charge for this time.  Our charge for extra brushing and dematting is $1 a minute.   We are skilled at this process and make every effort to make it as fast and as pain free as possible.  Sometimes a pet will come in that is, in our professional opinion, too matted to be brushed out.  Usually this is a pet that we feel would suffer unduly and our suggestion is to start over again by clipping the coat down short.   We have to go underneath the matting right down to the skin which will result in a smooth look.  It may not be the most attractive look for the pet, but it is the most humane choice.  In healthy pets, the coat will grow right back, and your pet can sport a fluffier trim for future grooms with proper coat maintenance.  More frequent appointments and/or more thorough brushing at home will prevent this from happening again.

 We use a botanical shampoo containing Neem to control fleas.  We have used this product made by Tropiclean http://www.tropiclean.net/ for many years and have found it to be effective.  It is safe to use on cats.  We NEVER use harsh old fashioned dips.   Sometimes a pet comes to our shop with a visible flea infestation and we need to use an immediate flea control product to protect the other pets in our care.  Our policy is that we will administer the product Capstar http://www.capstar.novartis.us/ in that case.   Capstar can be purchased over the counter from your veterinarian and does not require a prescription.  There is a charge of $5 for the pill. 

   We can use a variety of soothing medicated shampoos that contain products such as aloe vera or oatmeal.We are happy to bathe your pet in a medicated shampoo prescribed by your veterinarian.  Since most of these shampoos require several minutes soaking time there is a per minute charge of $1 while your pet sits warmly wrapped in a towel to prevent getting chilled. 
    

 Furminator treatments, also called Shedless treatments are a fabulous way to rid your pet’s coat of dead hair and undercoat. Click here for demo video http://www.furminator.com/  The process involves using a special tool (which we also sell to do-it-yourselfers) that works better than any brush, rake or comb we have ever used.  This process helps speed up that awful shedding season and can also be used for those year ‘round shedders.

Cats are a special category (no pun intended)
Our Certified Master Groomer, Daryl Conner, is known as The Cat Whisperer and has a special knack for dealing with our occasionally unpredictable feline customers.

 Cat Baths.  Yes, it can be done! This is sometimes tricky but Daryl seems to be able to calm the kitties and coax them into allowing this most un catlike procedure to be done without loss of life or limb, and only an occasional scratch!

Hair cuts. Yes, it can be done with skill and patience.
Many long haired cat owners love the easy
care of a shorter trim such as the Lion Cut or Kitten Cut.
Most cats seem to like it, too.

Fluff drying. Most cats spend a short time in a cage with the dryer blowing warm air on them and then are finished on the table with fluff drying.  Cats are carefully monitored throughout the drying process as they are more susceptible to stress than dogs.  Special care is taken with short nosed cats such as Persians to protect them from stress.
Cats are usually kept in the
quieter area of the shop
away from barking dogs
to help them remain more
relaxed.

Collars & Leads
   

Toys, beds, travel supplies, shampoos and grooming tools.