Muttley's

12/05/2022

As we head into the holiday season, Melissa and want to thank you for the wonderful 2022 and send you all the happiest of wishes for 2023!

• • • A personal note from Erin • • •

There will be some changes coming in the New Year. The end off 2022 will also bring the end of my 22 years of grooming. My last day will be January 5th. It was an extremely hard decision for me to come to, but, my body can no longer handle the physicality the job requires. Many assume we play with dogs all day, which I admit, would be grand, but it is far from the case.

It has been an absolute honor being a part of all your lives for the last 15 1/2 years. Many of you took a chance on a stranger with nothing but an idea, a few grooming tools and a whole lot of gumption. You not only stuck with me and spread the word, you helped me grow to the point which allowed me to bring my dearest friend Melissa into the picture. From there the rest is hard working, happy history.

Thank you doesn't cover the amount of gratitude or depth of emotion I have for each and every one of you and your wonderful furry family members, que the tears. You have been there throughout all the lives of my dogs, from my Rockie Girl, the O.G., for which Muttley's is named; to Tyke; to Louise; to Donald; to Fletcher and everyone's favorite, my sweet Hank. Together, we have lived through not only the bringing of new fur-kids into our family, but crying together when having to say goodbye to our beloveds. Not everyone understands the joy and pain of being a pet owner, but over the years, we've navigated those tides together.

Thank you for not only the never-ending patronage, but also the years of friendships we have cultivated and the unwavering kindness you have continued to show every day.

You will still see Melissa and I bebopping around town together, I'm not going anywhere and neither is our friendship. I love this community I call home with all my heart. Who knows, I may even make an appearance at Muttley’s with Melissa from time to time!

I am very proud of the small mark I have made for myself in this community, and am beyond grateful to you all for allowing me to be a small part of your world and the life of your dogs. Imprints I will carry around with me for a lifetime.

Warmly,

Erin

• • • Muttley's 2023 • • •

Melissa will continue on as Muttley's and groom the existing clientele she can handle by herself. For the safety and well-being of dogs who require two people to be groomed due to age, health or behavioral issues, unfortunately, they will have to look for a new set of groomers equipped to handle their specific needs.

There will be a 10% price increase across the board to cover rising supply and utility costs.

When dropping off your pets, please wait in your vehicle or in the driveway. Melissa will greet you out the basement door. For your safety, PLEASE DO NOT climb the stairs and come up to the house. Muttley's opens at 8 a.m. She will continue to call or text when your pet is done. Please pick them up in a timely manner.

Scheduling for 2023 has begun. PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] to be added to the list. If your dog requires special services with another groomer, we will let you know.

We very much appreciate your patience during the next month of transitions.

Thank you,

Erin and Melissa

The Muttley Crew

03/07/2022

Muttley's will be ••• CLOSED •••
March 7th - March 11th

Please EMAIL us at [email protected]
if you need to schedule an appointment or have any questions and we will get back to you as soon as we can when we are back in the shop, March 14th.

Thank you,
The Muttley Crew 💙

12/27/2021

Due to the weather and upcoming road closures, Muttley's will be • • • CLOSED • • •
Monday, December 27th
Tuesday, December 28th

We will also be • • • CLOSED • • •
New Years Eve
Friday, December 29th

Stay warm and safe,
💙 The Muttley Crew 💙

12/22/2021

Muttley's Holiday Hours:

••• CLOSED •••
🎄Thursday, December 23rd
🎅 Friday, December 24th
☃️ Friday, December 31st

💙 May love and happiness surround you all 💙

Feliz Naughty Dog, Happy Houndukkah and Furry Christmas from The Muttley Crew!

11/23/2021

Muttley's will be
• CLOSED •
Wednesday, November 24th
Thursday, November 25th
Friday, November 26th

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Muttley Crew

11/05/2021

This is Lilly.
🧡
Lilly enjoys her time outdoors.
🧡
During hunting season, Lilly wears blaze orange.
🧡
Lilly wants her friends to wear orange and be safe.
🧡
Be more like Lilly.
🧡

10/05/2021

Happy October!

With the new year approaching in the next few months, we are setting up grooming schedules for 2022. If you would like us to get your dog(s) set up, please EMAIL us:

· How many weeks in between groomings.

· Days of the week that work best with your schedule.

· Time of the day that works best, a.m., p.m. or either.

Email: muttleysdl .com

We will do our best to accommodate your schedule.

Please keep in mind, it is just the two of us doing the work and running the business. We do the very best we can to accommodate your schedules on a daily basis. We will continue to TEXT you when your dog(s) are done with their grooming, but not every day is the same and not every dog is the same.

Some days we are able to get your dog(s) done “early” and sometimes it takes a bit longer, depending upon the dogs scheduled that day. We like to get them home to you as soon as possible, but when we have elderly dogs, dogs with physical disabilities, puppies or dogs that don’t get properly maintained at home, we can run behind. We try to schedule our days accordingly, but sometimes our Magic 8 Ball isn’t always right.

Elderly dogs and those with physical disabilities need to have extra time taken with them. A lot of times elderly dogs have lost their hearing, eyesight or both and/or have dementia. It can be a very scary and anxious experience for them. We as groomers have to take our time as to not enhance those feelings of anxiety so they don’t go into an elevated panicked state and bring on something such as a seizure, stroke or heart attack. They are also very wobbly and tend to be very active on the table and it takes two of us not only to complete their grooming, but keep them calm and safe on the table. The same goes for dogs with physical disabilities. It takes us both to groom the one dog, helping to keep them calm and in one spot so they don’t accidentally get knicked with the clipper and have to go to the vet for stitches and antibiotics or fall of the table.

Puppies require grooming training. Not only learning the routine of grooming from start to finish, but we like to make it a positive, fun experience so they like coming back and know that grooming isn’t a punishment to be frightened of.

Your dogs health and safety is our number one priority when they are with us.

We greatly appreciate your patience and continued patronage.

💙 Your Muttley Crew 💙

08/27/2021

What a day! Not only are we celebrating 14 years in business today, but because of YOU, we were voted the award for Best of the Lakes Area 2021 Best Groomers, fourth year in a row!

We are humbled and beyond grateful for each and every one of you, your continued patronage and letting us be a part of your life and the lives of your dogs, both present and those no longer with us, but still very much in our hearts.

💙 THANK YOU! 💙

Your Muttley Crew,
Erin & The Dude,
Mel, Lily, Filbert & Tiny Kitty
and Oliver & Reggie

In Memory of our kids no longer with us, but who were patiently by our side from day one
❤
Rockie a.k.a. Muttley (2008), Louise (2009), Donald (2011), Tyke (2013), Stewart (2015), Fletcher (2016), Hank (2019), Elwood (2020)
❤

07/02/2021

Muttley's will be CLOSED Monday, July 5th. We will be back in the shop bright and early Tuesday, July 6th.

A friendly reminder to provide a safe and calm environment for those furkids who are afraid of fireworks. Dedicate a room in the house with a crate, plenty of blankets, water, soft lighting and calming music playing to help drown out the loud booms. Plenty of reassuring hugs is definitely a must! It's a good idea to make sure they are wearing their collars and i.d. tags in case they get scared and bolt off.

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend from your Muttley Crew! 💙

05/24/2021

I have a short coated dog so they don’t need grooming. Or I can bathe my dog in the lake, that’s OK right?

As a Matter of Fact…

The word “grooming” means different things to different people. To some, grooming means the dog will get fluffed, puffed and trimmed (which is sometimes the case). To a groomer, grooming is the process of taking any dog from a disheveled or stinky mess, cleaning the coat and skin, blowing out and brushing the coat to remove any excess hair, trimming the nails, making sure their ears are clean and free of debris and, if required, giving them a haircut. During the process, we also look for any skin/heath issues hiding underneath all that coat.

There are people who want to groom their dog at home but don’t want to make a mess in the bathroom, or maybe can’t get/keep their dog in the tub, so they feel giving their dog a bath in the lake will yield the same result as a bathing using water from the faucet. There are a few things about this misconception we would like to clear up.

First, there are chemicals in shampoos that we should not be allowing to float off into a natural eco system, the lake life does not want to be breathing in our pets shampoo run off. Second, lakes have naturally occurring algae that, if left on your pets skin, can cause them some issues like flaky itchy skin and even a topical bacterial infection. Because the algae is an organic material, it will stay in your dogs coat and pretty much decompose causing more of a stink than the bath was supposed to fix in the first place! So to sum it up, this is never a recommended method.

How often can I bathe my dog at home? You can safely bathe your dog once a week at home, (unless directed differently by your vet) just be sure to use a conditioner after shampooing to replace the natural oils you have stripped out of the coat. No one likes dry, itchy skin or an avoidable trip to the vet.

We also hear people say they are happy it is warm out so they can bathe their dog in the yard, or kiddie pool with the hose. This is fine to do since the water comes from the faucet and is clean, however, the hose MUST be hooked up to a water source where the temperature can be controlled. To blast your dog with the typically very cold water that comes from the hose spigot is pretty harsh. The water we use to bathe our dogs should be luke warm. Anything too warm or too cold can make for a very unpleasant experience for your dog causing them to act out or cause unwanted skin issues, which means a trip to the vet. If you have a laundry wash tub you can usually attach a hose to the faucet and run the hose to the preferred “bathing zone”, (which is usually best done on a paved surface, or in a kiddie pool so as not to create a mud pit).
*Just a note: If you are bathing your dog outside following the above methods, it is best to use a shampoo and conditioner with the most natural/organic “recipe” you can find. If the run off from your dog is going to be seeping into the ground, we should try and do the best we can for the environment, right?

That being said, we are providing a list of the shampoos and conditioners that we use in our grooming business. As well as some suggested products to try at home, and where to find them. Keep in mind, most shampoos and conditioners are concentrated formulas and need to be diluted. Most of the products we use are diluted 16:1. 16 parts water to 1 part product. This not only saves on product, but also rinses out of the coat much easier, preventing skin irritation and dandruff. Always read the product label for dilution instructions and avoid using human products on dogs due to us having a different ph balance than our canine companions.

Tried and true products that we use everyday at Muttley’s:

- Chubbs Bars: These are an organic all natural product, they are hypo-allergenic, and Vegan. They work for all coat types. They are great for both dogs and cats, and they come in a ton of great scents. We have tried and continue to use these bars at Muttley’s on many different types of dogs, and we have been very pleased. Since these come in bar form, no dilution is necessary. These are not tearless!
*More information on Chubbs Bars: https://chubbsbars.com/why-use-chubbs-pet-shampoo/
*Where to order your own Chubbs Bars to try: https://chubbsbars.com/

- Green Groom - Odor Eliminator: This is a very concentrated shampoo specifically formulated to break down and eliminate tough odors on your pet. This comes in a concentrated formula and will need to be diluted. This product works very well for the extra thick doggy funk. Can be used for both single and double coats. Dilution 32:1. Pleasant, not overpowering fresh fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

- Coat Handler Clarifying Shampoo: This is a very concentrated shampoo formulated for the everyday coat. Great for frequent bathing and brightening the coat. Can be used for both single and double coats. Dilution 16:1. Fresh, Awapuhi fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

- Coat Handler Conditioner: This is a very concentrated conditioner that can be used after any brand of shampoo and on any coat type. Dilution 16:1. Light almond fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

- Best Shot Ultra Wash Shampoo: This is a very concentrated shampoo specifically formulated for double coated dogs. It is meant to assist the shedding coat to release. Dilution 16:1. Aloe and mint fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

- Best Shot Ultra Plenish Conditioner: This is a very concentrated conditioner specifically formulated for double coated dogs. It is meant to assist the shedding coat to release. Dilution 16:1. Aloe and mint fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

- Bark2Basics Sensi Skin Shampoo: This concentrated shampoo is specifically formulated for dogs with sensitive skin, or allergy prone dogs. (Also, we use it on everyones heads and faces) It has no colors or scent. It is 100% biodegradable and tearless. Dilution 16:1. Zero fragrance.
*Where to order: www.groomerschoice.com

If you have questions about any of the products or our grooming process, we are here to guide our friends in the right direction, and make home grooming as easy and painless as possible for all parties involved. Feel free to contact us anytime!
And remember, if you can get your dog out of the lake, at Muttley’s we’ll get the lake out of your dog!

The Muttley Crew 💙

05/03/2021

03/29/2021

Happy Spring!

We have decided to start a series called Muttley's As a Matter of Fact... where we will be addressing frequently asked grooming questions. We want to hear from you. Please let us know if there are any issues or queries you are interested in learning more about.

Question:
I want my double-coated dog shaved down, will you do that?
As a Matter of Fact...

With warm weather on the way, we often get asked about shaving down double-coated dogs. We frequently hear, “They shed too much”, “I’m worried they will get too hot”, “They are always wet and stinky from being in the lake”. You name it, we have heard it. We feel it is our responsibility, and the responsibility of any reputable groomer, to explain and educate why it is not recommended to shave your double-coated dog.

What is a double- coated dog?
A double-coated dog has two layers of fur, a protective topcoat and an insulating undercoat. These two coats grow independently of one another and to different lengths. The soft, wooly undercoat is dull, the individual hair strands are finer, it’s shorter and grows much faster. The topcoat is shinier, thicker individual hair strands, it’s longer and grows much more slowly. Examples of double-coated dogs: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Newfoundland, Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Malamute, Husky, German Shepherd, Pug, Cavalier King Charles, Pomeranian, Pekingese, Australian Shepherd, to name a few.

How does a double-coat work?
In its unaltered state, the double-coat works to protect the body from the elements when a dog is working. When properly maintained, it is an insulator to keep the body warm against the cold, it also works as an air conditioner to keep the dog from overheating in warmer weather. The outer layer or “guard hairs” allow cool air to circulate near the dog’s skin after it sheds its cold season undercoat. Many double-coated dogs have pale pink skin and are therefore more susceptible to sunburn. These guard hairs reflect the sun’s rays, protecting the skin from sun exposure.

What happens when you shave a double-coated dog?
Shaving prevents cool air from getting to the skin because the undercoat is still present. And a shaved coat doesn’t protect against the sun either, which exposes your dog to greater risks of overheating, sunburn and even skin cancer. Single-coated dogs, dogs with fine hair, such as Shih Tzus, Bichons, Maltese, Yorkies etc. can be repeatedly shaved down because the shaving process does not change the texture of their hair. The hair will just keep growing and growing whereas a double-coated dog’s fur will grow to a certain length and stop. The texture of a double-coated dog will change once you shave it down and often feels and looks dull, burnt and broken. Things like burrs and twigs will stick to them like velcro. In some cases, and after repeated shaving, the coat will not grow back at all, or will grow back patchy and sparse. In others, the coat grows back thicker, with more shedding and this does not allow the coat to work properly. The shaving process can also put your dog at risk for things like uncomfortable matting due to the change in coat texture, skin irritations like hot spots, or bacterial infections. *Please note that you should never bathe a matted dog as bathing causes the mats to tighten up like wool, making your dog even more uncomfortable.

What is the best way to take care of a double coat?
To remove loose and dead fur from your dog’s double-coat, use a slicker brush, wide-toothed metal comb and if possible, a professional pet blow dryer. (we can recommend brands and where to find these if anyone is interested) After playing or taking your dog for a walk, sit on the floor or couch and brush them. If your dog is sensitive for brushing, break it up over the course of the week. One day work on the back legs, another day work on the body, the next, head and ears. Some spots tend to be thicker, (neck and butt) and may need a few extra minutes of work. This will not only prevent them from matting, it will also strengthen the bond you have with your dog. Regular grooming appointments at your groomer will also be beneficial. When the dog is bathed, they are given two baths, the first one to loosen up the dirt and oils, the second to clarify and clean followed by a conditioning treatment to help release the shedding coat. The bathing process also helps to open up the hair follicles so when the dog is blow-dried, the fur that is shedding out will release more easily and be less painful for the dog.

When deciding to bring in a new four-legged companion into your home, make sure to research what is involved in all aspects of the breed (grooming needs, activity level, training needs and what sensitivities/health issues the breed may be prone to) from a variety of people, veterinarians, groomers and trainers, not just the breeder or shelter.

We are here to help with any questions you may have and are committed to do what is best for your pet, educate our clients, and contribute to the positive relationship between you and your dog. Feel free to call, email or Facebook message us any time!

Your Muttley Crew
218-844-7297
[email protected]

03/28/2021

03/03/2021

The sun is shining, the smell of skunk is once again in the air and the fleas and ticks have officially arrived!

Now is the time to get our furry family members protected from those pesky buggers. Consult your veterinarian to discuss what is the best option for your pet.

Happy Spring!

💙 The Muttley Crew

02/12/2021

Hello Muttley's Crew!

We have a retired friend who is looking to adopt a smaller dog. Preferably under 20 lbs., potty trained and non-shedding (Shih Tzu, Bichon, Poodle, etc.).

If you know of anyone looking to rehome a dog that fits this description or see any up for adoption, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you!

💙 Erin & Mel

[email protected]

02/10/2021

With Covid still ever present and being in the heart of winter, for your safety and the safety of your pet, we kindly ask our clients to remain in your vehicles when dropping off or picking up your pets for their grooming appointments. We will come to your vehicle and assist you as soon as we can.

Please give us a minute or two to bundle up and get to your car. If you don't see us coming, feel free to call. (Sometimes we are blow drying and it is pretty loud.)

💙 Thank you for your patience! 💙

The Muttley Crew