No kidding. I appreciated how well Vanessa was at taking it slowly with the last videos. One was terrified, and fully in defence-mode. And, with this one. A Neuphie is extremely prone to Joint Dysplasia.
@@ColRusSer I don't think they were attempting to correct OP, I think they were describing the owners. Which, I think, would be a correct usage of the word; they most certainly are committed to their furbaby's good condition.
The fact that Vanessa gave a very _clear_ and reasonable explanation as to why some groomers will refuse senior and bigger dogs and some people were STILL dissing on her is just sad. Like, do they realize that your physical strength weakens as you get older, especially in a job like this, or do they just expect a pet groomer to screw over their own health constantly?? The mental hoops these people jump through is mind boggling.
Agreed! We need to remove child labour laws so we can have healthy young bodies to squeeze into tight spaces and raise like cattle into these heavy labour jobs. The weak and the elderly who can’t keep up with the other slaves will be crushed to death under the bricks and provide additional structural material for the construction of our mighty pyramids. Long live the Pharaoh!
@@AdirondackHomestead its not childish if they specify the type of work that they cant do beforehand. if you dont like it just dont use their services. dont start a riot if a person is not willing to injure themselves for your convinience. and it's not correct to compare grooming to garbage collecting or house building. besides i've encountered similar problems with contractor during house construction (he couldn't do some heavy lifting himself due to health condition). totally understandable, he just had to hire helpers and we renegotiated the final price.
CNA's (Certified Nursing Assistant's) have to turn over much heavier weight than this in nursing homes and clean the waste of others and get paid absolute peanuts. My mom was a CNA for many years and is a nurse now, but still sometimes has to turn over people, especially obese people. You don't know heavy until you've tried to roll over the dead weight of another human. She has so much back pain now. She loves taking care of people but the human body can only handle so much. And no, she doesn't have help a lot of days. Given that CNA's who mostly do the job are onlybpaid somewhere between $9 to $15 an hour (I make much more than that sitting at home or in an office and taking phone calls), there's always been a shortage of workers. And even with help, it's still very physically demanding. My mom doesn't have the luxury of just refusing to help someone, but I'm happy dog groomers with their own businesses can. The back and shoulder pain is no joke and I'm now really concerned for my mom's mobility when she reaches old age. She'll already be 51 this year.
Poor old girl is such a sweetheart. Newfies are so gentle and loveable. You do such great work Vanessa, and the amount of physicality this one required was impressive.
@Bebtelovimab I could tell she knew what she was talking about. I have had a Neuphie-Cross, in the past, and was worried about Joint Issues right when we adopted him. Everything she said would have applied to Niles.
I do really appreciate that whenever a client comes in who had issues with a different groomer, you always address their issue with empathy and understanding towards everyone involved, including that other groomer.
As a disabled woman I find her to be genuinely amazing! She tried so hard so hard to be a good girl. I can relate to not being able to stand long. Great job Vanessa!
same! she was such a good girl and it was heartwarming to see vanessa be so accommodating (which is expected because she's excellent at her job). still, it's way easier to be a good girl when you can't stand up long when someone's letting you sit down when you gotta!
Our old local veterinarian, Valerie, started off as a large animal vet back in the day, treating all sorts of farm animals. This petite (5'7", 125 lbs soaking wet) Polish lady regularly got stepped on by horses, kicked by cows, wrestled with sheep and goats, not to mention the demanding, routine stuff.(like helping a cow deliver) Eventually, the physical punishment took a severe toll, and she switched to "small" animals. She always used to joke when people would bring in their Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernards, Newfies and even an Irish Wolfhound. "Wait, I got into small animal work so I *wouldn't* have to work on horses anymore!"
On the side petite she was tall & slim though but petite belongs to females like myself who are 5'2 & below even 5'3 can fit with petite but anyone 5'5 & above are reaching the tall gap for females just saying😊
@@mercedesvelasquez8781 my apologies, by petite, I had meant slightly built. She was always on the very thin side, but then, I only met her after she stopped doing large animal work. (Growing up, we did most of our own work on animals, vets were for dire emergencies. I used to be able to get just about anything from the local feed store, rabies inoculations, vaccines, antibiotics, medicine of all kinds. That was nearly 30 years ago.)
@@mercedesvelasquez8781i am same height and weight as the groomer mentioned or even lighter in weight. I am called petite. Petite is not only for smaller height but also for smaller body build and body weight 😂
@@mercedesvelasquez8781 As if there was a set in stone rule at what height youre "petite". Wouldnt even answer someone who said that. Also: 5'5 is by no means tall, its barely average. Google it.
When I was a kid, my mom used to take our cat to a farm vet, though we lived in the city. He had a particularly soft spot for cats, and though it wasn’t unusual for him to have a horse or two staying at the clinic, there were the local cats in his reception area waiting for exams or shots. I’m sure when he retired from farm animal care, there were plenty of kitties still coming to him. He was a really nice vet.
Belle behaved very well. No grumpy old lady stuff from her at all. She looked so beautiful when you were done. Thank you for the patience you show with the older dogs!❤
Senior Newfs just get more tolerant of everything, in my experience. The Newf we had when I was in high school did NOT want to be picked up, but he let me carry him up and down the stairs for the last few months before he passed.
Just a little post in case people don’t know any deaf people. They may not be bothered by outside sounds like the blow dryer, but many have constant buzzing, knocking, and high pitched ringing in their heads from nerves firing. Sympathy and kudos to all deaf people and dogs!
I imagine it’s similar, my mom used to work as a nurse in the ICU, eventually her back gave out lifting a patient and she had to change her job to one where she wasn’t lifting as much. To suggest that all groomers should be able to lift large dogs is ableist. It’s already an extremely physically taxing profession. Being able to do what you can and not going beyond your boundaries is important in any job.
Thank you for your comment. I, too, am an old ICU nurse. At the age of 66 I shifted to school nursing as I no longer have to lift, tug, push, etc. Nursing is manual labor to say the least. People have no earthly idea what we do in a 12-hour shift.
I am also in healthcare and had to step away at age 66 to prevent injury. I have a rescued pit mix that pulls a lot when walking. He is still learning. The walking 3 or more miles a day definitely helps me physically as well as mentally. I think all the bending a groomer does may be harder.
I kept wondering if there are such things as hydraulic grooming tables that would do the lifting for the dog, so the groomer doesn't have to strain to pick the dog up.
I fostered a deaf cat and yes, I talked to her all the time. And yes, she was very talkative since she couldn't hear herself and when she could see me talking she even answered (since she knew the mimics and facial expression and all from the time she could hear). 💜
My cat is 23 and a half (*and at that age the half matters!) and she went deaf because of her advanced years. We talk to her all the time because she may *feel* speech, and because of the way our faces show micro expressions as we speak as well as how we modify our personal energy. I know my face and demeanour is different when I am being affectionate, or when I am praising her for playing with her feather. And yes, she is super chatty and often makes a racket - if she wants something she won't stop yelling till she gets it!
@@valksyvalksington6155I had a boy who was 22 and grew deaf and had some cataracts at that age. We still talked to him like we always did because he was still our baby and nothing had changed.
You’re a saint helping the elderly pets. My last Newf was 14 1/2 when he passed, and I stopped having him professionally groomed around 12 to prevent injured to the groomer or him.
@@herpderp3916 I’ve been very fortunate with my large breeds but had a few heart breaks too. I lost a Berner at 13 and a Great Pyr at 15. I’ve also lost them young, a different Berner at 3 and a Leonberger at 4.
@@stevenhoeltzel500 That's so sad... I am a cat lady (that loves dog and needs to make friends with every dog around :) I'd love to have a dog again but with my job it would not be fair to have a pooch...) but I know the pain and heartbreak when our furbabies pass away way before their time!
Vanessa, this was a heart breaker. What a sweet dispositioned dog to be suffering with problems of aging and arthritis. Even though she's deaf; I can't help but believe she understands your love and patience by the loving way you look at her and handle her. You didn't give up and gave her as much care as possible for her groom. It's easy to see how your love and spirit for animals has elevated you to over 2.2 million followers in the community. Way to go Girlie!
I still talk to my (now)deaf dog ❤️ I started implementing simple sign language about two years ago, combined with speak. I believe that even if he can't hear me anymore, dogs still have so many other senses to pick up on their environment - maybe he can feel the vibrations my voice makes if he's close enough? Maybe he can tell I'm talking to him by feeling the smell of my breath and seeing my lips move and my eyes focus on him? I've spoken to him a lot the first fourteen years of his life, so to continue just feels like the right thing to do ❤️ Even if he, now, has no clue what I'm saying (unless paired with a sign), I believe that loving chit-chat is still what he has gotten used to form me ☺️
I love that time and time again you’ve taken on dogs that other groomers can’t, but caringly explain WHY other groomers are likely to step aside and why you do take them on or are able to. Hugely respectful and supportive to the grooming industry. Just great.
Fantastic work Vanessa. Our nearly 15 year old Border Collie Benjamin is groomed with him lying down the whole time now. His groomers Karen and Martyn love having him in. And like you we say ‘as long as he’s clean and dry, who cares if his groom isn’t perfect’. Here’s to all senior puppers.
I had a standard poodle and we groomed him for his comfort not for show or anything i.e puppy cut or short puppy cut during summer most of his life. When he started getting older we stopped doing everything in one session so he could have breaks, and for his last bath and cut he got a towel bath while laying down and we trimmed him on the floor so he could lay down most of the time. I hope he was as comfy as possible. Looks don't matter.
Considering how tiring the process must have been for her, the old lady was incredibly tolerant and well behaved. Not even a whine, just quiet. I am sure that she must have enjoyed the feeling of being clean.
She was ABSOLUTELY LOVING that blow dryer.... Even closed her eyes to fully enjoy it and shes deaf so she cant hear the loud noise from it just enjoying the warm air! 💜💜💜💜🥰
Thank you for taking her on! As the owner of an aging Newfoundland, I am incredibly thankful for my groomers. They ending up doing the groom in two sessions, to give my dog and themselves a break. I am so lucky to have them!
Why not just do it yourself at home? I had a Newfoundland for 11 years and did all his baths, combing, trims myself. Newfoundlands also should be bathed very often as it strips their waterproof coat.
@@ferretociousI don’t have a shower big enough for my dude, nor do I have a high velocity dryer to pull out all the loose hair. I only take him to get groomed about twice a year, usually after the summer because he spends a lot of time in the river.
I love that the owners appreciate the effort you put into carrying for their precious member, and took the chance to let you know she was doing well after. They didn't have to, but it's clear they respect you enough to know you want to know all is well.
I went through the same thing with my job. I tried to tell them that I couldn't work the way I used to but they never listened take care of you. No one else will.
I love how honest and informative you are about pets, their owners or other groomers. It's easy to pass judgement from the outside, especially when someone doesn't understand the challenges owners and groomers face with animals that are difficult to work with due to age, ailments, behavioral issues, coat types or breeds. You are kind hearted and fair and always do your best under any circumstance. You know when a pet has had enough and when you've had enough. I've got so much respect for you!
I bet she felt so much better after her groom. You did a great job she is beautiful. I hope the owners come back to you, if you'd take Belle as a client again.
When we went from a 30 lb Eskie to a Great Pyrenees, we had to find a new groomer. We loved our old one, but she said she just couldn’t do large breeds anymore. We hated it, but totally understood. You have to take care of your health.
Thank you for opening people’s eyes to the strains that groomers have to deal with . Y’all should be paid much more for the risks y’all take on. Thanks to you, people are being educated about this. And thank you for giving your services to these dogs in need. The world needs more people like you.
These are some really grinchy feet. Glad you made her feel better and look great! She looks so beautiful and clean. Thank you for taking care of senior dogs!
I have two Newfoundland dogs and have had groomers refuse to groom them because of their size, at first I was upset but I completely understand. When I bath them at home and brush them my back hurts for days! It’s very hard to find another groomer that understands how to groom a newf where I live. Love your videos!! ☺️
Thank you for giving us perspective on what groomers deal with. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid but now see how much care they need and how important grooming can be. Belle looks like a sweet dog!
Most can tell Vanessa is in this profession because she has a passion for it and she truly loves dogs. It comes through on each and every vid I have watched. As a dog owner my whole life, it's obvious to me (and perhaps the other 2.25 MILLION subscribers), your caring goes beyond what is obligatorily portrayed on camera. God bless you and your K9 clients.
I had a friend with two old English Sheep dogs. One was deaf and her sister was blind. My friend taught the deaf dog sign language for commands then her blind sister learned from her. These girls have crossed the rainbow bridge but were much loved by their family and friends.
I am always learning new things from your channel. I don't even have animals that require grooming, and don't plan on becoming a groomer. But I do enjoy learning about both people and animals, so I appreciate this channel a lot. Thank you Vanessa.
Great narration!! Thank you for educating the public. Personally, I have ALWAYS taken responsibility for grooming my own pets. I bet she felt SO much better once you got 'er done!
@stardust949 I also groom my large breed dogs one is a Chocolate & Apricot Standard poodle named Molly Mae and the other is a extremely large house hippo black lab I rescued from an abuse situation. We also just adopted a beagle puppy we named Poppy. She was actually supposed to be a animal testing dog. She's much happier here with us
I did until my mid-sixties when I’d had numerous injuries and surgeries and arthritis and Fibromyalgia, blah, blah, and my elder Golden who was that size and couldn’t stand took2-3 days to groom at home including cleaning the bathroom and washing the towels and blankets after. Then she and I both were laid up for several days afterwards recovering. I found a lovely groomer two minutes away who loved my dog, charged less than $90, so I could tip well, and my dog loved going to see her. Everyone was far happier. She even groomed her just a week before our dog died being in worse shape than this one was (and I offered to cancel the appointment). I always did my best to make sure that my dog was brushed really well and never had tangles, mats, or tons of extra fur and often had done most of the trimming too. Some of us have aged with our dogs and regrettably need help so we don’t hurt ourselves or the dog.
I agree. Unless it’s a show dog, every owner can and should learn how to groom their dog. It’s not that hard. And when you do it yourself, you can do it by stages and have breaks for yourself and your dog. It also makes you more aware if there are any skin problems, so you can address them sooner. Of course, if for any reason your are physically unable to do it, then seek help. But most owners just don’t believe that they are able to do it, and they are mistaken.
Thank you for having the patience, stamina, and professionalism to care so wonderfully for an elder dog! She looks beautiful and I'm sure that the owners were so grateful. :)
I’m fighting tears. My last newf was a landseer and such a good boy. The closeups of the freckles on Belle’s legs were so familiar and endearing. I’ve had two newfs, and I maintain that one has not known love until one has known a newf 💚
I watch these videos for several reason. Of course the first reason is the satisfaction of seeing the transformation, but I also like seeing how good Vanessa is with all of the animals that she grooms. On top those, I find her to be very educational about breeds, temperaments, challenges & methods of grooming. What I love most is that she doesn't bash people. She gives grace to all, always explaining why something may have happened.
Wow, what a difference. She’s a beautiful dog and you are so kind to take her. I also respect you immensely for not criticizing the groomer who wouldn’t take her. That shows a lot of class on your part.
Not only are you a fantastic groomer, but you seem like such a good person, as well. It was very kind and informative of you to give reasons as to why a groomer may refuse to groom certain dogs. Belle is so beautiful and I love how you always work within the limits of the particular dog. I am a nurse, and can say for certain that it's so important to protect your back to be able to continue doing your job.
I used be a nurse . I swam, used weights and stayed fit and strong and was still injured at work (and sacked for it). It's the ignorant who don't understand and can't be bothered learning who are making negative statements about how to do a job they know nothing about. Static weights are one thing, dynamic weights with a mind of their own ie living creatures, are an entirely different matter. you can do everything right and still be injured because the weight you're shifting doesn't or can't co-operate. Ask and nurse or vet.
@@mariaobrien1747 Yeah a lot of these comments tell me they don't actually know anyone working a physically demanding job. I'm a neonatal nurse and even though I don't lift heavy patients, just being on my feet a lot and moving equipment can be hard on my body. Mad respect to all the adult nurses out there.
@@LulaMae21 You're so right. No matter your size, strength or fitness, years of hard physical work will take its toll - aided and abetted by the toll from shiftwork alone! I wish you a long and healthy working life
Vanesssa, I love the way you advocate for dogs, cats and perhaps more importantly, for groomers. You explain and teach in such a way that I don’t think anyone can walk away from your videos without a new appreciation for groomers and the companions they care for. Thank you.
My black lab got hit by a car disabling her, whenever we went anywhere I always had to support her back end. For six years I carried her near 100 pound butt in and out of the car and in and out of the house. I never regretted a day of it until the day she died I helped her everywhere.
What an incredible human being you are. Your gentleness and perseverance in helping that gentle canine giant was amazing. She looked stunning after her groom ❤❤❤👋👋👵🏴
This was so satisfying! Belle is such a sweet dog and the transformation is magical. Explaining why a groomer might not want to take on an older dog helps us understand and not judge. Its also nice to see that her owners are so caring. Thanks for sharing!😊
She's such a sweet old lady and I love her so much. She looks like she gives amazing cuddles. I hope Belle has many more golden years with tons of treats and love ❤️
Whenever I've seen Newfoundlands and other really heavy breeds on your videos, I feel kinda bad for them because they seem to really struggle with the size of their bodies. It was neat to see how slim Bella was under all that hair when she was wet! Based on the mountain of hair you removed, she was just extra fluffy! What a sweet old girl.
What a beautiful old girl. Not only deaf but her eyes look like she's losing vision. It's very difficult for her but also it sounds like she had the best support and management from you as you groomed her, watching out for all the tiny signs of an old old girl who probably would rather snooze. She absolutely Magnificent in her before and after ❤
Glad they found you! You were both troopers getting through that. What a pretty girl. I bet she slept well for a few days after this, and then woke up feeling fresh. 😊
Awe! I have an 18 yr old Belle myself! Isabelle a muted Tortie cat. She also has severe mobility issues. We go for acupuncture once a week and later that day she’s a whole new cat but she pays for it the next day. You did great with this sweet Giant Fluffy Belle!
Aww, Beautiful Belle. She deserves all the love, attention and care you extend to all your clients. You consistently demonstrate your in-depth knowledge and innate empathy for these animals which bring me to tears sometimes-and this is one of them.
This is such good information to have. I adore large breeds, especially Newfies! But I’ve never thought about the mobility challenges they’d face in their old age, and how I’d have to literally do the heavy lifting to get them around. Thank you so much for enlightening me!
Great job! As a fellow groomer, I love your videos because you do everything the way I would (compassionately, professionally, and safely, and with realistic expectations of the outcome for the more challenging grooms). I loved seeing how much the pup loved the blowout - she definitely felt so much better!
She really enjoyed blowdrying, did she not? thank you very much for letting us know about grooming senior pets! Senior pets need extra care, especially bigger breeds and you nailed the whys in this case perfectly!
Beautiful old girl. ❤ It's so nice when a groomer either tells the truth that they don't feel comfortable grooming a senior dog due to pain and injury risks, or when they have enough time to be patient and give lots of breaks, and work WITH the senior dog's limits. Either method is great, because it's based on what is good for the dog.
Its so beautiful how you try to give these old dogs some dignity. And the cats too, when they physically cant groom themselves, it lowers their self esteem bc they arent choosing to be stinky and matted. Thank you for what you do to help these animals out in their old age.
Given the fact that Vanessa didn't need to shave out any mats, these owners should be commended for taking such good care of their furbaby.
commited
@@alixdunn9662nope; commended. If you’re going to correct others, do so with knowledge. Please look at your dictionary.
@@ColRusSer That, and, how quiet the dog was. Obviously, well trained and cared for.
No kidding. I appreciated how well Vanessa was at taking it slowly with the last videos. One was terrified, and fully in defence-mode. And, with this one. A Neuphie is extremely prone to Joint Dysplasia.
@@ColRusSer I don't think they were attempting to correct OP, I think they were describing the owners. Which, I think, would be a correct usage of the word; they most certainly are committed to their furbaby's good condition.
The fact that Vanessa gave a very _clear_ and reasonable explanation as to why some groomers will refuse senior and bigger dogs and some people were STILL dissing on her is just sad. Like, do they realize that your physical strength weakens as you get older, especially in a job like this, or do they just expect a pet groomer to screw over their own health constantly?? The mental hoops these people jump through is mind boggling.
And that mentality is why she mentioned liability. Some people cannot understand common sense and live in denial. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Clearly those people never worked a physically demanding job in their lives lol
Agreed! We need to remove child labour laws so we can have healthy young bodies to squeeze into tight spaces and raise like cattle into these heavy labour jobs. The weak and the elderly who can’t keep up with the other slaves will be crushed to death under the bricks and provide additional structural material for the construction of our mighty pyramids. Long live the Pharaoh!
@@AdirondackHomestead its not childish if they specify the type of work that they cant do beforehand. if you dont like it just dont use their services. dont start a riot if a person is not willing to injure themselves for your convinience. and it's not correct to compare grooming to garbage collecting or house building. besides i've encountered similar problems with contractor during house construction (he couldn't do some heavy lifting himself due to health condition). totally understandable, he just had to hire helpers and we renegotiated the final price.
CNA's (Certified Nursing Assistant's) have to turn over much heavier weight than this in nursing homes and clean the waste of others and get paid absolute peanuts. My mom was a CNA for many years and is a nurse now, but still sometimes has to turn over people, especially obese people. You don't know heavy until you've tried to roll over the dead weight of another human. She has so much back pain now. She loves taking care of people but the human body can only handle so much. And no, she doesn't have help a lot of days. Given that CNA's who mostly do the job are onlybpaid somewhere between $9 to $15 an hour (I make much more than that sitting at home or in an office and taking phone calls), there's always been a shortage of workers. And even with help, it's still very physically demanding. My mom doesn't have the luxury of just refusing to help someone, but I'm happy dog groomers with their own businesses can. The back and shoulder pain is no joke and I'm now really concerned for my mom's mobility when she reaches old age. She'll already be 51 this year.
Poor old girl is such a sweetheart. Newfies are so gentle and loveable. You do such great work Vanessa, and the amount of physicality this one required was impressive.
Gorgeous girl she looked lovely 😍 after, such a sweet dog, i do hope you continue to groom this sweet old girl. 💖
@@Yahoo-s4pI’m a cat person myself but I do love watching dog channels. This old girl is so sweet.
Bit harsh to call Vanessa a poor old girl! 😂
@@eamonfire 😂😂😂Those are 3 words that cannot be applied to Vanessa, for sure.
@Bebtelovimab I could tell she knew what she was talking about. I have had a Neuphie-Cross, in the past, and was worried about Joint Issues right when we adopted him. Everything she said would have applied to Niles.
I do really appreciate that whenever a client comes in who had issues with a different groomer, you always address their issue with empathy and understanding towards everyone involved, including that other groomer.
Yes! Teaches us viewers to do the same, and have a better understanding. ❤
As a disabled woman I find her to be genuinely amazing! She tried so hard so hard to be a good girl. I can relate to not being able to stand long. Great job Vanessa!
😊💖
Ditto! I’m disabled myself. I use to be strong as a horse. I love the large breeds, gorgeous and I don’t have to bend down to pet them 😊
Very sweet comment.
same! she was such a good girl and it was heartwarming to see vanessa be so accommodating (which is expected because she's excellent at her job). still, it's way easier to be a good girl when you can't stand up long when someone's letting you sit down when you gotta!
They were both good girls!
Our old local veterinarian, Valerie, started off as a large animal vet back in the day, treating all sorts of farm animals. This petite (5'7", 125 lbs soaking wet) Polish lady regularly got stepped on by horses, kicked by cows, wrestled with sheep and goats, not to mention the demanding, routine stuff.(like helping a cow deliver) Eventually, the physical punishment took a severe toll, and she switched to "small" animals. She always used to joke when people would bring in their Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernards, Newfies and even an Irish Wolfhound. "Wait, I got into small animal work so I *wouldn't* have to work on horses anymore!"
On the side petite she was tall & slim though but petite belongs to females like myself who are 5'2 & below even 5'3 can fit with petite but anyone 5'5 & above are reaching the tall gap for females just saying😊
@@mercedesvelasquez8781 my apologies, by petite, I had meant slightly built. She was always on the very thin side, but then, I only met her after she stopped doing large animal work. (Growing up, we did most of our own work on animals, vets were for dire emergencies. I used to be able to get just about anything from the local feed store, rabies inoculations, vaccines, antibiotics, medicine of all kinds. That was nearly 30 years ago.)
@@mercedesvelasquez8781i am same height and weight as the groomer mentioned or even lighter in weight. I am called petite. Petite is not only for smaller height but also for smaller body build and body weight 😂
@@mercedesvelasquez8781 As if there was a set in stone rule at what height youre "petite". Wouldnt even answer someone who said that. Also: 5'5 is by no means tall, its barely average. Google it.
When I was a kid, my mom used to take our cat to a farm vet, though we lived in the city. He had a particularly soft spot for cats, and though it wasn’t unusual for him to have a horse or two staying at the clinic, there were the local cats in his reception area waiting for exams or shots. I’m sure when he retired from farm animal care, there were plenty of kitties still coming to him. He was a really nice vet.
Belle may not be much of a stander or walker anymore, but I bet she is still an expert cuddler. She looks like a gigantic comfy pillow.
Agreed!
Belle also seemed to rather enjoy her blow-dry session also. We had a Sheltie like that, he really liked the warm blow-dry, especially in the winters.
@@antiquegirl6505She must have felt SO much better with all that extra fur gone! ❤
This!
@@antiquegirl6505Maybe I was imagining it, but I think the dryer hit a tickle spot there at one point!
Belle behaved very well. No grumpy old lady stuff from her at all. She looked so beautiful when you were done. Thank you for the patience you show with the older dogs!❤
Well stated
What a grand old gal. You treated her so well, and I was pleased to hear your explanations and understanding of other groomers instead of blame.
Senior Newfs just get more tolerant of everything, in my experience. The Newf we had when I was in high school did NOT want to be picked up, but he let me carry him up and down the stairs for the last few months before he passed.
Obviously well taken care of.
The shampoo she used on the white parts of Belle's coat made her so bright! Love it. 😊😊
The "advantage" of being deaf: you enjoy at least part of the blow-dry and don't mind the loud buzzcuter. ❤ What a beautiful dog.
Oh my goodness, you are so right! I hadn't noticed until I read your comment that Belle didn't wear a happy hoodie while being blow dried.
My old beagle was deaf enough that the constant shampooing of the carpets from old lady leaking didn't bother her a bit.
Just a little post in case people don’t know any deaf people. They may not be bothered by outside sounds like the blow dryer, but many have constant buzzing, knocking, and high pitched ringing in their heads from nerves firing. Sympathy and kudos to all deaf people and dogs!
Neither of my Newfies minded/mind the dryer or clippers. They tend to be very well-behaved, chill dogs.
I imagine it’s similar, my mom used to work as a nurse in the ICU, eventually her back gave out lifting a patient and she had to change her job to one where she wasn’t lifting as much. To suggest that all groomers should be able to lift large dogs is ableist. It’s already an extremely physically taxing profession. Being able to do what you can and not going beyond your boundaries is important in any job.
Thank you for your comment. I, too, am an old ICU nurse. At the age of 66 I shifted to school nursing as I no longer have to lift, tug, push, etc. Nursing is manual labor to say the least. People have no earthly idea what we do in a 12-hour shift.
fat woman complaining about ableism definitely tracks
I am also in healthcare and had to step away at age 66 to prevent injury. I have a rescued pit mix that pulls a lot when walking. He is still learning. The walking 3 or more miles a day definitely helps me physically as well as mentally. I think all the bending a groomer does may be harder.
I kept wondering if there are such things as hydraulic grooming tables that would do the lifting for the dog, so the groomer doesn't have to strain to pick the dog up.
@nancypine9952 that's only one small part of the process unfortunately
I fostered a deaf cat and yes, I talked to her all the time. And yes, she was very talkative since she couldn't hear herself and when she could see me talking she even answered (since she knew the mimics and facial expression and all from the time she could hear). 💜
My cat is 23 and a half (*and at that age the half matters!) and she went deaf because of her advanced years. We talk to her all the time because she may *feel* speech, and because of the way our faces show micro expressions as we speak as well as how we modify our personal energy. I know my face and demeanour is different when I am being affectionate, or when I am praising her for playing with her feather.
And yes, she is super chatty and often makes a racket - if she wants something she won't stop yelling till she gets it!
I've had the pleasure of knowing several old, deaf cats- and always talked with them. They couldn't hear but they sure could understand!
@@valksyvalksington6155I had a boy who was 22 and grew deaf and had some cataracts at that age. We still talked to him like we always did because he was still our baby and nothing had changed.
@@valksyvalksington6155 I've never had a Cat, but, I have heard they have a longer Life Span.
That's so cute.. I am at awe how much animals understand us and we are beginning to understand their unique intelligence.
You’re a saint helping the elderly pets. My last Newf was 14 1/2 when he passed, and I stopped having him professionally groomed around 12 to prevent injured to the groomer or him.
Damn, 14 is impressive for a dog of that size.
@@herpderp3916 I’ve been very fortunate with my large breeds but had a few heart breaks too. I lost a Berner at 13 and a Great Pyr at 15. I’ve also lost them young, a different Berner at 3 and a Leonberger at 4.
@@stevenhoeltzel500 That's so sad... I am a cat lady (that loves dog and needs to make friends with every dog around :) I'd love to have a dog again but with my job it would not be fair to have a pooch...) but I know the pain and heartbreak when our furbabies pass away way before their time!
14! That's almost unbelievable. I bet he was a good doggo.
@@stevenhoeltzel500I've had 2 Danes one passed at 11 the other at 3. Our Bernese now is in her 11th year.
Vanessa, this was a heart breaker. What a sweet dispositioned dog to be suffering with problems of aging and arthritis. Even though she's deaf; I can't help but believe she understands your love and patience by the loving way you look at her and handle her. You didn't give up and gave her as much care as possible for her groom. It's easy to see how your love and spirit for animals has elevated you to over 2.2 million followers in the community. Way to go Girlie!
That's 2.25m
Agreed!
I still talk to my (now)deaf dog ❤️
I started implementing simple sign language about two years ago, combined with speak.
I believe that even if he can't hear me anymore, dogs still have so many other senses to pick up on their environment - maybe he can feel the vibrations my voice makes if he's close enough? Maybe he can tell I'm talking to him by feeling the smell of my breath and seeing my lips move and my eyes focus on him?
I've spoken to him a lot the first fourteen years of his life, so to continue just feels like the right thing to do ❤️
Even if he, now, has no clue what I'm saying (unless paired with a sign), I believe that loving chit-chat is still what he has gotten used to form me ☺️
Wait till you grow old further.
@@bimgorling2036Entirely sound reasoning! I wish you both as much more joy as possible in each other’s company ☺️
I love that time and time again you’ve taken on dogs that other groomers can’t, but caringly explain WHY other groomers are likely to step aside and why you do take them on or are able to. Hugely respectful and supportive to the grooming industry. Just great.
Fantastic work Vanessa. Our nearly 15 year old Border Collie Benjamin is groomed with him lying down the whole time now. His groomers Karen and Martyn love having him in. And like you we say ‘as long as he’s clean and dry, who cares if his groom isn’t perfect’. Here’s to all senior puppers.
I had a standard poodle and we groomed him for his comfort not for show or anything i.e puppy cut or short puppy cut during summer most of his life. When he started getting older we stopped doing everything in one session so he could have breaks, and for his last bath and cut he got a towel bath while laying down and we trimmed him on the floor so he could lay down most of the time. I hope he was as comfy as possible. Looks don't matter.
Considering how tiring the process must have been for her, the old lady was incredibly tolerant and well behaved. Not even a whine, just quiet. I am sure that she must have enjoyed the feeling of being clean.
What a beautiful old girl ! I bet she feels so much better now that all that hair is gone!
Yes, and she also enjoyed being a dog groomer.
@@matthewbaynham6286 HAHAHAHA !!!!!!
This is a donation for Falkor's groom on GWTD #2. You are an amazing human, thank you for being on our planet ❤️
I'm a retired RN and I am disabled, but I chose this profession to help people! ❤
What a lovely old Grannie. She's trying so hard to stand up for you too. Bless you for taking on such a difficult grooming appointment
I appreciate you and your efforts to help senior dogs. You are doing great. Love and strength to you.♡
She was ABSOLUTELY LOVING that blow dryer.... Even closed her eyes to fully enjoy it and shes deaf so she cant hear the loud noise from it just enjoying the warm air! 💜💜💜💜🥰
Thank you for taking her on! As the owner of an aging Newfoundland, I am incredibly thankful for my groomers. They ending up doing the groom in two sessions, to give my dog and themselves a break. I am so lucky to have them!
Why not just do it yourself at home? I had a Newfoundland for 11 years and did all his baths, combing, trims myself. Newfoundlands also should be bathed very often as it strips their waterproof coat.
@@ferretociousI don’t have a shower big enough for my dude, nor do I have a high velocity dryer to pull out all the loose hair. I only take him to get groomed about twice a year, usually after the summer because he spends a lot of time in the river.
The definition of a gentle giant!
The way Belle just took a full on nap during the drying is so precious. I adore seniors so damn much.
😂🤣am a young disabled senior - wish I could lay down / sleep thru many of my ‘app’ts’ 😂🤣 what a great gal Belle was thru it all - thnx for sharing 🇨🇦🙏
I love how no matter the age of the dog, you always show love and care in your work and do your best to meet the dogs' needs whatever they may be
Vanessa you are a treasure.
That dog was in heaven, having a spa day and happy as a clam.
I love that the owners appreciate the effort you put into carrying for their precious member, and took the chance to let you know she was doing well after. They didn't have to, but it's clear they respect you enough to know you want to know all is well.
I went through the same thing with my job. I tried to tell them that I couldn't work the way I used to but they never listened take care of you. No one else will.
I love how honest and informative you are about pets, their owners or other groomers. It's easy to pass judgement from the outside, especially when someone doesn't understand the challenges owners and groomers face with animals that are difficult to work with due to age, ailments, behavioral issues, coat types or breeds. You are kind hearted and fair and always do your best under any circumstance. You know when a pet has had enough and when you've had enough. I've got so much respect for you!
What a kind soul she is! I'm so glad you were able to help. In her case, "better" is a big win!
Sie sieht so schön aus und glücklich die grosse alte Dame.
Tolle Arbeit mit Herz
I bet she felt so much better after her groom. You did a great job she is beautiful. I hope the owners come back to you, if you'd take Belle as a client again.
With all of the fur off, I'm sure.
When we went from a 30 lb Eskie to a Great Pyrenees, we had to find a new groomer. We loved our old one, but she said she just couldn’t do large breeds anymore. We hated it, but totally understood. You have to take care of your health.
Thank you for opening people’s eyes to the strains that groomers have to deal with .
Y’all should be paid much more for the risks y’all take on.
Thanks to you, people are being educated about this. And thank you for giving your services to these dogs in need. The world needs more people like you.
She looked soooo much better afterwards, and I bet she felt a whole lot better too after she got some good rest.
These are some really grinchy feet. Glad you made her feel better and look great! She looks so beautiful and clean. Thank you for taking care of senior dogs!
I have two Newfoundland dogs and have had groomers refuse to groom them because of their size, at first I was upset but I completely understand. When I bath them at home and brush them my back hurts for days! It’s very hard to find another groomer that understands how to groom a newf where I live. Love your videos!! ☺️
Thank you for giving us perspective on what groomers deal with. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid but now see how much care they need and how important grooming can be. Belle looks like a sweet dog!
Most can tell Vanessa is in this profession because she has a passion for it and she truly loves dogs. It comes through on each and every vid I have watched. As a dog owner my whole life, it's obvious to me (and perhaps the other 2.25 MILLION subscribers), your caring goes beyond what is obligatorily portrayed on camera. God bless you and your K9 clients.
Your devoted attitude to every single pet client is really heartwarming! 😊🐶
Belle enjoyed her grooming and your skillful and empathetic manner with her.
Why can I only like this once? Belle so sweet, and you just know that she is adored by her family
I had a friend with two old English Sheep dogs. One was deaf and her sister was blind. My friend taught the deaf dog sign language for commands then her blind sister learned from her. These girls have crossed the rainbow bridge but were much loved by their family and friends.
The care and concern you shown this senior dog was exceptional. You are truly a saint for dogs like Bell.
I am always learning new things from your channel. I don't even have animals that require grooming, and don't plan on becoming a groomer. But I do enjoy learning about both people and animals, so I appreciate this channel a lot. Thank you Vanessa.
What a good girl! Happy to hear that she was back to walking the same evening. :D
Great narration!! Thank you for educating the public. Personally, I have ALWAYS taken responsibility for grooming my own pets. I bet she felt SO much better once you got 'er done!
@stardust949 I also groom my large breed dogs one is a Chocolate & Apricot Standard poodle named Molly Mae and the other is a extremely large house hippo black lab I rescued from an abuse situation. We also just adopted a beagle puppy we named Poppy. She was actually supposed to be a animal testing dog. She's much happier here with us
I did until my mid-sixties when I’d had numerous injuries and surgeries and arthritis and Fibromyalgia, blah, blah, and my elder Golden who was that size and couldn’t stand took2-3 days to groom at home including cleaning the bathroom and washing the towels and blankets after. Then she and I both were laid up for several days afterwards recovering. I found a lovely groomer two minutes away who loved my dog, charged less than $90, so I could tip well, and my dog loved going to see her. Everyone was far happier. She even groomed her just a week before our dog died being in worse shape than this one was (and I offered to cancel the appointment). I always did my best to make sure that my dog was brushed really well and never had tangles, mats, or tons of extra fur and often had done most of the trimming too. Some of us have aged with our dogs and regrettably need help so we don’t hurt ourselves or the dog.
I agree. Unless it’s a show dog, every owner can and should learn how to groom their dog. It’s not that hard. And when you do it yourself, you can do it by stages and have breaks for yourself and your dog. It also makes you more aware if there are any skin problems, so you can address them sooner.
Of course, if for any reason your are physically unable to do it, then seek help. But most owners just don’t believe that they are able to do it, and they are mistaken.
And, the reminders of our OWN dogs..
Thank you for having the patience, stamina, and professionalism to care so wonderfully for an elder dog! She looks beautiful and I'm sure that the owners were so grateful. :)
What a beautiful girl! She was so well behaved...awhhh!!!
I’m fighting tears. My last newf was a landseer and such a good boy. The closeups of the freckles on Belle’s legs were so familiar and endearing. I’ve had two newfs, and I maintain that one has not known love until one has known a newf 💚
Agreed.❤
A very compassionate caring groom. All the fluff!
Thank you for your compassion with this old girl. Seniors deserve our love, understanding and respect. Belle was very sweet, a credit to her owners. ❤
I watch these videos for several reason. Of course the first reason is the satisfaction of seeing the transformation, but I also like seeing how good Vanessa is with all of the animals that she grooms. On top those, I find her to be very educational about breeds, temperaments, challenges & methods of grooming. What I love most is that she doesn't bash people. She gives grace to all, always explaining why something may have happened.
Good for tose owners for giving this old lady a loving home in their senior years. It’s not easy adopting at that age but it is beyond rewarding.
As an owner of a Landseer, I can only hope that when my pup is old as Belle, his groomer takes as good of care of him as you did of Belle!
Wow, what a difference. She’s a beautiful dog and you are so kind to take her. I also respect you immensely for not criticizing the groomer who wouldn’t take her. That shows a lot of class on your part.
She glowed like a panda after the groom! Lovely girl, thanks for taking care of her ☺️
Not only are you a fantastic groomer, but you seem like such a good person, as well. It was very kind and informative of you to give reasons as to why a groomer may refuse to groom certain dogs. Belle is so beautiful and I love how you always work within the limits of the particular dog. I am a nurse, and can say for certain that it's so important to protect your back to be able to continue doing your job.
I used be a nurse . I swam, used weights and stayed fit and strong and was still injured at work (and sacked for it). It's the ignorant who don't understand and can't be bothered learning who are making negative statements about how to do a job they know nothing about. Static weights are one thing, dynamic weights with a mind of their own ie living creatures, are an entirely different matter. you can do everything right and still be injured because the weight you're shifting doesn't or can't co-operate. Ask and nurse or vet.
@@mariaobrien1747 Yeah a lot of these comments tell me they don't actually know anyone working a physically demanding job. I'm a neonatal nurse and even though I don't lift heavy patients, just being on my feet a lot and moving equipment can be hard on my body. Mad respect to all the adult nurses out there.
@@LulaMae21 You're so right. No matter your size, strength or fitness, years of hard physical work will take its toll - aided and abetted by the toll from shiftwork alone! I wish you a long and healthy working life
@@mariaobrien1747 Thank you. It's definitely hard and not what I expected going in. I love my patients but it wears on me.
Beautiful girl. You're an angel for helping Belle. ❤
What a nice old lady!
Melissa isn't _that_ old! :P
Jk, Bell is so precious :)
@@xitaris5981 ???
What a beautiful dog! I'm sure she appreciated that you took care of her and patiently groomed her.
Vanesssa, I love the way you advocate for dogs, cats and perhaps more importantly, for groomers. You explain and teach in such a way that I don’t think anyone can walk away from your videos without a new appreciation for groomers and the companions they care for. Thank you.
Poor old girl, I wanted to give her a hug after her spa treatment was over. Her humans must have been thrilled.
What a dear!! She looks lovely relaxing in the grass and I bet she feels 💯 better!!
Poor Belle, I’m so glad you are helping her!
Belle looks fantastic after the groom. The owners should be so happy with what you did for her.
Belle is a great & loveable lady. 😊💕
My black lab got hit by a car disabling her, whenever we went anywhere I always had to support her back end. For six years I carried her near 100 pound butt in and out of the car and in and out of the house. I never regretted a day of it until the day she died I helped her everywhere.
What an incredible human being you are. Your gentleness and perseverance in helping that gentle canine giant was amazing. She looked stunning after her groom ❤❤❤👋👋👵🏴
thank you for your explanation, grooming in cases like this is truly a laborious work on both clients and groomers. wonderful video!
This was so satisfying! Belle is such a sweet dog and the transformation is magical. Explaining why a groomer might not want to take on an older dog helps us understand and not judge. Its also nice to see that her owners are so caring. Thanks for sharing!😊
Belle looks like the softest most cuddliest beast EVER!!!!! I just wanna snuggle up to her and use her as a pillow, in the gentlest way possible.
She's such a sweet old lady and I love her so much. She looks like she gives amazing cuddles. I hope Belle has many more golden years with tons of treats and love ❤️
Whenever I've seen Newfoundlands and other really heavy breeds on your videos, I feel kinda bad for them because they seem to really struggle with the size of their bodies. It was neat to see how slim Bella was under all that hair when she was wet! Based on the mountain of hair you removed, she was just extra fluffy! What a sweet old girl.
I agree. It seems like they'd be much happier and more mobile under water, kind of like a walrus. The land living is kind of rough on them.
She needs all the love and care! Thank you for your gentle work.
What a beautiful old girl. Not only deaf but her eyes look like she's losing vision. It's very difficult for her but also it sounds like she had the best support and management from you as you groomed her, watching out for all the tiny signs of an old old girl who probably would rather snooze. She absolutely Magnificent in her before and after ❤
She's a good old girl, your sensitivity is priceless always.
I'm thrilled the dog didn't literally explode.
Newfoundlands are my favorite dogs; they're such gentle giants. Beautiful.
Glad they found you! You were both troopers getting through that. What a pretty girl. I bet she slept well for a few days after this, and then woke up feeling fresh. 😊
Belle is a lovely sweet giant! And anyone else rooting for Vanessa formally educating other groomers?!👍😎🙏
You are so compassionate! Thank goodness for your understanding of the pups needs and groom accordingly ❣️
Poor Bellla! My larger dog had hip problems and it is always hard to see them struggle like that... You are such a wonderful and considerate groomer ❤
Awe! I have an 18 yr old Belle myself! Isabelle a muted Tortie cat. She also has severe mobility issues. We go for acupuncture once a week and later that day she’s a whole new cat but she pays for it the next day. You did great with this sweet Giant Fluffy Belle!
Aww, Beautiful Belle. She deserves all the love, attention and care you extend to all your clients. You consistently demonstrate your in-depth knowledge and innate empathy for these animals which bring me to tears sometimes-and this is one of them.
So glad you were able to give this sweetie pie a much needed spa day 🤗 She'll feel so much better!
This is such good information to have. I adore large breeds, especially Newfies! But I’ve never thought about the mobility challenges they’d face in their old age, and how I’d have to literally do the heavy lifting to get them around. Thank you so much for enlightening me!
Great job! As a fellow groomer, I love your videos because you do everything the way I would (compassionately, professionally, and safely, and with realistic expectations of the outcome for the more challenging grooms). I loved seeing how much the pup loved the blowout - she definitely felt so much better!
When a pet is for life.
What a beautiful dog! The care that you show each and every animal/client that comes to see you just warms my heart.
She really enjoyed blowdrying, did she not? thank you very much for letting us know about grooming senior pets! Senior pets need extra care, especially bigger breeds and you nailed the whys in this case perfectly!
What a sweetie!! Newfies are definitely a chore to groom but so worth it - their temperaments are supreme!! 🥰🥰🥰
Beautiful old girl. ❤ It's so nice when a groomer either tells the truth that they don't feel comfortable grooming a senior dog due to pain and injury risks, or when they have enough time to be patient and give lots of breaks, and work WITH the senior dog's limits. Either method is great, because it's based on what is good for the dog.
Its so beautiful how you try to give these old dogs some dignity. And the cats too, when they physically cant groom themselves, it lowers their self esteem bc they arent choosing to be stinky and matted. Thank you for what you do to help these animals out in their old age.
Her tush push towards the dryer was adorable and made me laugh. "Yep, That's the spot! Hey why'd ya stop?"
I feel like crying after this video, thank you for taking care of her 💗
Your dedication, extraordinary service and compassion to animals is exemplary! ❤
Thank you for taking care of this sweet old boy.
Why is this dog so cute 😭😭her face is too precious!! All dogs deserve the best life 🩷
Magnificent dog. Her before and after pictures are drastic and show just how great a job Vanessa did.