Puting your dog on a table is a great idea to groom him, only if it is just for 5 minutes. If you place the dog on the same table, counter, or even a washin machine every time you groom him, he will get the idea that, NO FOOLIN AROUND! and he is there only to be groomed. Also, it is good to praise your dog while grooming, but not play, so he doesnt get too excited and get the wrong idea about what grooming is.
If you are going to clip your dog yourself...do not buy the pet clippers from Walmart (I have gone through 3 or 4 sets in the past 10 years and it has taken too long to clip her because of the poor quality of the clippers.).....rather....go to your local vet and have them order one of the kind of clippers that they use....it now takes me about 40 minutes to totally clip my cocker spaniel and it works amazingly so much better.
I sit on a kitchen chair and have the dog on the table (a table from the kids table and chairs set that they got when they were little.) Lady does not jump off the little table because it is too "high". The garbage can goes between me and the table and almost all the fur makes it into the garbage instead of on the floor. Lady is an American cocker and so I have to clip all of her because ALL of her fur grows.
If you wash your dog before clipping you will have clippers that last longer. The dirt in the fur will quickly dull your clippers.
Clip their nails after each "fur" cut (hair cut) or when the clicking of their nails on the floor in your house bothers your ears too much. Lady has black toe nails and so it is really hard to know where her quick is. The quick is the blood supply to your pet's toenail ...just like you have a blood supply (a nerve) in your teeth (and have it taken out when you have a root canal done at the dentist.) I usually just cut about 1/4" off the end of each toenail.
If your idea of getting a high maintenance dog like a cocker or any other dog that needs regular clipping...invest into some good clippers that may run you at over $200 to buy in the first place. Clipping the dog yourself will save you a pile of money over the years. 5 clippings and you have broke even already. Remember...if you make a mistake in clipping ...maybe it's too short...it will grow back and you can try again in a month or two.
Grooming your dog can also be a great time for you to "bond" with your dog. My dog seemingly can't wait to get off the table but she follows me around immediately after we're done....after she has been let outside to "shake" off all the loose fur that isn't on me or the floor or in the garbage.
To groom my dog easily without making an indoor mess or hurting my back, I stand on the ground, and put the dog on the porch. Our porch is just the right height, so I can reach him easily. I tie his leash around a porch post for extra security. All the fur stays outside, and we both get some fresh air!
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