“Wes… I just want to thank you for taking great care of my dog Lucky. The thing I like about coming to you and The Studly Pooch is that you seem like you really care… and I can tell because you listen to what I want done… and then you do that. Thanks a million.”
Kari Carpino and Lucky
Fashion Design Owner
Manhattan Beach, CA
“Thanks for letting us hold auditions at The Studly Pooch!”
Dog Whisperer producers Kay Sumner and Sheila Emery just after open auditions for The Dog Whisperer on June 12, 2008
“Hi Wes,
Just wanted to let you know the night I took Toki for a walk after you groomed her, she got at least 10 compliments that night. I did let them know where she got groomed.
Great job! Thanks again.”
April Sensui
Hermosa Beach, CA
“Wes,
You are the greatest and I miss the good work you did, but unfortunately I have moved to Carlsbad, San Diego…I did cheat for a while to get your newsletters as they are so interesting, and valuable.
My very best wishes to the best groomer in California, my 2 pooches have never looked so great as they did with you, not even here in Carlsbad. Perhaps if you have a referral here it would be appreciated. I am using “fur Reel” for now and with the many pets here (there is almost a pet in every house around me in this gated community) maybe a franchise is in order
Thank you so very much.”
Rose-Marie Mills
“Wes
Bailey and Rosie love being groomed at the Studly Pooch. Wes is very knowledgeable and his emails keep us updated on the latest pet care issues.”
Ray Gorospe
Manhattan Beach, CA
“Hi Wes,
I’ve so enjoyed your emails! Thanks for sharing all the great tips!
I continue to get compliments on Kizmet’s trim! We’re down to 1 blue bow, but keeping them in so long is a new record! I don’t know how you did it!
Thanks!”
Sylvia Agard
Redondo Beach, CA
“Wes,
Princess looks great. You guys really do an amazing job.”
Dee Smith
Manhattan Beach, CA
“At The Studly Pooch, Wes and the gang couldn’t be more welcoming and friendly. After years of resisting, our 11 year old Golden Retriever, Sprite, eagerly goes to the groomer!
When we picked her up after her recent bath and Blueberry facial, she looked like a puppy again! Wes has a way with the dogs and we have started to refer to him as the “Dog Whisperer II”.
We know that Sprite is in great hands while at Studly Pooch.”
Pam Anderson
Redondo Beach, CA
“Wes,
My girls look so great. When walking my dogs at the strand, people often stop me and comment on how great they look. There is nothing more attractive than a “Studly Pooch”! Thanks.”
Q Danylik
Manhattan Beach, CA
“Wes,
Thanks for Milo’s haircut yesterday. I have to say that I’ve never seen his ears so clean! We will see you in a couple of months.”
Annie Tam
Redondo Beach, CA
“Dear Wes,
Thank you so much for sending us the little card. Livee and Nala had such a good time with you. They looked and smelled fabulous too. I will definitely be back soon for round two.
I really appreciate it. We are satisfied customers!”
Samantha Tobey
Redondo Beach, CA
“I have a cocker that has become very unhappy at the groomers. I am trying different groomers and different approaches trying to find someone that makes us all happy.
Wes spent a great deal of time with me and how I wanted them groomed. He trimmed their nails short enough that for the first time in months they aren’t clicking around the house.
We also wanted a modified cocker cut, not real short, but no skirt or long feathers. No topknot, leave the ears long, etc. etc. etc.
Both dogs acted like they really enjoyed their grooming experience this time. The shop is neat and clean and the big parking lot makes it easy to drop off and pick up the dogs.
The girls just had their second appointment with Wes, they really seemed to enjoy the experience, it looks like we found a winner!!”
Melinda Turkolu
“The Studly Pooch Rocks!”
Ken and Michelle Abrams
Redondo Beach, CA
“Wes, You took wonderful care of our two Goldens! You promised they would be finished at a certain time and your phone call saying they were ready was exactly on time.
Most important, your skin and fur treatment seems to have them scratching and shedding less.
We will definitely be back!”
Jim and Judy Ryan
Manhattan Beach, CA
“Wes truly cares about the animals – you can tell by the way he greets them. His genuine care comes through in the way he grooms them by doing what is best for them, not what is fastest and easiest.”
Tiffany
Hermosa Beach, CA
“Hi Wes,
Your non-shedding treatment on Handsome was fabulous. Thanks so much and next time he needs a bath we’ll be sure to give you a call. Hope your holidays were swell.”
Gina Graziadio
Palos Verdes, CA
“We were very pleased with the service provided by The Studly Pooch. Scout has never looked better and his shedding has decreased dramatically. No more sweeping up hair!! Thank you so much. You will have us as customers for both dogs.”
Linda and Dennis English
South Bay Area
“Bailey looks great Wes. Thanks for your tender care in grooming an older dog!”
Beverly Reynolds
Redondo Beach
Hermosa Beach, CA – On Tuesday, I received a phone call from a nice woman named Betty. Betty let me know that she had found an 8 pound, 3-legged Yorkie that desperately needed grooming.
Betty told me that she found “Honey” stuck in a metal fence and barking. Sensing that Honey was hurt, Betty and her partner Lois took Honey in and cared for her.
I had an afternoon opening, so Betty brought Honey to The Studly Pooch and asked that I make her look beautiful.
When Honey came in, I realized that she was a wonderful dog that loved to give kisses. This despite having 3 legs, a lot of matts, and an extremely long, dirty coat.
Honey had the type of coat that you might see at a dog show. She reminded me of a cross between Axel Rose and Richie from Happy Days.
As for Honey’s cleaning, I used my Hydrosurge® bathing system. This deep cleaned Honey’s skin and coat, while giving her a gentle massage. Honey loved it.
I then used my special Cherry Re-Moisturizer which hydrated Honey’s skin and coat. It also left Honey smelling like fresh cherries.
Next, I took Honey’s body and legs down to 2 inches. I decided to leave her head and neck long. This gave Honey a lion cut (see pictures).
To finish her off, I put a red and white top knot in Honey.
Honey not only looks great, but she also has a new home. My mom (a math teacher in Austin, Texas) is adopting her!
Honey will be flying to Texas after the holidays. When she gets there, she’ll have a large fenced in backyard that she can access from a doggie door!!
Name: Hobbes Cochran
Owners: The Cochran Family
Breed: Portuguese Water Dog
Hobbes’ Favorite Hangout Spot:Hobbes loves to sit in front of the French doors (on one of his many doggie beds) and sunbathe.
Hobbes’s Favorite Food: Hobbes loves to eat everything that the kids drop on the floor, anything that he can grab from the trash compacter, and he especially likes licking the dishes.
Hobbes’ Favorite Pastime:Chasing squirrels and playing keep away.
Breed History: The Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) is a calm, intelligent dog that originated off the coast of Portugal. Originally, the PWD was taught by fisherman to herd fish into nets, retrieve lost tackle, and to act as a courier from ship to ship.
Other names for the PWD are the Cao de Agua (dog of water) and the Portuguese Fishing Dog.
Coat: This breed can be shown in 2 cuts either the lion clip (a long mane with a shaved mid section and hindquarters) or the working retriever clip (a ½ – ¾ inch all over).
It is important to note that this breed has a coat that is ideal for pet owners with allergy issues since its coat is non-allergenic and does not shed.
The Studly Pooch Formula: Hobbes always gets bathed with our HydroSurge® Sytem which deep cleans his coat and provides a relaxing massage. Hobbes loves our Hydrosurge®!
Hobbes also gets a mixture of our Lemon Zest shampoo and our Wild Animal Skin Moisturizer™. These keep Hobbes coat clean, fresh and soft.
To finish Hobbes off, we rub in our Cherry Remoisturizer which is a blend of aloe vera, vitamin e, and cherry bark. This reduces Hobbes’ itchy skin and scratching!
To find out about this, feel free to call 310-376-7033, email Wes(at)TheStudlyPooch(dot)com or drop by 1127 Aviation Boulevard.
A Special Thanks to Hobbes and The Cochran Family for their participation!!
Owners:
Farren and Coco Comer have enjoyed Lilac’s company for 11 months!
Breed:
Newfoundland
Lilac’s Favorite Hangout Spot:
Lilac loves to hang out on the roof top deck of Coco and Farren’s house. This allows Lilac to sunbathe and see everything happening at the park across the street.
Lilac’s Favorite Food:
Lilac enjoys Science Diet with a little gravy and cheese sprinkled on top. Occasionally, Farren will drop some pancakes. When this happens, pancakes become Lilac’s favorite food!!
Lilac’s Favorite Pastime:
Lilac loves to walk in the park and play with other dogs. Secretly, Lilac has been known to plant wet kisses on Farren in order to wake Farren up!!
Breed History:
Lilac has an unusual background tracing back to the coast of Newfoundland and the Basque fisherman. Apparently, Lilac is a mix of the Great Pyrenees, the Boarhound and the Husky. All agree, however, that European fishermen brought Lilac’s breed to America.
Coat:
Lilac has a thick heavy coat often called a double coat. This coat protects Lilac from icy water and long Winters (even if these conditions don’t exist in Southern California.) This protective coat is essential to Lilac’s breed since the Newfoundland is still used to help rescue drowning victims.
The Studly Pooch’s Formula:
Here at the Studly Pooch, Lilac gets a bath with our Hydrosurge® Bathing System. This system deep cleans Lilac’s skin and coat, while providing a relaxing massage. (Lilac loves it!) Lilac also gets treated with our Kiwi Berry Hydrating shampoo and our Apple Oatmeal Soothing conditioner. After this, we then perform our 15 Point Doggie Inspection.
To find out about this, feel free to call 310-376-7033, email Wes(at)TheStudlyPooch(dot)com or drop by 1127 Aviation Boulevard.
A Special Thanks to Coco, Farren and Lilac for their participation!!
3 Questions Every Pet Owner Should Ask Before Selecting A Pet Groomer
How did you select the pet groomer that you take your pet to? I’ll bet if you answer this honestly, you called and made an appointment with someone close or you scheduled an appointment with the cheapest shop available. If you did either of these, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. Here’s what you need to ask before scheduling Fido’s next appointment.
- Where did you go to school??
This is an extremely important question, since there are zero regulations in the pet grooming industry. That’s right. No one checks to make sure shops are clean and staff are properly trained. A good groomer should have at least 600 hours of hands-on training from a teacher that runs a licensed program. There are several of these programs nationwide and they normally cost a lot of money.
- What are your cleaning procedures?
This sounds silly but you’d be surprised how many grooming shops will give you the “deer in the headlights” look when you ask this. Why is this so important? Well for one, your pet’s well being depends on how clean the grooming shop is. All grooming shops should use a water to bleach ratio of 30:1. This will kill all viruses, parasites and other bugs that your pet can contract. This will also kill parvo. Everyday, a clean shop must use this bleach solution to clean the tubs, grooming tables and cages. Anything less is unsanitary and not a safe place for your pet.
- How come I drop my pet off at 8 AM and I can’t pick him/her up until 5 PM??
This is a great question to ask and I guarantee that you won’t get a straight answer. Pet grooming shops are businesses (like any other) and are trying to make money. Your pet happens to be the means that this happens. This is a normal part of our economy but, to make a lot of money poorly managed shops will pack pets into the shop at 8 AM and not get to them until much later. Meanwhile, your pet is sitting in a cage (that many times hasn’t been cleaned) all day long. A better managed grooming shop should schedule one appointment, per pet, per hour. If there are three groomers there should only be three appointments at 8 AM, three at 9 AM and so forth. This guarantees that your pet won’t sit in a dirty cage all day long.
Wes Murph is the owner of The Studly Pooch in Hermosa Beach. You can contact Mr. Murph at 310-376-7033 or email Wes(at)TheStudlyPooch(dot)com. He also offers a free on-line course titled “How To Reduce Shedding in 3-5 Days” at www.thestudlypooch.com.
Christmas is a very popular time of the year to get a new puppy. Unfortunately, a few weeks after you get the puppy, the kids are not as interested, and your puppy becomes very mobile. If you’re not careful, it can also become very destructive.
After helping thousands of new puppy owners, I have put together a list of 7 steps that can greatly help with your new puppy.
- Good management skills:
Puppies can get into trouble very quickly. A new puppy owner needs to watch the puppy all of the time. When you can not keep an eye on the pup, it is a good idea to use some type of confinement. I like to use crates. A crate is a great way to manage your pup’s behavior when you are not home. I have seen many young dogs that have been injured when left on their own and a crate can prevent this.
- Start training early:
For many years, dog owners have been told that they can not start training their puppies until they were 6 months old. A good reward based puppy class, starting as early as 8 weeks old, is the most important thing that you can do for a young puppy. Your puppy will become well socialized, and many behavior problems can be prevented.
- Socialization:
You can never over-socialize a puppy. The first four months of the pup’s life are the most impressionable. To become a confident and stable dog, a young pup needs to be exposed to many different people, dogs, places, sounds and scents.
- Puppy proof the house:
Anything that you value should be put away until after the puppy stage. Also, keep a close eye on your puppy around electrical wires. Puppies love to chew on wires.
- Going to the vet’s office:Drop by the vet’s office when you don’t have an appointment. Most veterinarians will allow this, but give them a quick call before you come by. When you get to the vet’s, give your puppy some treats and have the office staff give some treats also. For the rest of your puppy’s life, going to the vet will not be a chore.
- Consistency:Have a game plan for everyone in the house to follow. Many puppies become confused when half the family allows the pup onto the furniture and the other half scolds the pup for being on the furniture.
- Take lots of pictures:You will be amazed at how fast your pup grows and changes. You will also be thankful that you did take the pictures.
Wes Murph is the owner of The Studly Pooch in Hermosa Beach. You can contact Mr. Murph at 310-376-7033 or email Wes(at)TheStudlyPooch(do9t)com. He also offers a free on-line course titled “How To Reduce Shedding in 3-5 Days” at www.thestudlypooch.com.
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
BRUSHING
Brush your pet thoroughly every day. This helps keep his or her hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils throughout the coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation.
It is best to start brushing your pet at an early age. Proceed slowly and gently, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun!
EARS
Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections can not only be painful, but lead to permanent hearing loss. The signs of a problem with a companion animal’s ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odor. If the problem persists, talk to your vet.
Chronic ear problems are often times the result of a food allergy. Check the ingredients on the label of your dog’s food and try feeding a food with a different grain or protein source. Foods made with fish and sweet potatoes are sometimes a good alternative.
How to Clean Your Pet’s Ears
- Check your dog’s ears twice per month. The skin inside and on the flaps should be pale pink. If there is a foul odor and/or any red, brown or black skin, have a veterinarian examine your pet’s ears.
- Moisten a cotton ball with warm water or a little mineral oil and use it to clean the opening into the canal and the flaps. Do not probe too deeply into the canal.
TEETH
Dogs and cats can get cavities and develop periodontal disease, so their teeth should be cleaned with a pet toothpaste at least twice per week. It is best to use a small toothbrush that has soft bristles. Cleanings performed by a veterinarian may also be required.
NAILS
Many people prefer to leave this to the groomer, but if you choose to trim your dog’s nails at home, the pliers style is the best kind of nail clipper to use. Trim just a small amount at a time being careful not to cut the quick.
It is a good idea to have styptic powder on hand to stop any bleeding should you cut into the quick.