This is Geordie, the original Bitey Dog. Geordie was my first pup, and I learned a lot about dog grooming from him. When I got Geordie, I was unfamiliar with Cairn haircuts, so I let him grow long and shaggy. This meant that I had to brush him pretty much every day. Later family got me a pair of clippers and insisted, “Trim that dog already!”. During his whole life I brushed Geordie and stripped his fur, trimmed his nails and brushed his teeth. I even trimmed the matted fur that developed between his pads when he walked in snow.
Not being able to take care of Toby makes me feel like a failure. Looking back on these photos, though, makes me think that I am not necessarily terrible at grooming – just understanding doggie mental health.
Hope you are having yet another perfect day in Heaven my beautiful boy.
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Tell your special someone you love them without saying a word. This novelty American Sign Language Alien Hand Pillow shows the ASL sign for “I Love You”. This would make a unique Christmas present for someone you care about.
ASL Alien Hand Pillow is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
The Adventures of Bitey Dog 
YOU QRE NOT A FAILUTR
IF YOU ARE SO M I
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO CLIP MY DOGS CLAWS, I CANNOT CLIP NERYS’S. I FEEL AWFUL TOO ABOUT IT. SHE IS 100 LB OF STRENGTH AND I NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD HER TIGHT.. JAY CANT/WONT.. IS AFRAID OF HURTING HER, I JUST CANT GO THE 15 ROUNDS WITH HER … IT GET ME NOWHERE EXCEPT HURT MY SPIN. YES.. I FEEL I HAVE FAILED TOO
Do you take Nerys to the vet for her nails or do you insist she join the boys in digging holes in the yard to wear her nails down? It’s so disappointing when you can’t take care of your kids yourself. ☹️
Donlt feel guilty…Toby has the problems,not you and you are trying to help him solve them.
That is so sweet. Thank you!
I never realized how spoiled I was with Hershey and Winkie, both of whom just stood there and never objected to any grooming or veterinary necessity. Toffee is a pill, not as resistant as Toby, but even the groomer can’t always accomplish everything. It isn’t you, you’re the same person you were with Geordie. There is a key, a trick, a strategy that will work with Toby. And you will find it.
It’s comforting to know I am not the only one to have a challenging pup. I hope we both find the right way to handle our boys without getting nipped!
Aw, Geordie is a cutie! And you groom-ed him so well! I love that name…how did you chose it for him? Coop gets all shaggy like that very quickly. He just got groom-ed (I like to say groom-ed) last week. Now he looks darn good! 😉 😀
Don’t be hard on yourself! You are a great Mom to Toby! ❤
(((HUGS))), PATS and RUBS! 🙂
So Cooper is a shaggy guy too? How do you keep him clean and handsome?
Actually, my mom had a dream where she was told Geordie’s name.
I hope Toby agrees that I am at least an adequate dog mom! 😝
Cooper’s before and after grooming pics are funny. He doesn’t even look like the same “man”! 😉
We give him baths between groomings. In 2020 we tried grooming him ourselves…we did fine with the nails not so fine on the haircut. Ha!
That’s so wonderful about Geordie’s name. 🙂
Maybe some day you and Toby will look back on this time and laugh. I wouldn’t worry too much. My parents always said my brother was much better behaved than me and look how I turned out. Wait…never mind, I’m sure there’s a better analogy than that one.
Any dog who puts up with all of those costume changes during his lifetime is guaranteed a spot in Good Dog Heaven.
He’s a saint.
I join you in being a misbehaved dog in charge of the house
We’re not misbehaved – we’re misunderstood! – Toby
Post some Before and Afters for us! I think bad furcuts are the best just like the worst photos are the best. 😝
I’ve often said that no creature living can make me feel like a failure quite as well as Maverick. I spent the first year of his life in tears every day. You are not a failure, you just haven’t figured out Toby’s problems yet. You can do it.
Oh my gosh, that sounds like Geordie and me. There were so many tears of frustration shed during that boy’s life. It took us both a lot of time to realize that the other was actually communicating. Thanks for the encouragement. I am pleased that Toby and I have been having some pretty good days lately. 😊
We’re still working on it – I still cry some days but I have a good friend who talks me off the cliff most days. 🙂
Have you had Toby’s eyes checked? I’m wondering if he’s not seeing well
I’ve had him to the vet several times over his sensitivity issues. I even had his thyroid checked, but everything keeps coming back normal.
Since I’ve been having him sleep in his kennel at night, things have been better between us. I’ll just keep making the groomer the bad guy so I can soak up all the puppy love. 😊❤️
I was just thinking that if he’s not seeing well, or maybe seeing double (that happens with dogs) it would cause him to react badly when he senses danger
Next time Toby has to go to the vet, I’ll have to have her double check. He is still able to catch food if you throw to him, but I’ll have to keep an eye on how he reacts when we play with tennis balls.
I ended up drawing Bitey Dog as my way of keeping my sanity. (Still can’t tell if it’s working. 🤔)
Keep plenty of wine handy!