Were you aware of the grooming requirements when buying or adopting your dog?

Of course, I own some of the highest shedding breeds out there! Have to know what you are getting into before you dive in...I now have my own grooming room in the basement of my house...with 6 dogs it's easier/less expensive to do it myself.

Yes and yes. There were several breeds i liked, but I couldn't afford the associated grooming costs, so I crossed them off my list. I was aware that my choice would take some grooming. I own a Cavalier, and I do almost all of her grooming myself. I've chosen to keep her in full coat for the most part and make the commitment to brush her. I bought a cheep pair of clippers for emergencies (ie burr-induced matting). i also bath her myself and have learned different techniques for that. The only thing she needs a groomer for is to get the hair scooped out of her paws every few months, and only because she's calmer for the groomer.

right now she has a slightly funny hair cut after a tangle with a particularly nasty type of sticker bush. But it will grow back, and I really don't think she cares. So i'd say we are doing well. :) -Neb

Yep. Before I adopted my bichon frise pup I researched about the breed. I also looked at some pictures of them and they had plush thick curly coats so I expected that she was going to need LOTS of grooming. But that's no problem for me. I commit to grooming her every day to prevent mats. I'm handling the commitment very well. Oh and about the grooming costs I don't have to worry because my uncle is a professional groomer so he sometimes does it for me for free. I very much enjoy grooming her because it feels like we bond more.

Well, I haven't gotten my puppy yet, but yes, I have thought about it.

I will be getting a Cane Corso Mastiff very soon from a reputable breeder, so I'm waiting for a good litter where I like both the parents and both sire and dam are hip certified.

Anyways, CCs aren't huge shedders, which is something that I really like about them, but twice a year they have moments where they shed off their coat, so that's the downfall. =(

I plan on just brushing out his coat at the end of the week to get the dead hair out of his coat. CCs don't require much grooming either so I'll only need to go into the groomers for nail clipping. Ear cleaning isn't needed because he will have his ears cropped (don't tell me how cruel it is please!) and so ear infections aren't as likely. He'll only get ear cleanings when needed. I'll be giving him a bath every other month or so because he is a short haired dog and needs his coat oils and bathing too often isn't good.

Grooming costs will only be about $15 every 6 weeks or so. Pretty good price I'd say! Only $150 a year for upkeep in the grooming department? Sounds good to me :D

I've rescued and adopted quite a few dogs. Most of them I was aware how much (or little) grooming they would need. I also learned to do a pretty good amateur grooming job on most of them. The main exception is my latest dog, supposedly a Pekingese/Maltese mix. Her fur had been clipped very close before she was surrendered at the shelter. I had no idea how thick and soft her coat would become! My clippers aren't good enough. I'm either going to have to buy professional clippers or become a regular at the groomers.

The schnauzers yes.. the older two I shave down myself (as they both have hip problems.. and the vet said it is too much stress to bring them to a groomer.. one can barely tolerate people touching him.. ).. up to the point where the vet said not to, they went to the groomer regularly.. and my 1 yr. old goes regularly.. (and is brushed daily)..

The beagle/basset threw me though.. I didn't expect him to shed this much.. I was so used to schnauzers which don't really shed.. (yes, they lose fur, but it doesn't grow and fall out.. it grows and tangles up.. so very little fur actually falls OUT) .. I got used to it though.. I use either a furminator or a zoom groom once a week.. (or whenever I feel like it as he actually enjoys it) His ears need to be cleaned every 3 days.. (another thing that kind of surprised me).. and his nails grow super fast.. I'm on top of it though.. Once I figured out what worked I went with it.. although, the beagles teeth I'm still having issues with.. even with DAILY brushing he's getting build up (and showing the first signs of dental issues in the gums).. he's had a proper teeth cleaning once.. and has been done every day since.. not sure what else I can do as he won't chew anything for his teeth.. he just won't.

I was aware of it but I know that each dog handles it differently. It took a little over a year with my two small dogs. One is a lhasa mix. She gets very long hair and rolls around and gets into everything. Her bath water is nothing but mud. The other is a Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu mix who always has a place to itch.

The first objective of course is to care for them best as you can just as they are until you find their preference. After trying long eye hairs for tying up and short eye hairs and trimmed feet and multiple endless brushings daily, I tried shaving them. They were not comfortable so I started letting the hair grow out again. NOW they have just enough and they both love it.. you can tell by their body language that they are both quite comfortable

Yes, I have a GSD and it does shed all the time. Grooming does help, but I still get covered in fur, but it is worth it.

Didn't worry about the grooming commitment. I'm a professional dog groomer so i groom all my own dogs.

Yup, I was well aware. Grooming is *one* thing that needs to be a priority for buyers.

Actually, my aussie is easy. She is a wash and wear coat. It is the miniature schnauzer and shih tzu that require the time commitment.

ADD: I ought to add this. My parents bought a siberian husky ***** when I was 10. Now *that* dog shed like crazy. I guess compared to her, no dog sheds like that. And, to me, brushing is relaxing. I am lucky that my aussie likes to be brushed.