Dog Grooming

Every dog needs grooming, some breeds more than others. Grooming your dog can be as simple as brushing weekly for a short haired breed like a Labrador, to daily grooming for a longhaired breed like a Bouvier or Briard.

Most dogs shed a little all the time. But generally twice a year, dogs shed their old coat and grow a new one. Even Labradors can shed a lot at this time, usually in the spring and fall. Growing and shedding coat depends on many factors such as the length of daylight, temperature, health and nutrition.

For most short-haired dogs, a maintenance weekly grooming will suffice. For these dogs a curry brush or soft slicker is sufficient. Long haired dogs require more frequent grooming. It is important to keep their coat from becoming matted Mats are clumps of hair that are difficult or impossible to brush out. If you find a mat, usually behind their ears, on their neck or belly or on their legs that you cannot brush out, it is time to go to your local grooming shop Master groomers, who have years of experience, are adept at brushing out lightly clumped mats. The heavier mats may need to be shaved out with clippers. DO NOT TRY TO CUT MATS OUT OF YOUR DOG'S COAT. Dog's skin is quite thin in some places, and it is easy to accidentally cut his skin. With clippers, your groomer can more safely remove the mats. If your dog is matted in many places, it may be necessary to shave your dog all over. This is the humane thing to do for your dog. Trying to brush out a badly matted dog is an inhumane task that most reputable grooming shops would not recommend. If in doubt, discuss this with your veterinarian. Slicker brushes work best for brushing long haired dogs.

There are also many breeds such as Poodles, Shih Tzu, Lhasas, and other dogs whose hair continues to grow. These breeds need professional grooming, usually including a trim, every 4-6 weeks.

When a dog is groomed in a grooming shop, the groomer usually clips the dog's nails, cleans the outer ears, shampoos him in a flea or other shampoo, cage dries him or blows him dry, and provide the proper breed trim, if indicated. Dogs, who are regularly groomed, become accustomed to the procedure and are happy to arrive in the grooming shop Most shops use food treats and praise to modify the dog's behavior and make the dog more comfortable in the grooming shop.

If you are unsure about grooming your dog, ask your veterinarian or stop by a grooming shop in your area for further information. We all love our dogs, but we love a freshly bathed and groomed dog even more. Treat yourself and your dog to a professional grooming. It will make you both happy.