Groom Guide- The Why and When
There’s a common misconception that dogs don’t need to be groomed, or only groomed minimally, over the cooler months.
The belief is that a dog’s winter coat comes in and should be allowed to grow long to protect and warm the dog. In addition, because dogs, like humans, often follow a more sedentary and inside routine in the winter, many people feel that their dogs aren’t getting dirty enough to warrant bathing and grooming. But in fact, in many ways, grooming over the winter months becomes even more important to the health of your dog than at any other time of the year. Long, wet, matted hair easily makes a cold, wet, and infection-susceptible dog.
While it’s true that double-coated breeds and others with thick, long fur are more winter-ready than short-haired dogs, the “blessing” of these thick coats in winter can turn quickly into a curse if the fur isn’t maintained in a healthy condition. Fur that’s matted doesn’t insulate or provide warmth; instead, it provides discomfort, pain, and hot spots. Matting can even lead to infections below the skin, so when considering the effects of letting the grooming go, consider how your dog’s health may in fact suffer as a result. Grooming isn’t just for a beautiful dog, it’s also crucial for your dog’s good health.
When people think about grooming the first thing that comes to mind is long-haired dogs. It is commonly thought that a short-haired dog doesn’t need to be professionally groomed. However, having your short-haired dog professionally groomed can actually be very beneficial.
Most short-haired dogs give the impression that they don’t shed quite as much as a long-haired dog. There are actually several double-coated dogs that are short-haired that can make life a little more hairy in your home. Dogs such as Labrador Retrievers, some Pugs, & some Chihuahuas are a few of the culprits. Even though a dog may not be double-coated they can still tend to shed as well. Dogs such as Jack Russell Terriers and Boston Terriers can still give their owners vacuums a run for their money.
Whether your short-haired dogs are large or small getting them groomed even if it’s only quarterly can help with a lot of issues. Outside of bathing needs groomers also tend to see owners overlooking the need for monthly nail clipping, anal glands and ear cleaning.
Short- haired floppy eared dogs such as Basset hounds, Beagles and Mastiffs tend to present with ear infections more often and monthly grooming can help keep a handle on this.
So Let’s Break It Down:
Why?
- Regular brushing also helps to bring out the natural oils in the dog's fur.
- It allows you to check your dog for any abnormalities. This includes skin problems such as ticks, fleas and dry patches, or issues with their nails, teeth, ears, and eyes such as infection or inflammation.
- A wet dog is a cold dog- grooming in winter is beneficial to your dog’s health.
When?
- Although it depends mostly on the breed, hair length, and type of coat, regular grooming should be done about once every 6-8 weeks. For young puppies and dogs that have never been groomed, more frequent grooming or brushing at home should be done to get the dog used to being handled and to avoid grooming issues into adulthood.
- A good groomer can tell you more about what kind of groom routine your pooch should have. They can also give advice on how to maintain the coat between visits, shampoo options, and the best brush for your dog’s coat.
Services that are offered at our salon without an appointment include:
- A range of groom packages
- Pawdicure
- Tooth brushing
- Sanitary Groom/Facial
- Gland Expression
- De-shedding Treatment
- De-matting
- Medicated Shampoo Treatment
- Scissor Work
Bring your furry friends into Pet & Vet today for a quick pick me up or a good all round groom! Our groomers want to help make your furry family members feel their best!
There’s a common misconception that dogs don’t need to be groomed, or only groomed minimally, over the cooler months.
The belief is that a dog’s winter coat comes in and should be allowed to grow long to protect and warm the dog. In addition, because dogs, like humans, often follow a more sedentary and inside routine in the winter, many people feel that their dogs aren’t getting dirty enough to warrant bathing and grooming. But in fact, in many ways, grooming over the winter months becomes even more important to the health of your dog than at any other time of the year. Long, wet, matted hair easily makes a cold, wet, and infection-susceptible dog.
While it’s true that double-coated breeds and others with thick, long fur are more winter-ready than short-haired dogs, the “blessing” of these thick coats in winter can turn quickly into a curse if the fur isn’t maintained in a healthy condition. Fur that’s matted doesn’t insulate or provide warmth; instead, it provides discomfort, pain, and hot spots. Matting can even lead to infections below the skin, so when considering the effects of letting the grooming go, consider how your dog’s health may in fact suffer as a result. Grooming isn’t just for a beautiful dog, it’s also crucial for your dog’s good health.
When people think about grooming the first thing that comes to mind is long-haired dogs. It is commonly thought that a short-haired dog doesn’t need to be professionally groomed. However, having your short-haired dog professionally groomed can actually be very beneficial.
Most short-haired dogs give the impression that they don’t shed quite as much as a long-haired dog. There are actually several double-coated dogs that are short-haired that can make life a little more hairy in your home. Dogs such as Labrador Retrievers, some Pugs, & some Chihuahuas are a few of the culprits. Even though a dog may not be double-coated they can still tend to shed as well. Dogs such as Jack Russell Terriers and Boston Terriers can still give their owners vacuums a run for their money.
Whether your short-haired dogs are large or small getting them groomed even if it’s only quarterly can help with a lot of issues. Outside of bathing needs groomers also tend to see owners overlooking the need for monthly nail clipping, anal glands and ear cleaning.
Short- haired floppy eared dogs such as Basset hounds, Beagles and Mastiffs tend to present with ear infections more often and monthly grooming can help keep a handle on this.
So Let’s Break It Down:
Why?
- Regular brushing also helps to bring out the natural oils in the dog's fur.
- It allows you to check your dog for any abnormalities. This includes skin problems such as ticks, fleas and dry patches, or issues with their nails, teeth, ears, and eyes such as infection or inflammation.
- A wet dog is a cold dog- grooming in winter is beneficial to your dog’s health.
When?
- Although it depends mostly on the breed, hair length, and type of coat, regular grooming should be done about once every 6-8 weeks. For young puppies and dogs that have never been groomed, more frequent grooming or brushing at home should be done to get the dog used to being handled and to avoid grooming issues into adulthood.
- A good groomer can tell you more about what kind of groom routine your pooch should have. They can also give advice on how to maintain the coat between visits, shampoo options, and the best brush for your dog’s coat.
Services that are offered at our salon without an appointment include:
- A range of groom packages
- Pawdicure
- Tooth brushing
- Sanitary Groom/Facial
- Gland Expression
- De-shedding Treatment
- De-matting
- Medicated Shampoo Treatment
- Scissor Work
Bring your furry friends into Pet & Vet today for a quick pick me up or a good all round groom! Our groomers want to help make your furry family members feel their best!