To groom or not to groom – why should we groom our dogs?
We all have a part to play in keeping your dog's coat clean, healthy and manageable, not to mention mat free and therefore pain free!
Cleanliness and Appearance
It keeps him clean and fresh with a well maintained coat. It gets rid of all those nasty smells he no doubt rolls in all the time as well! He may love that smell but eeek, we don’t!!!
Inspection and Health
It ensures we pick up on any potential medical problems like lumps, bumps, fleas and ticks and any changes in attitude that may mean he is in pain. It means we can have a look at nails, ears, eyes and teeth for any potential problems that can be referred to your vet.
Relationship
What a way to bond with your dog. One to one contact where he learns to trust you whilst you care for him.
Brushing
Brush, brush and brush some more
It’s not just your dog who will benefit from being brushed. Think of the bond you are building between you both!
When you first brought your dog home, I bet you bought a new bed, bowl, squeaky toys and balls. Perhaps you bought a brush and comb too that are now perhaps stuck right at the back of the cupboard, no longer used! It may not be because you didn’t try but because your dog didn’t like it so you gave up. Happens to lots of people, believe me!
Gentle, regular brushing with a good brush however is key to keeping your dog’s coat in good condition. A good slicker brush is inexpensive, just ask me for advice and I can show you some simple brushing techniques that you can do whilst watching TV!!
Regular brushing will ensure a healthy glowing coat. It will remove dead hair, dirt and burrs and will also prevent tangles and mats in your dog’s coats. Mats will eventually become very painful for your dog and will pull on the skin. Imagine wearing a straightjacket as this is how your dog will feel. Now imagine walking wearing that straight jacket. Those mats will be pulling on your dog’s skin and causing severe pain. Mats can also hide other medical issues like fleas and ticks and if they are near their private area can cause infection and irritation. When your dog’s coat gets to this stage we often have no other option but to clip it short as brushing them out will cause pain and we will never allow your dog to suffer (Animal Welfare Act 2006). So, it’s really important to introduce brushing from puppyhood on a regular basis.
How often should I have my dog professionally groomed?
Certain dogs need more grooming than others. Look at the difference between a Boxer and a Lhasa’s coat, you see what I mean! It really depends on the coat type. Here’s a guide to some of the more popular breeds (but please note it is often dependent upon the condition of your dog’s coat and hair type):
- Airedale 8-12 weeks
- Bedlington 6-8 weeks
- Bichon-Frise 4 weeks
- Cairn 6-12 weeks
- Cocker Spaniel 4-8 weeks
- Collie (all types) 4-8 weeks
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 6-12 weeks
- Field Spaniel 8-12 weeks
- Golden Retriever 8-12 weeks
- Kerry Blue 4-6 weeks
- Labrador 12-16 weeks
- Lakeland 8-12 weeks
- Lhaso-Apso 4-8 weeks
- Maltese 4-8 weeks
- Norfolk / Norfolk Terrier 12-16 weeks
- Old English 4-6 weeks
- Pekingese – 12-16 weeks
- Pomeranian 8-12 weeks
- Poodle (all sizes) 4-6 weeks
- Schnauzer (all sizes) 6-12 weeks
- Scottish Terrier 8-12 weeks
- Shih-Tzu 4-8 weeks
- Springer Spaniel 8-12 weeks
- St Bernard 12-16 weeks
- Sussex Spaniel 8-12 weeks
- Tibetan 4-6 weeks
- Welsh Springer Spaniel 8-12 weeks/
- West Highland White (Westie) – 8-12 weeks
- Yorkshire Terrier 6-8 weeks