What First-Time Dog Owners Need To Know About Grooming
Photo by Nicolás Pinilla on Unsplash
Becoming a first-time dog owner is exciting and wonderful—and even a bit scary. There are so many things to know about how to properly care for your dog. And grooming is one of them. Elizabeth Toc, co-owner of The Tailored Tail, has these five tips for those unfamiliar with how a professional dog groomer can help you and your pet.
First and foremost, you need to know that grooming is much more than just making your new pup look fabulous. Grooming is very important to your dog’s overall health and happiness. Consider this:
Regular grooming (mostly brushing and baths) is good for preventing future skin issues. By doing this, you remove dead skin and encourage the production of oils to keep the dog’s coat healthy.
Grooming can help find other health problems like ear infections, wounds or other conditions you would not have otherwise seen.
Some long-haired dogs and poodles tend to get matted hair if not cared for properly. These tangles can lead to skin infections and be uncomfortable for your dog.
The importance of regular brushing cannot be overstated. Toc says your dog should be brushed regularly and in between grooming visits. Here’s why:
Brushing keeps shedding dogs free of dead hair, which helps their circulation and distribute their natural oils.
Regular brushing helps prevent the matting of a dog’s fur—which is uncomfortable and hard to get out.
Toc says by brushing your dogs regularly they’ll also be more used to going to the groomer for an easier experience for the dog, the owner and the groomer.
A dog’s nails must be kept short to prevent injuries. Let the groomer do this if you don’t know how. Why?
If you accidentally cut the nail at the quick (blood vessel and nerves inside your dog’s nail which provides blood supply) your dog might bleed and you’ll need to tend to the wound.
Cutting nails is tough for an inexperienced owner also because the dog may resist and make it a difficult situation for both. Groomers are trained to clip the nails and use specialized equipment.
Bathing your dog is simple, but there are things you need to know. They are:
Pick a shampoo that won’t irritate your dog’s skin and dry out its coat. Don’t use human shampoo, Toc says. The Ph balance is not right for dogs.
The groomer can blow dry your dog’s coat, which is much more difficult to do at home
How often should you see a professional groomer?
Toc says the amount of time between grooming sessions varies on the breed of dog, but a good rule of thumb is six weeks between visits.
Dogs with long, wiry or curly coats; double-coated dogs; dogs who need more frequent attention to hygiene or dogs with special haircut styles will benefit from more frequent grooming, Toc says.