Dog Grooming 101 What Every Pet Parent Should Know

They say that dogs are man’s best friend. Many people would even say that our dogs are the only creatures that love us more than they love themselves. With this selfless devotion, it is only right that we pamper them.

You may want to pamper your dogs and give them a little TLC, but the question is how to do it and how often. Whether you are a new owner or not, you would want to know how to do the chore correctly. In this case, you should continue reading this article.

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to dog grooming. You have to consider their breed, the type of coat that your furbaby has, how much they shed, and how much brushing and washing you are willing to do at home. 

Dogs with Short Hair

Short-haired dogs only need occasional baths. If they shed excessively, you should ask your groomer if they offer low-shed dog grooming services, which they might call as carding or furminating. This process involves a thorough brushing of your furbaby to reduce its shedding. As much as you want the shedding to completely stop, it will not, even if you will shave your furbaby.

You might have taken your fu-baby to a professional dog grooming salon. Professional groomers still recommend brushing them regularly at home with stiff-bristled brush because it stimulates the natural oil production. Thus, it gives them a shiny, healthy coat. 

If you are wondering how often you should give them a bath, you should not do it more than once a month or whenever they start to stink. Please take note that overbathing can dry out your dog’s skin and lead to brittle hair and shedding. Frequent brushing is much more important for healthy skin.

Dogs with Short Hair and Double Coats

Double-coated breeds have a soft undercoat and a longer top layer of course guard hairs. The long outer coat protects your dogs from the sun and helps repel dirt, parasites, and moisture. The soft inner coat provides warmth in the winter and is drastically shed seasonally to keep your furbaby cool in the summer.

If you have this breed of dog, you must plan your dog grooming at least four times a year. Doing so will help pull the dead undercoat. Please also take invest in a wire brush or pin brush for your dog’s outer coat and a grooming rake for the dense undercoat.

You might have been tempted to shave your dog to prevent shedding. As mentioned earlier, doing this will not keep them from shedding more fur. If you do such thing, you are putting your furbaby at a higher risk for heatstroke.

Your furbaby will have major shedding episodes known as “coat blow” and happens once or twice a year. You should know that what remains of the undercoat after a seasonal coat blow helps your furbaby cool. It also protects your dog against sunburn. 

Conclusion

Our dogs deserve our love and care, probably even more. You might want to invest in tools to pamper them. They will return this attention ten folds.

If you do not have the time to give your furbaby a proper bath, there is no need to fret because The Ruff Life Mobile is here to help. We offer door-to-door dog grooming for any breed, so book your appointment now!