The best way to maintain a healthy coat for your pet is by taking your dog to a professional groomer. At PetWow, our professional grooming services provide everything you need to keep your pup looking great, from standard cuts and shaves to baths and custom cuts. Contact us or call 513-738-9691 to set up an appointment today. For more pet care tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or LinkedIn!
It doesn’t matter whether your dog’s coat is short, long, thin or thick, regular grooming not only helps keep him looking good, it helps him stay free of pests and prevent skin problems while giving you valuable time to bond.
While brushing your dog’s coat may seem like a chore for both you and your pup, regular brushings are actually an essential part of keeping your best friend happy and healthy.
Even if your dog doesn’t like getting groomed, all it takes is a good brush, knowing the right techniques and a few minutes a week to make it an enjoyable part of her routine.
Once you have the right brush, getting your dog comfortable with being brushed simply requires a few treats on hand. Let your dog examine the brush and reward good behavior with treats or a chew-toy as you slowly and gently brush down and out in the direction of coat growth. Before long, you and your dog will look forward to spending this time together.
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS)- There are many benefits to brushing your dog on a regular basis. Brushing your dog not only creates a special bond, but its also extremely practical.
Its best to brush shorthaired dogs two or three times a week. Medium and longhaired dogs can be groomed daily, especially during the spring and summer when shedding takes place the most.
As you brush, keep a watchful eye out for excessive shedding, hot spots, patchy areas of bald spots, or anything else unusual about the fur or the skin. Contact your vet right away since these could indicate signs of stress and illness.
Make sure youre safely using the correct brush for your dogs coat and size. If youre unsure, ask your vet. Also have your vet or groomer show you the correct way to brush your dog so that youre brushing the undercoat (where shedding takes place) as well as the topcoat. If severe matting occurs, dont attempt to brush them out as this can hurt your dog. Instead, make a worthwhile trip to your vets office or to a professional pet groomer as careful shaving would be the only way to safely resolve the problem.
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5 benefits of brushing your dog at home
Contrary to what select prissy pet salons advertise, dog grooming isnt a canine luxury. Its a necessity, and it doesnt have to break the bank.
Keeping your pet well groomed not only makes for a clean-smelling companion, it also helps keep your dog more comfortable and allows you to spot health problems before they become serious, or even life-threatening.
How important is grooming to your pets comfort and health? Have you ever had your hair in a ponytail that was just a little too tight? Maybe your hair was just bunched up or stuck together? A mat can feel the same way to your dog — a constant pull on the skin. Try to imagine those all over your body, and you have an idea how uncomfortable an ungroomed coat can be.
Your dog doesnt need to know what a mat feels like if you keep him brushed and combed, but thats just the start of the health benefits. Regular grooming allows you to look for lumps, bumps and injuries, all while clearing mats and ticks from his coat. Follow up with your veterinarian on any questionable masses you find, and you may detect cancer early enough to save your pets life.
For shorthaired breeds, keeping skin and coat in good shape is easy. Run your hands over him daily and brush weekly — thats it.
For other breeds, grooming is a little more involved. Breeds such as Collies, Chows, Keeshonden and Alaskan Malamutes are “double-coated,” which means they have a downy undercoat underneath a harsher layer of long hair. The down can mat like a layer of felt against the skin if left untended. To prevent this, divide the coat into small sections and brush against the grain from the skin outward, working from head to tail, section by section. In the spring and fall — the big shedding times — youll end up with enough fluffy undercoat to make a whole new dog. Keep brushing and think of the benefits: The fur you pull out with a brush wont end up on the furniture. Plus, removing the old stuff keeps your pet cooler in the summer and allows new insulation come in for the winter.
Silky-coated dogs such as Afghan Hounds, Cockers and Maltese also need constant brushing to keep tangles from forming. As with the double-coated dogs, work with small sections at a time, brushing from the skin outward, and then comb back into place with the grain for a glossy, finished look. Coats of this type require so much attention that having a groomer keep the dogs trimmed to a medium length is often more practical. In fact, experts say that the pets who shed the least are longhaired dogs kept short-trimmed by a groomer.
Curly and wiry coats, such as those on Poodles and Terriers, need to be brushed weekly, working against the grain and then with it. Curly coats need to be clipped every six weeks; wiry ones, two or three times a year (though clipping every six weeks will keep your Terrier looking sharper).
Good grooming also provides benefits for both of you. Regular grooming relaxes the dog whos used to it, and it becomes a special time that you can both share. A coat free of mats, burrs and tangles and skin free of fleas and ticks are as comfortable to your dog as fresh, clean clothes are to you. It makes you feel good, and the effect is the same for your pet. And, for allergy sufferers, keeping your pooch clean may make having a dog possible.
Some added benefit for you: Giving your dog a tummy rub after every session is sure to relax you (and your dog, of course) and ease the stress of your day.
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