A Tangled Pooch

How many of us dog owners brush and comb our pooch’s coat on a regular basis in-between grooms?  If you said, “never”, “not often”, or “not enough”…then you may have come across the issue of bunches of itty-bitty knots or mega-tangles in your pooch’s coat.  These knots or tangles (better known in the grooming world a “matt”) can be very obvious or not obvious and/or unsightly, but above all, an eventual painful obstacle for your pooch to a good grooming.

De-tangling (also known as de-matting) your pooch’s coat is an appropriate and necessary step to grooming your dog.  The de-matting process will take place well before the dog is bathed.  Bathing a matted dog will only make the matts worse upon drying and this will result in even more discomfort for your dog. Attempting to dry a tangled and knotted coat will result in the knot drying and result in possible pulling at the skin, if it has not already done so, causing not only irritated skin and discomfort, but poses a hazard to your dog during the grooming process. 

During the grooming process…should clippers come into contact with one of these knots of fur while trying shorten the fur, the clippers could cut into the dog’s skin presenting a new and more serious risk.

To help find the presence of matts, one should be able to run a small tooth comb through the pooch’s coat from head to tail, chest through belly as well as the underarms, hindquarters through the tail including under the tail.  The inability to do so will likely hinder not only the grooming process but the bathing phase as well.  Though, in most cases, de-matting is possible…it does come with risks and concerns…not to mention extra charges.  The added charges depend on the condition of the coat and the degree of the severity of the matts that are found. Charges are added because of the risk to the pooch, the risk of a possible dog bite to the groomer (dogs fight the process), extra wear-tear on equipment, and the time it takes a groomer to dematt or detangle a dog…so do not be upset with the added charges. They are fair and necessary charges.

Any and all grooming shops will have thier respective de-matting fee structure.  Please inquire as to thier de-matting fees and how those charges are incurred.  They may be accessed as a base rate or upon intervals of time.  In either case, be sure to ask your groomer about their particular grooming process and fees.   Ask your groomer how you can help keep your dog’s coat matt free with regular brushing including a thorough comb-through with a small tooth comb, so that when your  pooch comes in for their regular grooming you will not be surprised with… a tangled pooch and the added charge!

Dog Hair

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Your dog’s hair is important to your dog’s health and how he looks. Dogs can sometimes get dry hair or experience increased shedding from shampoos which wash away oils your dog needs to keep his hair and skin healthy. This can be fixed by changing the shampoo you use or by adding different things to your dog’s diet.

One of the items that can increase the health of your dog’s coat is adding a raw egg to the diet. There are a few minor risks to this process, but is the easiest to do. Don’t feed your dog too many egg whites at a time or he may get sick. The other risk is salmonella. This risk is one in tens of thousands, but there is a small chance it could happen.

Fish oil is another thing which can be added to your dog’s diet to make your dog’s hair healthier. This is also another easier way to make dog’s hair better, but like the raw eggs, may take a little time to show the improvement.

If your dog can stay still for a long time while taking a bath, and you want to have an instant improvement, try using olive oil. Wet down your dog’s hair in a bath tub, put olive oil on your dog’s hair and rub it in, let it sit for about fifteen to thirty minutes, and wash the extra oil off of your dog’s coat. This way can be the biggest pain for dogs who don’t like to take a bath, but it is the fastest way to get an instant result.

The last thing that could make your dog’s hair better, is to change your dog’s dog food. Some dog foods will have more ingrediants to increase the health of your dog’s hair, but it can cost more because of the contents. This method will also take some time to show.

There are many other ways to make your dog’s hair healthier, but these are a few of the ways that are fairly easy and don’t cost a lot of money to do. But if you don’t have the time to do any of these, you could always drop your dog off at a local groomer, which can give your dog a bath and save you time.

Things To Know About Giving Your Dog A Bath

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After your dog has been running around in the mud and dirt or is about ready to compete in a dog show, he will need a bath. If you decide to wash him yourself, what soap/shampoo should you use? Are there places on his body you should be careful not to get soap on? The list of questions can go on and on. Well, you have another choice if you want to be on the safe side for giving your dog a bath. You could always take him to a local grooming place that would know what to do and what areas to avoid. But back to if you want to give him a bath yourself.

First, it would be highly recommended that you buy a soap/shampoo that is designed for being used on dogs. Some of the shampoos that people use can give a dog rash and can lead to problems with your dog scratching at that rash. So to be on the safe side, use a shampoo that is made for dogs. You can shop at the local pet supplies store or consult with your veterinarian.

Watch out for getting water or soap in your dog’s ears or eyes. This can lead to infections for the unhealthy ear, and may lead to irritation in the eyes. This can result in a lot of vet visits. This is something to be concerned with and if you’re scared something might happen, you might consider taking your dog to a local provessional grooming facility. It will cut down on the risk.

Now, how to give him a bath. First wet your dog down with water. Next, apply soap/shampoo. Be careful not to get the soap into your dog’s ears or eyes. Place the shampoo on his body and work some of it onto his head. Then wash off the soap. Adding soap and washing your dog off again may be required depending hon how dirty/oily he is. And finally, dry off your dog with a towel or blow dryer (on lukewarm or cool).

Give your dog a bath about every one or two months (4 - 6 or 8 weeks), or whenever he needs one. The easier solution is to get your local professional groomer to give your dog a bath. They will know alot more about washing a dog, and will strive to do a great job at washing him and returning a happy & clean dog .

 

Dog Grooming

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Grooming your dog is a important part of keeping your dog smelling fresh day in and day out. From preventing most hair from getting into every corner of the house  to keeping your dog’s nails short so they don’t scratch you. There are many other reasons why your dog should be groomed regularly. The easiest way to get this done is to find a quality dog grooming shop and let them groom your dog. This way they have all the supplies they need to make your dog feel comfortable and clean. But if you prefer that you groom your dog, then there are supplies and tips you will need to know.

The coat of your dog is one of the messiest things to deal with. Brushing your dog’s coat can help remove most of the dirt in his coat and keep his skin from becoming irritated. It will also help keep most of the hair out of the carpet and other places it can pile up in. So, buying the right slicker brush is important.

Nails will need to be cut when they get long. When cutting your dog’s nails, make sure to watch out for the pink in the center. DO NOT CUT THIS! This is a vein and clipping it will cause your dog to bleed. There is also a nerve near the vein and it’s painful to your dog if you clip a nail too close. If you can’t see the pink, cut a bit after where the nail is starting to curve, in front of the pink line. Make sure to keep some stiptic powder nearby to help stop the bleeding if you do clip too close. Buy the right size nail clipper for your dog’s nails. Remember that clipping black nails is more difficult than clipping white or clearer nails.

Brushing your dog’s teeth can keep cavities from forming and help freshen his breath. Brushing your dog’s teeth once a day to about twice a week can help with this. Make sure to brush his back teeth and gums. You can brush your dog’s teeth with a soft bristle tooth brush and use a toothpaste that is specifically made for dogs.

Bathing your dog is needed about every month to three months to keep your dog clean. Using a dog shampoo and washing behind the ears and between the toes will help keep your dog clean. Do not get any soap in his eyes or water or soap in his ears while washing him. This may irritate his eyes or make your dog’s ears infected if he has any open sores or irritations in his ear canal. And remember to dry off your dog with a blow dryer ( on low heat or cool) or a towel well before you let him run around the house.

Keeping your dog smelling fresh and having him well groomed is great for you and him. But if you can’t find the time to groom him yourself and he needs to be groomed, then remember that you can take your dog to a local dog grooming shop or a dog grooming school to get your dog groomed for a reasonable price and save you some time.