Grooming Your Pet Dog

Regular grooming of your pet helps keep him healthy. With grooming you can catch skin issues, irritations and other problems before they get out of hand. The amount of grooming depends on the breed you have – obviously a Collie or Afghan hound will take more grooming than a Chihuahua or Beagle.

The smooth coated breeds still benefit from regular brushing to keep the coat and skin in good condition. There are other breeds with an under coat – good examples of this can be seen in many of the sled dog breeds, where there is a short, dense coat near the skin as well as a longer length coat that is more visible. If you part the coat to look at the skin you can usually clearly see one with an under coat. These take regular grooming especially when the seasons change to get that under coat pulled out as it sheds. This prevents matting, skin diseases and often parasites from bothering your dog.

A coat that matts can get almost a felt texture, and sometimes extend so close to the skin it is difficult to shear it off if neglected. Professional groomers have a variety of combs and brushes designed to get all the way down and prevent tangles as well as work to remove them.

The longer coat of some breeds, such as a Shetland Sheepdog, is often relatively maintenance free *if* you regularly thoroughly brush it out. Get a comb that reaches all the way down into the coat and gently but completely comb through it section by section, especially when shedding. Once a week goes a long way towards making your dog more comfortable and your groomer’s job much easier.

You don’t need a degree or a host of expensive brushes and clippers to do this. Depending on your dog’s breed and activity, once or twice per week can preserve the coat, promote healthy skin and result in a dog that shows he’s well maintained. Your regular attention to this task can spot parasites before they become established. It can mean finding rashes or irritations faster as well as injuries that dogs seem to sometimes get without explanation. Often these issues are not a big deal by itself but if dealt with early on never become a big deal. With a good comb and even fifteen minutes per week both your dog and your groomer will thank you!