Tips For "In Between" Grooming

Twilight: A Standard Poodle - posing after her groom

So...your dog or cat just enjoyed a nice, refreshing groom. Fabulous! I'll start by saying this, "I'm so proud of you! Taking this crucial step towards your pets' grooming needs can be a difficult one, financially. Think of it this way: brushing your hair or shaving regularly is crucial for our own personal hygiene, and goes the same for your fur baby. We all struggle and it can be difficult to maintain grooming care by a professional. After seeing so many breeds and how they come in the groom salon, I wanted to help owners and their pets the best chance for a positive outcome, instead of a full shave due to severe fur matting.

It's important to bring your dog in once every 4-6 weeks for a bath and brush service which includes these basics:

• Bath

• Nails Clipped

• Ears Cleaned

• Thorough brushing

• Pads shaved if needed

• Ear hair plucked if needed

This is especially true if its a long-haired dog such as a Golden Retriever or Poodle, and everything in between. But this expectation isn't always ideal since life struggles and financials can get in the way.

BRUSHING

The best thing you can do to extend intervals between grooming sessions is brushing. The shorter the coat, the less brushing you need to do, and this is true no matter the breed. As the coat grows and becomes longer it is very important to brush frequently with a slicker brush (a paddle-style brush with stiff/metal bristles) and a greyhound comb (a metal comb). When you're at the salon next, ask an employee what these tools look like or how to use them. Most groomers are more than happy to show them to you or showing the proper technique.

A good rule of thumb: if your pup's fur is about half an inch long (you can gently measure by pulling up on their coat with your fingers and guesstimating the length) you can stretch the interval to once a week brushing. When they are about one inch in length, time to brush more frequently. Depending on the style and type of coat - such as a Poodle, or other breeds with similar coats - you will need to brush them at least twice a week, with a preference of every other day. As is grows, finding time to brush every day is preferable until their next grooming service. Make sure to comb thoroughly through their fur - from skin to surface - to prevent matts closer to the skin, which can become increasingly more painful to break-up when maintaining their .

So, you brushed your pet every day as suggested? Ask yourself this, "Did I start down on the skin first? Or did I only brush the outer layers of the fur?" If you answered yes to the first question, your technique is on par! There should be much less of a chance your fur baby needs to be shaved. But if you said yes to the second question, practice makes perfect! Asking your pups groomer for more guidance with brushing or combing can be beneficial to reduce matting.

AT HOME BATHS

If your not sure what store-bought fur-care products are right for your pup, ask your groomer for suggestions, especially if the location you visit happens to carry them in stock. Ordering products online is also a great resource as they are plentiful - and it can be overwhelming. Asking your groomer about care products found online is a great way to find the right thing.

If you don't feel comfortable asking your groomer, reading reviews about products online can help to solidify your choice. When doing so, make sure the product has top ratings from numerous reviewers, as well as filtering by your price range. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by any brand of products, but here are a few recommendations and products I use for clients and my own personal dogs:

• Best Shot: Ultra Max Shampoo and Conditioner (good for both dogs and cats)

• Chi shampoo and conditioner (safe for dogs and puppies only)

• Bark2Basics: Can't go wrong with them, but they require dilution with water. Follow the directions on the bottle for mixing instructions.

• Double K: This has been a long-time favorite of mine. again check to see if what you are buying is cat safe if you are bathing your cat in between services.

• Earthbath is a great classic as well.

While bathing your pet's coat, it is extremely important to make sure all product is out of your pets coat. As easy way to determine if shampoo is fully rinsed is by watching the water as it hits the fur. If it still makes suds, it needs more rinsing, and the texture of the fur will become more grippy, instead of slippery when still soapy. When using conditioner, water will still be milky or foggy when still in the hair. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.

Short-haired and flat-coated dogs dry off well with just a brisk towel dry. If your pup is double coated, drop coated, or fluffy, it's important to dry your pup thoroughly and completely, then brush and comb their fur. Huskies, Malamutes, and other dense coated dogs need to be completely dry or their fur will lock in moisture and can cause skin and coat issues, and bad odor. A high velocity dryer is best to make sure dog coats are completely dry.

EAR CLEANING

It's important to examine your pet's ears and use a cotton pad (you can find them in the makeup sections at big-box stores) to clean them. Ear cleaner for dogs and cats can be found in the grooming section at your pet store, or you can order it online.

Make sure to wet the cotton pad and gently rub the insides (not too deep) of the ear canal. Repeat until the pad is clean, or up to three times to make sure the ear canal doesn't become irritated.

I hope you enjoyed this information and hope it helps to save you some green.