Grooming A Dog

Grooming A Dog

Dogs are great companions, man's best friend, unless you ask a cat. If you want to ensure their comfort and keep them looking great, grooming to some degree is necessary. While dogs with a very short coat, like chihuahuas don't need haircuts unless they are the long haired variety, they should be bathed and brushed to reduce shedding. Certainly poodles, cocker spaniels, schnauzers and the like need a regular haircut to showcase their breed qualities to their best advantage. An overgrown haircoat is not only unattractive, it can be detrimental to the health of the skin. In addition, dogs whose hair obscures the vision need to have the hair around their eyes trimmed regularly to avoid eye infections. Making grooming a dog fun is key.

A popular thing among owners of long haired breeds, pure or mixed breed, is the "summer cut." These dogs come in every spring to be shaved down, easier to bathe and keep flea free according to the owners. True enough, but those dogs who resist the owner's best attempts to groom them end up with a year round "summer cut." covered by an adorable sweater or coat in winter. A friend commented no matter how gorgeous her cocker looked after a haircut, he loved jumping into their pond too much to keep up his high class look. He had a "summer cut." Grooming not only refers to clipping, but includes a bath, nail trim, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression. Sometimes they even get their teeth brushed. Poodles and poodle mix dogs often need the hair plucked from the ear canal. If the hair is very thick, it results in smelly, more infection prone ears.

The grooming experience can be a pleasant one if you start early teaching your dog to be handled. Many salons offer puppy cuts, a modified version of an adult cut specific to the breed. When the groomer is skilled and very patient, your puppy will not mind going. You can aid in this process at home by handling their feet and simulating nail trimming. A lot of small dogs hate having their feet touched so the earlier you start, the better. The same goes for brushing. Be patient and brush a little bit each day. Puppies have a short attention span so just brush for a few minute s at a time. Your life will be far easier in the future if you start young and your groomer will thank you for it. Dogs are a lot more likely to tolerate grooming than cats. Cats can do it themselves thank you very much.

When I think about my personal experience grooming dogs, a particular dog comes to mind. He had obviously not been trained as a puppy to be groomed. When presented to me, he closely resembled a filthy pile of old upholstery stuffing. His owner assured me that "Beau" was a toy poodle. You could have fooled me. Her mother lost no time in telling me she used to show and groom poodles. Used to being the operative word, because clearly "Beau" had never had the benefit of her expertise. Bless his heart, he was matted to the skin, with no chance of getting the requested poodle cut with a pompom on his tail. Thank the powers that be, he was very small because under all the facial mats was a full set of gnashing teeth intent on making me bleed. After his bath, I went to work on his coat. I contemplated the use of a machete, but after a long while using scissors and clippers, the little dog looked pretty good, albeit completely shaved down.

His owners expressed disappointment at the lack of a poodle cut, but seemed relieved that he was at least clean and mat free. I suggested they might want to groom him more often than once a year and I could do the poodle cut. They said they'd try, but I knew better. "See ya next year Beau." I muttered under my breath and I did. I saw him every year in the same disheveled state until he went to his reward at a ripe old age. I am sure that everyone who has ever groomed a dog has a similar story. In many salons there are before and after photos of these dogs. In some cases the owners don't even recognize their own pets after grooming. One client bought a house complete with a scruffy little dog left tied to the barn. After grooming a beautiful little schnauzer emerged and she truly did not believe he was the same dog.

Treat your friend to the spa experience. While he may not be as concerned with his looks as you are, every dog can use a little pampering and when he's done you can both go out for ice cream.

 

 

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