Why You Should Groom Your Dog Regularly

1 Why Regular Dog Grooming Matters

I. What does grooming require?

Grooming is a general term that can refer to a variety of pet cleaning tasks, specifically including bathing, blow-drying, hair cutting, nail trimming, or anal gland cleaning. You can choose to groom your dog yourself or take your dog to a professional. Many pet owners feel comfortable bathing their dog or trimming its nails, but they may not be good at styling the dog’s coat, in which case a good groomer comes in handy. Of course, you can simply use clippers to groom your dog, but some dogs are very sensitive to or dislike this tool. In addition, you may not know how much hair to cut to be appropriate. Another important point is that grooming near sensitive areas such as the dog’s paws, tail, and face can be difficult, because if you have not received professional training you can easily hurt the dog. Therefore, grooming a dog requires special tools and a lot of practice, but with the right method you can also become a home grooming expert.

II. Typical dog haircuts

When you go to the grooming salon, you may just want to cut off some of the dog’s fur to keep your dog cool in summer. If you have a specific need, you need to communicate with the groomer in time and be sure to state the length of hair you want cut and the areas you want the groomer to trim, even if you use non-professional terms, you must try to make it clear to the staff.

1. Teddy Bear clip

According to relevant information, the Teddy Bear clip can also be used on dogs. The length of the cut is usually uniform; generally the dog’s hair needs to be left 1.5 to 2.5 cm long. The style around the face may vary. Some groomers leave the leg hair very long when giving a Teddy Bear clip, while the hair around the face is usually left untrimmed.

2. Lamb clip

The lamb clip is similar to the Teddy Bear clip, but the leg hair in this style may be cut shorter. In addition, the hair around the face may also be trimmed, rather than left as is like the Teddy Bear clip.

3. Summer clip

In summer, you can keep your long-haired dog cool by cutting its fur. The summer style is usually a relatively short cut, and some people prefer to leave the dog’s ear and tail hair untrimmed.

4. Kennel clip

The kennel clip is generally cut very short. Note that some pet groomers consider the kennel clip and the dog clip to be the same, so before starting the appointment, be sure to fully discuss with your pet groomer what you want and need.

The reasoning behind the kennel clip is that you only need to keep your hunting dog or working dog’s coat short during the seasons they are not working, because when they are outdoors, hunting dogs greatly need long coats to protect them from the natural environment, while for performance working dogs, the dogs need their hairstyle carefully designed during the acrobatic peak season. And longer hair is easier to design than shorter hair.

5. Breed-native clip

Each breed corresponds to a different clipping method. Some need more coat care, while others only need casual grooming. Breeds with unique styles (highly recognizable breeds) include the Schnauzer, Spaniel, and Poodle. Each breed has its own relatively native hair clipping method.

6. Topknot

Many small dog owners like to tie the hair on their head into a topknot. This prevents the hair from scraping their eyes. This topknot is often paired with a bow to add a cute style and fun.

Tips for deciding your dog’s haircut

Should your dog have long or short hair? The first thing you need to consider is your dog’s comfort. In addition, more questions include: does your dog’s hair often get tangled? Does dirt or feces often get stuck in their fur? Does your dog wet its hair when urinating? If your answer to any of the above is yes, then it is necessary to contact a groomer. Because these professionals can cut the hair in certain areas of the dog to an appropriate length to prevent these problems.

Another factor you need to consider is how much time per day you are willing to spend grooming your dog. Longer hair may require about 10 minutes of brushing per day, because dense long hair blocks air from reaching the dog’s skin. If your dog has dandruff, hot spots, or other skin conditions, this may mean it is time to trim its coat.

III. Why groom your dog regularly?

The Kentucky Humane Society explains: there are many reasons to groom your dog regularly, mainly the following two points. First, shampoo designed specifically for your dog’s skin and coat can help remove debris and oils from the dog’s body to prevent the development of some skin problems. Another common canine disease is hard-eye disease. Crusty eyes make the dog very uncomfortable and can even develop into ulcers and emit a rotten smell. And the groomer will help trim its hair away from the eyes and help you learn how to properly groom your dog.

When grooming your dog at home, it is easy to miss some areas, including the inner ears, the area between the toes, and the undercoat. Trimming the hair deep in the ears to prevent infection is important. Hair between the toes can pick up dirt, burrs, debris, ice, and mud that make the dog very uncomfortable, and can also cause the dog to slip on smooth surfaces.

Stay away from ‘unkempt’

What if your dog gets a bad haircut? If the hair is cut too short, your dog’s risk of sunburn increases. Therefore, keep your dog indoors as much as possible until the hair grows back. Remember, hair always grows back, and your dog’s hairstyle is not permanent. You need to smile and tell your dog it looks handsome!