As we are well aware,
cats by nature are narcissist and groom themselves hours on
end. Dogs on the other hand couldn't care less about their
appearance and are actually much happier when rolling around
in the dirt and enjoy playing with some smelly object they
have just found. Dogs don't believe in grooming. Dogs,
unfortunately don't realize that their normal odor isn't
considered as an especially delightful perfume by the rest
of the household and trawling through mountains of fallen
dog hair scattered throughout the house is not an enjoyable
task easily undertaken. So until our friends become the
master and decide grooming is not for them, they'll have to
live with the fact of us looking after them and trying to
keep their coats healthy and lustrous..
There are many ways of achieving the goal of dog grooming.
For one, we can leave it to the professional. There are many
pet salons that provide a myriad of grooming services and
many pet owners may avail themselves of this particular
avenue. The advantages are obvious. Prices are affordable
and the problems are left to others. However, for many
reasons not every pet lover will take this course. It goes
without saying that many owners don't bother grooming at all
while others love to do it themselves at home as part of
their bonding relationship.
It must be pointed out that all dogs need grooming.
Long-haired dogs should be brushed and combed often, at
least two or three times a week. Animals with heavy
undercoat should have shedded hair brushed out weekly. This
will speed up the shedding process and avoid carpets
becoming thick with hair and difficult to vacuum. Dogs with
shorter hair should still be brushed and rubbed down often
to keep their coats and skin smooth and healthy.
Like any job of work, proper grooming requires a certain
technique and the tools to do the job. First a fine-toothed
comb should be used to rake fleas from the coat and for
grooming soft, silky coated dogs. The shedding comb offers a
unique design; its long teeth pull dead hair from the
undercoat while the short teeth collect loose hair. It's
also an excellent tool for removing matted hair. The
undercoat rake is especially designed for breeds with thick,
heavy coats and under coats. The teeth are thick, allowing
the rake to attack the undercoat while being gently
maneuvered through the dog's coat.
Bathing is very important in keeping your dog's coat fresh
and good looking, but like everything else it should only be
done in moderation. Most veterinarians advise bathing a dog
no more than once a month. Too much bathing can dry a dog's
skin and cause hot spots and itching, which can lead to
scratching and infection. If a dog is to be bathed more than
once a month, an aloe based shampoo and conditioners should
be used and foods and supplements with Omega fatty acids
should be given to increase the production of coat oils.
In maintaining a dog's appearance and good health daily
examinations are a valuable tool. Admittedly this can be a
little too demanding and time consuming for the average pet
owner. The dog should be carefully checked for cuts, rashes,
fleas, ticks, and other parasites that may have found a
haven in the animal's skin. These should be removed and
antibiotics or appropriate medications applied as soon as
possible. A flea or any other allergy for that matter can
cause skin eruptions and should be treated at once.
It goes without saying that good skin and a healthy coat
owes everything to a good diet. It is not a good idea to
feed an animal with food made for the rest of the household.
A little amount of human food goes a long way for a dog.
Usually, a good grade dry dog food will provide all of the
nutrition and essential dietary elements necessary to keep a
dog in good health. If a dog's coat is not sleek or its skin
appears itchy, a change in diet may be indicated. However,
most often vitamin or fatty acid supplements will cure the
problem.
The use of professional groomer should not be overlooked if
grooming becomes too difficult time wise. Not only do the
professional bath and comb and thin the dog's undercoat,
they also clean the ears and clip the dog's nails. It is
important that nails should be clipped weekly and often this
is a job that neither the dog nor the owner are comfortable
with. Of late, the traveling groomer has arrived on the
grooming scene. These professionals will come to your home
in their Van, which is fully equipped for grooming, and
complete the full bathing and grooming process right in your
driveway.
Our dogs give us so much love and loyalty that helping them
maintain their health by keeping them groomed is the least
we can do to reward that loyalty.
