All dogs do need grooming to some extent. Short-haired
breeds that don't moult as much won't need grooming as often or as thoroughly
as long-haired breeds that shed their coats a couple of times a year. The breed
of dog doesn’t matter, grooming is still important to make sure that they are
comfortable. Interestingly, their health can also affect their coat and vice
versa. The foods that you feed your dog and its overall well-being will be
apparent in the look of its coat. This is partially why a raw food diet has
become so popular for dogs in the last few years but more on that later. Let's
take a look.
The Link Between Your Dog's Health And Its Coat
Healthy dogs tend to have shinier, healthier coats, whereas
dogs experiencing a health issue tend to have duller coats. Obviously, this won't
be a foolproof way for you to assess your dog's health, but it is something to
pay attention to. The diet that you feed your dog can have an effect on its
coat too. When your dog's nutritional needs are met, it is apparent in the look
of its coat. Conventional dog foods are more popular simply because they are
easier, but they are not necessarily the most nutritionally sound option. ProDog
Raw outlines the raw
food for dogs' diets and has everything you need to get started.
The Importance Of Grooming
Grooming is integral to maintaining your dog's coat. It
removes all of the dirt build-up, the shedding fur, and dandruff or dead skin
cells. The follicles are stimulated, which helps to kickstart the production of
oils which help to protect the skin. During a groom, your dog's ears, teeth and
claws tend to be checked too. This allows you to catch problems early.
Essentially, grooming your dog allows you to have a rudimentary health check
performed at the same time.
The Frequency Of Grooming
Truth be told, there isn't really a rule for how often you should
have your dog groomed. This is simply because some breeds are likely to need
grooming more often than others. Long-haired breeds, or breeds that have a
winter and summer coat will need grooming more often than short-haired breeds.
In terms of frequency, you can just use your common sense, take a look at your
dog, and you should be able to tell whether or not they need grooming. Does
their fur look matted or scraggly? Are their nails long? These are tell-tale signs
that your dog needs grooming.
It also makes sense to try and get your dog used to the
grooming process as soon as possible; it desensitises them to the process and
removes their fear. Grooming can cause your dog a great deal of anxiety because
most people pay to have their dog groomed by a stranger, it is an unfamiliar
environment with
loud noises, and without your presence to calm them, this can be quite
upsetting for your dog. Taking them early in life is really helpful in
encouraging them to be more comfortable with the process. The grooming process
in its entirety is likely to be a bi-monthly or seasonal obligation. Other than
that, you will only need to bathe and brush your dog when they need it.
Grooming Your Dog Yourself
Most pet owners do prefer to pay someone else to groom their
dog for them, but there isn't anything to say that you can't do it yourself.
However, grooming isn't necessarily easy, it is a skill, so if you want to do
it yourself, then you do need to be prepared to learn. Starting with washing
and brushing, this is really easy; the stakes are low because you can't really
wash or brush your dog incorrectly. Most dog owners do perform this grooming
task themselves.
Next, trimming or clipping your dog's fur. The stakes here
are obviously a lot higher because there is the possibility of hurting your dog
or yourself in the process. There is also the potential to do it wrong too;
your dog could end up with a really awful do. If you do want to give it a go,
then you need to be careful, and you should do some research to see whether
there are tutorials that you can follow or tips to bear in mind.
Finally, the finishing touches of a dog groom tend to be
things like clipping their claws, checking their ears and
expressing their anal glands. All of these are a lot harder to do, and they
all have their dangers too. Your dog's nails have blood flow in them, and
cutting them too short can make them bleed, cause pain and lead to infections.
Expressing their anal glands is an invasive procedure which requires you to get
knuckle deep in their bum, so if you're squeamish, a professional groomer is
probably the better route.
In Conclusion
Grooming is essential maintenance for your dog, in the same
way that maintaining our physical appearance counts as self-care for us. The
same can be said for dogs; they just lack the opposable thumbs to carry out
their personal hygiene tasks themselves. While it is absolutely possible to
learn how to groom your dog yourself, paying someone is likely a lot easier.
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