The Doggy Spawt: Grooming 101
An Introduction:
As the co-owner of a busy dog and cat grooming shop in downtown DC, I have a lot of thoughts on grooming and how it relates to the overall health and well being of animals.
I have had dogs since I was a child. We had mostly Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and I had my own small mix breed. Knowing what I know now, my little mutt could have benefitted from a regular schedule herself given her skin issues!
Getting To Know Your Pup
The introduction to grooming is so important, whether you have just brought home a puppy or are introducing an older dog to your home.
Finding a groomer who sees your dog as an individual, understands that different breeds have different needs, and is willing to introduce your dog slowly and carefully to grooming so that their first experience is a comfortable one is so important.
At our shop, we specialize in one on one express grooming which ensures that your pet is never waiting for hours in a kennel or crate for the grooming to even start. We believe that having an experience similar to our own salon experience – appointment based with a check-in to discuss your pet’s individual needs and your haircut preferences is so important.
Knowing your dog’s lifestyle helps us incorporate nuances into a groom – for instance, if you hike with your dog, a shorter cut that enables you to see any “hitchhikers’ that may hop on to you pet during their active lifestyle, will be a great fit.
Coat Care/Groomer Approach
It is a very common misconception that if you like your dog fluffy, you will need to visit your groomer less. The opposite is in fact true. In order to keep a fluffy coat healthy and free of mats, a 4 week schedule is always recommended. Just like our hair, your pet’s hair becomes damaged with the all important combing and brushing, so a light trim to get rid of those damaged ends is vitally important to a mat free existence and the dreaded “shave down”.
Combing and Brushing
Speaking of combing and brushing, choose a groomer willing to take the time to introduce you to the proper tools for your particular dog’s coat – even short coated “bath” dogs benefit from a regular grooming with a rubber curry comb at home to keep their skin and coat healthy and to remove the extra coat as it sheds to prevent impacted coat.
We recommend bath and desheds every 4 weeks to stay ahead of shedding cycle – and most importantly – matching a proper hydrating shampoo and conditioner to your pet’s coat. Many do not know that even short coated dogs should be conditioned after shampooing to restore hydration to the coat and skin.
Pet/Groomer Relationship
Your dog’s relationship with their groomer is vitally important to our success and their comfort. We prefer to start puppies at 3 months old with what we call a ministyle – a bath and blow-dry that introduces the process, a nail trim and file and a face/feet/sanitary cleanup.
By shortening the appointment and not asking too much of a young dog with a short attention span, we are able to encourage dogs to believe that grooming is really fun – essential for a dog that is going to require a lifetime of grooming.
Additionally, when it’s time for their first haircut, we schedule at a quiet time of day to enable your puppy to focus on the job at hand without constant distractions of other dogs. When working with sharp scissors and clippers, having a dog that is relaxed and comfortable with the process is vital for the safety of both the groomer and your pet.
We encourage every dog to stay on a regular schedule for many reasons, and this is essential both in very young dogs who are still learning, as well as senior pups with declining health.
6-8 weeks in the life of a senior pet can be a time when health issues begin to start and a groomer familiar with your dog will pick up on things that you may not even notice.
Choosing a groomer is one of the most important decisions that you can make for your pet, and ensuring that their coat and skin is as well taken care of as the rest of your pet!
Whether your pet is a short haired bath dog, a double coated breed or one of the many dogs that require haircuts to keep their skin and coat in tip top condition, all dogs benefit from a regular grooming schedule and a healthy relationship with a groomer!
Recognizing/ Sharing Potential Concerns
In 6 years of owning the business, we have seen countless lumps and bumps, some completely benign, some that were caught early enough to save a pet’s life or at least allow for some extra much needed time.
Our ability to see minor changes in your pet is greatly enhanced by the use of a velocity dryer which moves the coat away from the skin, allowing us to see bumps, discolorations and other factors that are often missed due to coat coverage.
Recap:
- Consider the approach and training of the groomer
- Discuss the particular needs of your pet's fur and frequency
- Make sure your groomer takes steps to minimize stress during their grooming
- Look for your groomer to communicate any bumps etc. for you to possibly get checked
- Your pup's groomer should take into account their physical and emotional needs
Abby Kirwan
Abby is co-owner of Masterpiece Canine Spa in Washington, DC described on their site as a "boutique grooming spa for the discerning canine".
We welcome Abby's experience and her passion as a contributor to Gen Wags on the topic of all things grooming. Her familiarity professionally and her lifelong love and ownership of dogs is a welcome addition to the education mission of our Gen Wags.