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It鈥檚 finally springtime, and if you鈥檙e not in a grooming routine already, spring is a great time to start.
While spring cleaning is a great reminder to groom your dogs, Tammy Myers,聽AKC S.A.F.E.聽Certified聽Salon Owner at聽Bark鈥檔 Bubble Day Spa, emphasizes that dogs need to be groomed all year long. Before heading to the groomers, here are some important spring (and year-round) grooming tips.
Brushing Your Dog
After a long winter, dogs with thick winter coats will begin聽shedding.聽Jacki Panzik, owner of聽聽(also an聽AKC S.A.F.E. Certified Salon) says it鈥檚 important to regularly brush your dog because it removes the dead coat and keeps circulation on the outer layer of skin, which promotes health.
Myers suggests brushing dogs daily. 鈥淏ecause they get dirt embedded underneath and mats cause pain,鈥� said Myers. 鈥淚t鈥檇 be like if you had long hair and kept your hair in a ponytail the whole time. Your head starts to hurt. It鈥檚 uncomfortable, it鈥檚 painful to them, and they can鈥檛 express the pain like we can as humans.鈥�
If your dog isn鈥檛 brushed or combed regularly, they may become more sensitive to touch. The dog may start growling and cower when people try to pet them. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why brushing a dog is important 鈥� to make their skin healthy, making sure their hair isn鈥檛 matted,鈥� Myers adds.
You may also want to comb your dog instead of brushing them. Some may not have long enough bristles for your dog, especially if they have long hair.
Bathing Your Dog
Like with brushing, it鈥檚 important to regularly bathe your dog, particularly during the spring. Panzik says grooming is especially important in the spring because pollen and other allergens are most active during this time. 鈥淓specially in areas that had a lot of winter moisture,鈥� she says.
She recommends bathing dogs every 21 days because that鈥檚 the cycle of skin rejuvenation. Myers agrees that dogs need to be bathed regularly. 鈥淭hey need baths at least monthly, no more than eight weeks,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淒ogs have to live with themselves 鈥� trust me, dogs like having it done. They feel better.鈥�
Before giving a dog a bath, you should ensure they were recently brushed to remove dead hair and mats. If a dog is bathed with mats, it only makes their hair tighter and harder to brush out. Remember to use a and . Products like or a can also make bath time easier for you and your dog.
Clipping Your Dog鈥檚 Nails
Myers says she tries to put things into real-life terms with her clients and says when a dog owner clips their nails, they should also clip their dogs鈥� nails.
She explains that when you don鈥檛 clip a dog鈥檚 nails, they get uncomfortable, and it can hurt to walk. 鈥淓ven if it鈥檚 not a 鈥榟air cut鈥� dog, [clipping toenails] is something that needs to be done for all dogs,鈥� she says.
Additionally, there is a common misconception that there are arteries in dogs鈥� nails.聽If a nail is cut too short, it鈥檚 actually just the 鈥渒wip鈥� and there are .
For those who are too nervous to cut their dogs鈥� nails, we recommend using a to maintain nails in between visits to a groomer.
Questions to Ask a Potential Dog Groomer
When you take your dog to the groomer, it鈥檚 important to find a qualified groomer that takes dog safety seriously. Here are some questions dog owners should consider asking their groomers.
What Kind of Training Do You Have?
You should know what type of training the groomer has before trusting them to groom your dog. Any salon or groomer should have a certification, such as the AKC S.A.F.E. Grooming Certification Program.
鈥淢y salon was the first salon in the state of Iowa to do the AKC S.A.F.E Grooming Certification Program,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a safety program. We have a 16-point oath that we have to take 鈥� My clients know that I have that and know that safety is the most important thing to me.鈥�
She adds that while hair grows back, cuts don鈥檛. 鈥淚njuries can be deadly, so safety is the utmost importance.鈥�
What Safety Protocols Do You Follow?
Myers and Panzik agree that the most important questions are about safety protocols and training. Educated groomers know how to keep your dog safe and keep an eye out for things that aren鈥檛 quite right with your dog.
鈥淕rooming is more than a haircut,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淲e are the first eyes a lot of the time 鈥� We notice personality changes, we notice skin changes, we can sense that there are ear issues before they become a big problem. That鈥檚 why grooming is so important.鈥�
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.