How often should I have my dog groomed?
The length of time between grooming appointments depends on the type and condition of your dog’s coat, but a general timeframe is anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks, although many dog owners schedule every other week or every week.
When should my puppy have his or her first professional grooming?
Your puppy is mature enough for his first grooming at about twelve weeks of age. The earlier you begin regular groomings, the better. This will make him comfortable with the many sights and sounds of a grooming, including dryers and clippers. You may want to start your puppy with a simple bath at first and work your way up to a full grooming experience.
There are many things you can do at home to make the grooming experience less intimidating for your puppy:
- Brush or comb your pet regularly
- Play with his feet so that nail trims are less frightening
- File sharp nail edges with an emery board
- Clean the eye area with cotton balls to remove drainage
- Pet him everywhere
When do my dog’s nails need to be trimmed?
If your dog’s nails touch the floor surface when he or she is standing, they need to be trimmed.
What do you use to trim dogs’ nails?
I may use nail clippers or a Dremel tool to file down the nails. I use whatever method the dog is comfortable with. If your dog doesn’t like the electric file, I will use a nail file to remove any rough edges.
Do you express anal glands?
No. Not all dogs need their glands expressed, and this procedure can be harmful to your pet if any pre-existing issues exist. Additionally, it can create problems if the glands are expressed manually too often. I feel that this is a service that only medical practitioners should perform when necessary. Please consult your veterinarian for this procedure.
Do you use cage dryers?
No, all dogs that I groom are dried by hand. This is safer and allows me to examine the dog’s skin during the drying process for any problems such as hot spots, ticks or other health conditions. Hand drying is also more efficient and provides a nicer finished appearance.
My dog is matted. What can you do to help?
Not all matting can be combed out. I believe that the dog’s comfort must take precedence over the style when in this condition. When a client brings in a matted dog, I will examine the extent of the mats and decide at that point what I think is necessary to de-mat the dog. If I can separate the mat with my fingers and view the skin underneath, then I might be able to comb it out and save the coat. However, there is an additional charge for this work as it takes a lot of time and is difficult for both groomer and dog.
If I cannot separate the mats with my fingers, or if the dog does not tolerate the combing out of the mats, then I will clip the mats out. Many clients refer to this method of de-matting as 'shaving' the dog since a very short blade is used to remove the matted hair.
Why is matting such a problem?
De-matting, even with a clipper, can be dangerous for your dog. It is sometimes very difficult to differentiate hair from skin, especially around the legs, armpits, and ear area; the hair can be matted so closely to the skin that your dog’s skin can get nicked by the clippers. Dog owners who allow their dogs to go too long without grooming MUST be aware of the dangers mats and mat removal can cause.
Mats can cause sores to form, the skin can get pulled on by the mat which can actually stretch and rip the skin, and/or the skin cannot get air under the mat and may collect moisture causing sores to form.
Are there ways I can avoid matting?
- Brush your dog as often as needed – at least once a week, daily if he or she has a particularly long or plush coat.
- Run a comb through your dog’s coat to check periodically for matting. If a comb cannot be pulled easily through his or her coat, clipping may be difficult.
- Don’t bathe your dog unless you have time to comb out the coat.
- Don’t use scissors on mats. This is dangerous! Have a qualified groomer use the proper tools.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY - get your dog on a regular grooming schedule to ensure a clean, healthy coat.
Do you use sedatives or tranquilizers to calm dogs when grooming?
Never. No groomer should ever administer any kind of drug to your dog. Only a veterinarian can decide what medication is appropriate for your dog.
Why don’t you offer flea baths as one of your services?
Tracey’s Pampered Pups is a flea-free environment. To remain flea-free, all dogs scheduled for grooming must be on a flea and tick preventative. If you observe fleas on your dog, please cancel your appointment and treat your dog with your preferred flea preventative product. Once your dog is flea-free, you may reschedule your appointment.
What is Hand Stripping?
Hand Stripping is a process that involves plucking out the dead coat of the dog by hand. This helps the coat retain proper texture and color; clipping a 'wiry' coat will dilute the color and soften the texture. Dogs can either be hand stripped at three to six week intervals (for optimal coat growth), or every three months or so. Many owners prefer to have the 'blown' coat stripped off just one to two times a year. Hand stripping is extremely labor intensive and, therefore, more expensive, but has benefits not only in maintaining the proper breed 'look' for your dog, but also for your dog's skin and coat.
Is it too cold to have my dog groomed?
No. Although it is cold outside, there is no more danger to bathing and grooming your dog in winter than there is when you take a bath during the winter. As long as your dog is properly dried in a comfortable environment, there is no danger. You can, however, opt to leave their coats longer during the cold months. But they always need a complete brush-out and bathing that a professional can provide. Nail trimming and ear cleaning is a must all year round too. When clients let their dogs go through the winter without professional grooming, the risk of matting increases. If you would like to keep your dog’s style, don't skip winter grooming visits.