Most people know that they feel better when they look good and the same goes for pets. A properly groomed dog looks and feels better than a ragged, matted, mess. Professional pet groomers can make it look easy but remember that they have training and equipment that most people don’t.
When considering the question of whether or not to use a professional pet groomer or to do it yourself, here are some questions to ask. Is the dog long haired or short haired? How bad does the dog shed? Is the proper dog grooming equipment available? How much money has to be spent to get the proper dog grooming equipment? Many good quality pet clippers can be over $300. How much time are you willing to spend to keep up your dog? Do you know the clip for your type of dog? How comfortable are you with cutting your dog's nails? Most people with show dogs are familiar with grooming their pets constantly but for others it can be a challenge.
Trimming a dog's toenails is necessary when they have grown enough to hear them clicking on a non-carpeted floor. If the nails get long enough they can grow into the pad of the foot and cripple the dog. Dogs that are walked regularly over concrete or other hard surface and have a chance to wear the nails down don't need them trimmed as often.
Dealing With Dog Matting
Even if professional pet grooming is used long haired dogs should be brushed daily to prevent matting. Longer haired dogs are more prone to matting. Matting can be caused by leaving a dog in a sweater without brushing them, not brushing a long or cotton coated dog for a few days, or bath mats. When brushing your dog make sure to use a brush or comb that will allow you to get to the skin.
Bath mats are caused when long haired dogs get wet and aren’t brushed out properly before, during and after the bath. If they are bad enough, mats pull on the dogs' skin when they walk and causes them pain.
When they are bad, brushing out mats is often more painful that shaving the dog down. Matting can be minimized with regular grooming either by yourself or by a professional dog groomer. If you clip your own dog make sure to trim around their privates, and learn when to express their anal glands, so they don't have potty issues.
Dog Bathing
Most dogs should be bathed every 6 to 8 weeks unless they are show dogs or kept in a longer clip which should be done every 4 weeks or sooner. This is enough, unless they bother a skunk or get into something that smells bad, then they need to be bathed as soon as possible afterward.
When bathing dogs, use cotton balls in their ears to keep water out; this can help to prevent them from getting ear infections. Use a good quality shampoo and follow the directions; some pet shampoos are concentrated and are supposed to be diluted up to 50:1. Make sure to rinse all of the excess shampoo and conditioner out before drying the dog. Make sure to brush the dog to ensure that bath mats aren't set into the dog's coat. For itching dogs check with your local Veterinary Clinic to see if they need a special shampoo.
Pet Grooming Supplies
Dog grooming tools include specialty pet shampoos and conditioners like aloe, oatmeal, or flea and tick shampoos, hair and toenail clippers, scissors, brushes, combs, tubs and driers. To learn what a groomer does see the article Caring For Dogs. Of course it comes down to how much work the pet owner is comfortable doing for the dog and the cost of professional pet grooming vs. buying the equipment.
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