Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Pets Feed
Dog grooming is one of the obligatory care items for a four-legged pet, regardless of the degree of nobility of the breed. Dogs regularly walk outside, are not afraid of water, which affects the condition of the coat. Dirt, sand, burrows, parasites – all this gets stuck in the coat and can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of tangles or dermatitis. Fleas and ticks are more difficult to spot in long coats.
Caring for the coat of pets, especially long-haired animals, is not an easy task. Most pets are quite capable of taking care of themselves on their own, washing themselves regularly, looking for insects in their fur and licking themselves. On the part of the owner, dog grooming may include procedures such as brushing, trimming, clipping, styling, and brushing teeth and ears. Dog haircuts at home are most in demand – a huge variety of breeds, many differences in coat, changes in exhibition standards and many other nuances require utmost attention from the owner and provide wide creativity for the hands of professional groomers.
Dog grooming is by no means a luxury and a tribute to fashion, it is a delicate and laborious art, a rule of good manners and a vital necessity. Pedigree dogs are bred by humans and are not hardened by the harsh nature; therefore, their state of health directly depends on special procedures. Even the cleanest dog cannot provide himself with perfect care.
The question of the regularity of dog grooming must be decided based on real needs. If a pet actively participates in exhibitions, then its appearance should meet the standards as much as possible during the entire exhibition season. In this case, the owners are guided by the calendar of upcoming events.
There are breeds that, after a haircut, feel great for up to 6 months. Such dogs are mainly cut during the summer heat, and by winter the pet grows overgrown and gains undercoat.
There are also decorative breeds with fast growing hair. They need dog grooming services more often. This is especially true for breeds with anatomical features of the eyes, ears, when a heavily regrown coat can become a problem and cause irritation of the mucous membranes.
Dog grooming at home – the most relevant types of procedure
Haircuts performed at home can be divided into home (hygienic) and exhibition (model). For many dog breeds, show haircuts have standard shapes that emphasize the best external qualities of the pet and hide the existing flaws. As a result, the master creates real masterpieces, turning pets into models of exhibitions.
There is also a simpler option called a hygienic haircut. It involves simply cutting the pet’s fur with scissors or a special machine, not focusing on certain standards. Thus, you can avoid the appearance of tangles, rolled hair, too long bangs, and so on. Dog grooming at home includes trimming the beard or muzzle, clipping the hair between the pads of the paws and toes, and around the genitals.
On average, this procedure should be repeated every two to four weeks, preferably before bathing. Regular grooming keeps your pet tidy and clean. In the summer, dog grooming at home can significantly reduce the risk of burdock or ticks.
Many pets have a negative attitude towards the need to leave the house and end up in the wrong hands, performing strange and incomprehensible manipulations of their fur. This is fraught with unnecessary stress, aggression and pet panic, as a result of which the specialist will not be able to properly carry out the procedure in a veterinary clinic or in a beauty salon. The ideal way out of this situation is to groom animals at home.
The nuances of home haircuts for dogs
A home-based procedure does not have to be expensive – many pet beauty salons and clinics offer professional home care at an affordable cost. The most popular procedures include a Yorkie’s haircut at home. It will not be difficult for an experienced master to trim such a small terrier accurately and inexpensively. Attention to the four-legged client and the ability to find an approach to him ensures that the haircut process will not cause any anxiety or discomfort to the puppy. When choosing a professional groomer, loving and caring owners can pay attention to reviews about the dog grooming salon and the specialists performing the procedure.
How often do dogs need to be trimmed?
Pedigree dogs have different characteristics of size, character and coat structure. Conditionally, shedding and non-shedding, as well as wire-haired and soft-haired dog breeds are distinguished. Basically, dog grooming is vital for soft-haired and shedding, less often for animals with coarse hair.
Soft-haired dogs are characterized by a constant growth of hair throughout the body. Therefore, such a dog simply cannot exist normally without a haircut. The growing hair will clog the ear canals and fall into lumps. As a result, the animal will develop skin and hearing problems, parasites and various diseases will develop.
Wire-haired dogs are not prone to shedding and need artificial hair plucking – trimming. This procedure ensures optimum stiffness and snug fit of the coat. Dogs that are not trimmed are extremely unkempt. Ideally, this procedure is done every 1.5-2 months.
In soft-haired pets, wool grows faster and hairdressing procedures are carried out every 2-4 weeks (depending on the breed standard). For shedding animals that do not take part in exhibitions, dog grooming is necessary to maintain a beautiful exterior.
With all the variety of services of modern dog grooming professionals in general, there are two types of dog haircuts:
Hygienic grooming
In certain situations, this hairdressing procedure is considered a paramount necessity, which will allow the animal’s skin to breathe, giving its coat beauty and shine. As a rule, a hygienic dog grooming is obligatory in the presence of matted hair and tangles (pellets and lumps) that cannot be combed. In addition, an indication for hygiene procedures is a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and skin (fleas and dermatitis), as well as advanced age, when the dog cannot take care of itself.
Model dog haircut
This is a special haircut for dogs, the goal of which is to make the pet look spectacular and express its personality. In a model haircut, the dog grooming professional takes into account a combination of factors: current hairdressing trends, breed standard, advantages and disadvantages of the animal. There are many options for model dog haircuts. As a rule, they change depending on fashion trends.
Tips from a professional groomer
- If you decide to visit a pet salon and entrust the image of your pet to a professional, give preference to a hairdresser with recommendations and positive reviews.
- Model haircuts, unlike show trimming, are not standardized. For exhibitions, the specialist must strictly adhere to the criteria.
- Dog grooming does not exempt from daily grooming of its coat.
- The clipper is used only for very advanced cases and is not suitable for all breeds. For Spitz, Shih Tzu, Maltese, this option is unacceptable. The dog may even go bald.
- Train your puppy to dog grooming procedures from 3 months.
- Haircuts are carried out on a comfortable table.
- The coat is dry and clean.
- To keep your pet in a good mood, take a walk with him before going to the salon. The owner can be present at the haircut or wait outside the door.
