Grooming FAQ's to help you!
Did you know?
Man's best friend has played many roles over the centuries. They have been called upon to be our companions, protectors, herders, hunters and even warriors. Yet little is known of the origins of dog grooming.
Perhaps bcause of the coat and the endless possibilities to show creative style, the poodle was the first to gain notoriety in grooming style. Art depicts life and in the archives of historic art and animals it takes little research to find the German sketch of a groomed poodle from the 1600's, as well as a well-known bronze sculpture from the late 1700's that depicts the poodle clipped in what is very similar to today's Continental show clip. During the 19th Century, the art of grooming excelled as Louis XV and Louis XVI of France declared the little dog the royal dog at court. Even with the fall of the monarchy, the first grooming parlors flourished, as did the poodle's popularity. These first artfully groomed poodles gained the title of French Poodle even though the breed did not originate in that country.
The English saddle clip and the Continental clips are still seen today in the show ring. As the breed began to be ever more popular and moved from the aristocratic society to all classes, 'pet clips' originated. These grooming coiffeurs resulted out of need and desire to keep the pets clean and tidy. Not everyone wanted to show their beloved dog nor did the cost of keeping a show dog come easily for all.
The terrier was another breed that took on a new form when it was discovered that the coat took on a much richer color and texture if the wiry dead hair was stripped out. Stripping / plucking a terrier is a true art form. It is rare, even among professional groomers, to find one that possesses the skill required to do the job properly. A hand plucked terrier is a beautiful sight and one you will not see often.
In all breeds, you will see various styles abound in today's world of the well-groomed dog. More often than not the kennel clip, which is basically a dog shaved to about 1/2 inch of coat all over, is the easiest to do, least likely to cost a great deal and the most practical for keeping clean. Then it's on to longer and more elaborate trimming such as the puppy clip. A good groomer can take any breed of dog and make it look like it did when it was a puppy by scissoring the coat to the fluffy 1-1/2 " length it was when your little darling was a baby. It is a very practical and adorable look on any breed but requires good at-home grooming practices to maintain the look for long periods of time. Then distinct styles for each breed will prevail and require greater expertise and or money to pay someone to achieve the look you are after for you dog. In the end, the show clips and styles are the most involved, both in cost and time.
Grooming-
Grooming is an important part of dog care. Depending on the breed, age and health of the dog, grooming may be a daily activity. Many breeds require significantly less grooming than this, but regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable. It is important to note, while many dogs shed, others such as the Poodle, do not shed. Instead, their coat grows much like human hair, and requires trimming. The main reasons for daily grooming include:
- improved health of the skin and coat
- decreases the chance of various health problems such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
- cleans the dog
- allows the groomer to check the dog's health, such as looking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or a change in temperament (such as depression) which could indicate the dog is sick
- helps to form a relationship between dog and owner
Slicker brush-
All though there are many, many diffrent brushes out there, one holds true to grooming and will be the most helpful to you! It is called the slicker brush. A slicker brush is a wire-pin brush that has bends at the end of the wires. This brush can be used on almost any breed of dog.
Curry brush-
One of the finest brushes for removing dust and loose hair on shorthaired breeds is a rubber curry brush. Breeds such as boxers and dobermans. You can also use it in the bath for a better lather and to releas more hair.
Nail clippers-
There are two types of nail clippers, a sissors-type and guillotine-type. The scissors-type basically works like a pair of scissors with sharp-edged blades. Guillotine-type nail clippers, one cutting edge is a sharpened loop through which you insert the nail. As you squeeze the handles, a second sharpened blade slides forward to cut the nail. Scissors-type nail clippers are usually easier to control and safer to use.
Nail trimming is absolutely necessary for maintaining good health. If a dog's nails are allowed to grow, they will curl over into a spiral shape; walking will become increasingly painful to the dog as they grow out. Uncut nails may curl so far that they pierce the paw pad, leading to infection and debilitating pain. If one does not trim a dog's nails on a monthly basis the quick will grow along with the nail, making it nearly impossible to cut properly. Owners may choose to trim nails themselves or may opt to take their pet to a groomer or veterinarian.
Styptic powder-
Sometimes you can cut a nail, and within minutes the nail will begin to bleed. Anytime you're cutting nails, you should have stypic powder nearby, to stop the bleeding if you nick or chip the quick, which is the blood vessel inside the nail. Styptic powder quickly stops the bleeding of small nicks by coagulating the blood. You can use styptic products on both dogs and cats. If you're out of the styptic powder, a bit of flour will do the trick until you can restock.
Shampoo-
There are many shampoo's out there but there are the basic three shampoo's.
1.Cleansing shampoo, which cleans the pet
2.Medicated shampoo, which aids pets that have skin problems or allergies.
3.Flea and Tick shampoo, which removes any pests, but note it only kills whats on the dog or cat, it is not a pervenative.
What is a mat?
A mat is a clump of hair that pulls, pinches, and blocks air circulation to the skin, causing great pain and discomfort to the pet. Dermatitis and sores can develop from these mats due to rubbing or biting to remove the mat and the pain. Increased growth of bacteria can cause itching. Some animals' ears may be so tightly matted to the hair on their necks that freedom of movement of both the head and neck is restricted. Matting can also cause behavioral changes due to the related discomfort.
Undercoat-
Dogs that were originally bred to herd sheep and cattle developed a extra grwth of coat to prtect them from the harsh outdoor weather they had to endure. This growth (called an undercoat) falls out when warm weather returns. The problem with dogs is that their undercoats do not completely fall out now that they live indoors. This undercoat that remains begins to tangle and generally causes discomfort for the dog and missery for the owner when the falling hair litters their home. It must be removed.
Dogs with Undercoats:
Australian cattle dog
Australian shepherd
Bearded Collie
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Border collie
Bouvier des Flandres
Briard
Canaan
Collie
German Shepherd
Old English Sheepdog
Puli
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Shetland Sheepdog
Anal Glands-
Anal glands are smaill glands located on either side of the anus. Sometimes these glands fill with a strong, foul-smelling odor. Many dogs empty their anal glands when defecating; however, there are times when these glands do not empty themselves and they must be squeezed so that abcesses and infections do not occur.
Fleas-
Fleas are relatively easy to eliminate. Any shampoo with a strong citrus scent will kill fleas, or you can use shampoo spicefically made for this purpose. However you should spray your house and cars to rid them of any remaining fleas or eggs.
Ticks-
Ticks are more difficult to destroy. You need to use shampoo and dips that are made expressly for the elimination of ticks. Instructions on these specific products must be followed carefully. However, new commercial flea and tick prevention products are much improved, and have been controlling infestation problems quite successfully.
