Jun
Well Groomed: Expert Dog Grooming Advice
Carolyn Garton is the longest serving dog groomer within The Bugsie’s mobile dog wash franchise family. She has several years experience working for an organisation who, collectively groom more than 800 dogs per week throughout the UK. Carolyn offers some words of advice for dog owners who like to see their dogs looking their dazzling best!
K9) – What are the basic principles for attaining the three main attributes associated with a happy, healthy dog – i.e. wet nose, wagging tail and a shiny coat?
CG – For a happy healthy dog my top three tips are very, very simple:
- a healthy diet
- regular grooming
- regular exercise
K9) – When we see highly primed show dogs, it’s always amazing how their coats really seem to glisten, almost like glass. This doesn’t happen by accident so what are some of the methods of achieving that show stopping coat?
CG – To obtain that sparkling shine, regular brushing, bathing, a healthy diet are all important.
For that extra show shine you need a good quality ‘coat specific’ shampoo which is designed to bring out the natural colour and shine of your dog’s coat.
K9) – Are there any hidden tips and tricks that you’ve come across that can make a dog look great? In other words things that you have picked up in your profession that you wished you’d known earlier in your grooming career?
[private_Premier]CG – Brush out a dog’s coat thoroughly before bathing to ensure, that if it has any matts, they won’t get full of soap and tighten with the application of water. It will be a lot easier, once dried, to brush through the dog’s coat.
Never clip a dirty dog because it blunts your blades and scissors.
Always bath a dog, dry it and then clip it in that order. Before you are fully finished just go over the dog to check you have not missed anything.
If you are going to an important show, bath your dog 1-2 days beforehand so that the coat has a chance to settle down before showing. It then won’t be too soft but will still be clean.
K9) – Do you have any dietary tips that will aid the dog’s appearance? We hear that supplements such as linseed oil can really help a dog’s coat. Are there any other dietary issues to consider?
CG – Do not over-feed. Maintain a regular exercise routine suitable for the breed of your dog. Not too many daily treats!
I recommend to my customer’s ‘Burns’ real food for dogs which is a holistic dietary approach to Health and Nutrition and has been developed by a Veterinary Surgeon. The food contains no Wheat, Soya, GM ingredients and is naturally preserved. In addition there is a Freephone Nutritional and Health Helpline.
My healthy ‘Staff’ and ‘daily passenger’ gulp the food down with relish when we get home!
K9) – Do you have any advice when it comes to actually selecting a dog groomer or even particular grooming products? Are there certain things to watch for and certain things to avoid?
CG – When selecting a groomer a recommendation is always the top choice. However, if you have no recommendations to go by, visit a grooming salon, or ask a mobile groomer to visit you.
The groomer should advise you what are the best products to use on your dog’s coat. Try and avoid human shampoos because the pH level (acidity) is too high for the dog’s skin.
K9) – As a professional, what are some of the most common mistakes you see with people’s pets when it comes to the way they look? i.e bad hair cuts, lack of proper brushing, poor conditioning etc.
CG – I see a lot of examples of a lack of proper, regular brushing or, in some cases no brushing at all! I have also seen bad mane cuts when customers have tried to do it themselves, or when a grooming salon has not done a very good job.
K9) – What about maintenance? If someone wanted to own a dog that looked great all the time, how much maintenance would be required? Are great looking dogs a bit like professional athletes where they need to be primed for a certain show on a certain date or are they kept in top condition all of the time?
CG – If you want to own a dog that looks great all the time a lot of maintenance is required – more if you have a long haired dog or a dog that needs clipping. You will need to bath the dog regularly – just enough to keep it clean. If you bath the dog too often essential oils in the coat will be lost.
You should brush your dog every other day and clip it every 6-8 weeks. This varies for different types of coats and breeds. Regular exercise is essential to keep it happy and to maintain a good, correct body shape.[/private_Premier]
FURTHER READING:
dog grooming really helped our dogs look the best that they can be. i have noticed that bringing them to a place like such, we are assured about their appearance. on my part I really feel good whenever I am looking at my dog properly groomed.