As a professional groomer, I get asked a lot of questions about dog grooming, and I’m always happy to help! Grooming is about more than just a clean dog; it’s about keeping your pet’s coat and skin healthy and looking its best. Here are some of the most common questions I get asked, along with my expert answers!
Brushing your dog is more than just a grooming ritual—it’s an essential part of maintaining their health and well-being. Whether your dog has a fluffy curly coat, a long, luxurious drop coat or a short, shiny coat regular brushing offers numerous benefits for both you and your furry friend. Here are five key reasons why you should make brushing a regular part of your dog's care routine.
Bosco is a spaniel mix with a dense coat and thick, squishy lips. He’s a fun dog to groom, happy and tail wagging from when he arrives until he struts out the door. But today, when you gently hold his face so you can clip his head, he violently jerks away from you. You give him a pat and tell him you are sorry, then try again. He makes it very clear that he does not want you to touch his muzzle. This behavior is unusual for Bosco, so now what?
One of my groomer friends recently told me, "I lost a customer today. I told her that I had noticed her dog had gained a lot of weight and was concerned about its health. She got all upset, told me to cancel her future appointments, and stormed out."
Although not a common diagnosis, post-grooming furunculosis is a severe skin infection that has been widely publicized recently and frequently discussed in online grooming forums. Many groomers have never heard about it before or don't understand what it is.
As the temperature drops, the days get shorter, and the autumn leaves hit the ground, mycustomers frequently ask me, "Why is my dog shedding so much? Isn't it the wrong season?" If your customers are wondering the same thing, consider this an excellent opportunity to educate pet owners.
The kind woman who trained me to groom taught me to count the toes out loud on each foot when I was learning to master claw care. "Look for at least five toes on every foot." Decades later, I still mutter "1,2,3,4…5?" under my breath when I lift every paw and check every leg to trim those claws. Beyond the four obvious claws on the toes, I always search for a dewclaw on every leg
My sister loves dogs. She has only owned two in her lifetime, so I feel it is safe to say she is a reasonably typical pet owner. Recently, she and I watched a large boat move from its trailer into a harbor. The boat owner had his dog on the trailer as the boat was slowly transported. My sister said, “Oh! That poor dog is so scared!” I said, “Look at his body language.
Here is a good grooming hack to share. Many dogs habitually lick specific areas of their body. More than typical self-grooming, this is probably an effort to soothe irritation. It is frequently related to some allergic reaction, injury, or infection, but sometimes, it is over a joint, suggesting the pet has arthritic aches that cause it to lick and chew.
Some call it a “button” or even a “booper,” but most people understand that the canine nose is extraordinary. Dogs tend to explore the world nose first, with good reason. Experts say that dogs have over 300 million scent receptors, while humans can only boast a measly 6 million.
