GROOMING YOUR DOG

Many people will decide which breed of dog they want by the type of coat.  If you do not want to spend time grooming daily then choose a smooth or short coated dog as they require significantly less than this.

Grooming is not only brushing your dog but is also the opportunity to look over your dog carefully, checking for any ticks, burrs, scratches and other skin problems.  Spaniels need their ears checked regularly, especially in the summer when there are grass seeds. Any dog with long hair between their pads should also be checked very carefully as a grass seed can easily work its way into the foot itself, thereby incurring a vet's bill for its removal. Grooming is an important part of dog care and depending on the breed may be a daily activity. Although many breeds require significantly less grooming than this, regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable.

Tools used for grooming are:

  • Comb
  • Brush
  • Currycomb - which is a tool made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth".  The currycomb is rubbed or "curried" in a circular motion to loosen dirt and hair and also stimulates the skin to produce natural oils.
  • Scissors and Clippers are used to remove hair on certain types of coats or in sensitive areas.

Some breeds, such as the West Highland Terrier and Border Terrier, need stripping once or twice a year.  Stripping or hand-stripping is the process of pulling the dead hair out of the coat of a non-shedding dog, either by using a stripping knife or the fingers. 

Long haired dog breeds, such as the Afghan, require dedication from their owner to keep their coat in good condition. This is time consuming. Do you have the time to dedicate to grooming?

Most dogs do not require frequent bathing as this can strip the hair coat of natural oils and cause it to dry out.

Regular nail trimming may be necessary if you do not walk your dog enough on hard ground.

If a dog's nails are allowed to grow, they will curl over into a spiral shape and walking will become increasingly painful to the dog. This could pierce the paw pad leading to infection and debilitating pain. Particular attention should also be given if the dew claw has not been removed as this can also curl round and embed itself into the dog.