Maintaining a Routine Grooming Schedule
All dogs big and small, regardless of coat type and / or length, benefit greatly by being on a routine Grooming Schedule both at home and with your groomer. Why? Well, there’s a few reasons. Let’s explore those in this blog.
1) Did you know that your dog’s skin and coat are on a 21-to-28-day cycle? This means that every 21 to 28 days your dog’s skin and coat replenishes itself with sebum (needed to protect your dog’s skin and coat) and any dead, loose hair that has fallen out is replaced. Regular brushing of your dog at home will help keep their coat aerated so their skin can “breathe” and help reduce the amount of hair that falls off your dog to float around your house.
2) Shedding – Apart from the Poodle and some terrier breeds, dogs shed. Some shed more than others and double coated breeds will profusely shed their coats twice a year in addition to their normal every day dropping of dead hair. Regular brushing at home and a routine grooming schedule with a professional dog groomer will help reduce the amount of hair that floats around your home, weaving its way into your carpet, clothes, and furniture, and sometimes making an appearance in the well thought out meal for the family.
3) Skin care – Routine grooming both at home and by your groomer is vital for catching any skin issues (abrasions, moles or other growths, lesions, hot spots, etc.) that may develop as early as possible. The quicker skin issues can be caught, the easier it is for them to be addressed and resolved.
4) Pest control – If you live near the woods or take your Canine Best Friend with you on outings such as hiking or camping where they will be in the woods, an open field, or even a trip to the park, they can pick up fleas and ticks. Even if they are on a monthly prescribed prevention and have the best flea and tick collar that money can buy, there is still a chance that they can pick up a hitchhiker. Double coated breeds also run the risk of flies laying eggs in their thick coat, especially if there’s an undetected wound under that coat. Those fly eggs then turn into maggots. The sooner these are found and eliminated, the better it is for your dog and for you.
5) Matting – Long haired dogs and double coated dogs are prone to matting if their coat is not brushed out on a regular basis at home and bathed on a regular basis by a professional groomer. That beautiful coat can be a magnet to twigs, stickers, dirt, and mud that if left in the coat can cause severe matting very quickly.
6) Other benefits of maintaining a grooming schedule:
a. Bonding time for you and your dog at home.
b. Your dog becomes familiar and comfortable with the processes.
c. Your dog and your groomer become familiar and comfortable with each other.
These are primary reasons to keep your Canine Best Friend on a Routine Grooming Schedule at home AND with your professional groomer. For more information, check out the blogs listed below.