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DOG GROOMING – 10 ERRORS WE SHOULD AVOID IN DOG GROOMING

DOG GROOMING

We can’t stress enough how vital regular grooming is for our dog’s skin and coat health. However, we should be aware of the basics of grooming and avoid common errors to have an efficient grooming routine and not cause irritation and discomfort to our dog. So, let’s see some common mistakes made in dog grooming routines.

1. Use of human shampoos in dog bathing

One of the most common errors when bathing our dog is the use of human shampoos. The pH in dogs’ skin is different from that of humans. It varies between 6,8 and 8,0 with an average pH of 7,5, while in human skin from 4,8 to 5,8. However, the major difference between human and dog skin is that dogs lack the acidic mantle, a fine film protecting the skin from bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin, as well as the skin’s thickness which in dogs is thinner. So, the coat also acts as a shield for the skin. Most human or cheap grooming products have been designed for frequent bathing and produce very lavish foams; they have strong irritation profiles containing sodium sulfates (SLS, SLES) that provide excessive cleaning that strip the coat and skin of its natural oils. That disrupts the skin barrier making it susceptible to fungi, yeast and bacteria that could lead to long-term skin sensitisation, leading to a vicious circle of various skin conditions, more sebum secretion and persistent malodor. All of the above make human shampoos unsuitable for pets, and we should avoid using them for bathing our dogs.

2. Excessively short haircuts – shaving of the coat

It is wrong to completely shave dogs’ coats and expose their skin to external environmental factors (solar radiation, pollutants, weather conditions). Dogs’ skin is much less thick than humans’; at the same time, the so-called acid mantle is absent. The acid mantle surrounds human skin and protects it from the growth of fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. Human skin is directly exposed to environmental factors without impact, while in dogs, the skin needs a hair layer for protection to maintain the skin barrier’s health. When the skin is exposed – especially during seasons with intense sun radiation – our dog runs the risk of sunburn, but also injuries and exposure of the skin to harmful bacteria and fungi. In addition, a poorly sterilised or very hot shaver touching the dog’s skin can injure it, and bacteria can then cause ulcers.

3. We neglect the trimming of the nails

Dog nails, although at different rates, grow like ours. Consequently, their nails – especially in dogs that traditionally live mainly indoors with minimum contact of the paws with rough surfaces such as asphalt and soil that act like natural rasps- need trimming with a special pet nail clipper. We recommend nail trimming to be done by a veterinarian or professional pet groomer with special tools to avoid injuries.

4. Letting shampoo on the pet’s eyes and ears

Shampoo and water in the eyes, but most importantly in the dog’s ears, can cause severe irritation and inflammation. We take great care when bathing our dogs, especially dogs with small or upright ears, not to get water and shampoo into them. To soap the dog’s head, we can create foam on our palms and carefully clean the area around them while we can rinse carefully and patiently with a low flow of water or by carefully pouring water with our hand.

5. Hasty grooming

Hasty bathing and incomplete rinsing and drying can cause significant discomfort to our dog as it can cause skin irritation, dry skin or oiliness and ultimately intense itching. Bathing our dogs requires time and patience as it needs preparation. We should thoroughly lather while it is also essential that we rinse very well and do not leave residue on shampoo and conditioner on the coat. Finally, we must carefully dry the dog with a dryer and not leave moisture residue on its coat.

6. We do not brush the coat

It is essential for the proper grooming of our dog to brush it both before and after bathing. Brushing *before bathing removes dirt and foreign bodies while untangling the coat and removing part of the dead coat. It allows the shampoo to go in the coat and skin properly, cleanse and moisturise it, and remove dead hair that didn’t go away through brushing. After bathing, brushing helps distribute the natural oils of the skin and the products’ nutrients to the coat, removes the last free hair and offers the coat proper ventilation and removal of possible moisture that might be trapped.
* We skip brushing for very dirty or matted dogs as this is panful for the pet and we spread dirt to the whole body. In these cases we brush after bathing when the coat is clean and we use additional products that facilitate knot removal and brushing. 

7. We stop grooming in winter

When the weather is hot, bathing the dog can be easier and less time-consuming, but dogs’ need for clean and well-groomed hair is the same all year round. Maybe even more in winter, as moisture and mud can make our dog get dirtier and more often. So we should not neglect the grooming of our dog at any time. If in winter bathing at home becomes difficult, we can establish a routine with some visits to a trusted professional pet groomer.

8. We take the dog out immediately after bathing

The apparent reason is that dogs tend to roll on the soil and grass immediately after bathing for various reasons (relieving stress, getting rid of possible moisture they feel, playing and various other reasons). In this case, we will need to repeat the whole procedure or have a dog dirtier than before. Another reason is that when we bathe our dog, we activate the pores of the skin and the hair’s root, so we must allow enough time for the skin and the coat to reregulate before getting exposed to external conditions.

9. We do not maintain a schedule and consistency

Grooming a dog is time-consuming and puts our pet in a situation and an environment that may cause them stress and fatigue. So the more consistent we are in the grooming routine by maintaining a program with the appropriate frequency, we gradually familiarise our dog with the process and make their and our own lives easier. At the same time, by maintaining a systematic grooming routine, we maintain a better coat condition between groomings, reducing the duration and stress of each bath. Having noted this, let’s discuss the high importance of training.

10. We do not train our dog for grooming

Training is essential in grooming as much as in other aspects of the dog’s everyday life. To ensure they will be calm and have as less stress as possible during grooming, our dog needs to get used to touching all over their body, contact with water, tools, and accessories and contact with other people. We must make sure that the process is as pleasant as possible, with a lot of praise and have enough patience. It may not be achieved immediately, and there are no guarantees as to what extent our pet will be comfortable in grooming. Still, with patience, consistency, encouragement and familiarity, our dog will be able, if not to enjoy, definitely tolerate the process of grooming without much stress.

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