Grooming Tips by TattleTails Pet Grooming in Pocatello

 

                               

Although the exterior benefits of dog grooming are instantly noticed in a dog's enhanced appearance, professional grooming offers additional health benefits for your pet. Consider that your professional groomer not only bathes and styles your pet's hair, your groomer also de-sheds and/or de-mats hair, trims nails, cleans ears, and provides anal gland expression if needed. Additionally your groomer may find important health issues which you may not have been aware of like lumps, ear infections and other irregularitie’s.  Grooming can be an experience many dogs not only tolerate, but thoroughly enjoy. A groomer's gentle disposition and techniques, coupled with regularly scheduled appointments, work together to increase your dog's ability to relax and enjoy the massages, brushing and attention. A small treat afterwards is always a nice touch and certainly doesn't hurt. Professional Grooming includes the following top six dog grooming basics:

 

 Hair Brushing - Brushing to prevent tangles and matting may be an obvious reason to brush medium and long-haired dogs, but brushing is also important for double-coated dogs as well.  Regardless of hair type, most dogs enjoy gentle hair brushing if it starts when they are young and done regularly to maintain. Brushing helps stimulate their skin, promotes underlying circulation, releases dander and helps prevent dandruff.  If your dog is initially resistant to brushing, work with your dog gently yet assertively over time and with regularity it will become routine. With proper and regular brushing, you'll be further bonding with your dog while maintaining a healthy coat.  And regular brushing will allow your groomer the ability to keep your dog in the haircut style you like.

 

 Nail Trimming - Dog nails are usually clipped once a month, or as needed depending on the rate of growth and your dogs activity level.  If your dog needs nail trimming more often than your dog is groomed, have your groomer teach you to clip and file your pet's nails. Or most groomers will trim your dogs nails between haircuts for a small fee. If you have a puppy, it's wise to get it accustomed to paws being touched and nails being groomed early on so a comfort level can be established. Your dog will become more relaxed with each future nail clipping session.

 

 Bathing - Most dogs should be bathed at least once a month. If you smell your dog sitting nearby, it's time! Most groomers will prep dogs before bathing.  Prepping involves brushing, de-matting, pre-clipping, ear cleaning, nail clipping.  After prep work, your dog is lovingly hand-bathed with dog specific shampoo and conditioner and anal glands expressed if needed.

 

 Ear care - Your dog's ear health is unique to your dog and the breed. Some dogs have no issues what-so-ever, while others have chronic ear infections and require daily or weekly cleaning. Recurring ear problems are most commonly experienced by dogs with long floppy ears. For dogs that need regular ear cleaning, home maintenance is needed between grooming appointments. Ask your vet for recommendation’s, cleaning frequency and an initial demonstration as a dog's ears are very sensitive and there is a correct method to this process.

 

  Haircuts - Dogs with medium to long hair usually need their hair cuts every 4 to 8 weeks depending on the style, length and your home maintenance between groomings. For dogs with continuously growing hair, like Shih Tzu’s or Poodles, your styling preference will dictate their hair cutting or grooming frequency.  Many groomers will offer help in maintenance by scheduling a bath and brush out with nail trim for less in between the regular scheduled haircut of 4 to 8 weeks.  So the haircut/styling then 2 to 4 weeks later a bath and brush, alternating between the two will keep your dog well maintained.

 

Note: Longer haired dogs require regular brushing, eye and face cleaning. If regular brushing and face cleaning aren't maintained at home, a shorter style is recommended.

 

With regular grooming your dog will be healthier and happier. Whether you are able to keep them maintained properly at home or you need the assistance of a groomer,  Please take care of your 4 legged family members.  TattleTails Dog Groomers in Pocatello are standing by and ready to give your Dog the Grooming they deserve.  Give us a Call: 208-339-9834!