Do I Need To Groom My Dog?

 

As pet parents, we are busy. Our typical day not only involves work & maybe two-legged family member responsibilities, but also feeding our four-legged members and making sure they receive proper mental & physical exercise. It's a lot! In the midst of it all, many pet parents forget to groom, brush & bathe their dogs on a consistent basis or at all. Grooming helps keep your dog's coat, skin, ears, paws, claws and sanitary areas clean. Without proper grooming, dead skin & dirt can easily pile up causing infections. 

According to the American Kennel Club, most breeds should be groomed once a month. Some breeds need more. Let's break down the needs based on coat length:

Short-haired dogs: Short-haired dogs should receive baths about once every 4-6 weeks & brushing should be minimal.

Double coated dogs: These are the breeds of dogs that shed their undercoat seasonally. Brushing should be done 1-3 times a week and with a brush that goes through the undercoat all the way to the skin. Forgoing consistent brushing can cause the undercoat to become tangled which can be very painful for your dog. 

Please resist the urge to shave down double coated dogs! Instead, opt for a trim. The undercoat is insulation & helps your dog regulate body temperature. By shaving the undercoat, your dog will be more susceptible to heat stroke and follicle damage. 

Now that we've got the brushing out of the way, let's talk about bathing & trimming double coated dogs: Puppies with short dense coats should be bathed & groomed every 2-3 months. Adult Huskies will rarely need their coat trimmed, but should be bathed a few times a year. And finally-- Most double coated dogs with longer, less dense fur will need to be bathed once a month AND have a trim around their face, ears, paws pads & sanitary regions. Full body trims should be once every 3-months.

Curly/wavy haired dogs: These breeds of dogs shed less than other breeds, BUT their fur is more prone to be matted. Therefore, brushing should occur 3 times a week with a slicker brush that brushes from the skin out. Bathing & grooming should happen once a month to maintain hair & skin health. 

Wire-coated dogs: These breeds do not shed, but dead hair has a tendency of matting close to the skin. Brushing should happen from the skin out to the end 1-3 times a week. These breeds should be bathed at least once every 1-2 months and grooming should be a light trim around the face, ears, paws and sanitary areas every 4-6 weeks. 

Being a dog parent is a busy, busy life! Keeping up with a regular routine of brushing, grooming and bathing your dog according to it's breed is a must for skin and hair health. Do your research & purchase a dog brush specific to your dog's breed. If you have questions on whether or not you are over-brushing, over-bathing or over-trimming your dog's fur (or not enough), please reach out to a professional groomer. In addition, any skin infections, excessive hair loss or if you notice your dog's fur looking dull, please take your dog to the vet for a health check-up! These can all be signs of underlying health issues.