Whether they have short hair, long hair, smooth or rough hair, all dogs need a little help from humans when it comes to grooming.
As a new dog owner, my grooming experience is pretty much limited to backyard baths and following our Lab-mix GhostBuster around with a vacuum cleaner (seriously, last weekend he -we upgraded to a shop vac).
That’s why I asked Jenn Shaw, owner of Tall Tails Grooming in Red Deer, Alberta, to explain the five most common grooming mistakes dog owners make.
The 5 Common Dog Grooming Mistakes
1. Lack of training
According to Shaw, grooming is another aspect of training — and improper training can create unhappy grooming sessions for everyone involved.
“If you have a new puppy, it’s important that they get used to brushing, bathing and having their feet, face and ears touched from day one,” says Shaw.
He emphasized the importance of introducing early grooming, especially for breeds that will need haircuts throughout their lives. Once the puppies have had their second set of vaccinations, around 13 weeks of age, Shaw offers shortened grooms to get the little ones used to a different environment and used to being handled.
But what about dogs like my GhostBuster, who didn’t find his forever home with me until he was two years old?
“For rescues or dogs acquired later in their lives, it’s important to approach grooming with a calm manner and lots of praise, making every experience a positive one,” says Shaw. “Even dogs that tend to have bad reactions to grooming can be brought back with the right encouragement.”
He recommends owners approach a new dog’s grooming in a calm, firm and patient manner, and include plenty of positive reinforcement such as praise and treats for the dog’s calm behavior.
“Shorter sessions can also be beneficial,” explains Shaw. He also tells owners not to let the dog make the decision once the grooming is done.
“If the owner gives up every time their dog or puppy reacts poorly to one aspect of grooming – such as ear cleaning, teeth brushing, or tangle combing – the dog will quickly learn that the act means that repair has stopped.”
Owners who cannot be calm and stress-free when teaching their pet about grooming are advised to book professional grooming sessions until they get used to it.
2. Long hair + water = mat
Another common problem that groomers often encounter is matted fur in longer-haired dogs, but the cause of the mats is not always obvious to owners.
“Most pet owners don’t know that when a dog with long or thick fur gets wet, they are more likely to develop painful tight tangles and mats,” says Shaw. , which recommends brushing excess dead or tangled hair from the coat before showering, swimming or walking in the rain or snow.
“A quick brush to check for tangles before getting wet can prevent a lot of uncomfortable brushing or shaving later.”
Shaw also suggests brushing after the dog dries off, just to make sure any dead hair loosened from the water comes out. If mats are discovered while showering, she recommends using conditioner and a comb to loosen them as much as possible, and says blow drying can help break up tangles.
3. Incomplete repair
“Be thorough,” Shaw warned. He says many owners focus their efforts on brushing their dog’s back, missing out on other areas that need grooming.
“It’s important not to forget about tricky parts like faces, ears, tails, bellies, bums and legs when grooming at home,” advises Shaw. “For dogs with shorter hair, it’s still important to brush all over to promote healthy skin, oil production and coat growth.”
Your groomer can tell you which household tools are best for your pet, as different coats require different brushes and tools.
Shaw says part of a thorough groom includes checking inside the ears and mouth, and suggests asking your vet or groomer what the most appropriate cleaning schedule is for your dog.
“Expensive and painful dental and ear issues can easily be prevented with regular maintenance.”
4. Creating bad grooming habits through improper playing
“It may seem cute when your pet suddenly turns on the garden hose, shakes its head when you blow on its ears or plays chase with the hair dryer or vacuum,” says Shaw, “but this kind of teasing can be difficult for you to groom. or your groomer and scary for your pet.”
A professional groom involves equipment that vibrates, shakes, sprays, and blows air at the dog, and Shaw says owners need to make sure they’re not teaching the dog that bite or run when a repairman opens a tool.
“Some owners can also contribute to head, tail or foot sensitivity in their pets by teasing them,” says Shaw, who suggests creating positive experiences for the dog. when handling those areas.
According to the professional groomer, “playing shake a paw, or gently touching their tails, jowls or ears while giving lots of praise,” makes grooming safer, because the dog won’t overreact to touching those areas.
5. Make organizing a year-round priority
When the weather starts to get colder (as it already has in my part of the world) it’s understandable that owners want to make sure their dog has enough fur to keep them warm, but neglecting to repairs can actually do more harm than good when it comes to protection. that insulating coat.
“When grooming is neglected for the cooler months, matting often occurs before the weather warms up in the spring,” says Shaw.
The only cure for that kind of severe matting is a short shave — the exact opposite of what dogs and owners want in the middle of winter. “Regular maintenance throughout the cold, wet months can prevent a bald dog in February,” explains Shaw.
Regular maintenance and appropriate training seem to be the keys to repair success. I’m happy to say that with Shaw’s help, it looks like my GhostBuster is getting used to getting his hair done.
Does your dog like going to the groomer? What is your biggest problem when it comes to grooming your puppy? Let us know in the comments.
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Featured Image Credit: Helen Sushitskaya, Shutterstock
