Read Before Grooming
Kuro Getting Her Ear Cleaned.
If you have a new puppy, congratulations on becoming a pawrent! If you've had your dog for a while, and your dog gets the jitters when it comes time for grooming, then you might want to read on to make sure you know all these tips. And if you don't know by now, grooming your dog is one of the most essential things you must do. From nose to tail, ears to paw, you'll only keep them wagging if you groom them often. You can choose to send your dog for grooming with a professional like Wagging Tails or you can groom your dog on your own at home. Either which way, there are a couple of things you should know before grooming.
Professional Grooming
Most professional groomers (or all), would have seen and experienced everything. Your dog won't be the first and won't be the last. Firstly, trust them to know exactly what they are doing, they are trained and experienced, no matter how unique your dog is, chances are they have encountered a dog with traits exactly like yours. Of course, being a professional, they will provide you suggestions and tips. It pays to spend a little time to listen to them properly before deciding if they make sense. Whether your dog has allergies, infections, a problem with their teeth and gums, they are detailed oriented and can provide you a perspective.
How Often Should You Groom
Well, the most important part are the ears and paws. You need to be able to do this yourself, unless you want to bring your dog to the groomer every 2 weeks. Ears should be cleaned as often as weekly (or more if you notice your dog's ears get dirty real quick), and nails might need to be cut and filed from as little as every 2 weeks. These are the two fundamental things that must be done on a regular basis to ensure your dog looks good but feels good as well. A well groomed dog is a happy one. For Kuro, we clean her ears regularly, but we do send to Wagging Tails for a deeper clean every so often. Now, for the rest like trimming the hair, hygiene areas or even a full grooming with wash an blow may be a bit much to do every 2 weeks but you should bring your dog to the professional groomers in at least every 1.5 to 2 months, again this depends on how often you maintain your dog yourself, and also how quickly their fur grows. You might want to start this clockwork process as early as possible. Your dog needs to also get used to being groomed, especially by someone else. With time, they will learn to be okay with it and no longer fear it Stoking to the same groomer also allows your dog to receive a level of comfort that would naturally make your dog more calm about getting groomed.
Brushing Your Dog
For dogs with short fur, they require less maintenance. day Kura But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be brushed every other day. That helps keep their coot soft, neat and untangled. It is said that this can help reduce the frequency of showers as well. For dogs with longer fur, you need to brush them more frequently, at least 2 to 3 times a week depending on your dog's coat and how hard it is to be managed. The last thing you want is for your dog's fur to be tangled or matted. True story, some dogs have it so bad by the time they go to the professional groomers, your option might either be complete shave down (we don't recommend it) or it would cost you more as the groomer would have to de-tangle and unravel every knot and matting before they can even perform their actual grooming work.
How Often Should Your Dog Shower
This is a very common question by all new dog owners. To be honest some seasoned dog owners wonder the same thing too, especially if they don't always keep the same breed of dog. And why is that? Because all dogs are different Some require more fussing whilst others may not Generally, in Singapore because of the humid weather, you might be able to escape bathing your dog for 2 weeks or more. But for some dogs, they get oily and dirty really quick, also depending on your habits and care. The rule of thumb is try not to shower your dog in intervals of less than 5 days unless absolutely necessary (for medical reasons). If you need more advice on what the best products are, do consult with your vet when you have the chance. They would be able to advise you on what's best for your dog.
After Every Wolk
This is should be part of your routine. Train your dog early. After every walk, take the opportunity whilst you're cleaning up the paws and wiping up their hygiene areas, to check on their overall well being. Check their coat for fleas or ticks, make sure there re no hotspots, look at the ears for infections or mites, and you can do so while you're giving their paws a good wipe. Make sure you get in between their toes, under their nails, that's where most bacteria, dirt and grime can hide. Remove them nasties. Also check if their paw pads are a little dry. Nothing a little paw balm can't fix or prevent chaffing..
What Do You Want
For short fur breeds, well, grooming can be pretty standard and perhaps it may not be very necessary to cut their fur that often, reducing your need or reliance on a groomer. YAY. But if your dog has longer fur, there begins a whole other chapter. There are multiple different approaches and styles to cut for your dog. Do make sure you are very certain about what you want If you have a Pinterest board, you can show your professional groomer the inspiration and they will be able to advise you on what's possible or recommended. That will reduce any potential for miscommunication.
Keep Calm and Relax
With professional groomers, there is a lot of magic. For us, there's a lot we cannot do for Kure. It's quite possible, she knows were not the professional and prefers the professional groomers to groom her. Perhaps we get a little anxious and over-protective. Dogs can read our energy and will react to it as well. For the most part, don't be around the groomer when they are doing their work Leave them be. Your dog will be less nervous and will behave much better. Generally, your groomer will let you know when it would be best to pick up your dog, so don't be early and arrive just on time. Speaking of which, don't be late for your grooming session. That can mess up not only the groomer but your dog's experience as well. Dogs don't like to be rushed and neither does your groomer, you want a job well done.
Essential Grooming for Bagel by Wagging Tails.
Ear Cleaning for Kuro by Wagging Tails.
Shave Down (something we’d try to avoid) by Wagging Tails.
Wagging Tails
We hope that has been helpful to you. For us, if it isn't obvious yet, we do recommend Wagging Tails. We’ve been a loyal customer of theirs for 2 years and would vouch for them for sure. Plus, your dog can indulge in some post-grooming Kuro Snacks. Don’t forget to ask! Check out their website or get in touch with Wagging Tails today or learn a little more about them via our Community page.
Rewarding the Experience
When it's all done, aside from rewarding your professional groomer (usually by means of the fee with or without a tip), don't forget to praise your dog for a being patient and going through the session. Do keep pack some Kuro Snacks along with you in your dog carrier if your groomer doesn't already have them handy. Or better yet, have your dog carry them on its own.
These are great means of storage for your Kure Kuro Snacks to keep them fresh.
“We love Kuro Snacks for our dogs. It’s made with real Meat, freshly Made in Singapore. All Natural and Healthy with special herbs and spices. No artificial additives or preservatives.”
