Dog grooming

A Newfoundland dog lying next to its combed-out seasonal undercoat

Dog grooming refers to the hygienic care of a dog, a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced. A dog groomer (or simply "groomer") is a professional that is responsible for maintaining a dog’s hygiene and appearance by offering services such as bathing, brushing, hair trimming, nail clipping, and ear cleaning.

Benefits of grooming

Grooming a dog using a shedding blade

Regular grooming is beneficial in maintaining dog hygiene; grooming needs vary depending on the dog’s breed, age, and health. While many dogs shed frequently, some breeds, like poodles, shed very little and require grooming every 4-8 weeks.

The primary reasons for daily grooming include:

• decreased chance of various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
• improved hygiene of the dog
• monitoring of the dog's health by checking for cuts, hot spots, swelling, lameness, or changes in temperament, all of which could be indicative of illness
• forging of a closer bond between dog and owner
• reducing infestation load of external parasites on skin
• avoiding matting that can potentially cause health concerns, like skin irritation or the accumulation of harmful bacteria in the coat

Tools and supplies

Various types of curry brushes

A shedding blade

Types of brushes and combs

• Curry or curry brush: A tool made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth." The tool is rubbed (or "curried") over the dog's coat to loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, and stimulate the skin into producing natural oils. They are more commonly used on dogs with large amounts of shedding, like German Shepherds. They are also used for untangling knots in certain parts of the dog's body, such as ears, paws, or tail. Using a curry comb must be done carefully, as the action of this type of tool can harm the skin of the dog if pulled too hard.

• Shedding blade: A metal blade (or "sweat scraper") with short, dull teeth that is used to remove dead hair from certain types of harsh coats, as well as remove matted fur. The shedding blade is not used to cut hair.
• Slicker brush: A brush with fine, short wires close together on a flat surface. The pins are bent at an angle approximately halfway down the pin. It is used on medium-to-long-haired or curly-haired dogs to remove mats. Slicker brushes are typically used after brushing with a bristle or a wire pin brush in order to smooth the coat and to take out mats and tangles. This type of brush comes in a wide range of sizes and degrees of pin stiffness. For heavier and thicker coats, it is recommended to use a brush with stiffer pins.
• Rake: Brush designed to penetrate a dog's thick coat and remove tangles and dead undercoat near the dog's skin. It is often shaped like a shaving razor and features one or two rows of tightly spaced pins. Rakes are important grooming tools, especially for double-coated dogs, such as Newfoundlands or Siberian Huskies.
• Bristle brush: One of the most widely used types of brushes due to its versatility. Typically, the bristle brush is used on dogs with long coats to finish the coat and to bring out the natural lustre and shine. It is commonly used in daily grooming, as it removes surface dust and dirt. It is important to note that bristle brushes are a finishing tool; they do not usually penetrate the coat. Dogs brushed with just a bristle brush and nothing else will frequently appear well groomed but will be matted beneath the outer layer. Generally, longer and widely spaced bristles are suitable for dogs with longer coats, and shorter and tightly packed ones are better on dogs with short hair.
• Wire pin brush: Has an oval shape and metal bristles set in a flexible rubber base. Useful in separating and untangling the hair of long, wiry, wavy, and curly coated dogs. Some wire pin brushes have polished or coated pins, which prevent scratching the dog's skin during use. Because the coating or polish may wear off over time, the pins should be replaced periodically. Pin brushes come in a variety of sizes, textures, and fullness.
• Combination pin/bristle brush: Has two different sides - one with bristles, which can be successfully used for grooming the short hair areas of the coat, and another side with pins that can be used for long-coated and double-coated dogs.
• Mat comb: Designed to 'cut' matted hair from the dog's coat without leaving a bald spot.

A stainless steel comb to groom dogs with a coarse or fine coat

• Stripping combs/knives: Tools used to help grab the longer hairs on a harsh coat and pull them out by the root. Helps maintain a proper coat in many terriers and schnauzers. Most often used on show dogs.

Other supplies

• Shears and clippers: Cutting tools used to remove/shorten hair on certain types of coats or from sensitive areas. Not all types of coats are suitable for clipping, i.e., double coats on breeds such as Border Collies, which should not be clipped unless the dog is matted. The typical pair of shears for dog grooming is between 6.5 and 9 inches long, longer than human hairdressing shears. Some are designed with a blunt tip to prevent any injuries due to movement.
• Stand dryers, cage dryers, and hand dryers: Used to dry the dog's coat. Drying a dog with a dryer designed for humans is not recommended, as it may cause scalp irritation, dry skin, or skin sores.
• Shampoos and conditioners: Owners are recommended to use only shampoos, conditioners, and rinses that are especially designed for dogs.
• Grooming tables: Grooming tables provide a secure and productive environment for grooming, but many single dog owners can avoid this expense by simply using what is available in the home. They are normally used by professional groomers and owners who have dogs that enter competitive shows.

Bathing

Dogs can be bathed indoors in a sink, walk-in shower, or bathtub or outdoors using a garden hose. The water should be warm enough to prevent hypothermia but not hot enough to scald the skin. Dogs with heavy or matted coats should never be bathed without first being completely brushed out or first clipping/cutting any mats.

Many types of shampoos and conditioners formulated for dogs are available. For dense and double-coated dogs, pre-mixing the shampoo with water will help ensure a more even distribution of the shampoo. When washing the head, grooming products can be irritating if they come in contact with the eyes. Additionally, excess water may become trapped in the ear canal, leading to secondary ear infections. If the shampoo is not fully rinsed off, residual chemicals may become irritating to the skin. Most dogs do not require frequent bathing; shampooing a coat too often can strip the coat of its natural oils, causing it to dry out.

Dental care

Dental care is particularly important and can be addressed while grooming. The dental kits available on the market include everything from special toothpaste to toothbrushes. Many models of toothbrushes include a flexible three-head design, which maintains the proper pressure on all surfaces of the tooth with every stroke. These brushes have side bristles set at 45-degree angles to reduce arm twisting and soft outer bristles for massaging the gums. Toothpaste designed to be used on dogs is usually sugar-free toothpaste with different flavoring. Foaming or rinsing is not necessary.

Hair removal

Slicker brush used for removal of loose hair and knots

The coats of many breeds require trimming, cutting, or other attention. Styles vary by breed and discipline. While some hair removal originates for practical purposes, much is based on the taste of the owner, whether the dog will be shown, and what work it does.

A six-month-old Lhasa Apso before and after a visit to a professional groomer

The rubber grooming gloves and dog brushes are intended to drag loose hair from the short-coated dogs and are some of the most popular grooming tools amongst pet owners. They are easy to use by massaging the coat in firm strokes and have the advantage of being suitable for both wet and dry coats.

Some breeds of dog, such as the Lhasa Apso, do not shed, but have hair that grows constantly. As such, the fur around the legs and belly can get exceptionally long and become matted, and the hair around the eyes can impair the dog's vision. In such circumstances, hair trimming can be performed to keep the eyes clear and keep the coat free of knots.

Hand stripping

The body of this adult Border Terrier has been stripped.

Stripping or hand-stripping is the process of pulling the dead hair out of the coat of a non-shedding dog, either by using a stripping knife or the fingers. A hard, wiry coat has a cycle where it starts growing and then sheds as it reaches maximum length. Hand-stripping coordinates the shedding and makes room for a new coat to grow. Stripping is the proper grooming method for most terriers, spaniels, and many other breeds. The hair is removed with either a stripping knife or stripping stone, with the top coat removed to reveal the dense, soft undercoat. If done correctly, the procedure is painless. Many dogs are reported to enjoy having their hair stripped, especially when they are introduced to it as puppies.

Nail trimming

Nail trimming is essential for maintaining good health. If a dog's nails are allowed to grow, they will curl over into a spiral shape and walking will become increasingly painful and dangerous. Uncut nails may curl so far that they pierce the paw pad, leading to infection and debilitating pain. Long nails can put pressure on the toe joints, even causing the joints of the forelimb to be realigned. This can cause the animal to have unequal weight distribution and be more prone to injuries. Longer nails are also more likely to be forcibly ripped or torn off, causing serious pain to the animal.

It becomes increasingly difficult to maneuver nail clippers between the paw pad and tip of the nail as the nails grow longer. Owners may choose to trim nails themselves or may opt to take their pet to a groomer or veterinarian.

Nail trimming is done with a nail clipper. There are two main types of nail clippers: guillotine trimmers and standard scissor- and plier-style trimmers. The scissor-style trimmer is most effective on nails that have grown too long and are now in the shape of a circle or coil. In addition, handheld rotary tools are often used to smooth sharp edges caused by nail clippers.

Cording

The Puli's corded coat requires a large amount of patient grooming to keep it attractive.

Cording is a technique in which dog coats are separated patiently into dreadlocks for coat care or presentation purposes. Some dog breeds that are often corded are the Puli and the Komondor. The Havanese and the various poodles are also occasionally corded for showing.

The cords form naturally (if messily) in tightly curled fur, but to make them attractive for conformation showing, the cords are carefully started by separating clumps of fur in a regular pattern, and tended until they are long enough to grow on their own. A corded coat can act like a dust mop as the dog moves through its environment, causing debris such as dirt and leaves to be tangled in the coat. To keep the coat attractive, the owner must put in considerable time and effort in cleaning it and in entertaining and exercising the dog in a way that minimizes the accumulation of litter. Such dogs often have their cords tied up or covered with assorted dog clothing when they are not in a clean environment.

Creative

Additional options that some groomers provide include services such as fur coloring and painting dogs' nails with safe, nontoxic products formulated especially for that purpose.

While traditional grooming achieves to conform with breed standards set by the official breed associations, creative grooming heads to the opposite direction, creating a unique, sometimes exquisite look.

The lighter version of creative grooming is known as pet tuning and is more owner-oriented, adjusting the pets' visual appearance to their owners' amusement or lifestyle, while the creative grooming is more of an art form, therefore more artist (groomer) oriented.

See also

• Dog breeding
• Kennel
• Pet store

External links

• The British Dog Groomers Association