Importance of Grooming Your Dog

There is no such thing as a grooming-free breed of dog. Some breed categories like those with short hair may seem like they don’t need grooming when in fact, all dogs need to be groomed. For your pet’s well-being, he should be groomed on a regular basis.

Coat Care is Essential

Purebred dogs come in many coat varieties and mixed breed dogs may have several configurations. Whether you take your canine to a groomer or groom him at home, care should be taken when choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for each type of coat.

In addition, you should always follow the bath with conditioner because shampooing not only removes the dirt, but the oils as well. If you don’t replace it with conditioner, the sweat glands (sebaceous glands) go into overproduction, which is why many dogs smell a few days after a bath.

RELATED: Drying a Dog After a Bath

Grooming Your Dog

Smooth-Coated Breeds

This is usually the case with smooth-coated breeds, such as Bulldogs, Dalmatians and Pugs, who are known to have skin problems. Many people see these breeds as a wash-and-go pet. Spray the dogs down, shampoo, rinse and let them air dry. They need a gentle shampoo and conditioner, and they must be dried completely.

Medium Double-Coated Breeds

The medium double-coated dogs blow their undercoats a couple of times a year and more often if they’re an indoor dog. When these dogs are bathed, they release much of their undercoats and continue to do so for several days later. Some owners have these dogs shaved to get rid of the shedding. By doing so, the owner is not only ruining the dog’s top coat that will never grow back properly, but now the shedding will also be little short particles of hair that end up in the air and can be breathed in.

RELATED: Hot Spots on Dogs

Other owners of medium-coated dogs also shave them because they live in hot climates. However, the hair is actually protecting them from the heat. Shaving any dog and then exposing them to harsh elements could be harmful. Dogs actually cool themselves down through the glands in their feet and nose and, with extreme heat, through their tongues.

Long-Haired Breeds

The long-haired dogs have another completely different set of issues. If an owner doesn’t keep the dog’s coat clipped, combed and conditioned, he can end up with a painful full body mat, which usually has to be removed with a surgical blade.

If your dog’s coat is cleaned and brushed, nails trimmed and ears cleaned, you both will be happy and you’ll probably spend more time with him. Generally, dogs who are only bathed once a year tend to be neglected and unhappy, and are at a greater risk for health issues. Whereas the dog groomed by a professional pet groomer or at home tends to be included in the owner’s daily life and is probably better behaved because he’s not desperate for attention.