TAG | Pets
One of the most asked questions that I get before someone buys a puppy is does the breed require much grooming. Some potential owners don’t mind and the others do. This article is for the latter and how you can make pet grooming easier. In order to groom your dog you have to get you dog use to water. There are several steps that you need to take in order to accomplish the task.
Dogs do not like to take baths. Lets face it you are going to groom your pet properly you are going to have to give him the dreaded bath. One of the ways you can start getting your dogs to like water is to introduce your dog to it. If you have a swimming pool take your dog out there with you. Depending on the size of your dog you can sit the dog on your lap as you float around. You can also have a friend stand at one side of the pool and you at the other and put your dog in there. Both of you can encourage the dog to come to the other. Take the dog to the lake for the day and get you dog in the water. If you do this often you will find it easier to get your dog in the bathtub. In fact some dogs do like to take baths. One word of caution is don’t just throw the dog into the water as that may scare him badly and then you’ll have to start from square one.
In the bathtub your dog should feel relaxed. If he isn’t quite use to the water yet you can say soothing words to help him. The sound of your voice can reduce tension in your dog. You dog loves you and loves to hear your voice of calm gentle words.
Make the bath as comfortable as possible. If you’re scratching, scraping and pulling his hair out he will be on the edge. When you were a kid did you like it when your mom washed your own head? Enough said. Keep the water out of his eyes if you can and their nose away from the faucet. They will feel like they are drowning. Another relaxer for your dog is to take your time. Give your dog a message. Talk to them while you are doing it. Nothing like have fingers rubbed all over your back and it’s real easy with the soap on your dog.
Grooming does take patience. You can incorporate the kids help as they love to do it when they are little. Consistency is the key. It may take up to six months to get your dog use to the water. It doesn’t have to be a chore when you get the whole family involved. If after trying these suggestions and you dog does not respond well, you may need to go to a professional.
Why do you want to take a dog-grooming course? Didn’t you learn how to bathe the family dog when you were a kid? Probably that is not the best way. You will learn allot in a course that will help you keep your pet clean and healthy without risking injury to your dog or yourself.Learn about different breedsFirst of all, a good dog grooming training course will teach you about the different breeds of dogs and the special grooming needs they have. A silky longhaired dog has different requirements that a fuzzy headed terrier and a good course will focus on the breeds of dogs the owners have. You will learn the best maintenance routine and supplies for your dog’s breed and temperament.Learn about dog grooming suppliesIn a dog grooming training course you will learn about the supplies you will need to carry out a grooming schedule. You will be instructed about good shampoos and skin care treatments for your pet. You will be told the best types of brushes, combs and dematting devices that will work for your breed of dog. Furthermore, the need for and proper use of devices such as toenail cutters with be provided. A good dog grooming training instructor will outline the best way to look for the parasites that love to get into your dogs hair and how to prevent them or remove them properly to avoid infection. Also in this category are ear mites, which you will learn to be on the lookout for and to treat.Learn grooming techniquesIn a dog grooming training course you will learn technique. Your dog is, at best, somewhat apprehensive about this grooming ritual and may even try to avoid it. Most dogs are easily distracted and have too much energy to hold still for long. You will be shown techniques to calm your dog before starting grooming, and to keep him from bolting out of the area covered with suds. You will be shown how to soothe your dog and introduce him to dog grooming tools like blow-dryers and electric trimmers. He may never get to like the buzz of an electric motor, but you will learn the best way to calm him or her enough so that he will stand still for it.In short, a good dog-grooming course will provide a roadmap for successful maintenance of your pet and the proper tools to use to do this safely and efficiently. It will also give you the confidence and know how to groom your pet in a loving way. A good dog-grooming course can be a giant step in forming a good relationship with your dog and keeping him healthy.
As a pet owner you are probably aware of the usual benefits of grooming you pet. You know that grooming helps you get rid of the knots and tangle in the coat and makes your dog feel cooler due to the air that flows through their fur. Of course, grooming also makes your dog look healthy and shiny. But there are many other known benefits that come from grooming your dog.
It may come as a surprise for some dog owners to know that the simple act of grooming can do much more for their pet than just improving their looks. Grooming as a regular activity provides a lot of health related benefits for your dog. Let’s see what these benefits are.
1. Grooming will help your dog get rid of the dead hair and enhance the beauty of its coat. Since the air circulation improves, your dog will find it much more comfortable, even in hot weather. Grooming also helps with the tangled hair issue often found with dogs that are very active and playful.
2. Grooming helps in improving the blood flow in the follicles of hair thus improving the health of their coat. The way massage makes our skin healthy, grooming beautifies the coat of the dogs. The health effects too are similar as the dogs’ lymphatic system is also stimulated due to grooming.
3. Grooming also helps in making the bonds stronger between you and your dog. Your gentle grooming is pleasing to your dog and it improves its emotional state.
4. While grooming your dog, it is easy for you to familiarize yourself with your dog’s body. You may also be able to check if your dog has any health related issues, such as any injuries that you had not noticed before. Health problems such as ticks can also be noticed and taken care of in time.
5. It is also beneficial to groom your pet’s paws by checking the growth of its nails and looking for any injuries on its pads which may not be visible otherwise.
Pay a visit to your local pet supply store and you will find numerous grooming materials for your dog. But if you are not sure of how to groom your dog, you can always do some research using Google. You will get a number of tips and good advice on grooming your dog. Your dog owning neighbors can also provide valuable input. If there are no dogs in your neighborhood, try finding dog clubs where you will find many dog owners who can share their experiences of grooming the dogs.
If you develop a liking for grooming and if you can do it really well, you may also consider starting a grooming service for other dogs and make it a profitable business for yourself. Dog grooming is in great demand and your services will surely be valued.
Spend some time to groom your lovely dog everyday and you will gift him with good health and thus have a better looking and healthier dog. If you have never done grooming before, don’t worry, there is no better time that the present. Start now and you will learn with time.
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All About Small Dogs With Hypoallergenic Fur
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Are you a dog lover? Do you live in an apartment or small home? Do you have allergies? A small dog with hypoallergenic fur might be the answer for you. “Hypo” is a Greek suffix meaning less or below. A hypoallergenic dog might still put out allergens, but at a much lower level. A few dogs that take up less space, making them better for apartment living, are the Silky Terrier, the Havanese, and the Coton de Tulear. These dogs are all considered of the “Toy” size by the America Kennel Club. The Silky Terrier was developed through a cross of a Yorkshire Terrier and an Australian Terrier in the late 19th century. Even with these early dates, it was not fully recognized as a breed of its own until 1955 as the Australian Silky Terrier. These dogs have terrier qualities such as enjoying activity and a very sharp alertness. Their hair is long, but the Silky Terriers do not shed. This long hair also is partially where their name is derived from. It has very soft and smooth qualities. The dog does require more than average care for this silky coat to stay in good condition. The terriers can get along with other dogs and children, but will get aggressive when provoked or teased. Proper education should be given to as well as the people around the animal as well as the dogs themselves in how to act around one another. The Havanese were originally developed by the Spanish from a now extinct breed called the Bichon Tenerife, making them part of the Bichon family of dogs. Grooming isn’t a worry with this breed, even with Havanese that are shown in competition. They are meant to look playful and friendly, much like their temperament. These dogs are great around children, other dogs, and people in general without becoming overly possessive. Their sturdy frame makes them that much better around curious children, unlike most fragile “Toy” sized dogs. Although they love playing and winning, they can be easily calmed when spoken to sternly by their owners. One of the major downsides to owning a Havanese is that they seem to suffer from many ailments such as cataracts and hip dysplasia. These are actually uncommon, unless the dog is adopted from a less than reputable breeder. A Coton de Tulear is another dog with Spanish roots from the Bichon family. Its actual home is Madagascar, where it is the official dog of the country. This intelligent breed is extremely playful, and when pure bred, is white in color. This white coat, while hypoallergenic, does shed more than that of their Havanese cousin, so it requires brushing once every week or two. The Coton de Tulears love people and enjoy playing with them, going on daily walks, and can even keep up on longer hikes. They get easily attached to their owners and suffer from separation anxiety at times. Overall, these dogs are very healthy, living anywhere from fourteen to eighteen years.
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Know About The Best Three Hypoallergenic Dog
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While the Labrador retriever still remains the most popular dog that people want to own, for those with allergies, labs are not the best breed to choose. There are many other types of dogs that would be more suitable for those suffering with allergies. These breeds include: Chinese Crested, Kerry Blue Terrier, and the Schnauzer. These dogs are not only beautiful; they also have short hair without an undercoating or longer hair that does not shed as much as other breeds. These dogs are purebred and can be found by contacting a breeder online or by telephone. The Chinese Crested is available in two varieties, the hairless, or the powder puff. Both types are considered hypoallergenic and are desired by those who have allergic reactions to dog hair and dander. The hairless, which is more common than the powder puff, has hair on its paws, head, and tail. Hair may also grow on its chin. The hair is soft and does not shed as often as other breeds. The hairless Chinese crested is prone to sunburn and acne, however. You should learn how to take care of this type of dog before buying one. Other than skin issues, these dogs are very friendly and enjoy being with their owners. Powder puff Chinese Crested has a full coat of long, soft hair that does not shed as often. People have fewer allergy issues with this breed because the hair is long and does not float through the air long enough for people to be affected. Both the hairless and the powder puff varieties are suitable companions for those with dog allergies. The Kerry Blue Terrier is a larger hypoallergenic dog that has a flat head, predominant chest, and a coat that is similar to that of the Poodle or Maltese. The dog gets its name from that fact that its coat will take on a blue sheen once it is an adult. Originally used for hunting, the Kerry Blue Terrier is now considered a working dog and requires constant companionship. In order to maintain this breed’s coat, you will have to have the dog groomed every two months and brush the coat once a week to prevent clumping. Since the dog does not shed, this is one of the better hypoallergenic dogs to choose. Also, this breed does not have an undercoat, which will also reduce allergic reactions. You should not let the dog outside in cold weather, however, since the lack of undercoat will cause the dog harm in colder temperatures. The Schnauzer is a hypoallergenic dog breed with short hair that does not shed. If you purchase on of these breeds, you will have to keep up regular grooming appointments. The Schnauzer comes in three different varieties: the Miniature Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer, and the Giant Schnauzer. Even though they vary in size, the schnauzer can be recognized by its boxy face, short hair, and square build. This breed is common in households because it does not shed and because of its easy going temperament.
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The Special Needs Of A Hypoallergenic Dog
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Hypoallergenic dog breeds have special needs because they are usually smaller in size and have temperaments that may be difficult to handle sometimes. When you first bring your new dog home, you should allow it to roam around to get an idea of its surroundings. If you have other pets, you should put them in another room while the dog is investigating the area. Depending on the breed of dog, they may be very scared at first. They may not want much human contact, so you should be careful about handling them too much during the first few days they are in your home. Once you new dog becomes comfortable, you should develop a feeding and hair brushing routine that you and your dog will follow. If you have allergies, brushing your dog every day will reduce the amount of allergens in the air. This will reduce the allergens on your carpets, furniture, clothing, and walls. Buy a steel comb with wide teeth that will help trap hair and get out any knots that may be in the dog’s fur. If you purchased a Mexican hairless or other breed that does not have hair, you should make sure that its skin is not dry. If you notice flaking, you should visit your vet who will prescribe medication or lotion that you can use. Making sure your hypoallergenic dog gets plenty of exercise is important for their health and also for controlling allergens in your home. Walking your dog at least once a day and making sure it sleeps through the night will keep the dog on a routine. Dogs that are awake at night time may want to be with you. Allowing your dog to sleep on your bed could increase your risk of an allergy attack. Your dog should have a designated place to sleep during the night and during the day. Buying a soft bed or giving the dog an old blanket will help keep them warm and safe when they are sleeping. You should wash their pet bed often to prevent allergens from being transferred to carpeting or clothing. While you cannot prevent all allergens from getting into your clothing and inside your carpeting, you can reduce them by keeping everything in your home clean. Dog grooming is also important when caring for a hypoallergenic dog. Even though the breed that you buy will probably have short hair, you will have to have it professionally groomed every few months to maintain the shape and also to keep the hair from becoming too long. Since hair can grow long and cover the dog’s eyes, and make it difficult for the dog to keep itself clean, grooming your dog will ensure that it remains healthy and happy. Now that you know more about caring for a hypoallergenic dog, you should remember that just because these dogs are considered a good choice for those with allergies, these dogs may still cause you to have allergy attacks from time to time. Hypoallergenic dogs reduce the risk of attacks, but cannot prevent them from occurring.
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You Can Give Help To Hypoallergenic Dogs
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Dogs that are considered hypoallergenic may cause fewer allergic reactions in people who own them other breeds. There are many breeds of long hair, short hair, and hairless varieties to choose from depending on your particular allergies and what you are looking for in a dog. Hypoallergenic dogs are sold mostly by breeders, but you can also find them in pet stores and sometimes in animal shelters. If you decide to buy a hypoallergenic dog, there are ways to care for them that may require a little more work than non-hypoallergenic breeds. Caring for your hypoallergenic dog begins with caring for their coat. While many hypoallergenic breeds such as Terriers, Schnauzers, and Poodles have short hair, this hair can be coarse and will continue to grow unless the dogs are properly groomed. These dogs do not shed and have hair that can be compared to human hair. You will have to keep your dog groomed in order to prevent matting. Matting can cause skin rashes and other health problems if the dog’s coat is not taken care of. Brushing your dog is also important especially in breeds that have longer hair such as the Afghan Hound. While these dogs are considered hypoallergenic, their coats are long and shiny. They do not shed either, so brushing and grooming are important. Brush your dog at least twice a week to keep excess hair from building up. Some hypoallergenic dogs have undercoats, while others do not. Undercoats protect dogs from cold temperatures by storing body heat. Dogs that do not have an undercoat will not survive long in cold temperatures. Unless a breeder says you can keep your dog outside, you should keep the dog indoors. If you have a hairless dog, you will have to protect their skin with lotions and skin creams. You should not leave these dogs outside for long periods of time as they will suffer from sun burn and dehydration. Caring for your dog is not only making sure their coat and skin are protected, it also means making sure that they get enough exercise and time with you each day. Dogs that are left alone for long periods of time can become destructive. Training your dog by developing a routine will help them adjust to the times when you cannot be at home. If you will be out of town for more than two or three days, you should find a friend that can check in on your dog or you should consider boarding the dog until you come home. Protecting your hypoallergenic dog from cold temperatures, the sun, and from developing skin rashes are ways that you can help your dog live a long, healthy life. Because many breeds of hypoallergenic dogs are small in size, they are prone to arthritis, eyesight issues, tumors, and other problems. While you cannot predict how your dog will age, you should research different breeds to see what types of health issues they may have some day. Regular checkups with a vet will help your dog live a long life.
It’s the usual thing every Parent goes through from time to time I guess.
“Daaaad, why can’t we get a dog?”
“Well son it’s like this, they take a lot of caring, they’re a big responsibility, they need feeding (this is starting to sound like a job description for Parenthood in general I know), and they need someone to walk them on cold dark winter nights.” Hit them hard with the triple mantra of “Dog Health, Dog Grooming and Dog Training” I thought, that will do the trick……..
So four weeks later there I was heading with my sister in law to the nearest branch of the Dogs Trust to check out some abandoned puppies from a litter that had been taken in before Christmas and were coming up to eleven weeks old and it was crunch time.
“What sort of dog were you looking for sir and what sort of experience have you had with dogs? We will need to take out references and check out where the dog is going to live, whether it is safe.” Heck, this was starting to sound like a job interview with the local bank not some search for an abandoned pooch.
It would possibly have been easier to pack a suitcase full of cash and hop on the next plane to some third world country and come home with a baby – a contentious view point I know but says more about the shoddy approach to most Intercountry Adoptions but I digress.
Five minutes later there I was walking round the inner courtyard of what sounded like canine hell. There is something deeply tragic about the way we treat our pets in this world (marginally better then we treat our fellow humans I know) and unless we stop treating pets and dogs especially with the same disposable mentality that we use when buying our next cheeseburger it is only going to get worse.
Trying to take a reasoned and rational approach to what can only be best described as a display of truly pathetic (in the truest of senses) wretchedness is extremely difficult. The Dogs Trust is wonderful organisation that copes, alongside numerous others, in a much challenged environment, with a miniscule budget and essentially damaged goods. It is a hard task to manage in a situation whereby the credo of the organisation is “we do not destroy any dogs” means that there is an ever increasing strain on budgets. The upshot of all of this is that you find yourself in a canine equivalent of a used car showroom but without the shiny cars, heating and cheap aftershave to keep you company.
It is a very functional environment whereby the dogs are well cared for, fed, kept warm, safe, dry and medically cared for but the Ritz Carlton it is not. The dogs are kept in pens with wire partitions and once one starts barking the rest join in for what seems to be the fun of it. The inhabitants of this canine community seem to recognise what is going on and pathetically struggle to out muscle, out do, and generally create as much interest in them as possible. Of course there is always the compete opposite, the really damaged ones who seem to have lost all interest in human contact remembering not too fondly the lack of humanity or brutality that led them to be here in the first place.
Interesting choice, I thought, feeling rather guilty at the fact that no matter what choice I made there were going to be at least forty or fifty of these frantic barking creatures that would be left here waiting for a better draw from the “lottery of fate” on another day.
I was very aware of the fact that the main driving force behind this choice was the fact that I had a seven year old son who was probably going to be the dogs main companion over the course of it’s life and therefore it would be an idea to find a dog that got on well with humans (not as easy as you think) and kids especially.
Yes, you got it; we ended up with a puppy, a cross between a Black Labrador and a Border collie (we think). It was one of those tragically funny situations when I looked at the paperwork and there it was in front of me, “Mother – Black Labrador, Father – unknown”. Apparently, the litter had been taken in before Christmas and though the mother was acquired at the same time and therefore known, the “likeliest suspect” for the Father apparently was a working dog at the nearest farm thereby giving rise to the “Border Collie, we think” routine.
As most dog owners will testify, despite feeling as if I had accomplished a great deal, it was only the beginning.
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Does Your Dog Feel Better After Being Groomed?
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When you have been in the “wild” for a number of days without a bath or a shave, how do you feel? Pretty raunchy, right? You’re totally ready to wash all that gunk off of you and start to resemble a normal human being again. Well, the same is true for your dog, up to a certain point.
Yes, it’s true that dogs don’t have a system of logic going on in their brains that tells them that they smell bad. Neither do you. Yours is a learned behavior. Early man stunk, folks. He was ripe all the time and everyone just accepted this. It was a part of the daily routine. Just like your dog. Man is the only species that does not react simply out of instinct or habit alone. He can reason. That’s what makes us the highest species. Believe it or not, dogs can reason too, especially after a grooming.
Tony Roettger, of Spaniel Journal, says that if a thing can be trained, such as a dog, it can reason. Maybe the reasoning is on a lower level than humans but it can reason and the more it is forced to reason, the better it gets and the more frequently it uses reasoning to make decisions, the more evident it becomes. Reasoning is a form of conditioning, is it not and vice versa. Conditioning is a form of reasoning.
With that said, let us do some reasoning of our own. When a person takes their dog to the groomer’s shop and the dog is given the full treatment, including bath,haircut, nails trimmed appropriately, nails polished, ribbons in the hair (in some cases) and a doggie perfume or cologne placed on them, they probably hate the entire affair because they don’t have the capability to reason the reason for what they’re going through; however, what is your reaction when you pick them up from the groomers? You’re usually very excited, you talk to the dog and tell them how good they look, your voice conveys approval and happiness. So, what do you think the dog may be reasoning here?
Our guess is that the animal, after being groomed and receiving your obvious gratuities and love begins to understand that this grooming process, which he hates, brings accolades and love from his owner so how bad can it really be? He knows that he’s not going to be harmed so he begins to associate the grooming process with your love and attention. Hey, even men do this type of reasoning, right?
So, the question is not so much, “do they know they’re being groomed,” but rather, “do they associate the grooming with good feelings and do they feel good about themselves once they are groomed?”
The truth is, your dog may not actually “like” the grooming process but they accept it. They probably associate your attention with the process although they don’t have any idea why you’re happy. They just know you are and if you’re happy, that’s ok with them because they love you, unconditionally.
So, don’t hesitate to get your dog groomed frequently from a reputable and highly touted groomer. They make you feel good about your dog and the dog can feel that because…he reasons it out. And you want him to feel good because you love him, right?
If you own a dog with a medium coat, you will want to know how to groom him. Each length of hair needs to be cared for and groomed in a different way. You can not groom your long hair dog in the same manner in which you groom your medium coat dog. If you do choose to groom them in the same way, you may end up with a dog that has a coat that does not look right.
It is important that you learn how to groom your dog properly. The proper grooming can make a huge difference in the appearance of your dog. A dog who is groomed properly looks clean and neat. You will be surprised to see the difference proper grooming can make.
One great thing about medium coat dogs is that most of them do not require you to cut their hair. The hair does not need to be cut because it does not tangle, mat, or hold onto dirt like long hair would. This makes it much easier to care for and you won’t have to worry about giving the dog a bath or a haircut everytime they play outside.
The most important thing to remember about keeping your dog groomed is that regular brushing and bathing are necessary. Brushing the hair at least once a week and bathing once a month are good routines to get in. If you can brush your dog every day, that is even better.
The best time to trim your dogs hair, if necessary, is after they have their bath. After bathing your dog, you will want to towel dry them and possibly use a blow dryer with a low heat setting. It is important to make sure your dogs hair is completely dry before attempting to trim it.
After the dog is dry, you should stand back and look at him to see if there are any stray, or long hairs that need to be trimmed. Having a picture of your breed of dog that is a show dog is a good way to know what your dogs coat should look like. Use this picture as a guide, and make sure to only cut a few hairs at a time. After cutting a few hairs you will want to step back and look before cutting any more. If you do not do this there is a very good chance that you will end up cutting too much.
Another area of concern is the dogs paws. You will want to make sure you cut the long hairs between the paw pads. You will also want to make sure you blend the foot and leg hair with the rest of the body. You also want to make sure that the dogs hair all over the body is well blended. This is why only minimal trimming is needed. The purpose in trimming your dog is to get an even look. You are only trimming a little bit to get rid of the stray or long hairs that look out of place.
