Article by Craig Willis
Grooming isn’t something we usually give a lot of thought to when choosing dogs, but we should. We often forget he allergies caused by dog hair, and in order to keep the dog happy and healthy, more care is often requiredDogs with a ‘double coat are extremely difficult to groom. Some dogs like the Australian Shepherd Dog, sheds its coat twice/year and will loose harge amounts of hair. To keep the Aussie fur down to a manageable level, you will need to regularly brush your dog. However, they shed their fuzzy undercoat almost year-round, leaving giant dust bunnies in their wake.The Labrador is another dog that sheds large amounts of hair. Despite their low-maintenance reputation, Labs shed throughout the year. Wear a pair of black pants when you pet your next yellow Lab, and you’ll experience the bane of Lab owners everywhere: short, spiky hairs stuck to you in copious amounts. Even if you adopted a regular brushing regime, you will always find hair everywhere.The setters shed the least. The reason for this is they have a single coat and whilst their hair is quite long, it is amlost like our own hair and easier to manage. This breed has very low shedding however they still need to regularly brushed to avoid tangles.People generally cope differently with differing dog coats and what may be suitable for one persons lifestyle, may not be suitable to others. For example, poodles don’t shed much, so allergy sufferers find that they have fewer symptoms when they keep poodles. On the other hand, poodles require tegular brushing and clipping. If their grooming becomes less frequent, their coat will become matted and tangled very easily. For those without the time or money to maintain a high-maintenance coat, a poodle is the wrong dog. Breeds such as the Australian shepherd or the Belgian Malinois do best with daily brushing as a way to keep shed hair to a minimum. Regular washing (or over washing) will tend to remove the natural oils in the dogs skin which is needed to help regulate their temperature and keep their skin healthy. Too much bathing can wash away these oils and lead to dandruff and other skin conditions. For Allergy sufferers, weekly washing may also help reduce symptoms for the owners.grooming is not limited to washing, brushing and clipping, but also extends to ear cleaning, nail clipping, gland management and teeth cleaning. Ear infections are typical with various dog breeds such as labradores and golden retrievers because of their’drop ear’ and so regular cleaning is required as part of this grooming regime. NEVER use utelsils or cotton swaps as they may become lodged in the ear canal. Instead, use a warm damp cloth. Nail clipping is also an important consideration, especially for ‘house dogs’ because they aren’t wearing nails down on abraisive surfaces. And ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth daily or at least weekly. Check out our blog and facebook page for latest tips, practices and offers to help you effectively and confidently groom your dog.
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