How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?
Does your dog smell like, well, a dog? Every once in a while, you may find that your dog has that unmistakable but indescribable scent that lets us know that it is time for a doggy scrub down.
Most of our doggy cleaning care can be done at home, and we love making memories with our fur-children as we give them baths. It may be hard to persuade your dog to get into the bathtub.
However, after they get in, many enjoy the good scratching they get as shampoo reaches every part of their body.
We love to share this pro-tip: Smear a dab of sugar-free peanut butter on the side of the tub to keep your furry buddy occupied while you scrub away.
Who can resist watching your dog get a case of the zoomies after your dog has been dried off? The excitement of getting out of the bathtub will have your dog ready to run around the house in glee. When it comes to clipping fur, though, we may like to leave that to a professional dog groomer who can have our dogs looking fresh and picture-perfect.
You may wonder how often your buddy needs a groom. Let’s chat about how often our dogs need some quality salon-a-la-pooch time.
When Does Your Dog Need a Bath?
When it comes to giving our dogs baths, timing is important. Usually, our dogs just need a monthly scrub down. This helps to keep our dog’s fur and skin clean, healthy, and hygienic. Of course, your pup may be a habitual mud-roller, and you’ll need to bathe as necessary. If your dog is king or queen of the couch and only goes outside to use the potty, you may find you run fewer baths.
The seasons can also determine how often you wash your dog. Some dogs shed more during specific parts of the year — it’s called “blowing coat.” Giving your pooch a nice wash down can help remove the extra fur they are trying to shed. This may be helpful if you find that you are breaking out the vacuum every day.
How Much Is Too Much: Bathing Dogs
Bathing too much can strip a dog's fur of its natural oils and can cause their skin to dry out. This can cause them to itch and scratch, which can cause abrasions.
Use shampoo specially created with your dog’s fur and skin in mind. Once you have your dog lathered up into the cutest “shampoodle” there ever was, follow the directions on the bottle.
Some shampoos can be rinsed right off. Other shampoos, especially medicated ones prescribed by your vet, may call for the suds needing to sit for a few minutes so they can reach your dog’s skin. Give your dog a good rinse so that no suds are left behind. When your pup is fully dry, proceed to cuddle up in a blanket (after the zoomies occur).
Breed Specific Grooming Guidelines
Depending on your dog’s breed, they may be fine with just a bath that you can do at home. Longer and curlier-haired breeds may need a groomer to help with tangles and knots.
They could also need a specific haircut or hairstyle. In that case, you might need to head to the puppy pampering parlor. Dog groomers help us keep our dogs looking fresh and clean, and for some breeds, they are needed exclusively to ensure their coats are kept in tip-top shape.
Let’s look at how often our dogs should be groomed.
Groomers: The Ultimate Doggy Stylist
Along with your dog’s veterinarian, their groomer is an important person to help keep your dog looking and feeling fantastic. Groomers have been specially trained in how to safely wash and clip your dog’s fur to keep them looking pawsitively amazing.
Dog stylists know about the different types of breeds and their coats and how to shape and cut the numerous types of dog hair and fur. Each coat type requires a different technique, and groomers are trained just for that.
Groomers also have experience with the tiniest of toy breeds to the largest gentle giants. Not dealing only with fur, groomers help to clip nails, brush teeth, clean out ears, and express the dreaded anal glands. Seriously, we need to give groomers a medal!
When it comes to your dog, their breed and hair type will determine the amount they need to be groomed. Let’s dig in a little more on how often your dog should be groomed, depending on their hair type.
How To Groom Short-Haired Dogs
Short-haired dogs, like Boston Terriers and Labradors, are good to go with a bath and keep their nails trimmed regularly. However, some short-haired breeds can shed like crazy, and regular brushing can help to keep the shedding down. Groomers also offer services to reduce the shedding, especially if your pup is a seasonal shedder.
Since short-haired pets are in less danger of mats and tangles, their grooming needs will be less often. Invest grooming time on your dog’s teeth and nails to keep them clean and sparkling. When it comes to making a grooming appointment, once a season should keep them in tip-top shape.
How To Groom Long-Haired Dogs
When it comes to our long-haired dogs, like Pomeranians and Afghan Hounds, special care and consistent grooming keep their luxurious coats looking like a hair product commercial. Long-haired dogs need their hair brushed daily to prevent tangles. Plus, remnants from potty breaks can get caught in the fur, so take care that any private areas are kept clean and dry.
If they keep their long coats, long-haired dogs will need to see a groomer every four to six weeks. Depending on their coat type, some long-haired dogs can be clipped shorter for easier maintenance as well as to help them keep cool during the summer months. If this is the case, your groomer can determine how long they can go until their next groom, depending on how fast their hair grows.
How To Groom Curly and Wavy-Haired Dogs
If your pooch has luscious waves or curls, they tend to shed less, but their coats become matted much more easily. Breeds like Poodles and Bichon Frise are counted in the curly and wavy-haired dog type, and their coat feels so soft and supple when clean.
Keeping up with brushing is key with these types of coats. Their coat can act just like velcro, and any dirt or grass can become easily stuck in their coat. This can turn into a knot which can then become matted if the knot is not untangled.
Gentle brushing a few times a week can help keep these tangles at bay and your dog more comfortable. If your dog’s coat has many mats and tangles, the only solution may be to clip close to the skin. (Best left to the professionals.)
Once-a-month appointments with the groomer will keep dogs of these types of coats looking fresh and stylish. Your curly and wavy-haired dog will likely need a minor shape up now and again to keep their face, paws, and sanitary areas clean and short.
PAWZ Keeps You Stylish Too!
Make sure you tag us in your photos of your clean fur baby, especially new hair cuts! We love seeing those smiling faces, and we love to help keep you stylish with our dog-centric apparel and accessories.
PAWZ is the best place for your doggy-themed apparel and accessories. We have the perfect companion when it is time to have a bubble bath pawty. Our Blue Ocean PAWZ Beach Towel works double-time not only as an adorable spot to catch some rays on the beach, but as a way to get your squeaky clean pupperoni dried off in no time.
While your dog’s groomer keeps their fur looking stylish and ready for any outing, your pals at PAWZ keep you stylish with our theme apparel and accessories. Show off your love of being a pet parent with our “Dog Mom” and “Dog Dad” merchandise. We have plenty of tees, tanks, and crew necks to keep you looking fab no matter the holiday or season.
Spread The Love & Save All The Dogs
PAWZ loves all the dogs, and we want to see all of our furry friends in safe and loving homes. When you purchase from our catalog, you help our mission of raising awareness and proceeds for no-kill shelters and animal welfare organizations. Places like Best Friends Animal Society can then help other shelters by increasing the number of animals they can rehome in Best Friends’ communities.
It’s simple: PAWZ keeps you stylish, and you’re helping Best Friends make our country no-kill for shelter pets. Check us out today!
Sources:
Routine Health Care of Dogs - Dog Owners | Merck Veterinary Manual
Grooming Tips for Short Haired Dogs | Animal Behavior College