Although many dog owners prefer to groom their dogs at home, having your dog professionally groomed can save you time and energy. It takes a lot of care and patience to groom a dog, especially a fluffy one, a puppy, or one with behavioral issues. Let’s take a look at what professional groomers offer.
They Do It All
A professional grooming session typically consists of the dog being brushed, bathed, and dried, as well as trimmed or clipped with clean, sanitized brushes and clipper blades. Groomers brush or comb out mats before the bath, making it easier to lather the dog with shampoo. They clean the dog’s ears and check for signs of infection. When the coat dries, the dog is trimmed, clipped, or shaved, if needed or requested.
Groomers trim most dogs over the eyes, at the tips of the ears, and on the bottoms of the feet with professional grooming clippers. They cut the dog’s nails to a comfortable length, since long nails can become painful. Groomers can also brush your dog’s teeth with a dog-specific toothpaste (although regular teeth cleaning should also be done every day at home).
They Have the Right Tools
Professional groomers have all the right tools to get your dog looking his best, from different kinds of clippers and rounded scissors to an adjustable grooming table. They’re equipped with nontoxic, gentle shampoos for dogs with skin allergies or irritations, or those with fleas.
Many groomers also know how to groom for breed show cuts, which requires precise attention to detail and knowledge of the specific breed requirements. Different coats require different brushes – and groomers have them. The more dead hair they remove from your dog, the less you’ll find on your living room rug.
They Know How to Handle Dogs
Dogs who are old or become anxious or aggressive when you try to groom them must be handled gently and confidently, and some may need to be muzzled while being groomed – something a groomer can do. If you have a condition such as back pain or arthritis, professional grooming can help by preventing you from having to do excessive lifting and handling of your dog.
They Take Care of the Yucky Stuff
Cleaning anal glands, shampooing a muddy or skunked dog, and removing fleas and ticks are not the most pleasant tasks, but they come with the responsibility of owning a dog. A professional groomer knows how to take care of these necessary, but unpleasant tasks.
Professional Grooming Offers Health Benefits
In addition to keeping your dog looking and smelling great and reducing the amount of time you need to spend grooming your dog, professional grooming offers these health benefits:
- Regular (but not too frequent) baths wash away dirt and help prevent skin irritations.
- Detangling keeps coats from becoming matted and causing painful pulling on the skin.
- Using correct brushes for coat type removes damaged and dead hair, allowing new growth for a healthy coat.
- Careful brushing distributes the dog’s natural oils and gets rid of dead skin.
- Handling during grooming allows early detection of lumps, bumps, and skin irritations.
- Nail trimming reduce the risk of nail tears and cracks and painful posture.
Andrew Parker