There is a strange creature roaming around out there. It smells awful!! It has burrs and sticks and things hanging off it and it’s covered in dirt. It may have dreadlocks, parasites, sores, a rash and HUGE claws. It has been seen in cars, backyards and even in houses! It has four legs, a tail… It is…YOUR DOG!! If it is not regularly groomed of course!

All dogs need some level of grooming and hygiene, especially if they live indoors. They all need to be bathed, have their ears cleaned and overgrown nails trimmed. Dog should be washed in an appropriate pet shampoo because their skin has different pH and oil levels and can become dry and irritated with human shampoo or detergents. ‘Wool Wash’ may smell nice but is no good for the skin.

Be sure to wash the whole dog! Even those tricky underneath bits, between their toes and around their faces. A tissue is ideal to wipe out ears; avoid using cotton buds or implements as they can damage ears. Rinse very very thoroughly with an oatmeal based conditioner and dry off with a towel, sponge or chamois. If possible, a blowdry on low is great.

Short haired dogs moult as much as long haired ones, so a brush is a good idea for short, single coated breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers. A rubber mitt or brush should keep loose hair under control.

Double coated dogs like Labradors and German Shepherds need a little more effort: a wire bristled slicker brush and undercoat rake work best. A rubber mitt can be used during bathing to work in shampoo and loosen hairs. During the twice yearly coat change when there are chunks of dog hair EVERYWHERE, a professional hydrobath, brush out and blowdry at the groomers is very worthwhile.

Got a long haired dog? Enter the realm of pompoms, leggings, beards, aprons, tassels, featherings and furnishings. Different breeds have different hairstyles and its not just Poodles. Before you get a long haired dog be aware that grooming is an absolutely essential part of their welfare. Some breeds such as the Maltese are bred with hair that grows rather too long. For all the good intentions it is virtually impossible to maintain a full length coat and a happy dog at the same time!! Once hair is matted it must be clipped off under the knot: – you cannot brush or comb it out without hurting your dog. So of course it is ideal that your dog is groomed before they get matted. This way the dog is cleaner, there is more choice about their hairstyle and the actual grooming is quicker and pleasant.

Long haired dogs like Border Collies and Samoyeds need to be brushed daily, however they usually do not require clipping. Those with very dense coats are difficult to keep clean and are clipped off all over with some hair left on their head and tail (so they don’t look too different!) twice a year. It is important to cut hair around eyes and bottoms for good health and hygiene. Also checking between pads and toes for knots, burrs and grass seeds is very important as these intruders can be very uncomfortable and become infected. For breeds like Cocker Spaniels it is great to clip the inner ears to reduce the ear flap weight to allow better air flow and reduce bacterial overgrowth. Be careful in the sensitive areas if you are trying it yourself.

Click here for a useful link on grooming products