Dogs Grooming!

Pets are adorable crratures. If you want to adopt a pet, you need to know how to take proper care and how to groom a pet. Grooming a pet is not an easy task. And if it’s a dog, then you’ll have to know a lot more things for grooming.

The primary and one of the most important steps for dog grooming is : Skin and Coat care. Different dog breeds have different types of coats. And for different coats, there are different types of grooming available. 

★The difference between coat and fur:

Practically, there is no difference between hair and fur. By hair, people refer the dog’s hair that have Single Layer coats. This type of hair grows short or long, gives bounce while moving and it’s almost same all over the dog’s body. 

Fur means, dog’s hair with double coats. There is an outer layer of thicker guard hairs with a different undercoat of thin, lightweight hairs. 

Shortly, coat means a dog’s skin with it’s hair and fur means just the long hairs of a dog. 

Usually, There are 3 types of dogs:

1. Short coated dogs,

2. Medium coated dogs,

3. Long coated dogs.

1. Short coated dogs: Short coated dogs have very silky, shiny and small coats. It’s almost like the dog has silky skin rather than fur. Short-haired breeds are great for people who want relatively lower maintenance than other coat types. Before starting the  grooming process, understand the dog’s coat type. This knowledge will give you the edge when it comes to making the dog look his best. 

>Breeds of short coats: 

Beagle

Doberman Pinscher

Greyhound

Labrador Retriever

American Staffordshire Terrier.

*Grooming tips for Short Coated Dogs: 

Short or smooth-coated dogs do not need to be groomed often, so you should do this short time process more carefully. You can use a bristle brush to brush against the lay of the hair. Use the same tool to brush with the lay of the top coat. Smooth-coated dogs will get benefit from a bath after the brush. Soecially made shampoo and conditioner for dogs will make hair shine and it will help repel dust and dirt. Use towel to dry your dog after the bath and then let them air dry naturally. 

2. Medium coated dogs: Medium coated breeds have fur that is almost one inch long. With this type of coat, the fur may stand slightly off the bodyand it could give a fluffier appearance. Dogs that have medium fur don’t shed more  just because they have longer hair.

> Breeds of medium coats:

Corgi

German Shepherd

Golden Retriever

American Eskimo

Border Collie.

*Grooming tips for Medium Coated Dogs:

Breeds of medium coats need a moderate amount of brushing. To prevent the fur from falling, vets recommend using a bristle or slicker brush for every other days. It will also help distribute a dog’s natural oils throughout their coat for a shiny, smooth finish. When a dog with medium coats enter shedding season, they lose their undercoat. In this matter, daily brushing is important for a dog to help prevent any itchiness or discomfort.

3. Long coated dogs: Long coated breeds have so long hair that sometimes it reaches the floor! When people think of a dog of long hair types, they often think of the distinctive coats on show dogs such as Afghan Hounds. 

These types of dogs need frequent grooming for maintaining good health. 

> Breeds of Long coat: 

Pekingese

Maltese

Yorkshire Terrier

Shetland Sheepdog

Havanese.

*Grooming tips for long coated dogs: Dogs with long hair require daily grooming. Because these dogs can easily develop tangles and buildup of mats. Long haired dogs need frequent grooming and that’s why owner intend to cut hairs. But, it’s rather easy to maintain a long hair. A proper bath with special shampoo and vet’s recommended metarials is a must. 

There are other types of dog with curly, wired, silky, rough coats. 

★Dogs with a curly coat have thick and soft curls close to the body. The owner will need a soft slicker brush for grooming of this type of coat. Next to  bathe the dog with modified Shampoo and Conditioner. Nest to towel dry the dog before fluff drying and using a blow dryer, while brushing him with the slicker brush from the skin out.

★Silky coated dogs like Yorkshire terrier, Afghan Hound, Irish Setter need frequent brushing.  Otherwise they can adopt skin problems due to bacterias.

★Rough coated dogs like Rough Collie. It’s outer appearance is soft and fluffy but feels hursh. This kind of dogs need bath couple times a week and proper washing. This kind of skins can adopt infections easily.

★Wire coated dogs as German Wirehaired Pointers, Airedale Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier need hand stripping and the long time process of removing old hair so that new hairs can grow.

However, grooming a dog’s skin and coat is not that easy. Proper knowledge and experience is a must for a perfect dog grooming.