We’ve already established that regular grooming is important to your dog’s overall health and well-being. How exactly do you know your dog's coat is healthy? Knowing your dog’s coat type will give you an understanding of what is “normal” and healthy for your dog.
Before we continue, let’s take note here that no amount of grooming will give your dog the healthy skin and coat it deserves. Good nutrition is the number one factor affecting the condition of your dog’s skin and coat. But grooming is beneficial in many ways to your dog’s health. For more details on these benefits, check out my article on grooming on my pet grooming blog.
A dog's hair is made up of an elastic and flexible filament. It is very similar to that of a human's as it grows, gets old, dies and is then replaced with new hair. A dog can be double coated, having both a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or single coated, having only one type of coat or the other. Of course there are many different types of dogs with different types of hair coats.
Most dogs shed their undercoat each spring and regrow it again as colder weather comes in, although some breeds shed their coat twice a year. In many climates, the topcoat and undercoat might shed continuously in greater and smaller quantities all year. Normally dogs that have long straight hair shed two times a year, while dogs that have shorter hair can shed all throughout the year. Dogs that have stiff, bristled or curly hair shed less, but their hair continues growing all year long.
Dog coats can be broken down into several categories. I have seen them classified differently by different sources, but for our purposes we will put them into five groups: smooth, wiry, short, medium and long.
A smooth coat is short, sleek and shiny. Dogs with a smooth coat look almost like they are covered with a skin rather than fur. Here are a few well known smooth-coated breeds: Beagle, Dalmatian, Great Dane and Weimeraner.
There are several breeds that sport a wiry coat that is rougher and, well, wiry. A few of these breeds are the Airedale Terrier, German Wirehaired Pointer and the Scottish Terrier.
A short hair coat has a length of 1 to 4 centimeters. This type of hair coat is usually hard to the touch and stiff. One common breed with this type of hair coat is the Chinese Shar-Pei.
A medium coat is generally longer than one inch, but is still noticeably shorter than long haired breeds. The following are some common medium-coated breeds: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Golden Retriever and Blue Heeler.
Long-coated breeds are divided into three sub-categories: long parted coat, long-coated small dog, and long-coated large dog. Each type has slightly different grooming requirements. Long parted coat breeds are few in number. Here are a few: Afghan Hound, Lhasa Apso and Yorkshire Terrier. The following are some popular long-coated small dogs: Havanese, Chinese Crested, Pekingese and Pomeranian. Finally, here are some examples of popular long-coated large dogs: Chow Chow, Irish Setter, Newfoundland and Old English Sheepdog.
Once you’ve pinpointed your dog’s coat type, do a little research on what a healthy coat looks and feels like for that type. Using your sense of touch, sight and smell you can begin to recognize the characteristics of a "normal" or "healthy" skin and coat.
A coat that feels healthy will have a soft texture to the hairs, and even in wiry coats, the coat should be pliable and smooth. An unhealthy coat will be made up of dry, coarse, brittle hairs, some broken off, some very fine. The coat may be sparse and thinning or short and underdeveloped.
Skin that looks healthy will have a clean look to it and be free of scales, scabs and crusts. A healthy coat will appear full, almost lustrous and have a soft look to it. Unhealthy skin will appear thin, dry and scaly or greasy. The coat will look dull, coarse or even dusty. It will have no "shine" to it and will have a harsh appearance.
As for the sense of smell, a healthy skin and coat won't have any smell to it. Even when its dirty, it will simply smell like whatever is making it dirty. An unhealthy skin and coat will have a strong, rancid, oily odor. This odor is caused by superficial skin bacteria and their waste products breaking down the oils on the skin.
Well, that about sums up the subject of dog hair coats by type and condition. Hopefully you have a pretty good idea of what type of coat your dog has and how it should look, feel when healthy. You can find more Pet Grooming Tips by visiting my site at http://www.pet-grooming-boarding.info
Monday, December 11, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
The Right Dog Grooming Equipment
There are literally hundreds of styles of dog grooming equipment available at pet grooming supply stores and online. This article does not begin to cover them all, but will simply supply you with the information needed to get started with the basic grooming tools that are right for you and your dog.
Brushes usually come in three categories, bristle, wire-pin and slicker brushes. Bristle brushes are very versatile. Wire pin brushes come with or without rubber tips on bristles, and they work best on wooly coats. Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles and are used mostly on dogs with dense undercoat, and not on smooth coated breeds. Undercoat rakes are perfect for getting to the inner layer of your long haired dog.
There are many types of dog grooming combs, and each has a specific purpose. They may be fine-, medium-, or coarse-toothed or a combination of these. Fine tooth combs are generally for long coats. Medium tooth combs are all-purpose and can therefore be used on a variety of breeds. Coarse combs are great for heavy coats as well as for getting out those pesky mats that can sneak up on you rather quickly with certain breeds (like the long hairs on the legs and tail of my Golden Retriever) if you’re not grooming regularly as you should be.
Curry combs are made of rubber and are use to massage the skin of any breed, bringing up the essential oils that serve to nourish and protect the skin and coat. They are also used to remove dead hair from short coated breeds.
For many dog breeds, brushes and combs may not be enough to handle the matting that can occur if your grooming regime gets off track. Using a de-matting tool will often do the trick. Mat splitters break up the large mats into smaller size mats which are then easier to work with using your fingers, comb and brush. They are essential tools for professional groomers and come in various styles. As with any tool of this type, make certain you understand how to use a mat splitter safely before using it on your dog to prevent injury You can find this grooming tool at most grooming supply stores.
Dog toenail clippers are an indispensable part of your dog grooming arsenal. It's important to learn how to trim your dog's nails safely. There are two basic types of nail clippers: the guillotine style clipper, and the standard scissors style nail clipper. These models come in different sizes and both work well. Just choose the style that you are comfortable using.. When the nail cutter no longer cuts easily, its time to replace it.
Of course if you want the trimming and styling of a professional groomer, than you will need to take your dog to a pet salon. A knowledgeable, professional pet groomer will be able to give you advice on not just how to groom your pet, but on how to care for your pet as well. But you should still groom your dog regularly in between visits for the optimum health of your dog.
You can get more dog grooming tips here: http://www.pet-grooming-boarding.info
Brushes usually come in three categories, bristle, wire-pin and slicker brushes. Bristle brushes are very versatile. Wire pin brushes come with or without rubber tips on bristles, and they work best on wooly coats. Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles and are used mostly on dogs with dense undercoat, and not on smooth coated breeds. Undercoat rakes are perfect for getting to the inner layer of your long haired dog.
There are many types of dog grooming combs, and each has a specific purpose. They may be fine-, medium-, or coarse-toothed or a combination of these. Fine tooth combs are generally for long coats. Medium tooth combs are all-purpose and can therefore be used on a variety of breeds. Coarse combs are great for heavy coats as well as for getting out those pesky mats that can sneak up on you rather quickly with certain breeds (like the long hairs on the legs and tail of my Golden Retriever) if you’re not grooming regularly as you should be.
Curry combs are made of rubber and are use to massage the skin of any breed, bringing up the essential oils that serve to nourish and protect the skin and coat. They are also used to remove dead hair from short coated breeds.
For many dog breeds, brushes and combs may not be enough to handle the matting that can occur if your grooming regime gets off track. Using a de-matting tool will often do the trick. Mat splitters break up the large mats into smaller size mats which are then easier to work with using your fingers, comb and brush. They are essential tools for professional groomers and come in various styles. As with any tool of this type, make certain you understand how to use a mat splitter safely before using it on your dog to prevent injury You can find this grooming tool at most grooming supply stores.
Dog toenail clippers are an indispensable part of your dog grooming arsenal. It's important to learn how to trim your dog's nails safely. There are two basic types of nail clippers: the guillotine style clipper, and the standard scissors style nail clipper. These models come in different sizes and both work well. Just choose the style that you are comfortable using.. When the nail cutter no longer cuts easily, its time to replace it.
Of course if you want the trimming and styling of a professional groomer, than you will need to take your dog to a pet salon. A knowledgeable, professional pet groomer will be able to give you advice on not just how to groom your pet, but on how to care for your pet as well. But you should still groom your dog regularly in between visits for the optimum health of your dog.
You can get more dog grooming tips here: http://www.pet-grooming-boarding.info
Monday, November 20, 2006
Dog Grooming: To Groom Or Not To Groom?
For some of you dog owners, this article will simply be common sense. For other owners, however, this information might just be a real eye-opener. If you really want your dog to be as healthy as possible, than take a few minutes to make sure you’re really doing all you can to ensure your dog’s good health by reading this article.
Of course, proper nutrition is essential to your dog’s health. Making sure your dog has the necessary vaccinations, heart worm tests and preventatives and fecal tests done annually is also imperative for your dog’s very survival. But what about grooming your dog? Isn’t that just something that people who show their dogs or people with long-haired dogs need to be concerned about? Absolutely not! Dog grooming is something that every conscientious dog owner should concerned with.
So what’s the big deal about dog grooming? Let’s take a look and see. First, the obvious: it makes your dog look good and healthy. But it also makes him feel good too. Brushing your dog makes the skin and hair coat healthy by bringing up the natural oils in the skin that nourish and protect your dog’s coat.
Grooming your dog serves other important purposes as well. It keeps the shedding problem down, which is a big concern for the indoor dog. Grooming on a regular basis (which means more than a couple of times a month) will also keep snarls and tangles out of your dog’s coat, which is a big problem on the legs and tails of dog breeds like Golden Retrievers (like mine), spaniels, Pomeranians and scads more.
Regular brushing also gives you a chance to closely examine your dog’s skin for possible problems. Some examples are flea and tick problems, hot spots, rashes, cuts or lumps. Catching some of these problems early may prevent disease or infection or even be the difference between life and death.
When you’re through brushing, don’t forget to check their ears (some breeds require cleaning more often than others) and their toenails (more for inside dogs…my two outside dogs keep their toenails trimmed down just fine all by themselves just running around.) The eyes and teeth are important too, but your vet will examine them on your annual visits.
And what about those who just don’t have the time or desire to make dog grooming a priority? Ever heard of a professional dog groomer? Take the time to find a reputable groomer, or get a recommendation from a trusted dog owning friend. A seasoned dog groomer can give you some great tips for grooming in between visits, and are often a great source for tips on keeping your dog healthy.
Will grooming alone ensure good health for your dog? Of course not. But done regularly in conjunction with good nutrition and proper vet care, it sure will give your dog a better chance at a long and healthy life.
Of course, proper nutrition is essential to your dog’s health. Making sure your dog has the necessary vaccinations, heart worm tests and preventatives and fecal tests done annually is also imperative for your dog’s very survival. But what about grooming your dog? Isn’t that just something that people who show their dogs or people with long-haired dogs need to be concerned about? Absolutely not! Dog grooming is something that every conscientious dog owner should concerned with.
So what’s the big deal about dog grooming? Let’s take a look and see. First, the obvious: it makes your dog look good and healthy. But it also makes him feel good too. Brushing your dog makes the skin and hair coat healthy by bringing up the natural oils in the skin that nourish and protect your dog’s coat.
Grooming your dog serves other important purposes as well. It keeps the shedding problem down, which is a big concern for the indoor dog. Grooming on a regular basis (which means more than a couple of times a month) will also keep snarls and tangles out of your dog’s coat, which is a big problem on the legs and tails of dog breeds like Golden Retrievers (like mine), spaniels, Pomeranians and scads more.
Regular brushing also gives you a chance to closely examine your dog’s skin for possible problems. Some examples are flea and tick problems, hot spots, rashes, cuts or lumps. Catching some of these problems early may prevent disease or infection or even be the difference between life and death.
When you’re through brushing, don’t forget to check their ears (some breeds require cleaning more often than others) and their toenails (more for inside dogs…my two outside dogs keep their toenails trimmed down just fine all by themselves just running around.) The eyes and teeth are important too, but your vet will examine them on your annual visits.
And what about those who just don’t have the time or desire to make dog grooming a priority? Ever heard of a professional dog groomer? Take the time to find a reputable groomer, or get a recommendation from a trusted dog owning friend. A seasoned dog groomer can give you some great tips for grooming in between visits, and are often a great source for tips on keeping your dog healthy.
Will grooming alone ensure good health for your dog? Of course not. But done regularly in conjunction with good nutrition and proper vet care, it sure will give your dog a better chance at a long and healthy life.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Groom Your Pet Right
Find Grooming Tips Online
A professional groomer with 25 years of pet care experience will know exactly what your over excited pet needs to stay calm and relaxed during their pet grooming session. You will be surprised by what you can learn about pet grooming, just by attending one seminar on a career in grooming. Dog grooming experience can be gained through apprenticeship, therefore it is wise to spend at least one year gaining experience from a well respected groomer. A knowledgeable professional groomer of pets will advertise their mobile pet grooming business in areas where a lot of people take their pets. Buying equipment for your pet grooming shop it is a good idea to do several months before your training classes end.
If your interested in starting your own pet grooming business check out these stats
Demand for Pet Groomers will increase 12% by 2010*. The U.S. pet industry is a $32 billion a year business noted for being recession resistant. It has steadily grown from $16 billion in 1992. PetGroomer.com's research into Yellow Pages advertising by groomers and U.S. pet population studies indicates there were nearly 28,000 pet grooming businesses or other pet businesses offering ancillary grooming services in the U.S. in 2003. Yet thousands of professional groomer jobs are vacant year round, perhaps because there are over 4,000 dogs and cats for every U.S. grooming business. Career opportunities are nearly limitless. But how do you enter the grooming industry and then maximize your career investment? We offer you more than 6,000 web pages of pet dog and cat grooming information for today's and tomorrow's groomers. Just thought you might like to know. Find out more at my Pet Grooming and Boarding Website.
A professional groomer with 25 years of pet care experience will know exactly what your over excited pet needs to stay calm and relaxed during their pet grooming session. You will be surprised by what you can learn about pet grooming, just by attending one seminar on a career in grooming. Dog grooming experience can be gained through apprenticeship, therefore it is wise to spend at least one year gaining experience from a well respected groomer. A knowledgeable professional groomer of pets will advertise their mobile pet grooming business in areas where a lot of people take their pets. Buying equipment for your pet grooming shop it is a good idea to do several months before your training classes end.
If your interested in starting your own pet grooming business check out these stats
Demand for Pet Groomers will increase 12% by 2010*. The U.S. pet industry is a $32 billion a year business noted for being recession resistant. It has steadily grown from $16 billion in 1992. PetGroomer.com's research into Yellow Pages advertising by groomers and U.S. pet population studies indicates there were nearly 28,000 pet grooming businesses or other pet businesses offering ancillary grooming services in the U.S. in 2003. Yet thousands of professional groomer jobs are vacant year round, perhaps because there are over 4,000 dogs and cats for every U.S. grooming business. Career opportunities are nearly limitless. But how do you enter the grooming industry and then maximize your career investment? We offer you more than 6,000 web pages of pet dog and cat grooming information for today's and tomorrow's groomers. Just thought you might like to know. Find out more at my Pet Grooming and Boarding Website.
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