Grooming your Dog

Different coat types require different care and attention. All dogs should be groomed regularly; even short hair breeds. It is advisable to groom your dog on a raised surface such as a garden bench or table with a non-slip rubber mat. This will ensure that your pet is well behaved for grooming and does not treat it as a game. Work methodically around your pet so all areas are groomed including between the toes, in the arm pits and under the ears. If you pet does not stand still or tries to bite the brush, be firm and ask someone to help.

There are numerous products on the market to help with grooming;

For short haired breeds such as Labradors and Staffordshire bull terriers a rubber mitt or Zoom Groom can be used to remove any dead coat or a bristle brush to remove dry dirt. Zoom Groom can also be used to aid shampooing and rinsing as the rubbery brush will not be damaged by water. These dogs should be groomed at least once a week.

Dogs with longer coats, such as West Highland Terriers or Tibetan Terriers, a slicker brush should be used to remove any dead coat and loosen matts followed by a comb. Slicker brushes are good as they have angled pins which tease out the dead coat. Combs with graduated spaces between the teeth can be useful as you can gradually remove the knots working down to the finer closer teeth. Many dogs with medium to long coats will require a regular appointment at the groomers to be thoroughly groomed and bathed but you should still groom them at home daily to prevent the build up of knots and matts.

A relatively new product called the FURminator is now available to remove dead coat. Its stainless steel blade works by grabbing and removing the loose undercoat hair without affecting the top-coat in any way, meaning your pet sheds far less. It is available in various sizes depending on your breed of dog and coat type; Furminator Cat Comb 1.75", Furminator Small Dog Comb 1.75", Furminator Medium Dog Comb 2.65" and Furminator Large Dog Comb 4". The product is guaranteed to reduce shedding better than any brush, comb or rake and brings out the pet's coat's natural oils, promoting healthier skin and a shiny topcoat. In addition it also reduces the amount of airborne elements that cause allergic reactions in many people. It is estimated that by using the FURminator once or twice a week for 10 -20minutes you can reduce your pets shredding by up to 90 %.

Other products in the Furminator range include Furminator Deshedding Shampoo which promotes a healthier skin and coat to reduce excess shedding. It is enriched with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids plus other vitamins and proteins to help promote a healthier skin, shinier topcoat and reduce excessive shedding. It is a non-irritating, non-drying hypo-allergenic formulation which works great on all shedding, long & short-haired dogs & cats with a fresh, clean scent.

Furminator Deshedding Solution is enriched with oatmeal, vitamins and aloe vera to help strrengthen hair shafts and help release the undercoat.

Furminator Waterless Deshedding Shampoo & Conditioner's non-drying formula helps release loose, dead undercoat for easy removal with FURminator Deshedding Tool. This spray is a convenient way to clean and freshen your pet's coat and also helps reduce shedding between baths. Enriched with Omega -3 and -6 Fatty Acids, vitamins, and proteins to help support healthy skin and a shiny haircoat. Simply spray on pet's coat and groom as usual. No wetting or rinsing required. Fresh coconut scent.

For a demonstration on how to clean yor dog's ears please watch the following video;

003 How to Clean Your Dog's Ears