Dog Grooming Hints

Grooming for your Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog is an extremely loyal dog that is responsive and intelligent creature. They tend to be shy around strangers and can stress if put into an environment without their beloved owner. It is best if you would do their upkeep yourself, or start them at a very young age at a groomer so that they are use to the activity. My most beloved pet was a male Shetland named Skipper, he was very shy and if I did not groom him myself he would get sick. They also do not like loud noises, so hair dryers will have to be a slow learning process for adult dogs not use to it.

Shetlands are not hard to maintain if you keep consistent with a routine brushing and slight trim. They have a soft double coat that needs daily brushing to keep mats from forming. Extra care is needed during shedding as they tend to lose large amounts of hair during this time. Use a slicker and pin brush then an undercoat rake. If matts have formed use a splitter comb to break them up and brush out the matt.

Hold the matt from the skin and work the splitter from your fingers moving forward keeping pressure in the back. It will be less painful. After breaking up the matt, use the comb to loosen the cut pieces until the matt is gone.

If possible keep the pads trimmed with clippers, if the noise cannot be handled, at least use scissors to keep the hair out from between the pads. Dirt and items picked up outside getting caught between the pads can cause lameness. Urine and feces being caught up in the fur is best handled by keeping the stomach and rear area cut with a #10 blade. Trim the hocks and hind area neatly to keep the longer hairs from dragging the ground.

To get a sheltie use to the clippers keep them running around the house a few minutes a day to get use to the noise. Slow integrate them into the grooming process by doing a little at a time. Touch them to the pads without clipping, and then extend it to clipping. Never force them to take to a new sound or event, they have great memories and will associate this with unpleasantness each time.

Matting can be worked out with wide tooth metal combs, it will take lots of effort and a splitter comb to achieve it. If you have no choice but to remove the coat from excessive matting, use a #5F blade on your clippers for the body, #10 on the pads and stomach.

Bathing should be done at least once a week after a good brushing. The undercoat is very dense and it will take some finger power to reach the skin. Make sure that all shampoo is thoroughly rinsed out of the dense coat, as it can cause skin infections. A high speed dryer is best used for drying process to help loosen the hair of the undercoat.

A sheltie loves the outdoors and that dense coat can gather a lot of debris. If little sticks and leaves have attached to the fur, comb them out each time or the matting will become worse. In the winter break up the balls of snow with a towel and dry them well after a walk.

Grooming can be a great time for you and your Shetland Sheepdog to bond. It can be a very loving time for you both.

Grooming your Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is a high spirited little dog that a great companion. I have enjoyed each and every one that ever came into my grooming shop over the last 15 years. They have such great personalities that easy to care for and great for people with little experience of dog ownership. They can be a bit bossy, but they are very friendly and bright. They love to be pampered and don’t require much grooming to feel top dollar.

They are dainty and can have a fragile build. Their coats are long, straight and have a bit of a coarse texture with a dense and fluffy undercoat. This double coat is great protection from the elements and will shed during the spring and autumn months.

This dense coat requires that you brush them at least twice a week, with more needed during the months of shedding. Use a slicker and pin brush and then an undercoat rake. If matts have formed use a splitter comb to break them up and brush out the matt. Brush from the back to the neck away from the body to achieve the lion like mane around the head.

Hold the matt from the skin and work the splitter from your fingers moving forward keeping pressure in the back. It will be less painful. After breaking up the matt, use the comb to loosen the cut pieces until the matt is gone.

Debris can gather between the pads of their feet, about once a month clip the hair between the pads and around the paw. If they are not kept clean it can lead to health problems with lameness being a result. It is best if you can use clippers with a #10 blade between the pads for a more even result.

You will need to trim his coat about once a month all over the body. Just scissors will do follow the contour of the body to give an even appearance all over. Comb the fluff along the legs away from the body and trim evenly down the leg the length you desire.

Urine and feces being caught up in the fur is best handled by keeping the stomach and rear area cut with a #10 blade. Pomeranians are not shy, and should take to grooming well. They relish in the attention. If you do not feel confident with the clippers, find your local dog groomer saloon and set up an appointment. It helps with their general health and you will enjoy the sanitation.

Bathing should be done at least once a week or every two weeks; depending on their level of activity during walks. You will have to work the shampoo into that dense undercoat to reach the skin. Make sure that there is no leftover residue in that coat that can lead to skin irritation and infections. The breed usually has no problems with the use of a high powered hair dryer to reach the undercoat.

After all grooming is done you will now see your little joy shine. They usually parade around with head held high and each step exaggerated. It is like the royalty has arrived on the scene and they know they are special.

Dog Grooming & Routine Care

All dogs need regular grooming. It improves the appearance of short coated dogs, and is essential for those with long coats. It also does much to stop unwanted hair on the furniture and carpets. Start as soon as you get your dog or puppy. If you get dogs used to grooming from an early age they will accept it as a normal routine and become to enjoy it.

For the shorter haired dogs a fairly firm clothes brush will be sufficient, but if you need one that’s a bit stiffer your local pet store should have a wide choice of brushes. Regular brushing will remove the loose hair and give a shine to the dogs coat. For long haired breeds a strong steel comb as well as a brush is essential. So many owners think they are grooming their dogs when they are actually only running a brush over the surface of the tangled coat. A daily grooming should prevent the formation of matts and tangles, even in spaniels and poodles.

Parasites

Remember while grooming your dog to look for parasites such as fleas and lice which may have been picked up by your dog. To see how to deal with these, please visit our pet website which is shown below.

You may also find grass seeds in the coat, and especially between the toes. These, if not removed, may penetrate the skin causing painful abscesses. A daily examination of the coat will also give you the opportunity to check for skin irritations that may need attention.

Foot Care.

The feet should be examined daily, especially the hairy types of dog such as spaniels, for the presence of thorns. It is better to keep the hair between the toes and under the pads trimmed short, and to wash the feet after exercise in muddy weather. The accumulation of grit and hard packed mud under the pads may contribute to the formation of cysts or boils on the feet. Keeping your dogs feet clean is a must.