How often should my dog be groomed?
The number one question that I get asked is, “how often should I get my dog groomed?” This is a loaded question. As your groomer I will always recommend a recurring schedule of 4 to 8 weeks.
Your circumstances may not warrant a grooming visit during that time frame. How often you professionally groom your dog is truly based on a set of circumstances that are breed and lifestyle specific.
If you and your dog are beach bums and love to run with the tides; it’s likely that a short haircut or a shorter span between visits is best for them since their coat will be absorbing moisture and debris on a regular basis. If you know that your pup is a couch potato who prefers snuggly brush sessions to hiking in the woods; you could easily stretch that timeframe. It's important to remember that regular grooming is not just a fancy haircut and a “spa day”. It's a vital maintenance practice. Taking your dog to see a professional groomer on a regular basis keeps you informed of your dog’s skin condition, any abnormalities, signs of infections, and so on. As pet owners we don’t always notice new abnormalities. Professional groomers are working up close and personally with your dogs. We often notice lumps and bumps that weren’t there the month before. A skin condition can flare up in the span of a couple of months and it's crucial that it's caught early before it worsens or causes hot spots. Hot spots can go unnoticed; becoming infected. Anal glands can fill up and cause abscesses. Your groomer will help bring these things to your purview in order to stay abreast of your pets dermal and even subdermal health. Working together with a professional groomer on a regular basis will help you keep your pet looking and feeling their best.
Our goal is to create a cozy experience for everypup.
Your grooming schedule should reflect your pup's needs, your lifestyle, and your budget. The official answer is that your time frame is what works best for you. Evaluate how quickly your pet’s coat grows. Are there areas that require attention before they require a full haircut? A service that we offer is the bath and sanitary trim. Even if your pet doesn’t need a full groom they could benefit from a good scrub and touch up. Before long your dog’s facial hair comes back in. Their paw pads fluff back up and make it hard to grip the floor. You hear the little clicking of their nails. Maybe it’s time for a bath and sanitary trim to address these issues before their next full grooming session. This also allows your pet to spend more time with their groomer - further strengthening their bond.
Something else I’ve learned in the last couple of decades is that dogs who see their groomer more often create a tighter bond. Positive experiences and regular exposure help our pets become acclimated to stimuli. In our case it's the grooming environment and the staff that is handling them.
Love and patience go a long way to help our clients feel safe.
Trust building is something that has become essential to me. As a young groomer it was important to provide quality work in a timely fashion. I’ve always respected the dog/human relationship but in the past ten years or so it's become so much more about earning the dog’s trust while they're in my care. I see a lot of high anxiety clients who are not quick to trust anyone. They love their parents, their small circle, and maybe a few others outside of the home. Creating a bond that allows me to become a part of a dog’s circle is an amazing feeling. Earning a pet’s trust is a privilege that takes time and patience; but is so worth the reward. We want to create an experience your dog begins to look forward to. That includes regular visits and positive correlation.
I will now be implementing “positive pop-ins”. Bringing your furry friends by to say “hello” and grab a treat will help them begin to associate the salon with positive memories. I’ve mentioned before that dogs have great recall. If they continue to have good encounters with the grooming staff it's likely that they’ll become the pup that runs toward the door. Of course we’re responsible as their groomers to continue the positivity during the grooming process. We work hard on and off the table to create long lasting relationships with your pets using calm energy work, positive reinforcement, and providing a calm environment (when possible; sometimes zoomies do occur).
Learning your pet’s specific grooming needs, creating a positive grooming routine, and fostering a strong bond between your dog and their groomer will all factor into how often your pet visits the salon. Find what works best for your schedule, your budget, and your pet’s lifestyle. That’s the recipe for success. Remember; if you’re going to stretch salon visits it's important to implement a home grooming routine to ensure coat and skin health. I look forward to continuing to foster the amazing relationships I share with you and your pets. Don’t forget to pop in for a chat and a treat! See you in the salon!
xo Britt
