While puppies younger than three months shouldn’t be professionally groomed, they should still learn how to be handled at home. If your puppy is younger than three months, begin by rubbing his favorite spots and using a soft brush to introduce him to at-home grooming. Keep sessions short and fill them with praise! Once your puppy hits the three-month mark, you will be able to introduce him to professional grooming where his nails and ears can be cleaned. An important thing to remember is that your puppy’s first grooming experience should be a fun one; give him lots of positive feedback to ensure that his future grooming sessions will be something he looks forward to. Professional grooming should be done every four to six weeks, while home care between sessions should be part of your daily routine. With proper care, owners can keep an eye on their dog’s skin and coat condition, while also helping their furry friend feel good about themselves! For dogs that get bathed often, an aloe-based shampoo and coat conditioner, along with foods and supplements with Omega fatty acids all help maintain coat oils and skin health. Depending on the breed, size and state of the dog, our groomers will be able to tell you approximately how long the process should take. Generally it’s an hour, but Poodles and Terriers require more time because of their fur, as do large and long-coated breeds. Dog hair grows and dies just as human hair does. Some dogs, like Poodles, hang on to their dead hair, which requires grooming to remove it. Double-coated dogs usually drop their soft undercoats twice a year and lose their guard hairs once a year, although some individual dogs might shed constantly or only every 10-12 months. Shedding can take anywhere from three weeks to two months, but a warm bath helps accelerate the process while daily grooming helps get rid of excess fur. Brushing your dog’s coat is essential between professional grooming sessions. If you have a long coated dog, brushing will keep him mat free and get rid of loose hairs, while brushing shorthaired dogs stimulates their blood flow and helps them relax. Fleas and ticks are in season during the cooler months and your pet will often be able to tell you he has them; look out for frequent scratching and flea dirt on the base of your dog’s tail (grains that resemble black pepper) as evidence of fleas. Remember that if your pet has fleas and ticks, so does your house. Treat all areas where your pet has access, wash, dry-clean or destroy all pet bedding, and then vacuum the house to get rid of eggs, larvae and pupae. Remove fleas with a fine-toothed comb and drop them into a container of soapy water. Remove embedded ticks with tweezers or protected fingers and drop them into alcohol. We’d also recommend a trip to the groomers for a flea and tick treatment. Matted dogs experience a lot of discomfort which often leads to skin irritations. You can bring your pet to the groomers to be de-matted, or you can try to de-mat your dog yourself. You’ll need a mat splitter to loosen the mat and move it away from the skin, and then a metal comb or rake to brush it out. Don’t cut the mats out because you’ll likely end up with an uneven coat and a possibly nicked dog! It is safe when using a dog toothpaste and toothbrush which are designed specifically for our furry friends. Human toothpaste can often cause an upset tummy, while dog toothpastes are specially flavored to appeal to your pet’s taste buds. Brushing your dog’s teeth prevents gingivitis and the build up of tartar, plus it gets rid of that fishy breath! As we all know, most colognes and perfumes contain alcohol, so if thinking about spraying your pet with your favorite scent, think again. Instead, stop by WOOF! to check out the latest range of Designer Doggie Colognes that actually smell like the real thing! Top sellers are CK-9, Miss Claybone and DGNY.