There are many benefits to grooming your dog. As well as aerating the coat and ensuring healthy growth, brushing promotes good blood circulation. Grooming helps to keep grease levels down — a build-up of grease in a dog’s coat can block pores and cause sebaceous cysts. Most dogs live indoors and so moult quicker and more often than their wild counterparts, causing the loose hairs to become matted. If not brushed out regularly, they form into heavy wads which can drag the skin down, causing soreness and skin complaints.
Grooming is also the perfect opportunity for you to check your dog over to ensure he is healthy. Giving him a once-over also enables you to check for any balls of matted fur between his paw pads, which can sometimes become hard with dirt and grease, causing discomfort. On an emotional level, grooming reduces stress in both parties, helping dog and owner to relax and build up a close bond. When you groom your dog regularly — start when he’s a pup to get him used to the procedure — you’ll get to know him better, both physically and mentally.
Some dogs will need professional grooming service, depending on their coat type. Long-haired dogs and those with busy, active lifestyles will need a groom more frequently than shorter-haired dogs or those with inactive lifestyles. For smooth-haired breeds such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Jack Russells, or Whippets, it’s not as essential to go to a professional groomer every time. These types of breeds can easily be groomed and bathed at home. If you are planning on showing your dog it’s best to visit a groomer who is experienced with your particular breed. Show styles will change slightly every so often, so a breed-specific groomer will be able to give you advice.
There are many benefits to visiting a good groomer. A professional clip will enhance your dog’s coat, also the tools and equipment used in a salon are generally better and more high tech.
