Grooming may seem expensive when you think of all the other things you need to do for your pup. However, the reasons you need to groom your dog far outweigh the reasons not to. There are many people that choose the breed of dog based on how much work they need to put in to keep them well groomed and this is definitely a factor that should help make your decision. Choosing a breed that needs a lot of extra care may not work for you if you are a working professional and value your spare time for example. Here are 5 reasons why grooming your dog is so important:
Brushing
Brushing your dog gets rids of old fur, helping you to manage their shedding better. It sloughs away dead skin cells and promotes new hair growth. It also encourages the natural oils in their skin to come through and moisturize the skin and coat. This part of grooming is an absolute must for the health of your dog’s fur and skin.
Shampooing
While this does not need to be done as often as brushing does, there is an important reason for shampooing your pup too. In locations such as cities, shampooing will get rid of dust and pollutants that have collected in your dog’s fur. In more suburban areas it will help get rid of pollen and grass or burrs if your dog likes to venture a lot. Again, this helps with the healthy shedding of dead skin cells and production of oil. It is important that you use the correct shampoo, we cannot use human shampoo on our pooches. You should go to your local pet store or vet and get something that is right for your furry friend.
Nail clipping
While I know this can be a daunting task, making sure your pup’s nails are not growing too long is vital. Ingrown nails or damaged nail beds are uncomfortable and make it hard to walk. Just think about how you feel when your feet are sore or have a blister or ingrown nail? The same applies here. If you are afraid of trimming their nails, you can take them to the vet or to a professional groomer who will assist you with this!
Bonding
Grooming includes touching your pup, it means getting involved and making them look and feel good. Touch is so important for bonding and it is very easy to get puppies used to brushing, bathing, and nail clipping from early on if you are gentle and persistent with it. Sending your pup to a professional groomer is just as good for bonding, even if it is not with you, they are still bonding and socializing with a friendly face and this is great for their mental health as well as physical health.
Proactive check-ups
The most important reason for pet grooming is that it allows you to pick up on any abnormalities in their skin, eyes, ears, nails or fur. You can feel for lumps without your pooch getting scared off by a vet in a white coat. It is really important to keep track of your dog’s health and this is one step to finding any physical signs that something may be wrong, and therefore you would have hopefully caught it in time!
Although grooming seems like a massive task, there is no rule saying you have to do it yourself and asking for professional help is never a bad thing! Brushing is something that is simple and can be done every day. If you groom your pup from a young age, they will be used to it and it won’t seem like such a fuss later on in their life. Give it a go, or call a mobile groomer, but do not miss this important part of your pup’s life!