There are several categories of dog coats. They can generally be classified according to their length, the presence of undercoat and the type of hair (silky, hard, curly). The maintenance of your dog's coat as well as its frequency will depend a lot on these parameters.
Example :
• Silky hair, no undercoat: Maltese
• Short hair with undercoat: Labrador
• Short hair with little undercoat: Boxer, Dachshund
• Long hair with undercoat: Golden Retreiver, Samoyed
• Curly hair without undercoat: Poodle, Bichon Frise
While it is recommended to shampoo your dog about 4 times a year, many owners want to do it more. By using a quality dog shampoo, most dogs will tolerate a shampoo wash once a month.
You should also brush your companion regularly to remove dead hairs stuck in his coat and prevent knots from forming if you have a long-haired dog.
We are also often asked if there is a product to stop dogs from shedding. While there is no miracle solution to prevent hair loss, here are some tips that may help reduce the amount of hair in your home.
First of all, you should know that it is completely normal for your pet to lose its hair. As long as an equivalent amount grows and replaces the fallen hair, the situation will be considered normal. This hair cycle can be influenced by the season, stress, the animal's general health and its diet.
Dogs with short hair or a lot of undercoat (fuzz) will tend to shed more because their hair cycle is faster than those with long coats.
Although dogs shed throughout the year, fall and spring are two shedding seasons, especially for dogs with a heavy undercoat. This is because changes in temperature and photoperiod will stimulate dogs to “prepare” their winter or summer coat.
To avoid having a large amount of hair to pick up in the house, regular brushing is recommended. Using a brush and comb appropriate for your dog's hair will increase the effectiveness of brushing. Your groomer can also offer you a "shedding treatment", a product which, once applied and rinsed well, will allow dead hairs to slide off well and not get stuck in your dog's coat. Following this treatment, it is obviously essential to brush vigorously in order to remove as much dead hair as possible, which is now easier to remove.
Here are the different types of brushes, combs and brushing steps recommended to do a professional job.
For dogs with long, curly and silky hair:
1. Start by brushing your dog with a pin brush or carding brush to clear the hair and remove dead hair.
2. Then use a fine comb to locate the knots that you can then remove with the detangling comb.
3. Use your detangling comb to remove the knots thanks to its sharp blades. You must be careful when using this type of comb.
4. Finish the job with the classic brush with nylon bristles to obtain a smooth and silky coat.
For dogs with short hair or a dense undercoat, you can simply use a rake-type brush to remove as much dead hair as possible. The Furminator is a particularly effective model for this purpose. You can then finish the job with a classic brush.
In the fall, it is still possible to do a relatively short haircut without worrying about your dog getting too cold. When the frost sets in, groomers will generally not offer such short cuts, especially if your dog goes outside. However, it is very important not to neglect your dog's grooming during the cold season, especially if you have a dog with long or curly hair like bichons or poodles. According to Vanessa, our grooming specialist at Complexe Accès Vet Blainville, many clients wait too long between grooming sessions. It is then very difficult to do a quality cut because of the knots that have formed over the previous months. If you are really worried that your dog will be cold after his visit to the grooming salon, you can always offer him a coat that fits him that will keep him warm!
Finally, don't forget that when grooming, you will also take care of your pet's claws. Claws should generally be trimmed every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the dog and the activities they do. Some dogs are even so active in urban environments that they wear down their claws while walking and do not need to be trimmed. During the winter, walks are often fewer, shorter or on snow rather than on asphalt. It is therefore necessary to plan for more regular maintenance.
If you want to treat your dog to a grooming session to look stylish this Christmas, remember that it is a busy time and you should book your appointment well in advance.
Finally, if your dog is well groomed, with a clean and silky coat, you will be more likely to cuddle and pet him. And your dog may show you more affection in return.