There are several categories of coats in dogs. They can generally be classified according to their length, the presence of undercoats 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, without undercoat: Maltese
• Short hair with undercoat: Labrador
• Short hair with little undercoat: Boxer, Dachshunds
• Long hair with undercoat: Golden Retreiver, Samoyed
• Curly hair without undercoat: Poodle, Bichon Frize

While it is recommended to shampoo your dog about 4 times a year, many owners want to do more. By using a quality dog ​​shampoo, the majority of pooches will tolerate washing with shampoo once a month.

You should also brush your companion regularly to remove dead hairs stuck in his coat and prevent tangles from forming if you have a long-haired dog.

We are also often asked if there is a product to prevent dogs from losing hair. Although there is no miraculous solution to prevent hair loss, here are some tips that could help reduce the amount in your home.

You should first know that it is completely normal for your pet to lose its hair. As long as an equivalent amount grows and replaces the fallen hairs, the situation will be considered normal. This hair cycle may be influenced by the season, stress, the general health of the animal and its diet.

Dogs with short hair or a lot of undercoat (down) will tend to shed more because their hair cycle is faster than those with long coats.

Even though dogs shed their hair throughout the year, fall and spring represent two shedding periods, particularly in dogs with abundant undercoat. Indeed, changes in temperature and photoperiod will stimulate dogs to “prepare” their fur for winter or summer.

To avoid having a large amount of hair to collect 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 will also be able to offer you a “shedding treatment”, a product which, once applied and rinsed well, will allow dead hair to slide off 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 needle or carding brush to loosen hair and remove dead hair.
2. Then use a fine comb to locate the knots which you can then remove with the detangling comb.
3. Use your detangling comb to remove tangles with its sharp blades. You must also be careful when using this type of comb.
4. Finish the job with the classic brush with nylon bristles for a smooth, 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 work with a classic brush.

In the fall, it is still possible to do a relatively short shear without worrying that your dog will be too cold. When frost sets in, groomers generally won't offer such short cuts, especially if your dog goes outside. However, it is very important not to neglect the maintenance of your dog 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, many clients wait too long between 2 grooming sessions. It is then very difficult to make a quality cut because of the knots that have formed over the previous months. If you're really worried about your dog being cold after his visit to the grooming salon, you can always get him a coat in his size that will keep him warm!

Finally, we must not forget that during grooming we will also take care of your pet's claws. Nails 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 out their nails while walking and do not need to be trimmed. During 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 pooch to look chic this Christmas, remember that this is a very busy time and you should book your appointment well in advance.

Finally, if your dog is well groomed and his coat is clean and silky, you will be more inclined to cuddle and caress him. And your dog may show you more affection in return.