Bathing & Drying
Before
transferring your dog to the doggy bath, he/she will be given a full
brush out. Once in the bath, using warm water and chemical free shampoos
your dog is thoroughly cleaned from head to tail - twice. If
your dog suffers with skin irritations Evening Primrose Oil shampoo
will be applied, which aids healthy skin. It is at this time that the
anal glands will be checked and cleaned if necessary. A blaster is then
used on the body and legs, to blow out excess dead hair leaving their
coat glossy clean. Following a towel dry and a warm blow dry your dog
is ready to be clipped.
Clipping
& Grooming
Your dog, now
smelling fresh and clean may require a breed specific clip and scissor
hair cut. Hand Stripping may be used instead of clipping to promote
the proper coat texture and rich colour of the breed. Their hygiene
areas (under the tail, the belly and around the eyes) will be trimmed
if the breed type requires it.
Ears
Some breeds are
prone to problem ears so the inside of the ear flaps are cleaned. Dirty
ear canals make perfect shelter for mites. A healthy, clean ear does not
have any odour. If the ear canal is filled with hair, ear powder is applied
and the hair is gently plucked.
Paws
& Claws
Your dog will
benefit from a nail trim every four to six weeks, it all depends on whether
they are walked on pavements or grass. Unattended nails and dew claws
can cause several problems. A serious one being the entire tendon &
bone structure of the foot weakens and the toes become splayed causing
irreparable damage. Unattended dew claws will curve back into the pad,
causing a puncture that can become infected. The hair is trimmed level
with the pads which helps prevent clumps of mud sticking in the paws.
Puppies
I advise that
puppies be invited along for just a few hours to allow them to acclimatise
to the studio. For a young puppy the studio can be quite a scary place,
with all the new sounds, other dogs and equipment. Once settled, I will
introduce them to being groomed and bathed. Every puppy undergoes a step
by step introduction to each procedure usually over a couple of visits
to allow them time to adjust. By the time the puppy needs their first
clip/hand strip they will be fully confident around myself and all the
procedures.
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