Dog Grooming: DIY or Professional?
Just like humans, maintaining your dog’s appearance goes beyond just aesthetics. It’s a fundamental aspect of their overall health and happiness. Regular grooming keeps your dog looking their best, while also allowing you to check for potential health concerns before they become serious issues.
As a pet parent, it is important to understand the ins and outs of grooming your dog to maintain their overall hygiene. In this article, we will review everything you need to consider to determine if taking your dog to a groomer is right for you and your pup.
Why Grooming Your Dog Matters
Beyond the aesthetic benefits, maintaining your pet’s coat and skin through consistent grooming helps prevent various health complications. When brushing your dog regularly, you’re not just removing loose fur, but also stimulating blood circulation to the skin. Doing this distributes the natural oils throughout their coat to prevent matting in their fur, which can lead to skin infections.
Grooming also provides an opportunity to give your dog a thorough health check by looking for any unusual lumps, skin or paw pad irritations, ear infections, or parasites like ticks and fleas.
For many breeds, proper grooming is essential for comfort and mobility. If not trimmed regularly, long-haired dogs can get painful mats, while dogs with long hair around their eyes may have difficulty seeing. Similarly, overgrown nails in dogs can cause discomfort when walking and potentially lead to joint problems over time.
Most importantly, grooming your dog regularly will establish a routine that helps them become comfortable being groomed. Making them comfortable in this setting will help make vet visits less stressful.
Professional Dog Grooming: Pros and Cons
Benefits of Getting Your Dog Professionally Groomed
Trained Professionals
Professional dog groomers understand the specific needs of different dog coat types and breed standards. Thus, ensuring your pet receives appropriate care tailored to their needs. They’re also more equipped to spot potential health concerns like skin conditions, ear infections, or dental problems.
All-Inclusive Appointments
When getting your dog professionally groomed your average dog grooming appointment typically includes everything your pet needs to be fully groomed. For example, a typical grooming includes a bath, trim, nail clipping, ear cleaning, and sometimes teeth brushing all in one visit. They also offer seasonal needs as well such as de-shedding. For busy pet owners, this one-stop approach saves time and effort compared to tackling each task separately at home.
Professional Dog Grooming Supplies
Professional establishments have specialized dog grooming equipment that most pet owners simply don’t have. From adjustable grooming tables to high-velocity dryers, groomers allow for a more effective and comfortable grooming experience.
Cons of Getting Your Dog Professionally Groomed
Price of Professional Dog Grooming
For many pet parents, dog grooming prices can become a significant expense over time, especially for dog breeds that require frequent grooming. With the average cost of dog grooming ranging from $50-$150 depending on breed and cut, this may not be feasible.
Scheduling Dog Grooming Appointments
Another consideration most dog groomers do not allow walk-ins. Therefore, you must schedule appointments in advance, which might not always align with your dog’s immediate grooming needs.
Unfamiliar Environment for Your Dog
Similarly to the vet, some dogs may experience stress in a dog grooming salon with new people and animals. If this is the case for your pup, it may be better to look into other grooming options like at-home grooming for dogs or a mobile dog groomer. These options allow a trained dog groomer to come to your home and groom your dog in a more safe, calm environment.
DIY Dog Grooming: Advantages and Challenges
Pros of Dog Grooming At Home
Saving on Grooming Costs
One of the most obvious advantages is saving money. While grooming your dog at home can require more of an upfront investment in a professional dog grooming kit, this investment may save you a lot in the long run. An alternative to purchasing all the dog grooming equipment would be to see if your city has any self-dog grooming stations. Many pet stores have salons equipped with dog grooming materials that pet parents can use for a fraction of the cost of going to a professional groomer.
Flexible Grooming Schedule
Many pet parents also appreciate the flexibility of grooming on their schedule. This way they can bathe their dog based on its needs rather than waiting for their next appointment.
Safe Grooming Environment
Your dog’s comfort level is also an important factor to consider. Many dogs feel more relaxed in familiar surroundings with their trusted human handling the grooming process. This will reduce the stress and make the experience more positive.
Relationship Building With Your Dog
Additionally, regular at-home grooming sessions create valuable bonding opportunities. The best dog groomers are the ones who can build a relationship with the dog they are grooming. By grooming your dog at home, you will be able to strengthen your relationship through positive physical interaction and care.
Cons of Dog Grooming At Home
Requires A Learning Curve
Learning the best way to groom your dog at home can be challenging. From learning how to keep your dog still while grooming to the proper technique for grooming a dog’s face, these particular tasks can be difficult to do at home. Without proper technique, you risk causing discomfort or even injury to your pet. Home grooming also requires a significant time investment to learn all the tips for grooming your dog at home.
Cost of Grooming At Home
Most people choose to groom their dog at home as a cheaper option. However, it’s important to evaluate the cost of purchasing all of the supplies. This can be very expensive upfront, especially if your dog has sensitivities or special grooming needs.
Specialized Grooming
Temperamental dogs, complex grooming needs, and specialized tasks like expressing anal glands, may be best done by a professional who is trained to handle these situations.
Essential Tools for At-Home Dog Grooming
Creating your at-home dog grooming station begins with gathering all the supplies you need for your dog’s specific needs. Here is a list of the basic supplies needed for dog grooming at home kit:
Grooming Tub
We recommend putting your dog in a non-slip bathtub or dog grooming tub with a detachable head to be able to rinse your dog easily.
Dog Safe Shampoo
Getting a dog-specific shampoo matched to your pet’s skin and coat needs will be a game changer in keeping your dog well groomed. Whether that’s moisturizing formulas for dry skin, medicated options for skin conditions, or specialized products for white coats the right shampoo makes all the difference.
Pet-Specific Dryer
Having a blow dryer for dogs will make bath time more efficient and comfortable for both of you. While drying your dog with your hair dryer may seem like a good idea, we do not recommend it. Dogs have thinner, more sensitive skin than humans which can be harmed by the heat of human hair dryers, even when on the coolest setting.
Dog Grooming Clippers
While not all dogs require regular trims, having the proper dog grooming scissors for trimming your dog’s coat is important. Investing in quality clippers with different blade sizes and guards will help achieve a professional-looking cut. Getting sharp, stainless steel rounded-tip scissors will allow for safe trimming around sensitive areas like the face and paws.
Dog Brush
By brushing your dog regularly you not only prevent matting, but also can check for ticks, fleas, or other skin conditions. Here’s a list of the best brushes for each dog coat type:
- Slicker brushes: Work well for removing tangles in medium to long coats
- Pin brushes: Help detangle longer fur without causing discomfort.
- Bristle brushes: Ideal for short-haired breeds to remove loose hair.
- Undercoat Rakes: Help remove the dense inner layer of double-coated dogs during shedding seasons.
Nail Clippers
Finding the best nail clippers for your dog is extremely important as many pups do not enjoy getting their nails trimmed. Choose between guillotine-style clippers, scissor-type trimmers, or grinding tools based on your dog’s comfort level and size. Since dogs have nerves and blood at the base of their nails, use caution when clipping to make sure you do not harm them.
Dental Hygiene Kit
Improper dental hygiene can cause many health issues. Ensuring you have a proper dental hygiene kit for your dog including dog-friendly toothpaste will help keep their teeth pearly white. Feeding your dog crunchy dog treats like our EarthBites Crunchy can also help with plaque build-up.
Ear Cleaner
For ear care, gentle cleaners specifically formulated for dogs’ ears and soft cotton balls are necessary to prevent infection without irritation.
Vacuum For Dogs
For dogs prone to shedding, getting a dog grooming vacuum can be super helpful during shedding season. This one from XXXX allows you to brush your dog as normal, while it sucks the hair directly into the vacuum.
Dog Grooming Table
While not a necessity, a grooming table helps your dog maintain good positioning and reduce strain on your back. This may be worth getting for longer grooming sessions or if you have back issues.
Reward
Giving your dog treats or a lick mat with wet food will help distract your dog and make the process more enjoyable.
Creating a Consistent Grooming Schedule
Establishing a grooming routine tailored to your dog’s needs will help them always look and feel their best. Creating a calendar of the daily, weekly, and monthly grooming tasks will help you keep a consistent routine. For example, daily attention might include brief brushing sessions and teeth cleaning, while weekly tasks could be more thorough coat care and ear checks.
The seasons could also influence your dog’s grooming schedule. The number of times you brush your dog may increase during shedding seasons, while more frequent baths may be needed in muddy months. For more in-depth grooming like haircuts, establish your timeline based on your dog’s hair growth rate. Typically dogs can go about 4-8 weeks between trims depending on the breed and style.
When to Seek Professional Help
Complex Coats or Hairstyles
While home grooming works well for many situations, certain circumstances may require a professional. Breeds like Poodles, Bichon Frises, or Schnauzers often benefit from professional grooming to maintain their coat texture and appearance. Similarly, having a groomer do a first-time haircut can be beneficial so you have a pattern to follow at home.
Behavioral or Mobility Changes
Behavioral challenges present another reason to consider professional services. Dogs showing aggression or anxiety during grooming may benefit from a groomer with restraint techniques and calming strategies. Senior pets with mobility issues or health concerns often receive safer care from professionals equipped to accommodate their limitations.
Health Concerns
Certain grooming requirements are best done by someone with specialized training to be performed safely. Expressing anal glands, addressing matted coats, or grooming pets with skin conditions typically falls outside the average pet parent’s skill set.
Advice
Establishing a relationship with a professional groomer can be beneficial if choosing to groom at home. This allows you a resource for advice on grooming and ensures availability when situations arise requiring their expertise. Many owners handle routine grooming themselves but rely on a professional for more challenging tasks.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to take your dog to a professional or groom at home, regular attention to your dog’s coat and hygiene remains essential for their health and comfort. Understanding the unique needs of your dog’s breed and coat type, investing in appropriate tools, and establishing consistent routines, will help your pup stay well-groomed and healthy. Remember that patience, positive reinforcement, and gradual introduction to grooming practices will build cooperation and trust over time. The effort invested in proper grooming helps not only your dog’s appearance but in their overall wellbeing.
