Dog grooming FAQ
How often should my dog be groomed?
Well, that depends on your dog’s breed, coat type, the length of the last clip, time of year and how quickly they get dirty.
A general rule is every 4-12 weeks. Dogs that are kept in a longer style or that have a coat that mats easily (eg. Poodles and poodle crosses) should be groomed more regularly than dogs with shorter or more easily maintained coats.
It is not recommended to wait longer than 12 weeks in between baths as this can lead to a build up of oil and dead skin which are perfect food source for bacteria and other nasties.
Do I have to brush my dog between grooms?
Yes. Maintenance at home is essential to keeping your pet’s coat healthy. A groomer only sees your dog once every 4-12 weeks so there’s only so much we can do. It’s like going to the hairdresser and expecting your hairstyle to stay the same for 6 weeks – it just doesn’t happen.
Long coats, Double coats and coats that are prone to matting must be brushed every 2-3 days to keep them healthy and knot-free.
I brush my dog but they still get matted, what can I do?
There are a few common reasons dogs get matted;
Frequency – They are not being brushed regularly enough. A good rule is every 2-3 days. Giving them a quick going over the day before the groomer arrives just isn’t enough, I’m afraid (and yes, we always know).
Coverage – Many owners make the mistake of only brushing along the torso and neglect the rest of the body.
The main areas matting occurs are: armpits, hind legs (inner and outer), neck, where the collar or harness sits, behind the ears, sanitary areas and areas that fur is kept longer – ears, tail and face.
Brushing out fur is like brushing your teeth – you’ve got to brush everything you want to keep
Tools – A lot of owners are using the wrong tool to brush their dog/cat and so are not doing a thorough job. Here’s the break down of brushes you should be using;
Short coat (<15ml) – a slicker brush for fluffy coats or a furminator for heavy shedders
Long coat (>15ml) – a metal grooming comb. Start from the ends of the coat and work your way towards the skin like you would with your own hair. Matting begins at the base of the hair so you need to make sure you are combing the entire length and not just what is visible. One the coat is knot free (a comb will easily run through the entire length) you can use a slicker brush to fluff up the coat
Double coats – Either a slicker brush or for heavy shedders a grooming rake/deshedding tool.
If you are unsure about your pet’s specific needs ask your groomer at the next appointment.
Is matting really that bad?
Yes! For several reasons.
1. Matting pulls on the skin every time your dog/cat moves. Imagine wearing a lovely woollen jumper, that’s what a healthy coat feels like. Now imagine that jumper has been sewn to your skin at a hundred different places. Every time you move, your skin stretches and pulls at the stitches causing you pain. That’s what a matted coat feels like.
2. Matted coats do not dry like healthy coats. They stay wet for much longer, trapping moisture against the skin for long periods of time. This creates the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and fungal infections to grow on the skin, often going unnoticed because the matting hides the sight and smell.
3. Matted coats can conceal injuries to the skin and make it harder to find imbedded grass seeds or ticks in the warmer weather. Matting also restricts blood flow and air flow to the skin making any minor injuries heal a lot slower if at all.
My dog is matted but I don’t want them shaved, is there another option?
No. Dressed to the Canines goes by the motto Humanity over Vanity.
De-matting is a long, painful process and in a lot of cases is frankly inhumane. Dressed to the Canines will always go for the kinder option of shaving than causing your pet pain.
I don’t want my dog to get cold in winter – do they still need to be groomed?
Yes. Grooming in the colder months is just as important as in Summer. Unkempt, matted or dirty coats trap water and do not keep a dog or cat warm.
Provided the coat is healthy and not matted it can be clipped longer to keep them warm. Alternatively, we can just do a Mini Spa (see Services page) instead of a full clip.
I don’t want my dog shaved, can the groomer keep the coat long?
Yes, healthy, regularly maintained coats free from matting can be clipped at a longer length
Is shaving double-coated dogs bad for their coat?
There is much conflicting information out there on whether clipping double coated breeds causes more harm than good during the warmer months.
It is fact that clipping a double coat can damage the hair follicle and cause the coat to grow back differently or not at all.
In general we don’t recommend clipping double coats however each dog is judged on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the owner.
When should my puppy start getting groomed?
As soon as possible! We accept puppies from 10 days after their last puppy vaccination. The earlier your pup gets used to positive grooming experiences the happier they’ll be for their grooming sessions the rest of their life.
See the Services page for information about our Puppy Pamper service which helps set up your pup for a lifetime of happy grooming.
My dog is anxious about grooming, how can I help them calm down?
The biggest way to get an anxious dog used to grooming is to keep sessions regular and to stick with the same groomer.
We use a mixture of techniques to keep dogs calm during grooming – lavender oil, happy hoodies (to reduce noise), deep breathing/calm energy and always performing the grooming process in the same order so the dog learns what to expect each time.
If you are still worried you can add 1-2 drops of Rescue Remedy to your dog’s drinking water* 24-48hrs prior to grooming to help relax them. And remember that dogs take their emotional cues from their owners, if you’re anxious and worried about the groom, your dog will be too.
*Please consult your vet first if your dog has any allergies
My dog is aggressive/does not like grooming, can you still groom them?
If your pet is aggressive or reactive due to fear/pain/anxiety/etc. during grooming it must be made known to the groomer PRIOR to the commencement of grooming. Failure to do so may result in the termination of service at any point and full-service fees charged.
Fear and aggression are assessed on a case by case basis at the time of the appointment. No guarantees are made and a modified or partial clip may be the only possible outcome.
The safety of your pet and the groomer are paramount and service will be cancelled if safety is compromised.
Will my dog be muzzled during grooming?
We will always do our best to work with your dog to reduce anxiety & aggression however if your dog is aggressive or reactive in any way, we reserve the right to muzzle them at the groomer’s discretion. Safety of the groomer and your pet is paramount and refusal to muzzle may result in termination of service and full-service fees charged.
Will my dog be sedated during grooming?
No, it is illegal for a groomer to sedate an animal without direct supervision of a vet.
My dog’s skin has become irritated after grooming, what can I do to help?
The biggest way to stop further irritation is to prevent your dog from licking or scratching at the area. Continued scratching can turn a minor irritation into a major problem.
Curash cream/powder, paw paw ointment or apple cider vinegar (1:1 dilution) are safe to be used to soothe skin irritations.
Socks, cones & t-shirts are also effective ways to prevent scratching.
Why won’t my dog stop scratching themselves since being groomed?
If your dog had a dramatic change in hair length it can feel weird to them for a few days as they’re feeling touch a lot differently now.
If there was matting then it may be because matting restricts blood flow to the skin. It can feel itchy as blood flow returns once the matting is removed.
It may also be because of an allergy to products used. All the products we use are natural and organic however we can’t guarantee no dog will react to them.
My dog seems depressed after being groomed, did something happen?
Chances are if your dog seems down after a groom it is not because something negative happened to them. If they are prone to anxiety or elderly, chances are the process just took a lot out of them and they just need a little longer to recover.
If your dog was matted or had a dramatic change in hair length, they may just need a few days to adjust to the way their body feels now.
Dogs do not feel embarrassment about a haircut however they can feel your emotions so if you’re upset about their haircut, they will mirror your feelings. A little love and some positive vibes can go a long way.
My dog has a bleeding nail, how can I stop it?
Put pressure on the nail until it stops. Alternatively, you can use a little corn flour on the nail to act as an artificial scab and stop the bleeding.
My dog still has dark marks under their eyes after grooming, how can I prevent this?
Tear staining under the eye is caused by weeping from the eye. Some breeds are genetically prone to tear staining (Maltese, Bichons). Our blueberry facial shampoo helps reduce staining however there is no safe way for the groomer to remove staining completely. It can be prevented though by a change in diet, keeping hair around the eyes short and using saline and a cotton bud to wipe away eye boogers every other day.
My dog’s nails are still long after the groom, did they not cut them?
Nail clips are part of every service we provide. Groomers are limited to how much we can trim a nail as dog and cat nails have a vein growing inside (also known as ‘the quick’). The longer the nail gets, the longer the vein gets. It is painful and bloody to cut the vein and can make future nail trims much more difficult.
Ask your groomer or vet how you can safely make the vein recede and reduce the length of your pet’s nails.
I don’t like the way the groomer clipped my dog, what can I do?
Miscommunication between the groomer and owner is often the reason for dissatisfaction with a clip. Sometimes what you see in your mind is not always the picture that gets transferred to the groomers mind, especially if it is their first time grooming your pet. It may take a few appointments for you and the groomer to understand each and get on the same page.
If you just want a little more taken off here or this part shaped slightly differently don’t be afraid to ask the groomer to make slight alterations before you leave. Trust that they’d rather you speak up and be happy than say nothing and ruminate on it for the next couple of months.
Photos are the best way to communicate what you want. Your groomer will also have either taken notes of what they did during the last groom or taken a photo. Working out what you did and didn’t like about the previous clips is also a good way to help your groomer understand.
Sometimes your groomer will have to change something for practical reasons – whether they had to work around matting or because your pet’s coat is different to the one in the photo you provided. Being realistic in your expectations also helps. For example, a Jack Russel Terrier is never going to look like a show standard Poodle no matter how skilled the groomer is.
And lastly, the number one thing to remember if you don’t like the clip? The beauty of hair is that it will always grow back.
What shampoos do you use?
We use Petway range of products. These products are Australian owned & made, naturally based, paraben, phosphate & sulphate free, pH balanced & environmentally friendly.
For more information check out www.petwaypetcare.com.au
My dog/family member has sensitive skin/allergies, can you supply use an allergy friendly shampoo?
Of course! We have a limited range of allergy friendly products in the salon that we are happy to use. Unfortunately we cannot special order shampoos for specific pets so if you/your pet requires a specific shampoo we recommend you bring it in with you for our groomers to use.
My dog/family member has sensitive skin/allergies, can I supply my own shampoo?
Of course! If there’s something that works better for your family and is safe for your pet feel free to bring in your own shampoo.
If I supply my own shampoo, do I get a discount?
No, as our shampoo costs are only a miniscule portion of the overall cost of the groom we cannot offer discounts.
My dog is prone to ear infections, can you stop water from getting in their ears?
We have several ways of reducing the risk of water getting in a dogs ears however there is no fool proof way to prevent it when bathing a dog.
If your dog is prone to ear infections using a tissue or cotton bud to wipe out the ears for a few days after a wash may help (do NOT use human ear cleaners/’Q Tips’ in a cat or dog’s ears).
Always speak to your vet if ongoing ear infections are a problem.
Do you express anal glands or pluck ear hair?
No. Dressed to the Canines works solely externally. Any internal procedures should be carried out by a vet.
Will having the groomer brush my dog’s teeth mean I don’t need to have them done by the vet?
No. Having your pet’s teeth brushed by the groomer will help reduce tartar build up but only a clean done by a vet under anaesthesia can guarantee your pet’s ongoing dental health.
Will my dog be crated during the groom?
Your dog may be briefly crated at the start of the groom if there is a slight overlap between clients. We aim for each pet to have their service start within 15 minutes of arrival so they are never in there for long. They may also also be crated at the end of the groom until you arrive to pick them up which ideally, is not very long at all.
We choose to crate when there is multiple dogs in the salon in order to ensure your dog’s safety and reduce risk to all animals and humans within the salon.
I think the groomer injured my dog, what do I do?
If you believe your dog has been injured during the grooming process it must be brought to the groomer’s attention within 48hrs of the appointment. Vet treatment must be provided promptly and an itemised bill as well as consent to speak to the vet must be provided to the groomer before any claims will be considered.