Grooming 101: How Often Should You Take Your Dog to the Groomer?

If your fur friend is seemingly more stinky than usual, they may be overdue for a grooming appointment. But how do you know if a simple at-home bath will do versus a professional bath and brush? 

In this guide, we’re covering the ins and outs of when to take your dog to the groomer, the importance of regular grooming, and any issues that can arise from not keeping a grooming schedule. Now, let’s get Fluffy into the bath!

On Average, How Often Should Dogs be Taken to the Groomer?

In general, dogs should be taken to the groomer every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent matting and skin issues. However, there is no hard rule when it comes to how often you should take your dog to the groomer, as this will vary depending on breed, coat type, the seasons, your dog’s activity level, etc. 

Here are a few factors to consider when determining how often to take your dog to the groomer:

• Long-haired vs short-haired: Dogs with long or dense coats typically require more frequent grooming, often every 3 to 5 weeks. Short-haired dogs may require less frequent grooming, such as every 6-12 weeks.
• Double-coated breeds: Breeds with double coats, like Huskies or Golden Retrievers, often have seasonal shedding patterns and may require more frequent grooming during shedding seasons.
• Brushing and baths: Your dog may not require a full haircut very often, but regular brushing and baths are still encouraged to maintain coat health.
• Active and outdoor dogs: If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors or enjoys playing in the dirt, mud, etc. they may require more frequent grooming to keep their coat clean and prevent skin issues.
• Allergies: Dogs with allergies or skin sensitivities may require more frequent grooming to manage their symptoms and prevent flare ups. 

Ultimately, how often you groom your dog will depend on their coat type, their activity level, their environment, and their specific needs. If you discover that your dog is still experiencing skin issues or mats in between grooming, it may be a good idea to increase the frequency of their appointments.

What’s Included in a Typical Dog Grooming Appointment?

When taking your dog to a professional groomer, you might expect a typical bath, brush, and cut. But most groomers offer (or even include) a range of services as part of a standard appointment. 

Typical dog grooming services usually include:

• Bathing
• Brushing
• Haircut or trimming
• Nail trimming
• Ear cleaning
• Anal gland expression
• Teeth brushing

Some dog groomers offer optional add-on services as well, such as:

• Flea and tick treatment
• Medicated bath
• De-shedding treatment
• Pawdicure (i.e. paw pad treatment)
• Aromatherapy
• Coat conditioning treatments
• Facials
• Hair dyeing

Be sure to shop around for a trusted groomer in your area to get a sense of their services, prices, and procedures.

Why You Should Give a Fluff About Dog Grooming 

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Brushing and grooming aren’t just important when it comes to keeping your dog looking their best – it’s important for their health as well! Of course, you want your furry friend to look cute and cuddly, but regular grooming allows you to prevent common health issues. 

In fact, there are many reasons why grooming your dog is important.

1. Grooming Encourages Positive Behaviour

   Dogs experience physical touch and attention during the grooming process. This can reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog (or the dog and the groomer). Consistent grooming routines help dogs become accustomed to handling and grooming, leading to improved obedience and less stress during grooming sessions – as well as in other aspects of their lives.

2. Grooming Facilitates Early Detection of Health Issues

   Regular grooming allows you (or the groomer) to closely examine your dog’s skin, coat, teeth, ears, etc. and more easily identify health issues. Proactive grooming allows you to notice things like lumps, cuts, injuries, rashes, parasites, or other issues that may affect your pet’s health. 

3. Grooming Maintains a Healthy Coat and Fur

   Regular grooming practices, like brushing and bathing, keeps your dog’s coat clean and healthy. During grooming, dead hair and debris are removed, preventing tangling and matting. Grooming also stimulates the production of natural oils in the skin, resulting in a shiny, lustrous coat!

4. Grooming Helps Prevent Joint Pain

   Believe it or not, regular grooming can help prevent joint pain! For instance, keeping nails trimmed to an appropriate length reduces the risk of overgrowth, which can alter a dog's gait and lead to joint strain. Also, grooming helps prevent mats, which can cause discomfort and limit your dog’s mobility. 

5. Grooming Helps Prevent Skin Problems and Infections

   While grooming can encourage the early detection of health or skin issues, it can also prevent them. Poor grooming habits can lead to skin issues, such as Bacterial Dermatitis, yeast infections, fungal infections, hot spots, and folliculitis. Skin infections can cause discomfort, pain, and in severe cases, illness. Regular grooming can help prevent many of these skin issues by maintaining skin health and cleanliness!

6. Grooming Promotes Regular Upkeep of Nails and Teeth

   Grooming addresses many aspects of your dog's hygiene, not just their coat. Nail trimming helps prevent overgrowth and discomfort, dental cleaning helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and ear cleaning helps prevent ear infections. Grooming in all aspects contributes to your pet's overall health and well-being.

Tell-Tail Signs Your Dog Needs Grooming

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As a busy pet owner, you might not always notice your pet is in need of a groom… until they are long overdue. In order to get an appointment quickly (and to prevent matting), it’s important to notice the signs as early as possible. 

Here are a few tell-tale signs that your dog needs a good groom:

• Matting/tangling: Tangled or matted fur is an obvious sign that your dog is overdue for grooming. Try to get your dog into a groomer ASAP to prevent health issues (and from your dog needing a complete shave-down).
• Excessive shedding: If you are finding tufts of fur all over the house – more so than usual – it may be time for a grooming session.
• Stinky coat: If you’ve got a smelly pup on your hands, it’s probably time for a groom – or at least a bath! A dirty or foul-smelling coat can indicate the presence of dirt, debris, or even a skin infection.
• Long nails: If you notice that your dog’s nails are starting to curve under their toe pads, this is a sign that they are overgrown, and they are in need of a nail trim. 
• Ear discharge or odour: Smelly and/or discoloured ear discharge is a sign that your dog needs a cleaning. Be sure to ask the groomer whether they suspect an ear infection, as this may require vet intervention.
• Dental Issues: Bad breath, tartar buildup, and inflamed gums are signs of dental decay. If you notice these things, it’s time to brush your pup’s teeth or take them to a groomer.
• Skin irritation or scratching: Excessive scratching, redness, or irritation on the skin can indicate the presence of debris, which can often be remedied with a thorough grooming session.

Create a Personalized Grooming Schedule

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We recommend grooming your dog every 4-6 weeks, as is average for most dogs. However, pay attention as to whether your dog starts to develop mats, overgrown nails, ear overgrowth, or related issues in between grooming sessions. These might indicate that you need to groom your dog more frequently.

Build rapport with your chosen groomer and discuss the needs for your dog. They might recommend a certain frequency of grooming appointments, specific grooming habits, or a certain length of cut to prevent matting. Every dog is different, so their personalized grooming plan should be, too!

How to Treat Grooming-Related Health Issues

It’s common for dogs to develop health issues due to poor or inconsistent grooming, such as skin infections, allergies, hot spots, ear infections, and more. If your dog has an issue that’s advanced to this level, it’s highly recommended that you take them to a veterinarian to resolve the condition.

Many times, a vet may need to prescribe medication or a grooming protocol to relieve the health issue. This is when having reliable pet insurance can be beneficial, as it helps cover the cost of vet expenses due to unexpected illnesses, injuries, and infections.

At Furkin, we offer comprehensive pet insurance plans to save you money (and stress) when it comes unexpected vet bills. That way, you can focus on providing the best care for your pet instead of pinching pennies. Get a free pet insurance quote today!

Featured image by Hayffield L on Unsplash