Kim Campbell Thornton - Grooming

Karla Austin, Business Operations Manager

Nick Clemente, Special Consultant

Kendra Strey, Project Editor

Susan Chaney, Consulting Editor

Jill Dupont, Production

Allyn A. Salmond, Design

Michael V. Capozzi, Cover and book design concept

Copyright 2006 by I-5 Press

Illustrations copyright 2006 by Buck Jones

The dogs in this book are referred to as he and she in alternating chapters.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress-in-Publication Data

Thornton, Kim Campbell.

Grooming / by Kim Campbell Thornton ; illustrations by Buck Jones.

p. cm(Simple solutions)

ISBN 1-931993-73-4

eISBN: 978-1-62008-0-696

1. DogGrooming. I. Title. II. Series: Simple solutions (Irvine, Calif.)

SF427.5.T56 2005

636.7'0833--dc22

2005025739

I-5 Press

A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs

Irvine, California 92618

Printed and bound in Singapore

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Why Grooming Is Great

If you enjoyed playing hairdresser as a kid, you probably love grooming your dog. Youre the type of person who should own a coated breed such as a poodle, an Afghan hound, a shih tzu, or one of the many terrier breeds. The rest of us, however, need a little guidance in the ways and means of dog groomingwhether you live with a short-haired, heavy shedder such as a Labrador retriever or a German shepherd dog, or with a fuzzy friend such as a bichon frise or a Havanese.

In this book, youll learn all the basics of how to keep your dog looking clean, smelling fresh, and feeling good. In addition to these benefits, establishing good grooming habits can help you keep your dog healthy and parasite free. A regular grooming routine gives you hands-on knowledge of your dogs body and is one of the best ways for you to keep tabs on her physical health. When you groom your dog, youre taking a close look at her ears, eyes, mouth, and coatall of which give you clues to her general health. Regularly grooming your dog may help you discover canine health problems when theyre still easily treatable. Use grooming time to check for lumps, bumps, scabs, or other skin problems; to examine teeth for tartar buildup; and to check eyes and ears for signs of irritation and infection.

Best of all, grooming is a way to spend quality time with your canine best friend. When done correctly, grooming is pleasurable for your dog. Just think how nice it feels when you get a massage or have someone brush out and style your hair. Its the same for your dog. So introduce her to grooming when shes a puppy, and show her how enjoyable it can be. Youll both come to look forward to this relaxing time together.

Coat Types and Shedding

One of the wonderful things about dogs is that they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and yes, coat types. Some have curly or corded (think dreadlocks) coats, such as those of the poodle and the komondor. Others have long, silky coats, such as those of the Afghan hound and Yorkshire terrier. Medium-length coats are worn by breeds such as the golden retriever and papillon, and short coats by the dalmatian and Labrador retriever. The terrier breeds sport hard coats, at least when kept properly stripped and styled. Spitz breeds such as the Akita, chow chow, and Siberian husky have thick, dense coats.

The amount of grooming your dog requires depends on his coat type. Corded, curly, long, and hard coats all need a fair amount of maintenance if theyre going to look their best. For instance, corded coats are prone to matting next to the skin; curly coats must be clipped and shaped; long coats need regular detangling; and hard coats must be hand-stripped (the dead hairs pulled out) instead of clipped or theyll lose their characteristic texture. Shorthaired dogs and those with thick, dense coats need regular brushing and combing because they shed like theres no tomorrow.

Dont think you can escape grooming by acquiring a hairless breed such as a Chinese crested. These dogs have delicate skin thats prone to acne and needs regular moisturizing and sunscreen. You can use coat oil specially formulated for dogs or a gentle moisturizer or baby oil made for human skin, but be sure the product is nontoxic.

Is there a breed that doesnt shed? Not really. All dogs (and people) shed hair on a regular basis; its part of the hairs growth cycle. The hair of some breedsthe poodle, for examplehas a long growth cycle, so it may seem as if they dont shed. However, if you went without vacuuming for a while, you would eventually find poodle dust-puppies hiding beneath your bed.

Regular brushing is a key to a healthy, shiny coat because it distributes protective skin oils throughout the coat and removes dead hair and dirt. Dont just skim the surfacebrush all the way down to the skin to remove dead hair at the source before it falls off the dog and floats onto your clothing, furniture, and floors. By spending just a few minutes a day brushing your dog, youll spend less time vacuuming the carpet and running a tape roller or lint brush over over your clothes and sofa.

The Goods on Grooming Tools

The amount and type of grooming equipment you need depend on your dogs coat type, and choosing the correct brush will enhance your efforts. A greyhound, with her fine, short hair, needs only a fine-toothed comb, a hound glove, and a bristle brush. On the other paw, maintaining a cairn terriers rough coat requires a stripping knife, scissors, a stiff bristle brush, and a comb with fine and coarse teeth. Add these tools to the supplies every dog needs: a toothbrush, dog toothpaste, pet shampoo, and nail clippers; these essentials are discussed in later chapters.

Most brushes come in small, medium, and large sizes, allowing you to choose one thats appropriate for your dogs size as well as for the size of your hand. High-quality tools may carry a heftier price tag than mid-range versions do, but their sturdiness and comfort are worth the price. The following descriptions, as well as advice from your breeder or professional groomer, will help you select the tools that are right for your dog.

A bristle brush is what many people use on their own hair. For dogs, a stiff bristle brush removes loose hair and dirt before bathing, whereas a soft bristle brush polishes the coat after a bath and blow-dry. These brushes come with either nylon or natural bristles (brushes with nylon bristles are generally less expensive, but they are stiffer than those with natural bristles and thus may be harsher on the hair). Bristle brushes made specifically for dogs are available in pet supply stores and in most drugstores and grocery stores.