Removing Matts

By Katherine Durr

Before I discuss the tricks used to remove matts on your dog I must emphasize a few things If your dog is badly matted or the matts are close to the skin I strongly recommend you take your dog to a professional to have him groomed. I also recommend a professional if your dog is elderly or can not tolerate being brushed.

Having said that let’s talk matts. There are certain areas of your dog that I would not recommend de-matting. Some dog groomers refer to them as the sensitive areas. They are located between the back legs, under the armpits, on the belly, and under the tail. These areas I would recommend that you clip with a #10 or #15 blade. One of the most common areas for a dog to matt is around and behind the ear. This happens because this is the most popular petting spot. The area behind the ear has very thin skin and can be very hazardous to de-matt. If gentle brushing does not remove the matt you can cut the length of the matt in half and try again to brush it out. To make sure you do not cut your dogs ear try holding the matt with your finger tips at the skin and then cut the matt in half. Now try gentle brushing. If this still does not remove the matt it may be time to use clippers. Read more

The Pitfalls of a Matted Dog

By Katherine Durr

Many dogs do not like being brushed and for this reason their owners do not brush them. Sometimes trying to find the time for brushing in our busy schedules can be difficult. If you have a dog that gets knotted and you do not brush them or give them a hair cut on a regular basis this is what can happen.

FACT: When you have a dog with matts in his fur, the matts will not come out without brushing or clipping.

• Each time you bathe your dog with knots in his fur, when he dries, the knots become tighter. It is similar to loosely knotting a piece of leather, getting it wet, then letting it dry. The knot becomes tighter and close to impossible to get out. At this point a dog hair cut is in order.
• After a period of time the knots become so tight that the hair is actually ripped from the skin a few hairs at a time.
• When a dog becomes matted all over and you bathe him, the soap is very difficult to rinse out. If soap is accidentally left behind it can irritate his skin. Scratching these areas can cause further irritation along with cuts and scrapes from his nails.
• If he has a wound from scratching all sorts of things can then happen.
• The area can get infected or flies can lay eggs in the wound.
• When a dog is matted to the skin it is difficult if not impossible to see the skin and any problems that may be occurring.
• Severe matts between the toes and on the pads of the feet can cause lameness. Just imagine if you had a rock in your shoe that you could not remove.
• Matts under the armpits and between the back legs can hinder the range of motion your dog has with his legs.
• Around his mouth and lips, matts can create a wonderful breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and yeast.
• Severe matts on his ears can create excess weight, especially when wet, and can contribute to chronic ear infections.

The best advice:

A dog hair cut. Groom your dog on a regular basis, weather you take him to a shop and have him groomed, or you groom him at home.

For those of you who have dogs that do not like to be brushed, try giving them a clipper haircut every 4-6 weeks. Usually this amount of time can prevent too many knots from forming. If however you find your dog getting knotted in a shorter period of time, shorten the time between grooming.

Katherine Durr has been a professional dog groomer for over 17 years and is the author of “How to Groom your Mutt”. Visit her website at Doggie Dews

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katherine_Durr
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When Is My Dog Too Old For That Haircut?

By Katherine Durr

Most dog owners prefer to have the breed haircut on their dogs. If they own a Cocker Spaniel they prefer to have the “Cocker clip”. If they own a Bichon Friese they prefer a Bichon haircut. There are times when this to not the case. When the owner is dealing with stickers, skin problems or perhaps they just want something manageable. If you could ask the dog what type of haircut he wants I think that his reply would be “anything that makes my owner happy”. But the question is, “When is the dog too old to have a breed haircut?”. Read more

Brushing Your Dog’s Fur

Believe it or not, dogs like being brushed!  Brushing your dog’s fur will help to maintain a healthy coat.  Depending on the type of fur your dog has, brushing needs will vary.

• If your dog has a long coat of fur, daily brushing is recommended to prevent matting or tangling.
• If your dog has medium length fur, it should be brushed weekly.
• If your dog has a short coat, you can go up to once a month in between brushing.

However, you can still brush your dog’s fur daily, regardless of the fur type.  Also, brushing more frequently will help to prevent excess shedding.

Source: “Top 5 Dog Grooming Basics”, About.com; Retrieved on November 7, 2008 from http://dogs.about.com/od/grooming/tp/5-Basics-of-Dog-Grooming.htm