What I Learned from a Cocker Spaniel

By Katherine Durr

About twelve years ago I went to a dog grooming expo in San Bernardino California. At the time I had been grooming for a few years and thought I knew lots. I remember watching the scissoring competition. One of the entries later became a team member of Groom USA. The whole experience humbled me and helped me strive to be better at my art.

Then one of the judges for the competition gave a lecture on grooming the Cocker Spaniel. At first I was only mildly interested. She began her lecture with “Most people don’t really understand the Cocker Spaniel”. She went on to say that Cocker Spaniels were “sensitive dogs”. A Cocker was a dog who’s feelings were hurt easily. While she was giving this lecture she had her own Cocker Spaniel on the grooming table, let us call her, Buffy. The woman began demonstrating how to groom Buffy. I still was not ready to buy into this whole “sensitive” thing. That was because before the lecture, Buffy was being walked through the crowd up to the lecturing platform. Two different audience members tried to pet Buffy as she walked to the front. Buffy let out a yelp, a snap and a little tinkle each time. Read more

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

Craniomandibular Osteopathy Dog Bone Disorder

Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) is a non-cancerous dog bone disorder that exclusively affects the bones of the head in dogs, usually in on the lower jaw bone (ramus of the mandible) or over the angle of the mandible and tympanic bulla. CMO is a developmental disease in dogs causing extensive bony changes in the mandible and skull. It is also called mandibular periostitis, temporomandibular osteodystrophy or “lion jaw.” 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

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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

How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems

Regular examination of your dogs ears should be another integral part of your grooming routine. Your examination should not only be checking for dirt, excessive wax, offensive odors, but also for tears and swellings. There are three main parts to a dogs ears: the outer flap (the pinna), the ear canal, and the middle or inner ear.

The pinna can either be pendulous (floppy) or erect. It can be covered in long hair in breeds such as spaniels and setters or with short hair in breeds such as shepherds and terriers. The ear canal is L-shaped. It starts of at a vertical angle and then makes a horizontal turn. Because of this shape we can only make a cursory examination. A veterinarian can make a complete examination using a device called an otoscope. Using the otoscope the veterinarian can also check the inner ear. Read more

Why Dog Health and Grooming Go Hand in Hand

By Katherine Durr

Dog health and grooming are closely related because this is a perfect opportunity to investigate past the big eyes and the fluffy body. When you groom your dog you get to see down to the skin.

While grooming your dog you are engaged in a hands on everything project. Even some areas you would just as soon not have your hands on. During this time you can check for lumps, warts, and any other irregularities on their bodies. Read more

How To Care For Your Dog’s Feet And Save On Vet Bills Down The Line

Even though it may be an obvious fact, dogs have four feet. These four feet have no protection. As the caregivers for our companions, we need to take special care of our pets feet to ensure their pads do not become overcalloused or tender.

Be careful not to overexercise your pet, ensuring that they do not get blisters or split pads. Exercise should start slowly and increase gradually. It is not a wise idea to exercise your dog by forcing it to run alongside a bicycle or car, as you cannot readily check for exaustion or foot problems. Your exercise program should end by checking the condition of your pets feet. Read more

Who Else Wants Their Dog To Have Clean, Healthy Teeth?

Dogs are also susceptible to tooth and gum disease, just like their human owners. They get cavities, buildups of plaque or tartar, chipped or broken teeth, and gum disease. A regular dental routine, just as a regular grooming routine should be introduced at an early age to help prevent problems in the adult years. In addition to the annual check by your veterinarian a dog’s owner should check and clean their dog’s teeth regularly. Start by gently pulling back the dog’s lips and check the gums and teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pink. Pale gums may indicate problems, relating to tooth or health problems and should be checked. If the gums have sores or swellings, this also should be checked by your veterinarian. The teeth should be free from stains and buildup of plaque or tartar. Check for broken or chipped teeth and sores on the tongue. If you notice any of these problems your dog should be seen by your veterinarian. Read more

Your Dog’s Health; Why Dog Breath is No Laughing Matter

By Carolyn Schweitzer

Your dogs health is important to you. You show her how important by keeping her well fed and groomed, making sure she gets plenty of exercise and providing a collection of fun, safe toys for her entertainment. You don’t skimp on the quality of his food. And to reward good boys and girls, there are always lots of delicious treats in the cupboard.But if he has bad breath, you could be overlooking a serious problem with your dogs health.”Dog Breath” is such a common condition that we make jokes about it. Sometimes we even tease our human “friends” using “dog breath” in play-ground style name-calling ( although hopefully this is limited to teenage boys.) And I know many pet owners who comment that they love their dog or cat like a child, but just can’t stand the smell of the animal’s breath! Well, guess what? “Dog Breath” isn’t normal.It’s estimated that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over the age of three suffer from the periodontal disease — a serious deterioration of the gums and supporting bones of the teeth. Yes, it’s periodontal disease that’s responsible for “dog breath”. Read more

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