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.

Matts can occur anywhere on your dog. One way to remove them is to take a pair of scissors and put the blade between the skin and the matt. With the sharp side away from the skin you can either use a sawing motion to cut through the matt or you can simply cut it in several places parallel to the direction of hair growth. Try again to brush the matt out.
There are several de-matting combs on the market. All of these work well but you should be careful when using them. Take the de-matting comb and comb it under the matted area. When it catches a matt, use a sawing motion to cut through the matt. Try to limit the pulling motion because most dogs do not like it.

If your dogs tail has matts you can use either method above to remove them. Before cutting the tail try to gently brush it out. If the matts are too extensive, either cut through the matts parallel to the direction of hair growth and then attempt to brush them out or shorten the entire length of the tail. Simply hold the tip of your dogs tail and shorten the entire length by cutting parallel with the tail. If the matts are hanging from the tail in different places you should be cutting them in half with this method. When you have removed all the matts from the tail and after you have bathed and dried him you can go back and even up any long hair.

If you are uncertain about shaving the sensitive areas, the pads of the feet or shaving matts from around the ears, some grooming shops will shave just these areas for a small fee.

During any dog grooming session you should praise your dog but especially while brushing them. Most dogs do not like to be brushed and they need the added reinforcement when they are tolerating it.

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 doggiedews.com Doggie Dews

Related posts

• Yes, Your Dog Will Be Happier If You Use These Dog Grooming Tips (0)
• Working Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• When Is My Dog Too Old For That Haircut? (0)
• What not To Feed Your Puppy (0)
• What Are Dog Grooming Tools (0)

Tags: dog grooming, groom

Poodle grooming can be a daunting task, but a necessary part of owning this particular breed. Well-groomed poodles have healthier skin and coats and grooming also helps prevent health problems.

A poodle’s hair never stops growing, so a full clipping is necessary every six to eight weeks. If you can afford it, it may be best to pay someone else to groom your poodle. The steps involved can be labor intensive and it is sometimes best left to a professional.

Choose your groomer carefully and take advice from other poodle owners in your area. You might want to consider scooping out different breeders in the area. Visit their shops without your dog and pay attention to how the facility is managed. Look for a clean shop and a groomer with a gentle hand and manner.

If money is an issue, you can use a professional groomer every second time. You can maintain your poodles grooming yourself in between visits and save money.

To maintain your poodle’s cut between visits, you will need some quality dog grooming tools. Your groomer can often purchase professional tools for you at a discount, or you can find quality tools at a good pet store or at a dog show.

You will need a high quality pair of clippers and scissors. Keep your clippers in top working condition by cleaning the blades and oiling them regularly. Dull blades can scrape the skin of your poodle and cause clipper burn. Look for a pair of clippers that have a many blades, this way you can rotate the blades during the grooming session if need be.

You will also need quality brushes and combs to maintain your poodle’s cut between grooming sessions. Your dog should be well brushed at least twice a week, if not daily.

Even though poodles don’t shed as much as other dogs, they do lose hair. That hair remains in the dog’s coat until you brush it out. Brushing will also keep your poodle’s coat shiny by distributing the skin’s natural oils.

Ask your groomer for brush recommendations, as the right brush will depend on what type of cut your poodle has. Bi-weekly brushing sessions can be a great way to bond with your dog. Gentle but vigorous brushing will make your dog feel good and increase circulation in the skin.

You can bathe your poodle as often as once a week. Using a raised tub with a non-slip mat will make the experience more pleasurable for you both. To start, use warm water to soak your dog’s coat to the skin.

Since poodles are water dogs they naturally shed water so it might take some effort to get the coat completely wet. You can use a mild dog shampoo to bathe your poodle.

Make sure to rinse the shampoo out of the dog’s coat thoroughly. Any leftover residue can be irritating to the dog’s skin. After your poodle’s bath you can let the dog air dry for a curly look, or brush out the hair while blow-drying to give the coat a smooth and fluffy look.

Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website,

Related posts

• Yes, Your Dog Will Be Happier If You Use These Dog Grooming Tips (0)
• Working Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• When Is My Dog Too Old For That Haircut? (0)
• What not To Feed Your Puppy (0)
• What Are Dog Grooming Tools (0)

Tags: dog grooming, groom

*One on one personalized service with no interruptions of answering the phones, checking out other clients while you wait.

*You have your own personalized groomer, there is no guessing on who worked on your dog.

*A quiet relaxed environment for both you and your dog, no barking dogs in the background.

*This service is great for the anxious pet who does not want to leave the comforts of their home.

*With mobile dog grooming your pet can see their home while being groomed, which is an added comfort.

*Your pet is never placed in cages for hours and maybe forgotten about.

*Therefore no cage dryers are ever used which can be loud, hot and detrimental to their life.

Mobile dog grooming is not for everyone! Some pet owners need to leave their dogs all day at the shop while they are at work.

Pricing is typically higher when you use a mobile groomer verses a shop, anything mobile you pay more money for. Dog groomers must charge more for their services than human hair stylists do. Dogs have hair all over their body, face and feet.

Whereas humans only grow hair in one place that needs to be cut, on their head. How many people do you ever see that try to bite, scratch, move around uncontrollably and urinate all while getting their haircut. Sometimes dog grooming is like trying to jog along someone while trying to cut their hair.

What a lot of the new pet owners do not realize when picking a new furry family member is; when they adopt their cute little babies they still have their baby hair. If you choose a thick haired coat you might not know that their hair will be more massive when their adult hair grows in anywhere from 9-12 months of age for the smaller breeds. The larger breeds are usually 2-3 years of age.

Another important factor is how much time, love, money and effort they are personally going to have to invest in this relationship with their new dog. If you adopt a cute puppy such as a Shih Tzu or Lhasa Apso, which are both double coated breeds you must understand they are high maintenance breeds.

If you do not keep up on brushing their hair daily or at least 4-5 times per week, you will have a matted mooch that will end up costing you more money for a shave down. When their hair gets so matted you cant even brush them. You will not be happy with the outcome of this cut either, the coat of hair they once had which was long and full is now all gone. You dog is naked now, not a pretty site to see.

Bad matt’s in the dogs hair can cause numerous health problems; clipper burns from the razor getting too hot from slicing through the matt’s. Which is very uncomfortable for your dog. Skin infections if the matt’s are bad enough to not let the skin breath, you most likely would not be able to see this, since the skin is covered with matted hair.

The worst problem with having to have your dog shaved down, especially if they are used to having longer hair is it can be a humiliating experience for them especially if you draw attention to it. Making statements like; “you look so funny”, Yes, they do have feelings too! Have you ever seen them hide under the bed so nobody can see them.

Have your dog groomed on a regular bases. Depending on your dogs habits such as; do they mostly stay outside of the house, when you let them out to play do they like to get into the dirt, trash, etc. If your groomer uses a mild enough ph made especially for dogs they can be bathed more frequently.

The most important factor in finding a Mobile Dog Groomer who should make this a positive memorable experience that your little or big one will not only forget but look forward to future services. Make certain your groomer has the correct positive attitude beforehand.

Ask some important questions, such as; Do you love dogs, do you enjoy your career or is this just another job. Last but not least are they a patient person with animals as well as with people.

Fonda Fletcher, is a professional caring groomer with a lifetime of experience working with dogs. Customer service is her #1 priority, she won’t start working with a dog until she knows exactly what is expected of her work wise. Making certain everyone is on the same page of understanding, beforehand not after the work is done and it’s too late to make changes. lepooche.com lepooche.com

Related posts

• Toy Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• The Shih Tzu Groom Shop Record Keeping (0)
• The Royal Pug (0)
• The Route to Becoming A Professional Dog Groomer (0)
• Shih Tzu Grooming is Art, Skill, Trade, And A Profession (0)

Tags: dog grooming, groom, shih tzu

The Hound Group includes dog breeds with a wonderful sense of smell and/or great athleticism. These breeds were developed to follow game either by sight or by smell. Sighthounds include the fast and streamlined Afghans, Greyhounds and Salukis. Sighthounds need lots of exercise but some breeds like the Borzoi, the Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the Saluki can adapt to being left alone during the day if they get lots of exercise before and after work. Scent hounds include the slower Bloodhounds, Bassets and Beagles. The dogs in this group have a great size variation and range from the tiny Miniature Dachshund to the extremely tall Irish Wolfhound. The top ten most popular hound dogs in the US are the following. The number in brackets is the rank of the breed out of 154 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club in 2005.

1. Beagle

The very popular (#5) Beagle is one of the oldest hound dog breeds. The small-sized Beagle is calm, loyal and excellent with children and other dogs. The breed is cheerful and happy and they make good family pets except for the nose. Once a Beagle picks up a scent it will follow it to the exclusion of everything else. Beagles are fairly difficult to obedience train because of their independent or stubborn streak.

2. Dachshund

Dachshunds are small dog breeds with a long body, short crooked legs and large floppy ears. The very popular (#6) Dachshund comes in two sizes – Miniature and Standard and three varieties of coat – Shorthaired, Longhaired and Wirehaired. Dachshunds or Doxies are playful, fun-loving and inquisitive. Doxies are fine with older children but do not like the rough handling they may receive from a toddler. Dachshunds can be independent and stubborn and are difficult to housebreak and train.

3. Basset Hound

The medium- to large-sized Basset Hound is a short legged, loose skinned and powerfully built dog with a great sense of smell. Bassets are one of the easiest-going and best-natured of all dog breeds. The popular (#27) Basset is very gentle, friendly and trustworthy. These hounds adore their masters and children and get along well with other animals and strangers. Bassets can be stubborn, especially when they are investigating an intriguing smell.

4. Bloodhound

The very large and powerful Bloodhound is known for its keen sense of smell which is the most acute of all dog breeds. The Bloodhound is a kind, gentle and loveable dog. The breed is fairly popular (#50) and is gentle and affectionate with his family and children. The Bloody should be supervised around small children and pets as he can be possessive of his food and toys. Bloodhounds are prodigious droolers.

5. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a lean, well muscled and magnificent, large dog breed. The Ridgeback gets its name from a characteristic ridge running down it’s back, where the stiff hair grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat. The Ridgeback is fairly popular (#54) and is dignified, trustworthy, loyal, intelligent and makes a great family pet. It is extremely protective of its immediate family and wary of strangers and other animals. Ridgebacks are good with children if raised with them but young Ridgebacks can be too rambunctious for small children and toddlers

6. Whippet

The Whippet (#61) is a medium-sized sight hound that looks very much like a small Greyhound. The Whippet gets along well with children and makes a good family dog. This breed is good natured, gentle and very playful. As well this dog can be easily trained, sheds very little and is a great size for an apartment. Although it is important to know that Whippets do like and even expect to sit on furniture - so that should not be a concern if you are considering this breed.

7. Basenji

The Basenji (#81) is an unusual small, elegant and athletic dog that trots like a horse and keeps itself clean by fastidious licking like a cat. Basenjis don’t bark but make other unusual sounds like a yodel, howl or chortle – depending on its mood. The Basenji is high spirited, affectionate, demanding and almost cat-like in its cleanliness, lack of bark, grace of movement and inexhaustible curiosity. This breed needs an experienced owner and lots of walks and playtime to prevent it from getting into trouble.

8. Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound (#87) is the largest sighthound and one of the biggest and strongest of all giant dog breeds. This breed makes a wonderful family dog as it is reliable, patient, sweet-tempered, intelligent and good with older children. The Wolfhound adores its family and is not aggressive towards strangers or family pets. Toddlers must be supervised carefully around young Wolfhounds as they are in danger of being accidentally knocked over. Fully-grown Wolfhounds can be left alone during the day as long as they get some moderate exercise before and after work.

9. Borzoi

The Borzoi (#94) or Russian Wolfhound is a tall, lean and aristocratic looking large- to very large-sized dog that belongs to the group of sight hound dog breeds. Borzois are kind, gentle and well-behaved indoors. This breed likes lots of attention and loves to recline on a soft bed, a lap or even a couch. Borzois enjoy the company of other sighthounds but the breed is not good with small pets and young children unless raised with them. Borzois don’t need an excessive amount of exercise and should not be let off leash because they still retain a high prey drive.

10. Afghan Hound

The large Afghan Hound (#95) has a dignified and somewhat aloof disposition but is also very loyal and affectionate dog. Afghan puppies and adolescents require a lot of knowledge and patience to train and need firm and gentle handling. This breed can be difficult to housebreak and train – so professional training may be advisable. The Afghan needs a lot of exercise but still retains a high prey drive and will run off if you let it off leash. The Afghan is suspicious of strangers but can adapt to older children if raised with the family. However the Afghan should be watched around small children as this dog can have a bad temper in adolescence.

About the Author - Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: dog-breed-facts.com dog-breed-facts.com He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog-breed-facts.com dog breeds, dog-breed-facts.com/dog-health.html dog health , dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.

Related posts

• Working Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Toy Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Toy and Small Dog Clothes (0)
• The Royal Pug (0)
• Sporting Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs In This Group (0)

Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, dog grooming, dog training, groom, rhodesian ridgeback

Before you head for the “Dog for sale” classified ad on the Sunday paper, please double make sure about your willingness or readiness to add another family member, especially if you’re considering taking a puppy home “just for the kids.”

Evaluating your whole family lifestyle carefully before committing to this life-long responsibility has proven to be helpful in ensuring that this is the right decision for all the parties involved - your family and the puppy, that is.

Is your home big enough for the puppy to have its own space to play around without bothering any one of your family members? Are you at home enough to take care of the odds and ends at the beginning stage? Have you got time to take the puppy for a walk daily? And most important of all, are you patient enough to take care of the puppy after it’s joined you as a family member?

If most of your answers are affirmative, then congratulation! You are now ready to welcome this cute little puppy home and have fun.

However, if you’re depending upon the “Dog for sale” ad to look for the ideal puppy, then there are a few major things you’d need to take notice of:

1. The health of the puppy dogs is the most important thing. Honest dog breeders will be happy to answer any question you may have about their puppy dogs. It is important to talk to several different breeders before making a decision to purchase so that you can make the most well informed and educated decision. Some “Dog for sale” ads are actually run by very reputable dog breeders that are so professional and know what they’re doing that they’d have covered a lot of bases for you if you end up
purchasing from them.

2. Deworming your puppy is a critical part of puppy care, after you’ve made the right choice for the lucky candidate. Over 98% of all puppy dogs are born with worms that they contracted from their mothers. Another major issue is with tick and fleas. All that biting, scratching and jumping around all day because of the tick and fleas will surely drive anyone crazy just to watch. Making sure to bring the puppy to visit the vet on a regular basis will make life whole lot easier, especially at the beginning stage of “home coming.”

3. Puppies need a consistent timetable with plenty of chances to eliminate. Their bladders and bowels are small and they cannot “hold it” until you get home. A very young puppy is just like a pee and poop machine. Puppies can also mark and urinate when they are submissive or afraid. House training your new puppy should start as soon as it comes home. Puppies are very quick learners and will soon pick up the need for them to go outside to the toilet. Therefore, make sure you have a crate to set enough area in which your puppy can learn to perform normal functions.

4. As a puppy gets older and can hold it longer, the crate becomes less necessary. Just make sure that if you allow your puppy freedom, it is still limited in a safe environment. Use a crate correctly and it establishes restrictions for your dog when you are not home to watch his behavior. A crate can also define a safe area for your puppy dog to be in if you’re having company and you have a “less obedient” puppy dog.

Therefore, let’s not be too quick to respond to the “Dog for sale” ad and let’s be mentally and physically prepared before committing to such responsibility which is often belittled by many a pet owner who later will simply abandon their pets regardless - and this is not a very good way to show our love and affection to human’s best friends.

To get more insights about what to get for puppy supplies 2knowabout.com/dog/your_puppy’s_supplies.php puppies supplies please visit 2knowabout.com/dog/index.php 2knowabout.com/dog/index.php a popular website that offers tips, advice and resources to include information about how to take care of puppies, dog grooming, and more 2knowabout.com/dog/index.php dog baskets of tips that you can use to ensure you will have your dog as your good life companion.

Related posts

• Working Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Toy Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Toy and Small Dog Clothes (0)
• The Royal Pug (0)
• Sporting Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs In This Group (0)

Tags: dog breed, dog grooming, groom