Mucky pooch

LOW-MAINTENANCE GROOMING

We’re all feeling the pinch right now and trying to cut costs where we can. Unfortunately, whilst grooming may feel ‘optional’ for our dogs (a bit like that haircut we should have had two months ago), it isn’t something we can afford to scrimp on, particularly if our dogs have longer hair. Skin and sometimes general health are impacted by a lack of grooming, and it is important that we bear this in mind when considering cutting back. Thankfully, all is not lost, and there are things we can do to reduce our grooming bills and make our overall grooming routines lower maintenance in the long run.

Here we give you our top five tips for reducing grooming costs and keeping your dog’s skin and coat in optimal condition:

1. GO SHORT

If your dog has long hair, we wouldn’t advise necessarily stretching the time between cuts by making your dog’s current haircut last longer. This comes with the risk of your dog needing a total shave down due to the coat matting as it becomes too long. Instead, a better alternative is to cut the coat shorter. As an added bonus, shorter coats are much easier to rinse and towel dry when your dog has gone for a summer swim! Plus, with the current temperatures, your dog is likely to be much more comfortable overall with a shorter style.

2. BRUSH IT

Year-round it is important that you brush your dog regularly between grooming appointments. The goal is to get your brush from the root to the tip of the coat, so don’t cheat by just brushing the top layer! Make sure you separate the coat into sections and work through each section carefully to get out all the knots. The better maintained your dog’s coat is, and the more he is used to being groomed, the easier he will be to groom. This also helps avoid any additional charges groomers might add on for dealing with heavily matted coats.

3. SPRAYS

Consider investing in a good canine coat conditioning spray. Applying the spray before brushing will help to avoid breaking the coat and causing it to mat. There are lots of suitable sprays on the market but double-check the instructions before you use them. Most sprays just require a misting over the coat, which you then brush in and leave to dry.

4. WET DOG!

If your dog comes home wet from a summer swim, avoid letting him go and roll about to try and dry himself on your rugs and furniture. The friction of this will cause the coat to tangle and mat. Instead, pat the coat dry with an absorbent towel, spray with conditioning spray, and brush the coat thoroughly.

5. TALK TO YOUR GROOMER

If your dog has regular visits to a groomer, it is worth chatting to them about how you might be able to cut costs or cut the frequency of visits. They may, for instance, suggest that you book full grooming sessions further apart and add a less expensive bath and brush appointment in between, or even do the bath and brush yourself at home. Alternatively, they may cut the hair in a style that requires less frequent visits, as noted under point 1 above. We wouldn’t recommend jumping around from groomer to groomer looking for the cheapest deal, as hopefully, your dog has built trust and confidence in your regular groomer, but it is always worth asking your groomer if there is anything they can do to help.

NOTE

Groomers are also struggling right now with the cost-of-living crisis, and if you can afford to keep up with your regular visits, we’re sure they would really appreciate the support!