Summer grooming that comes to you (well, your dog)

It’s called the “dog days of summer” for a reason. Seeing your dog bounding through a field, tongue lolling to one side or watching your pup dive into a mud hole and roll around in joy, brings happiness to an owner’s heart. It also brings a wet, stinky dirty hound back into the house … which may lessen your mutual love of the outdoors.

Halifax-based Catherine Seheult is a certified pet groomer and owns her own travelling grooming and pet-sitting business, Happy at Home Grooming and Pet Care. She has some advice to help keep your pooch feeling — and smelling — great after messy adventures in the sunshine.

“Grooming is beneficial to all dogs, especially in summer months when the temperature is high,” she says, “Whether it’s bathing, brushing or trimming fur, it should be done on a regular basis to keep your dog cool, clean and comfortable.”

Seheult says there are some misconceptions out there about what’s best for keeping your dog cool.

“Many people think that shorter [fur] is better, however this is not actually the case,” she explains, “A dog’s hair protects its skin from the sun’s heat and harmful rays. So when it comes to keeping cool, the dog’s coat length is not as relevant as its thickness.”

Seheult adds that if the pet’s fur is matted, or full of a lot of dead or loose fur, this impedes the airflow through the coat and prevents the skin from cooling naturally. It also prevents it from drying properly after a bath or swim; and the knots can be painful for the pet. The owner can manage matted fur at home, or a professional can take care of it if it’s gotten to be too big of a job.

“This is where brushing comes in,” she says, “Brushing is the most beneficial grooming task that a dog owner can do at home. It not only detangles and releases loose fur, it also removes dirt and allergens, exfoliates the skin and distributes the dog’s natural skin oils.”

Her business travels to the client’s home, which is ideal for the busy pet owner, anxious animals, or people who don’t drive. She even has a portable tub for when it’s time for Fido to freshen up.

“If you give your dog a bath at home, brush your dog first, use a quality dog shampoo and make sure to rinse thoroughly,” Seheult says, “It is not recommended to bathe your dog if it’s coat is matted. If the mats are not removed first, the shampoo won’t reach the skin and it won’t rinse out easily.”

The other potential result from summer romps outdoors with pets is ticks and other insects or parasites. Seheult says regular grooming — along with a preventative option recommended by a veterinarian — can help keep these at bay.

So let your pooches kick up their paws during these dog days of summer — just make sure to stay on top of their grooming, or give Seheult a call to take care of business if you’re too doggone tired.

Happy at Home Grooming and Pet Care can be found online at www.happyathomepets.ca or reached at 902-225-5721.