The best dog groomers are hard to come by. The ones worth having get booked by their clientele weeks in advance, so don’t be shy about asking other dog owners for a recommendation. The last groom your pup got may have been months ago, but if they’re long haired, they’re bound to get mats in their fur. Once that happens, the only option is to shave it off. To avoid matting, along with other issues such as bad odor and insect bites, regular grooming is a must.

Routine grooming also includes bathing your pup. Human shampoo isn’t recommended because it’s too harsh on dog’s sensitive skin. Use an animal safe shampoo. Make sure you fully rinse the shampoo because the residue can also irritate the skin. Once the bath is done, and the coat is still wet, wrap your pup in a towel and remove the excess water. Use a hair dryer to completely dry the coat.

Mat less coats also means less shedding. To keep your house free of dog fur, frequent brushing is a must. Long, un-brushed coats also collect a lot of dust, and can clog drains and vents. Dogs should be brushed daily, and bathed bi-weekly. Don’t forget to cut your dog’s nails. This too can be done at home.

Grooming dogs can be difficult when they don’t know how to behave getting their coat done. They also may not like the sound of the hair dryer. It’s also really difficult when they have a coat that has a lot of tangles. A professional groomer can find a way to work around all of the problems that dog owners may have. Also, because groomers are used to dealing with and handling a lot of different dogs, your dog may not be as bad as the groomer has dealt with all week. Before the first appointment, talk to the groomer to tell them about any problems your dog may have and how you like your dog’s coat to be.

Dogs and cats that have really long coats need to be brushed and groomed often. That’s something that needs to be taught to the animal when they are really young to be able to handle it.