There are many direct health benefits of having your dog or cat groomed. Regular brushing of all pets, despite coat length or type, helps to keep the coat and skin healthy. Most dogs do not require frequent bathing (once a month or less!), but brushing in between bath times helps to keep them clean, removing dead hair, dirt and other debris from the coat. Many cats may only need to be bathed a few times in their lifetime. Brushing is a vital part of pet care, as it works to distribute the natural oils of the skin throughout the coat, promoting a healthier coat, and cleaner skin.

In addition the direct benefits your pets coat, brushing may help to point out any abnormalities in your pets body, such as sores, growths or bald spots. While you may not notice any lumps or bumps that have appeared on your pet, regular grooming can help to detect a problem, and insure that if a lump does appear, you are aware of it sooner rather than later. A veterinarian should check any growth or lump you or your groomer notices on your pet, to rule out cancer and other potentially dangerous conditions. Early detection can be crucial in a positive outcome to an otherwise deadly health scare.

During the course of the grooming process, the groomer will pay special attention to your pets’ ears, eyes, mouth, teeth, pads and perianal region- areas you probably don’t notice much in daily life.

Longhair dogs and even some cats tend to grow hair deep in the ear canal, and this hair can trap bacteria, causing irritation and ear infections. Your groomer will “pluck” this hair, and often do a cursory clean of the ears checking for anything abnormal. If ear discharge or redness is noticed, this can be relayed to you, so that you know that veterinary attention may be necessary to treat your pets’ ear problem.

Many long hair pets tend to grow excessive amounts of hair between their feet and paw pads, as well as around the perianal (anus) area. Excessive hair in these places can lead to hygiene problems, tangling of hair, accumulation of dirt and stickers in the hair, and even cause problems defecating and urinating. Your groomer may trim around these areas, helping to prevent problems before they can develop.

Breeds of dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Shih Tzu’s will grow long hair on the face, mouth and eyes, and left untrimmed this hair can become matted with food particles and saliva. In addition, studies have shown that dogs with hair that is frequently in their eyes have a greater chance of developing eye infections, glaucoma and cataracts. Strategic trimming of the hair around the eyes is aesthetically pleasing, and helps to prevent health problems down the road.

Most dogs and cats don’t naturally wear down their nails fast enough to keep up with nail growth, and as a result most pets need regular nail trimming in order to keep their nails at the optimum length. Long nails are the most common cause of chiropractic problems in cats and dogs, and can contribute to joint pain and stiffness. Your pets body has been designed to walk with his pads on the floor, not the nails. If your dogs’ nails are touching the ground, his nails are too long. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they are too long. Regular clipping will help to prevent problems associated with long nails.

Your groomer will clip your pets’ nails, and their skill and experience can often get them shorter than you can at home. A dremel tool may also be used, to help further shorten the nails, and blunt the edges to eliminate those sharp, newly cut nail scratches!

In addition to health benefits, a professional grooming can greatly improve the cleanliness and hygiene of your pet. While you may bathe your pet at home regularly, most groomers utilize a bathing system. These systems are specially made to allow water and shampoo to penetrate even the thickest coats of hair, evenly spreading shampoo throughout the coat. Special hoses and water nozzles “massage” the soap throughout the coat, getting the coat cleaner than any hand wash could. In addition, the bathing systems are much faster than traditional bathing, shortening the time your pet may spend stressed out in the tub.

If your dog has long hair, or is prone to tangles or a dry coat, a coat conditioner may be used as a second step to the bathing process. Conditioners can help to manage the hair and make it softer, allowing for mats and tangles to be more easily removed, along with re-moisturizing the coat.

While in the bath, some groomers may take the opportunity to express your pets’ anal glands. The anal glands are two small sacks just inside your pets’ anus, and are filled with a foul smelling “scent fingerprint” that animals use to identify each other in the wild. Routine emptying of these sacs can help to prevent unwanted smells, as well as potential side effects from impacted or ruptured anal glands that go unemptied.

Finally, bathing your pet provides an opportunity for an impartial set of eyes to point out any issues or problems you many not have noticed with your pet. We live with our pets, and often don’t notice right away if they begin to gain or loose weight, or gradually take up new behaviors. Your groomer has the advantage of only seeing your pet occasionally, and as such may notice if Fido has packed on a few pounds, or if Kitty has fleas that need to be treated.

There are many benefits to having your dog or cat groomed. While frequency will depend on your pets breed, coat type or lifestyle, regular grooming sessions will help your pet to remain a healthy, clean companion to you.

by: David Beart

Clip & Dip Grooming and Boarding-Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

The female golden weighs approximately 55-65 pounds, and stands a couple of inches shorter than her male counterpart, who stands about 24 inches at the shoulder, and weighs in at 65-75 pounds. Females tend to have smaller, more delicately-shaped heads than males. They come in a range of colors, from deep coppery auburn to light cream. Their coats also differ in appearance. Field goldens, or hunting goldens, are more likely to be darker and sleeker than show goldens, whose honey-colored coats are thick and fluffy. Goldens have two coats: their top coats are hardy and water-repellent, while their undercoats are thick and dense. These dogs shed most of their undercoat in the spring, and grow it in preparation for the chill of winter. Regular grooming can help control excessive shedding. Their ears are soft and floppy, but they perk up at the sound of, well, almost anything. Their eyes are brown and very expressive.

Their bodies are very well-engineered to excel at agility contests. Thanks to their hunting background, they’re strong and muscled, yet quick and agile. Don’t let their gentle nature fool you. They are also incredibly strong dogs. Seventy pounds of golden on the end of a leash can take down even the strongest person if he’s not prepared.

They need plenty of regular exercise. If it were up to them, they’d walk for hours. Daily walks, romps in the yard and trips to the dog park can help it work off some of that golden energy, which is never in short supply. They rarely get tired of playing fetch. They excel at finding objects hidden in the yard. They also love to swim, and will retrieve from water all day if you let them.

From a temperament standpoint, goldens are extremely agreeable. They’re neither very shy nor extremely aggressive. This tolerant nature makes them a good choice for any home, including those with children. They’re loyal and loving, as well as outgoing and friendly. They thrive on human interaction, and are happiest when they’re around people. They never get tired of belly rubs and head pats. In fact, if the petting stops, many of them will nudge their masters, as if to say, “Don’t stop!”

Though they’re usually the center of attention, they still need training. Their exuberance can be mistaken for misbehavior, and it may be a few minutes before they calm down. Consistency and firmness are important when training a golden. They need to be taught that their master is the leader of the pack. However, they are eager to please, and can learn their role quickly with positive reinforcement tactics. No one is prouder than they when they complete a task successfully. Though they love showing off their tricks, they also love learning new ones. Teaching new tricks is a great way to combat boredom during the training session. Though they’ll fetch all day, they won’t sit still for a training class longer than they have to. The key is to make it fun and make it rewarding, all in short bursts of time throughout the day. Goldens are game players, so if you play with it in order to teach commands or tricks, your dog won’t even know the difference. It’s just happy to have your attention.

This is one reason goldens are one of the most popular breeds of therapy dogs. As much as they love to play, they also love to have a job to do. Besides being fast learners, they’re also very gentle. They can learn verbal commands or hand signals, and once they are on the job, they can be calm and focused. They also make good seeing-eye dogs for this reason.

This breed is not without its health issues. Goldens are prone to hip dysplasia and allergies. This is partly due to irresponsible breeding. Backyard breeders, eager to cash in on the popularity of the golden retriever, breed unhealthy dogs that pass on congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia occurs when the bones of the hip joint don’t develop correctly, and they rub painfully against each other. Sitting still is not something goldens are happy doing, so though these dogs may continue to move around and play, they’re in pain and should be treated.

Treatment consists of pain management, in mild cases, or in more severe cases, surgery. Though complete rehabilitation can take 12 weeks, the dog is up and moving within days. This procedure can so dramatically improve a dog’s life that it’s well worth the work to see your golden get its spark back, and run and play like the puppy that it thinks it is.

These dogs also suffer from skin ailments and allergies. The golden’s thick coat makes it hard to see small skin irritations unless they’re specifically sought out. It’s important to inspect your pet regularly for any sore areas. A vet can run tests to try to identify the source of the irritation, and prescribe treatment, which might include frequent baths with hypoallergenic shampoo, oral medication and/or allergy shots.

Even though this is one of the most popular breeds of dog, thousands of them are relinquished to shelters or rescue organizations every year. Most people would never think they’d find a purebred golden at a shelter, but it’s not uncommon. In fact, the popularity of the breed may be the very reason so many of them are found in shelters. Sometimes people don’t research the breed, and don’t know that goldens need a lot of exercise and a lot of human interaction. They’re also not prepared to train a dog. Unfortunately, when people like this get goldens, more than likely, they end up surrendering them to a shelter or a rescue organization.

Though the average life expectancy of golden retrievers is 11 years, sometimes they forget they’ve gotten older, and maintain their puppy-like playfulness throughout their lives. As they age, they may slow down a bit, so it’s important to adjust their food and treat intake accordingly. It’s nearly impossible to resist their sweet faces as they come looking for a treat, but it’s for their own good. As obesity rates in humans have skyrocketed, so they have in dogs. Thankfully, this is one disease that is completely preventable. If your dog is already obese, it’s 100% treatable. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise will get your golden into fighting shape before too long. It might also prevent the onset of canine diabetes, joint problems and other weight-related issues.

Overall, this breed has one of the most agreeable dispositions you can find in a dog. Goldens are also gorgeous, friendly, obedient, loyal and loving. The downside, which pales in comparison to their wonderful attributes, is that this is a breed that sheds, needs a lot of exercise, and needs to be around people. If your home can handle the relatively minor considerations, the benefits you’ll reap from loving a golden retriever are immeasurable.

by: David Beart

Clip N Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

It’s not necessary to have formal training to teach a dog behavioral skills. It is necessary, however, to be consistent, firm and loving, while making it fun. When dogs know what to expect from their masters, they’re much more likely to comply. Here are a few tips to make your training experience a rewarding one for both you and your pet.

First of all, it’s important to begin training as soon as you bring a dog into your home. Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, it’s important that it knows who’s in charge. As dogs are pack animals, they need to know their role in the hierarchy of the home. Once the dog can identify its master as the leader, it will be much easier to teach it necessary commands. Some dogs may always test their boundaries, but knowing they have a set role in the family gives them a measure of comfort.

Secondly, make it fun for the dog. Speaking in a soothing, encouraging voice, and lavishing praise on your pet when it follows direction helps reinforce the lesson learned. If a dog thinks sitting, staying or fetching is fun, it will be more likely to perform on command. When training a dog, it can be frustrating in the beginning if the dog doesn’t follow direction. If this happens, stop the training session. Dogs can sense stressful situations, and react accordingly. Lessons should be enjoyable for a dog. Practicing positive reinforcement goes much further than teaching a dog to fear its master. If it thinks it’s playing a game, it’s more interested in participating.

Next, be consistent. If you’re teaching a dog the “sit” command, and it’s rewarded whether it sits or not, it won’t learn the lesson. Follow through is critical during training. A dog must be able to identify consequences for its actions. If it carries out the command, it’s praised. If it doesn’t do what’s been asked, it isn’t. Sending mixed messages to the dog will make training that much more difficult.

Use the same hand signals and/or simple verbal commands for each lesson. If you’re teaching your dog to stay off the sofa, repeating the same word, such as “off,” each time is much more effective than using different words, like “down” and “go,” interchangeably. The dog needs simple, clear, consistent direction to best understand and carry out its duties.

Also, every member of the family must commit to taking part in training the dog. If one parent enforces the rules, and someone else in the home doesn’t, the dog will quickly figure out that it can get away with misbehaving, and all the work the trainer did can unravel.

Dogs can get bored with lengthy training sessions. Positive gains can be seen in just a few minutes per session. Focusing on one trick for too long can cause the dog to tune out entirely, while shorter sessions spread throughout the week can be effective and enforce lessons. As your dog learns tricks, add new ones. This way, their confidence grows when they can respond to commands they’re familiar with, but they can look forward to learning something new. They enjoy pleasing their masters, and can withdraw if they sense that they’re not doing so.

Formal obedience training is also an option, for owners who would like to reinforce lessons they’re teaching at home. Professional trainers have experience with a wide variety of different breeds and temperaments, and adjust their teaching methods accordingly. Also, group training is a great time to work on socializing your dog, or teaching it to be more comfortable around and tolerant of other dogs.

A common reason dogs are dropped off at shelters is because they’re not trained. Generally, it’s a simple matter of spending enough time with the dog, and consistently enforcing rules. Not only is it rewarding for the dog, it’s rewarding for the master as well. When a dog performs a newly-learned command for the first time, it’s cause for celebration. Not only is a well-behaved dog a joy to be around, but training a dog can create an unbreakable bond between dog and master.

by: David Beart

Clip N Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

You could choose on bringing home a big dog suchlike a Labrador retriever, which is highly popular and is well-known to act as an absolute good household dog. Or you could resolve to take home a little, lap dog as a Shih Tzu or an average sized dog similar to a Cocker Spaniel. As you consider what sort of pup to bring home, you want to consider your life-style and your livelihood arrangements. Do you reside in a flat, where small dogs suchlike the Shih Tzu would match fine, or do you require having a large fenced backyard for your large Labrador retriever?

A dog such as a Labrador pup would comprise a great alternative for an individual looking for a dog that may work easily with the household members, experience fewer health problems, and offer a life of companionship. Small dogs, similar like the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso or Chihuahua appear more appropriate for households where they will be allowed indoors and where the owner will be capable to allow for an great amount of interaction and physical contact. These little guys are as well exceedingly lovable, devoting and are outstanding companions, but they’re not equally as good, guard dogs as big dogs could be. It is crucial to determine early on about what sort of domestic dog you wish to have. Are you seeking a lap dog, a safeguard dog, a watch dog, a sporting dog, a hunting dog, or a working type dog?

Please think of the fact that your puppy will grow up and mature and will impart you for several years to come, with love, companionship, dedication and a great deal more. Arriving at your dog’s pick decision ought to be an intelligent one whenever it suits your life style. Whenever the dog does not fit for your way of living, your dearest companion could become a big headache, and he is not to blame. Therefore, before adopting your new puppy or relocating to a brand-new living space, please be sure that, that it will be fine with your landlord if you rent, and if you own your home make certain that the dog have the space it needs and that he will be safe in the home.

If you want a big dog like a Labrador retriever, do you’ve the time to dedicate to the dog in order for him to get the proper amount of exercise? Do you have a large backyard where the dog can romp or play games with you? Big dogs, in particularly, necessitate tons of physical exercise or otherwise they’ll show behavioral troubles. Labs, for instance, are extremely energetic and active, and are amenable to play catch with a ball or Frisbee for endless periods of time. Whenever they don’t get the required physical exercise, they’ll become bored and could make a great deal of damage to your home, particularly if the dog remains indoors for a certain amount of time.

The outdoors exercise that a big dog gets is what maintains it in shape. The owner must be ready to to play with it. For a big dog to stay fit and healthy, the owner must be amenable to spend time outdoors with it by playing the dog or taking him for long walks. A Labrador pup, for instance, will have an added up level of vigor and the owner must be gear up for that.

If you choose a small or medium sized dog, are you sure that you are willing to own a dog that might like to be sitting on your lap day in and day out or at a minimum very drawn to you? As a whole, small and medium dogs likewise require physical exercise, though not equally as much as bigger dogs. Will you be able to take your little guy or girl for a regular daily walks? Are you amenable to bring the dog for grooming if you get a long haired dog? Will you possess the time to brush your dog’s coating on a daily basis or on a regular basis as a minimum? Will it be okay with you whenever the dog casts off a lot of hair?

These above-named factors and numerous others need to be taken into account prior to acquiring your new fellow. A potential owner must weight down all these dog’s traits and decide which the right dog is for his or her, as that will determine the happiness of both the owner and the dog in the long haul.

Before acquiring your brand-new pup you’ll like to perform an exhaustive and complete search on the final size of the dog when matured, how much dog grooming and dog training will it require? Will it need professional dog grooming and how often? You would like to know what diseases is the dog inclined to, how does the dog act with other dogs, with cats, with children? These are barely more or less illustrations of matters you must take into account before getting your new puppy.
by: Dr. Mayra Alfonso

Clip N Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

Many of the skin problems that dogs have are as a result of a yeast infection.  It seems that this infection can be both external as well as internal.  Most of the vets will put a dog on an antiobiotic, which seems to help until the dosing schedule is over, at which time the irritation returns.  According to hundreds of posts online, feeding your dog plain yogurt and treating the affected area with apple cider vinegar can have miraculous results.  Here are a few of the many posts we have discovered……

07/05/2008: Stacey from Navarre, Florida writes: “Recently, my 1 year old Boxer started to show signs of allergies; smell, scratching, hairloss, etc. The first trip to the vet resulted in steroids and antibiotics which helped, for a while. Our second trip we saw his office partner who said it was yeast and she could give him some wipes for the skin but medication was probably not going to help. She suggested I adjust his diet. She gave me some tips and off I went. I bought him Duck based dog food and Duck based treats, started researching onling then found this site. 3 days after the food change which I mix with 1 Tbs of apple cider vinegar and 2 Tbs of plain Organic Yogurt the yeast is gone! I am shocked as I was not sure this would work. Thank you to everyone who feels compelled to post their experiences online. I am gratefull!”

02/27/2008: Claudia from PDX, Oregon writes: “What has made my dogs skin and coat beautiful is a daily combination of 1/2 tsp of apple cider vinegar mixed in some plain organic yogurt. I use “nancy”s”. My big dog- black lab mix has yeast issues in his ears and paws and it has cured this problem but also improved his coat as well as the coat of my other dog. I see huge skin improvements. It took about a month to see the difference as I think it changed the PH of his gut, thus working it’s way out to the skin. I got a little lax on the routine and right away notice the old problems back. Needless to say I am going to do this everyday from now on. One more thing- my dog with the yeast problem has been allergy tested and has a dairy allergy- I figured I would take a chance with the organic yogurt and I have seen NO ill effects- it is full of all the good bacteria- not sure if that made the difference or what.”

These are only a few of hundreds of posts we have come across.  This solution may or may not work for your dog, but it’s a simple and inexpensive remedy that seems to have helped many pets.  Good Luck!

For more information Check out the Earth Clinic website and go to their Pets tab.

by Rick Wing

Clip N Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, “It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour your tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you that I’m not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “It’s me.”
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair,
I tried so hard to let you know, That I was standing there.
It’s possible for me, to be near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty , “I never went away.”
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew…
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over…I smile and watch you yawning,
and say , “Good-night, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see,
Be patient, live your journey out…then come home to be with me.
author Unknown

Clip N Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

I know we all love our pets dearly, and it’s so hard to say no when they look at you with that cute little supper table face, but try to be strong.  Overweight dogs miss out on so many great activities because they just can’t run and play like other dogs. Not to mention the host of joint problems that go along with being heavy.

Ok, so how do you know if your dog is overweight? Ask your vet or groomer, as they see many dogs per day and can give you an honest opinion. The other simple way is to take your dog to the dog park on a busy day and compare him to other dogs of a similar breed. If your dog is substantially larger, cannot run and play like the other dogs, or simply can’t stand up for more than a few minutes, it’s time to get him on a diet plan.

Diets will vary from dog to dog, but we recommend reducing his food by 25 % as a good starting point. Of course increasing his exercise will help as well, but be careful not to push him too hard at first. A simple walk for 30 minutes 3-5 times a week can have dramatic affects on both your dog’s health and your own. Illiminate table scraps from your dogs diet! This is a crucial step….your dog’s progress will be drastically reduced if you can’t stop giving out scraps. Remember also, that as dogs get older most of them aren’t as active as they used to be, so you need to reduce their diet to match their activity level.

Right now, a lot of you are reading this thinking how cruel this would be to your dog….the opposite is true. If you love your dog, take care of him properly. We all want our dogs to be with us for as long as possible, so we need to give them every opportunity to live long, happy, healthy lives.

In closing I want to share a funny conversation Anne had with my uncle Ken about our then heavy yellow lab. My uncle Ken was giving Anne a hard time saying that our dog was “fat”. In response, Anne proceeded to explain to him that she was only giving Molly 2 cups 2 times a day. “It’s Too Much” replied Ken….”but I’ve always given her this amount of food” said Anne…..”It’s Too Much” replied Ken, in his friendly yet persistent manner….”But I feel bad if I don’t give her enough” insisted Anne….And once again Ken fired back with “It’s Too Much”. We all laughed as the two of them bantered back and forth, But Anne finally got the point Ken was making. It doesn’t matter what amount of food you are giving your dog, if they are overweight “It’s Too Much”. Thanks for setting her straight Ken!

by Rick Wing
Clip & Dip Grooming and Boarding- Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

Depending on the type of pet you have, you will still have to do some research to find out exactly what you should be providing them for their main meals as well as any snacks or treats on the side. You can find a multitude of information on the Internet, from friends or family with similar animals, or even from sales representatives at your local pet shop. When it comes down to the final decision though, you are the responsible one who will choose what you feel is best for your pet, not your aunt or the guy in the pet store.

With the awareness of organic foods for the public in every supermarket and health food store, there has also grown the niche for organic pet food. There are many painstaking efforts that go into providing a balanced meal for your pet that is free of many additives that are not necessary for your pet’s nutritional health and yet are included in many other manufactured pet foods.

Organic pet foods are not always available at every pet store or grocery store where other popular brands are sold, thus making it harder to find for some pet owners. With the increased awareness, organic meals are being produced more than ever, but due to the nature of the process, these types of foods for your pet are generally more expensive than a store-brand bag of dry food that you could pick up at any local corner store. As with any food for your pets, there are positives and negatives to each.

Price is not always an indication of the quality of food, but it tends to be a good guide for the market shopper. If you examine the store-brand plain dry food, you may find the ingredients to list not as many proteins or pure foods like some other popular brands. Additives may be more abundant in cheaper brands, but they can still be apparent in many higher-priced brand name pet foods. Just like you shop for your own health and wellness, be sure to read the labels and shop for your pet’s health and wellness.

There can be side effects to supplying the low-cost alternative food for your pets in some cases. Your pet can develop anywhere from mild to severe health issues that are directly related to the type of food provided. With some cats, liver problems and kidney stones can develop rapidly if not provided with a good quality food each day. You will want to be sure that you are doing everything you can in order to maintain your pet’s health and wellness for years to come. by: Derek Rogers

This miracle product is called “the Furminator”, and it works just as well as it’s advertised. Just watch the hair flying off this German Shepherd in the video. I have to admit, at first we thought that the $45 price tag for this de-shedding tool was a bit steep, but we finally broke down and decided to give it a try. All I can say is “Wow!”, you won’t believe how much hair we can get off your dog. Rick was so impressed that he actually signed us up to become an authorized dealer.

Now you have the option of purchasing this tool directly from us or you can opt for us to do the de-shedding treatment for you. We use a special shampoo and conditioner that releases the undercoat, followed by an intense de-shedding treatment and a lot of vacuuming! After the initial treatment you will notice a dramatic reduction in the amount of hair coming off your dog. 2 treatments are recommended to thoroughly remove the undercoat…..use your own judgment based on your dogs coat.

There are very few times when we are this impressed by a new product, but this is one product that really performs as well as it is advertised to. For more information you can give us a call at 507-252-9682 or visit the Furminator website at http://www.furminator.com .
by Anne Wing
Clip & Dip Grooming and Boarding-Rochester, MN
www.clipndip.com

We like to gently rub the clippers on a new puppy to get them used to both the noise and the vibration. In addition, bathing is often a challenge with young dogs who aren’t used to water. The more exposure they have, the easier it gets. Blow drying is also a scary experience for young dogs. The noise of the dryer combined with the air flow from the dryer can be a bit overwhelming for some dogs. The old saying”Practice Makes Perfect” is very true when it comes to dogs and grooming. The younger you start, the easier it will be in the long run for that cute little pup.

There are things that you can do at home that will help out as well. Many dogs don’t like to have their front legs and feet messed with. This can make grooming those parts of the body very difficult and traumatic for your dog. We suggest that you try to handle your dogs front legs and feet as much as possible. If they resist or pull away, just keep doing it until they give in. They need to learn that this is something that they have to put with. Giving your puppy frequent baths at home and using your blow dryer on them will also help greatly when it comes time to have it done at the “Groomer”. In general, just make sure that your new puppy understands that you are in charge. Establishing the ranks at an early age will ensure that you have wonderful friend and companion for many years to come.
by Anne Wing
Clip & Dip Grooming and Boarding-Rochester,MN
www.clipndip.com