What Does a Dog Grooming Service Really Do?

Grooming dogs might seem like a glorified hairdresser position to some—just with more material. This is far from the truth.

The composition of dog hair is very different than the hair found on a human’s head. Many dogs have both an overcoat AND an undercoat of fur. This makes a dog grooming service entirely necessary. And if you are interested in this field, you can learn dog grooming online before finding a job as there are many options.

The need to fully understand the special grooming needs of dogs has made the need for Dog Grooming Training Courses more and more prominent. This is partly due to just how many different tools are used during the entire process.

There are tools for the initial grooming process to prep the hair for further care. Then there are other tools that need to be used depending on the breed of the dog. Learn what exactly goes on during a dog grooming service session. Trust me. There really is a reason why it takes so long.

WHAT DOES DOG GROOMING INCLUDE?

A dog groomer’s job is essentially to reset the health of a dog’s coat. This process starts from the outermost layer to the innermost layer.

Brushing

First, your dog grooming service will use a curry brush and rub it all over your dog. This tool is designed to loosen up any dirt or dead hairs so they can ultimately be removed later in the grooming process. A curry brush is also helpful for dematting and clearing knots. Some groomers will refuse to comb hair that is too matted because it can hurt your dog.

After that, your dog grooming service may select a new brush based on the breed of the dog. The bristle brush is the most versatile since it technically can be used on any coat. Dogs with longer coats are better served by bristle brushes with longer bristles and bigger spacing than the more common bristle brushes. Curly coated dogs or dogs with medium to long hair do well with a wire pin brush.

Once that step is complete, the dog grooming service now moves on to a slicker brush to make the coat appear more uniform and ensure all that pesky matted hair has been taken care of. These brushes typically have very fine pins angled about halfway down the pin. This way, as much surface area as possible is covered in a single stroke.

Bathing

Next, the dog is bathed as thoroughly as possible in a dog bathtub. Typically, there are specialized systems that deliver the water so that both pet comfort and efficacy are maximized. Dog shampoo that doesn’t take away the natural oils on the dog’s fur is also applied to freshen up the hair and completely clean out any dirt that may have trapped itself deep inside the coat.

The second to the last step is the final drying of the dog. You can not return a dog to its owner sopping wet, but also, improper drying is terrible for the long-term health of the dog’s coat. It could lead to the matting and growing of bacteria if the dog were left to its own devices. There’s typically a very special drying machine in the dog salon that takes care of this. It’s almost like a little car wash dryer, but for your dog.

More Dog Grooming

The final step is to do all of the peripheral grooming that has been left out. This includes clipping nails, brushing teeth, and trimming or cutting certain problematic areas.

The entire dog grooming service process can take anywhere from 1-3 hours. Then, the dog is returned to the owner until the next appointment has been scheduled. It’s a very intensive process for both the groomer as well as for the dog. Care must be taken not to cause any pain or discomfort during the entire process.

Grooming dogs is a lot more than the brush, wash, dry, and that’s precisely why a dog grooming service tends to charge a premium for their services. Do you take your dog to the groomers?

What is dog grooming? Why is it necessary?