QUESTIONS & ANSWERS...
This page is to try and answer some of the questions that come up
regarding grooming: when, where, how and why!?!! If you don't
see the answer to your question here, please give us a call. We
may add your question here for others too see! Remember, if you
have a question, at least one other person will too!
Q: Why does my dog need grooming?
A: All dogs need grooming at some point. Whether you do it at
home or have it done professionally is up to you and how much
time you have. Regular grooming helps you to keep your dog
clean (mostly!) and aware of any skin issues, bumps, possible ear
infections, and more. It is an opportunity to look closely at your dog
and observe him or her to ensure that they are healthy and nothing
unusual is going on.
Q: How do you determine how much it will cost to groom my
dog?
A: The cost of grooming a pet is based on the amount of time that
we expect it will take. When we give you an estimate we are
expecting that your dog is standard for their breed or mix of breeds,
they are not matted or need excessive amounts of brushout, etc.
and that they are well-behaved. These factors can vary from dog to
dog and then the price will vary. For example: a dog that is matted,
not used to being groomed and very wiggly and tries to bite for his
or her nails will take us more time than one who comes in
regularly, is not matted and is well-behaved.
Q: When should I start getting my puppy familiar with the
grooming process?
A: Ideally puppies should be introduced to grooming from birth.
Whether doing it at home or having it professionally done, nails
can be done at the breeders and then continued at home. When
bathing puppies, be sure to use a shampoo safe for small dogs.
A puppies first trip to a grooming salon would ideally be at 8 to 12
weeks of age for a bath and getting to know the groomer - in some
cases a little bit of neatening and nails. If you can't or haven't been
able to get your puppy to start at an early age, don't give up! The
sooner the better so they will learn that there is nothing to worry
about!
Q: What happens to my dog a grooming salon?
A: There are different types of salons, some have you drop-off in
the morning with pickup sometime in the afternoon. Others have
appointments specifically for your pet and will groom him start to
finish.
At Bark Easy, we usually have your pet dropped off in the morning
though we can do appointments when there is a special need.
Typically when your pet comes into the salon, there is some
prework done such as dematting, nails, ears etc. Then your pet
will have her bath, and is dried on a drying table with a hand dryer.
Your pet will be mostly dry at this time and will likely go into a crate
to finish drying so she will not be damp. (At Bark Easy none of our
dryers are heated dryers and all use room temperature air.) Once
the dogs are all bathed and dried, they come out one by one for
their finish work, whether it is a little bit of neatening or a full-haircut.
We will work around your schedule if you give us advance notice of
any appointments or plans you have for the day. If you need a
specific pick-up time for your pet - we will do our best to
accommodate you.
We know in some cases you may need special accommodations
for elderly pets or nervous pets and we will be glad to work with
you on giving them the best care possible and getting them home
to you as soon as we can.
We do offer in and out services so your pet does not have to stay.
This is at an additional cost and must be discussed in advance of
the appointment so we can fit it into our day.
Q: How do I know if a groomer is trained and will be good to my
pet and keep them safe?
A: Groomers should have gone through a course of study that
includes practical experience. There are also organizations that
groomers belong to and certifications that a groomer can obtain.
Check to see if they are familiar with your type of dog or mixed
breed. Unfortunately, there are no licensing requirements for
groomers at this time, so ask alot of questions!
The best way for you to be certain is to interview the groomer,
either by phone or stop by. A good groomer should not mind you
stopping by at any time to ask questions or take a peek at where
your pet will be. Though be sensitive to the groomers time. If your
pet where at the groomers and someone new came in, you would
want to make sure that the groomer was still giving your pet the
care and attention he or she deserves!
Make sure you are comfortable with the person that will be
grooming your pet. Bring your pet with you so you can see how
your pet and the groomer interact. Word of mouth is a great way to
find someone so just ask around! If you see someone walking
their dog or carrying their pet - ask them if they have any
recommendations!
Q: My dog's shedding all the time! Will cutting the hair reduce
the shedding?
A: Shaving a dog with a double coat (those that shed alot!) will
usually change the dogs coat. It can make it grow back thicker, it
can change texture and sometimes color. Cutting the coat will not
stop shedding, the hair that sheds is just shorter since it has been
cut.
Q: Will cutting my dogs hair in the summer make him cooler?
A: Typically shaving a dog in the summer will not make him
cooler. What does make your dog cooler is making sure that the
undercoat has been thoroughly brushed out! This is very
important! Typically dogs with undercoat shed all the time. The
coat is constantly shedding and filling in. You will see a bigger
loss of coat with seasonal shedding in the spring and early
summer. Making sure all of this coat is removed is the best way to
keep your dog cool! Dogs will typically bulk up in the fall and
winter. Grooming and removing undercoat will never hurt your dog
and will always keep him from getting matted. It can help prevent
hot spots that may be caused by the coat retaining moisture and
not drying out. Actually, a dog's coat, once the undercoat is
removed, insulates him from the heat and cold, protecting his skin
from the elements!
If you wait and have your dogs undercoat only removed once a year
in the spring, it will be very hard on your dog, pulling on his or her
skin and making the grooming process a difficult one.
We recommend quarterly grooming at a minimum for dogs with
double coats.
Q: My dog has hair that grows when not cut, there is no
shedding and I do not plan to get his hair cut, I want to keep him
in full coat. How often should I get him groomed?
A: If your dog is in full coat, that is long and not in a "pet" style
haircut, you should be doing daily brushout at home. Make sure
you are brushing your dog out from underneath working torward
the top of the coat, one layer at a time and working from the skin
out. Matts from quickly and if not brushing out, they can work their
way closer and closer to the skin. If they are not worked out, they
will either pull all the hair out when brushed or need to be shaved
out. If bathing him at home, make sure he is completely brushed
out before and after the bath. If you bathe him when wet, it can
make the matts tighter and tighter each time he is bathed.
If you were to keep your dog in full coat and want professional
assistance, we recommend coming in every two weeks for a bath
and brushout. This is flexible depending upon how much work you
will be doing at home and how easy you find to maintain it.
Q: My dog has hair that grows if not cut and I want to keep my
dog in a haircut so it easier to maintain. How often should I bring
her in for grooming?
A: Most dogs that get a regular haircut will come in every 4 to 6
weeks. The time between appointments varies depending upon
how much maintenance you do at home between appointments
and how long you want to keep the coat.
Q: My dog/cat is matted, what should I do?
A: It depends upon how matted your pet is. In many cases, if it is
just a bit of matting here and there, we have special products and
tools to help dematt your pet successfully.
If the matts feel like balls and are right up to the skin, shaving
under the matts and relieving your pet might be the most humane
thing to do. Matts pull on your pet and the hair is tight and
uncomfortable.
Shaving a severly matted pet is not an easy task for the pet or the
groomer. Though an experienced groomer is very careful, there is
still a risk of your pet's skin being nicked by the clipper when
shaving them so closely, but if they are that badly matted, there
really is no choice.
If you have any questions or are unsure of your pet's coat condition,
the best thing to do is to stop by with your pet and we can discuss
it with you.
We will even teach you how to prevent them and how to brush
them out at home to prevent this from happening.
regarding grooming: when, where, how and why!?!! If you don't
see the answer to your question here, please give us a call. We
may add your question here for others too see! Remember, if you
have a question, at least one other person will too!
Q: Why does my dog need grooming?
A: All dogs need grooming at some point. Whether you do it at
home or have it done professionally is up to you and how much
time you have. Regular grooming helps you to keep your dog
clean (mostly!) and aware of any skin issues, bumps, possible ear
infections, and more. It is an opportunity to look closely at your dog
and observe him or her to ensure that they are healthy and nothing
unusual is going on.
Q: How do you determine how much it will cost to groom my
dog?
A: The cost of grooming a pet is based on the amount of time that
we expect it will take. When we give you an estimate we are
expecting that your dog is standard for their breed or mix of breeds,
they are not matted or need excessive amounts of brushout, etc.
and that they are well-behaved. These factors can vary from dog to
dog and then the price will vary. For example: a dog that is matted,
not used to being groomed and very wiggly and tries to bite for his
or her nails will take us more time than one who comes in
regularly, is not matted and is well-behaved.
Q: When should I start getting my puppy familiar with the
grooming process?
A: Ideally puppies should be introduced to grooming from birth.
Whether doing it at home or having it professionally done, nails
can be done at the breeders and then continued at home. When
bathing puppies, be sure to use a shampoo safe for small dogs.
A puppies first trip to a grooming salon would ideally be at 8 to 12
weeks of age for a bath and getting to know the groomer - in some
cases a little bit of neatening and nails. If you can't or haven't been
able to get your puppy to start at an early age, don't give up! The
sooner the better so they will learn that there is nothing to worry
about!
Q: What happens to my dog a grooming salon?
A: There are different types of salons, some have you drop-off in
the morning with pickup sometime in the afternoon. Others have
appointments specifically for your pet and will groom him start to
finish.
At Bark Easy, we usually have your pet dropped off in the morning
though we can do appointments when there is a special need.
Typically when your pet comes into the salon, there is some
prework done such as dematting, nails, ears etc. Then your pet
will have her bath, and is dried on a drying table with a hand dryer.
Your pet will be mostly dry at this time and will likely go into a crate
to finish drying so she will not be damp. (At Bark Easy none of our
dryers are heated dryers and all use room temperature air.) Once
the dogs are all bathed and dried, they come out one by one for
their finish work, whether it is a little bit of neatening or a full-haircut.
We will work around your schedule if you give us advance notice of
any appointments or plans you have for the day. If you need a
specific pick-up time for your pet - we will do our best to
accommodate you.
We know in some cases you may need special accommodations
for elderly pets or nervous pets and we will be glad to work with
you on giving them the best care possible and getting them home
to you as soon as we can.
We do offer in and out services so your pet does not have to stay.
This is at an additional cost and must be discussed in advance of
the appointment so we can fit it into our day.
Q: How do I know if a groomer is trained and will be good to my
pet and keep them safe?
A: Groomers should have gone through a course of study that
includes practical experience. There are also organizations that
groomers belong to and certifications that a groomer can obtain.
Check to see if they are familiar with your type of dog or mixed
breed. Unfortunately, there are no licensing requirements for
groomers at this time, so ask alot of questions!
The best way for you to be certain is to interview the groomer,
either by phone or stop by. A good groomer should not mind you
stopping by at any time to ask questions or take a peek at where
your pet will be. Though be sensitive to the groomers time. If your
pet where at the groomers and someone new came in, you would
want to make sure that the groomer was still giving your pet the
care and attention he or she deserves!
Make sure you are comfortable with the person that will be
grooming your pet. Bring your pet with you so you can see how
your pet and the groomer interact. Word of mouth is a great way to
find someone so just ask around! If you see someone walking
their dog or carrying their pet - ask them if they have any
recommendations!
Q: My dog's shedding all the time! Will cutting the hair reduce
the shedding?
A: Shaving a dog with a double coat (those that shed alot!) will
usually change the dogs coat. It can make it grow back thicker, it
can change texture and sometimes color. Cutting the coat will not
stop shedding, the hair that sheds is just shorter since it has been
cut.
Q: Will cutting my dogs hair in the summer make him cooler?
A: Typically shaving a dog in the summer will not make him
cooler. What does make your dog cooler is making sure that the
undercoat has been thoroughly brushed out! This is very
important! Typically dogs with undercoat shed all the time. The
coat is constantly shedding and filling in. You will see a bigger
loss of coat with seasonal shedding in the spring and early
summer. Making sure all of this coat is removed is the best way to
keep your dog cool! Dogs will typically bulk up in the fall and
winter. Grooming and removing undercoat will never hurt your dog
and will always keep him from getting matted. It can help prevent
hot spots that may be caused by the coat retaining moisture and
not drying out. Actually, a dog's coat, once the undercoat is
removed, insulates him from the heat and cold, protecting his skin
from the elements!
If you wait and have your dogs undercoat only removed once a year
in the spring, it will be very hard on your dog, pulling on his or her
skin and making the grooming process a difficult one.
We recommend quarterly grooming at a minimum for dogs with
double coats.
Q: My dog has hair that grows when not cut, there is no
shedding and I do not plan to get his hair cut, I want to keep him
in full coat. How often should I get him groomed?
A: If your dog is in full coat, that is long and not in a "pet" style
haircut, you should be doing daily brushout at home. Make sure
you are brushing your dog out from underneath working torward
the top of the coat, one layer at a time and working from the skin
out. Matts from quickly and if not brushing out, they can work their
way closer and closer to the skin. If they are not worked out, they
will either pull all the hair out when brushed or need to be shaved
out. If bathing him at home, make sure he is completely brushed
out before and after the bath. If you bathe him when wet, it can
make the matts tighter and tighter each time he is bathed.
If you were to keep your dog in full coat and want professional
assistance, we recommend coming in every two weeks for a bath
and brushout. This is flexible depending upon how much work you
will be doing at home and how easy you find to maintain it.
Q: My dog has hair that grows if not cut and I want to keep my
dog in a haircut so it easier to maintain. How often should I bring
her in for grooming?
A: Most dogs that get a regular haircut will come in every 4 to 6
weeks. The time between appointments varies depending upon
how much maintenance you do at home between appointments
and how long you want to keep the coat.
Q: My dog/cat is matted, what should I do?
A: It depends upon how matted your pet is. In many cases, if it is
just a bit of matting here and there, we have special products and
tools to help dematt your pet successfully.
If the matts feel like balls and are right up to the skin, shaving
under the matts and relieving your pet might be the most humane
thing to do. Matts pull on your pet and the hair is tight and
uncomfortable.
Shaving a severly matted pet is not an easy task for the pet or the
groomer. Though an experienced groomer is very careful, there is
still a risk of your pet's skin being nicked by the clipper when
shaving them so closely, but if they are that badly matted, there
really is no choice.
If you have any questions or are unsure of your pet's coat condition,
the best thing to do is to stop by with your pet and we can discuss
it with you.
We will even teach you how to prevent them and how to brush
them out at home to prevent this from happening.
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"The Best Things in Life Are Furry!" |