Here at Cascade Kennels in Woodinville, we are often asked by our clients for tips on grooming their dogs. This may seem like a simple enough question, however it’s not always so cut and dry. Different breeds of dogs have different grooming needs and in our line of work, we deal with a variety of breeds on a regular basis, and we’ve come to learn that there are some things that work great for certain breeds that should be avoided for others. So we thought we would offer our best and most specific grooming tips based on some of the more popular breeds.
Labrador Retriever Grooming
One of the most popular breeds of dogs today, and one we see a lot of, are Labradors. Labs come in three colors, yellow, black and chocolate and believe it or not, within the breed, there are some differences in the way they shed. Yellow labs tend to shed year round at a slow pace while Black labs tend to shed more in the spring and fall. It’s been said that black labs will literally leave their entire coat on the floor during the spring and fall. So what’s the best way to deal with your lab’s coat? The key is to stay ahead of the game with regular brushing about once a week, however, if you have a black lab, you’ll want to brush them EVERY DAY during their peak shedding seasons. A good bristle brush will keep your labs coat looking smooth and shiny, and then keep their nails trimmed. These two steps are the most important when it comes to grooming labs.
Golden Retriever Grooming
With their long coats, you’ll want to brush them on a regular basis, by this we mean about 1-2 times per week with a good bristle brush and making sure you get the undercoat as well. An undercoat rake is the best tool for this. In addition, when it comes to bathing, make sure you use a quality shampoo and keep their nails clipped.
French Bulldog Grooming
These dogs should be bathed every 4-6 weeks, and require 2 baths each time; one for general cleaning and then followed by one using an Oatmeal Baking Soda shampoo to control odor and re-moisturize. Due to the structure of their noses, it’s important to keep water away from this area. During bath time, you’ll want to clean their ears, clip their nails and check their anal glands. Because of the folds and large flaps around their eyes, Frenchies need daily to weekly care of this area. The flaps and folds can be prone to growing red yeast and causing a foul odor. When it comes to brushing your Frenchie, a shedding blade can be used to pull out the dead coat. As with most short-haired breeds, they shed constantly and need regular brushing.
Australian Shepherd Grooming
A wonderful breed of dog that requires regular brushing. Regular brushing for Aussies will keep their coats looking good, removes dead hair and stimulates blood flow which distributes the natural oils of their coats. Their coats are both long and short so they can be prone to mats and tangles. Aussies should be bathed about every 3 months and you’ll want to trim their nails, check their ears and brush their teeth.
Dachshund Grooming
Dachshunds are another breed that has some differences within the breed. For example there are short haired dachshunds and dachshunds with long and wirehair. Their grooming needs vary. Short haired dachshunds require very little grooming because not much sticks to their coats. A weekly brushing with a soft-bristle brush is sufficient. Bathing a short-haired dachshund is needed only occasionally and will help keep their coats soft but be careful to avoid getting water in their sensitive ears. The wirehaired dachshund needs more frequent brushing with a short napped wire bristle brush especially after their spring and fall shedding. Long-haired dachshunds needs to be brushed and combed in order to prevent matting which can happen behind the ears where the hair is longer. Overall grooming for the wirehaired can be a little tricky and sometimes it’s easier to have a professional groom them.
Of course, here at Cascade Kennels, dog grooming is one of our specialties and we have experience with virtually every breed of dog, whether long-haired or short-haired, big or small. Click here to learn more about our dog grooming services or to book an appointment!
