Grooming tips by April
Skunks are most active later in the evening and early mornings . I find dogs are most likely to be sprayed late in the evening when taken out for their last bathroom break before bed or early morning.
If your dog has been sprayed or ever a chance of being sprayed its good to have hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on hand. Mix ¼ cup baking soda with a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. They usually get hit in the face . Rub the mixture into their fur getting down to the skin. The sooner you apply the solution the better results as the skunk oil gets into the pores and can linger for many months. The odour comes out each time the dog gets wet. Let the mixture sit for a couple minutes then rinse well. Tip the head back and rinse away from the eyes .
We will gladly treat your dog for skunk spraying but..if the spray has been left on the dog overnight we can only get some of the smell out due to the odour absorbing into the pores. Some coats hold the odor more than others.
Long coated dogs should be brushed well before bathing. A lot of people make the mistake of bathing when the dog is matted. If there’s dead coat sitting that hasn’t been brushed out.. The dead coat felts and mats . Once washed the mats become tight. Some dogs end up with a sheet of mats from head to tail
Once the coat is this matted there’s no choice but to clip the dog down and start over. We try to leave some hair on the legs and head, tail and ears.
Dogs tend to mat quickly around 8 to 10 months when their coat changes from baby hair to adult hair.
Long coated dogs or non-shedding dogs still change their coats. They don’t drop it on the ground like short haired dogs so then need to be brushed regularly to remove the dead coat. A slicker brush is most effective.
Start brushing gently with the grain and holding above so as not to pull when they are young to get them accustomed to brushing. Make the experience pleasant and rewarding so doesn’t become a power struggle . best to brush while they are relaxed and not in a playful mood. Don’t let them play or chew on the brush. Give them lots of praise and reward them.
Long coated dogs need clipping around the genitals and under their tail to keep from soiling .
Also around the eyes so the eyes don’t get irritated and they can see. Also armpits and between the pads.
If you want your dog to keep his long coat its best to have him thoroughly brushed out on a regular basis so the dead coat doesn’t build up.
It’s best to get your pup used to grooming early on. Dogs who need a lot of brushing or clipping need to get used to the routine . If you wait too long they become afraid of the sound of the clipper or strangers they haven’t met working on them.