We recommend every 6-8 weeks. Dogs that are groomed on a regular basis are more relaxed and their skin and coats are kept in top condition. Dogs with longer hair require more frequent visits than dogs with shorter hair. During your first visit to Best Friend Pet Spa we will work to establish a grooming schedule that works for you and your pet.
How often should my dog's nails be trimmed?
Your dog's nails should be short enough that when it is standing up, its nails are not touching the floor. When the nails are touching the floor, they put pressure on your dog's toes causing a change in the shape of their feet, which may be painful to your dog. Long dewclaws (the claw that grows higher on the leg) can get caught on things causing injury or they may curl and actually penetrate your dog's skin! When you can hear your dog's nails tapping on the floor when it walks, it's usually a good sign they need to be trimmed.
The interval between nail clippings varies greatly between dogs. Larger dogs that walk a lot usually require fewer trimmings than small dogs that may not walk as much. Also, they usually require more frequent trimmings during the winter months as their nails don't come in to contact with harder surfaces as often. For some dogs, every 6 to 8 weeks along with their regular grooming is enough. Others may require more frequent clippings. Few dogs can go beyond 8 weeks between clippings.
The last groomer shaved my dog; you won't do that will you?
There's no easy answer to this question as it will depend on the shape of your dog's coat and the personal preference of the owner. We will examine your dog's coat and make a recommendation as to what we believe would be the best way to proceed.
At Best Friend Pet Spa we feel that the most humane treatment for a badly matted dog is to shave all the mats off during the initial grooming and then follow up with regular grooming to prevent the mats from forming again.
Please remember we are not miracle workers. If I insist on shaving down your animal, it is because it is very heavily matted and removing them is the best option for your pets. Mats are painful and can lead to severe skin problems if left ungroomed.
The only way to avoid this situation is to maintain regular professional grooming as well as keeping up with a grooming regiment at home. This means that your dog should be brushed often enough that a comb can be inserted down to the skin can be pulled through without resistance anywhere on its body.
Are vaccines required for my pet?
All of our grooming clients are required to have up to date vaccines, this is for the protection of both your pets and our staff.
My dog always stinks, how often can I bathe it?
Dogs create natural oils that promote healthy skin and a healthy coat. These oils are essential to your dog. Bathing your dog too often will strip these oils from your pet and may leave it with dry, itchy skin. We do not recommend bathing your dog more than once a month. If your dog is on a regular grooming schedule, it should not require bathing at home (unless it got into something). There are many great smelling sprays for pets that refresh them in between baths. Don't forget to spray their bedding as well!
Can I stay with my dog while it is being groomed?
For the most part grooming is easier when the owner is not present. Like children, dogs are usually better behaved when their owner is away. In some cases, the owner's presence will be required. We prefer that you leave your pet and wait for us to notify you when you can pick up your pet. If your pet does behave better while you are present, arrangements can be made.
How long does grooming take?
This depends on the animal and what needs to be done. We will either call you when your pet is ready or give you a pick up time when you drop your pet off. Showing up before your pet is finished is probably the worst thing you can do as they tend to become more excited when their owner is present, making the task of grooming much more difficult and potentially dangerous. Your pet will generally react the same way at the groomer's as it does when you arrive home from work. Would it be able to give you a perfect 5 minutes of sitting still? Of course not! Usually it wants to say hello!
Do you clean teeth?
Proper oral hygiene is an important part of pet care however; this is not your groomer's job. Regular brushing at home is the best way to keep your pet's teeth clean. If your pet has plaque and tarter buildup, talk to your Veterinarian. Bad breath is often a sign of other underlying problems. We do not recommend having your pet's teeth cleaned other than by your Veterinarian. Short term procedure such as scaling might look good at first, but over the long term will cause more harm than good.