Grooming your furry companion is an important aspect of being a pet owner. In addition to maintaining your pet’s hygiene, home-grooming sessions also allow you to spend some quality time with your pet. That said, it’s also important to take your pet to a professional pet groomer on a regular basis, as this allows the professionals to identify potential health issues, if any.

With different dogs come different grooming needs. From short-coated Corgis to long-haired Malteses, we’ve put together a guide to dog grooming for both home and professional groomers.

Short-Hair Dogs

Short-haired dogs usually require only an occasional brush. However, if your dog is shedding excessively, a trip to the groomer or vet may be warranted. In this case, most groomers will offer to provide a thorough brushing for your furry friend to minimize the shedding.

Short-Haired Dogs With Double Coats

As these dogs shed in seasons, pet owners are recommended to plan their pet’s grooming schedule around their shedding seasons. Your pet should ideally be groomed a minimum of four times a year, to ensure that its dead undercoat is removed and to minimise shedding.

Long-Haired Dogs With Double Coats

Similarly, long-haired dogs with double coats shed in seasons. Due to the long hair around the ears, paws and bellies, these dogs are more likely to suffer from matted hair. As such, it’s important to have these areas regularly trimmed by professionals. If your pet does develop mats in its fur, it’s recommended to have a professional groomer attend to them.

Dogs With Thick Undercoats

Canines with thick undercoat need to have them removed seasonally by professionals at least once every three months. Failure to do so may lead to severe matting of your canine’s fur and result in having to shave it away. Do note that you should prevent shaving dogs with thick coats as it may result in sunburns and is generally unhealthy for your dog’s hair.

Curly and/or wavy coats

Canines with curly and wavy coats are most prone to matting – thus, they require regular brushing sessions. To keep fur matting at bay, a minimum weekly brushing session and regular trips to a pet salon are highly recommended.

In short, the breed of your pet plays a fundamental role in determining its grooming needs. Should you have grooming queries, don’t be afraid to consult with the vets in Singapore for professional advice.