Jun the Groomer

“It is important not to wash any dog too often, as over-bathing causes the coat to compensate by producing extra oils, which in turn causes an increase in natural odor.” Complete Dog Care: How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, pg. 52

We like to take our girls to the local library on Wednesdays for study time after my older daughter gets out of school early. This past week there was a book that caught my eye called Complete Dog Care: How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy. I was curious as to what it would say about grooming, and I was very impressed with the information!

Everything I’ve been telling my clients is all in this book – as far as grooming is concerned. This book addresses everything from puppy-proofing your home before the dog arrives to behavioral issues and emergencies. I can’t speak on any of the other topics, but I really like the chapters on grooming. Especially because it is under the “Everyday Care” section. 🙂 Here’s a couple of quotes from the book – I highly recommend you read it!

“All dogs benefit from regular grooming, so make sure you have time for it… Grooming is relaxing for dogs, and helps strengthen the bond between dog and owner.” (pg. 50)

“If your dog gets muddy after a walk, he does not necessarily need a bath – just wait until the mud dries and then brush it off.” (pg. 52)

“It is not just your dog’s coat that needs attention – his teeth, ears, and nails also need to be attended to regularly in order to keep your dog healthy and in the best possible condition.” (pg. 62)

The one that I really thought was a mind-blower is that the more we wash our dogs the stronger they smell! It’s counterintuitive because if I don’t wash everyday, I don’t feel clean or smell nice. But with our dogs is different. The more we wash them, the more oils they produce because we’re drying out their skin. Strong, unpleasant odors are caused by the extra oils, bacteria, and/or fungus. The dry skin, along with the extra oils being produced can cause a number of skin problems as well. That’s why I get a lot of older dogs with dry, flakey skin and they have a greasy, dull coat that smells too. “It is important not to wash any dog too often, as over-bathing causes the coat to compensate by producing extra oils, which in turn causes an increase in natural odor.” Complete Dog Care: How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, pg. 52

The chapters on grooming cover everything from the different kinds of coats (short, smooth, wiry, curly, long, silky, corded), how to care for them, and what tools to use. It’s a very well-organized and well written book that I highly recommend to all pet owners and anyone who is considering getting a dog.

Click on the title or the following link to visit their website page for the book: http://www.dk.com/us/9781465402219-complete-dog-care/