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Dog Coat Care
By peace | May 25, 2006
Regular dog coat care is required as a dog’s coat is schematically made up by two types of hair the first being the longer and thicker hair which is the hair that covers the dog’s body most commonly known as outer coat, and the second is shorter and wooly which is the dog’s undercoat. The outer coat is generally straighter, varies in size and is somewhat impermeable.
The color of a dog’s outer coat is also homogenous and shiny when a dog is well taken care of and healthy. The second which is the undercoat is shorter, finer, and wooly. The color of this hair is a lot lighter than the hair of the outer coat and it is very thick. This hair is permeable but because of its thickness, it protects the dog’s body from water, dust and different types of impurities.
Generally the outer coat of a dog does not become tangled (with the exception of dogs that have very long hair), whereas the under coat can actually become pretty tangled at times especially in very specific places such as behind the dog’s ears, cheeks, tail, stomach, feet etc. and if this is not taken care of it will become more difficult to untangle. In very extreme cases the only remedy is to cut the tangle since trying to untangle it would take a lot of time and it would hurt the dog.
Blow drying a dog’s hair is something that must be done very carefully because dogs are not able to handle the heat of a blow dryer very well. Using a dryer will decrease the amount of time you will need to spend towel drying your dog and in breeds that have curly hair it loosens the hair which forms a thick uniform layer which can then be cut with some scissors and will then allow you to sculpture it the way you desire.
If the dog’s coat is not properly prepared, cutting it will be more difficult and the results will probably not be the best. If you choose to use a dryer on the dog’s coat, it might turn into a problem since you need both hands – one to keep the dog in place and the other to use the brush. Professional dog groomers use special dryers that allow their hands to be free. Make sure to never put your dog too close to the dryer so as to not burn his hair. Brush the dog’s hair while you are drying it with the brush or comb (depending on your breed).
As soon as your dog is done with his bath make sure to take as much water off of his coat with your hand by pressing hard on the sides of his head, tail and ears (make sure not to hurt the dog though!), followed by his sides, his stomach, his legs and paws from top to bottom. Finish off the job by drying him with a sponge towel or a normal towel completely. The dog will still be slightly wet after this but he should not be drenched in water by any means.
Remember that it’s very important you dry your dog’s hair well especially in the areas that can be affected by humidity such as the dog’s ears, whiskers; under it’s tail, face legs and paws. It is essential to groom and brush your dog’s hair every day. Doing this is not only good for your dog’s coat but it will keep your home free of hair deposits. If you are able to, start brushing your dog’s hair at puppy age so that he gets used to it. Dogs that are used to getting groomed often times enjoy these sessions.
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