My girls  are both larger breeds and have had to have their jubilee outfits specially knitted for them! Here they are, ready to enter into the spirit of the Jubilee celebrations along with the rest of us…….,,

My jubilee girls

But there are absolutely loads of beautiful jubilee dog t shirts, doggy hoodies,harnesses and coats on our Smart Dog clothing website. In fact you can choose the colours yourself as well, so you can go with traditional red, white and blue- or maybe add a touch of pale pink or baby blue or even green for a cute look . You can view the t shirt as you design it, and change details/colours etc untill you are happy with your doggy’s gift. Then you just order it -check you chose the correct size-and it will be sent out the same day where possible. If you are in the UK your dog’s clothes should arrive the next day, if you are ordering for international delivery it will take between 2-6 days, depending on the country.  Here are just a few of the designs for small and medium sized dogs….

 

 

Fuschia pink

White with logo

 

Olive green with hi-viz design

Pale blue

Red

If you want, you can pick out one of the designs already on the site, or you can design your own-it is so much fun!!

If you own a small and fluffy dog the chances are you either have a dog groomer who you visit regularly, or a set of very well used dog brushes and combs- preferably both! This article is designed to assist you If you are new to dog ownership and are looking for a dog groomer for your pet.

The relationship between a dog and his or her groomer is a very important one, most dogs need grooming on a regular basis so it is  a good idea to spend some time choosing the right person to take care of your little one.

Some factors to consider when sizing up which groomer to use:

1) Experience and qualifications

2) Personality and first impressions

3) The quality of the work

4) The facilities

5) Price

6) Location

7) Policies

8)Referrals

I haven’t listed these in any special order, as you will have your own uppermost priorities when choosing a groomer. When a new customer calls our salon, one can often tell a lot about a person by the questions they ask. Some will only ask the price, while others will chat about their dog’s needs and ask about our services and what they can expect from us as a professional salon. I personally prefer the second type of caller because I figure they are going to be all about the health and welfare of their pet, and they really care about who they leave him with and whether he enjoys the experience.

Experience  is worth a lot in the dog grooming profession, although there are some very good groomers out there who are recently qualified. An experienced groomer will have seen most types of dog behaviour and will not be fazed by a nervous or fidgetty dog. A person who has been grooming dogs full time for a number of years will be able to cope with any situation and be able to easily an calmly turn out work of a high standard, where a groomer lacking experience may have problems completing a groom on a ‘difficult’ dog to a good standard.  Qualifications are one indication that the groomer has trained to a certain level and will be versed in safety procedures and standard breed trims. Currently qualifications are not mandatory in the UK, and  there is only the City and Guilds system currently in place.

I think that it is really important to feel confident in your groomer’s personality, he or she should be happy to chat to you about your dog and answer any questions that you may have.  Does she seem happy to talk to you-even if it means ringing you back at a convenient time? Do you feel that she has listened to any concerns you may have and offered good solutions?

You should be able to view examples of your groomers work, maybe an album of customers’ dogs either in the salon, or perhaps on the website or Facebook page. Take a look at previous grooms and see if you like the look of the styles and quality of the finish.

If you are choosing a mobile groomer, it might not be possible to view facilities, unless he or she is working from a fully equipped van. If you are thinking of using a groomer who comes into your house to groom your dog at home you can always ask a few questions about the set up and equipment used.  If you are visiting a salon, you should get an impression of cleanliness and hygiene in a well lit and tidy area.

The price is another important guide to the quality and professionalism of your groomer. Many new grooming businesses start out by trying to undercut the established few, and therefore end up charging very low prices. Be warned-a low price does not make for a ‘better’ groomer. I say this because every self employed groomer must pay for expensive training first of all, then business costs of tax, and NI, business insurance and rates just for starters. Then there are the overheads (fuel and van repayments in the case of the mobile service), good quality stock and equipment, communications such as website and telephone, and advertising. It is easy to see that a groomer who offers a very low price is either a) cutting corners on the above, or b) paying herself less than the minimum wage for what is a highly skilled job. Whether it is a or b, she will not be around for very long and you want your dog to build a relationship with your groomer so that each appointment becomes a visit with a friend!

Location is more important to some people than to others. We have a few clients that come from very far afield so that they can continue to use our salon, even after they have moved away. This illustrates the importance of the bond between a dog and his/her groomer.

Every groomer has a set of policies, and it is wise to take a look at these, just to make sure that you can live with them, and so that you know what is expected of you. For instance you may find that your chosen groomer requires 48 hours notice of a cancelled appointment, which is perfectly reasonable in fact as a booked appointment is a contract between you and your groomer. A last minute no-show breaks the contract and you may be liable to a surcharge .

Word of mouth is a great way to find your new groomer. You may want to ask a friend who they use, and why. Or you might see a dog when out walking who is sporting a wonderful haircut. Most owners will be glad to pass on their groomer’s information to you-and you already know you love their work!

In summary, my advice would be not to be in a rush to choose your groomer. Take time to ask questions and if possible take your pet to meet the groomer. Watch how they interact and if you feel happy-book your appointment and honour it. Treat your groomer to the respect due to a trained pet care professional and you will have many happy years together looking after your best mate!

 

 

Of course it is really nice to pamper your dog from time to time and nothing beats a trip to a great grooming salon, even if it is only for a freshen up bath and nail trim. Our customers tell us that they can never get their dog smelling as good,  when they bath them at home in between trips to the salon. There are a few tips and tricks that you should do if you are washing your dog at home, to achieve better results and make it worth washing him-after all it is a lot of effort to go to if he or she is going to finish up smelling like ‘wet dog’!.

Big dogs like Sasha need a non-slip mat in the tub and care when helping them into the bath.

First of all, you need to think about the logistics. How big is your dog? Can you manage to get him up the stairs and into the tub? Maybe you will need a friend to assist you.  You do need to be able to wash your dog in the bath or shower, I am not going to advocate  washing in the garden with a cold hose pipe, you wouldn’t like to wash this way and neither would your dog! Plus a cold wash down is the fastest way to a stinky wet dog smell and a greasy, smelly coat.  If you have a tiny dog, a sink may be an option, but make sure that you have a shower attachment on the taps, or a jug of ready mixed water on stand by because you will not want to run the taps into the sink with your dog there, in case you scald him!

Once you have established that you have somewhere suitable to bath your dog and can get him there, its time to think about which products to use. There are some really good products on the market for dogs hair and skin, do a bit of research and pick a shampoo which will benefit your dog. You get what you pay for, so I advise buying a good quality salon shampoo and conditioner. Anything less and you might as well not bother washing your dog at all. I have tried so many of the shampoos readily available in pet stores and most of them just do not do the job well enough. One exception is the Animology range, which is available in a few stores, and is actually praised by professional groomers, many of us use gallons of it in our salons, so if you can get hold of a bottle of that you will be fine. Otherwise try online for salon shampoos such as  Groomers Jasmine and Lemongrass Shampoo 500ml
-you will find the fragrance is more effective and pleasant, and they really clean deep down and get rid of all the grease and dander which is causing your dog to smell.

Get puppies (like Boris here) used to gentle bathing from a young age.

Get organised before you start, making sure you have all your stuff to hand, as it’s difficult to grab a forgotten item once you have a soaking wet, wriggly dog to hold. You’ll need your shampoo and maybe conditioner, cotton wool to place in his ears to keep out excess water, a couple of towels, an   Aquasorb Towel to help get him dry super-fast, perhaps a jug to mix shampoo/rinse him off and definitely a collar and lead or slip lead to help keep him in the vicinity of the bath! I would advise you to use an anti slip mat in the bath, if you haven’t got one of those, then a towel placed in the bath will do to stop his or her claws scrabbling and slipping. (You will find that if your dog becomes at all nervous, the nails will start to protrude from the feet more, and if the dog is on a shiny surface he will slip, leading to more panic-and so on)

If your dog is large, be careful when lifting him into the bath, get someone to help you. If necessary use two large towels as ‘slings’ under his tummy to help lift him, but be very gentle and steady.  Always keep one hand on your dog when he is in the bath, so that he does not jump out and injure himself.  Test the water temperature constantly- over the years I have developed the habit of running the shower over one of my hands and onto the dog, so that I can tell instantly if the water temperature changes.

Shampoo and rinse your dog twice, making sure to keep shampoo away from his/her eyes. Remember to wash all of the dog, not just the middle of the back, also wash the bits that are harder to get too, the legs and feet, the tail, and rinse very thoroughly. Conditioner can now be used and again rinsed thoroughly.

Rinse your dog thoroughly, getting any shampoo residue out, as it can make your pet itch.

This is Benson being rinsed with the shower

Your Aquasorb Towel comes into it’s own now as you try and get your dog as dry as possible with the towels. Even in the professional salon this is a key step to speedy drying. You can even wrap your dog in a couple of warm dry towels and let him relax for ten minutes (if he will lie still-many dogs would rather go round the house wiping themselves on the sofas and beds and sneezing at this point!).  You can get a special terry towelling bathrobe for the dog to wear after his bath, which sounds funny but really is quite useful to save on drying time.

If you are using your hand held dryer to dry your dog, try and get some assistance from a friend or family member. If you have successfully removed the worst of the wet with towels, if should not take too long. Do make sure that you are not burning the dog by getting the dryer too close. Brushing the coat at the same time will really speed things up, and also make the coat dry more evenly and give the coat a better, glossier look.  If your dog is large and heavy coated, or is a ‘spongey’ coated breed like the cocker spaniel it may be worth investing in a high velocity dryer/blaster. This can also be used to good effect when you come back from a wet walk, to blast the water of your pet’s coat and get him dry in next to no time.

Toby is ready to be towelled dry

 

 

 post on how to cut your own dog’s nails here              post on painting your dog’s nails here

The first picture above shows the underside of the foot of a Bichon Frise with about 3 months growth of hair between the pads. This demonstrates how important regular grooming is to your dog. It is the ‘bits you don’t see; that often get neglected. When this overgrowth happens, dirt, grease and grit become lodged in the hair and gradually form a tight knot or lump between the pads and this causes problems by pressing on the pads like a corn and causing pain and irritation. Often the dog will chew incessantly at his feet, especially noticeable when resting in the evening, which is when things are quiet and the owner often notices the chewing.

On the second picture you can see the same foot, after professional clipping in the salon. All the pads are clear and clean and the debris between the pads has been removed.  This is not the type of job that an owner should try at home, the pads can be all too easily injured, and one should never under any circumstances attempt to do this with scissors! This is one of the professional services that is included in the price of your pet’s grooming.

Now the foot is clear, it is far more easy to see how much trimming the nails need.

 

Dewclaws that need cutting.

The dew claw is the claw that is situated not on the foot, but slightly further up the dog’s leg. the two photographs above show the dewclaw and pad of a dog, and you can see clearly that the claw is overgrown to the extent that it has come into contact with the pad. If left untreated, pressure will come to bear on the pad, sores will develop and within a short space of time, the claw will start to grow into the soft pad, leading to lameness, infection and even gangrene. I have seen cases of foot neglect where the claw has been allowed to grow into the pad for such a long time that the skin is beginning to heal around the enveloped claw. Because the dewclaw does not get any natural wear, being too high off the ground, it is imperative that it is trimmed regularly, or at least checked regularly i.e. weekly just to ensure that  it never gets to a dangerous stage.  In the second photograph I have highlighted in yellow the portion of nail that was safe to remove on this particular nail, of course every nail is assessed individually, there is no hard and fast rule. You can see the ‘quick’ which is the pink section of nail.

The quick is the blood vessel supplying the nail, so it is important to stay well clear of that when cutting. If the dog has black nails one cannot see the quick, and so must be very careful removing nail. If your dog has black nails and you are unsure, please take your dog along to a professional groomer who will trim them for a very few pounds.The above photo is the same dew claw safely trimmed back and filed round.

Black dew claws

These  photos show a black dew claw on a Jack Russel Terrier, which has a fairly normal level of overgrowth and would only need a milimetre or so trimming from the end of the nail, to help prevent her catching the nail in anything and tearing it, and also to make her less likely to scratch her owners .

On the right is the same claw after it has been trimmed and filed to round the edge of the nail off.This will help keep the nail neat and unobtrusive and less likely to cause any problems to the dog. As you can see, there is no need to cut a huge amount of nail away to make a difference.

Below we have a small white dew claw with very little growth, and you can see the quick inside very easily.

All that is required in this case is to trim the very end of the nail where a slight ‘hook’ has formed, and then file over to smooth it.

This is a photograph of a the foot of a dog who’s nails have just been freshly trimmed. As you can see the nails a well formed and fairly short. This dog is young, and has his nails clipped regularly resulting in this well-balanced foot.

Often when a dog’s nails are allowed to get overgrown, they will grow misshapen, or they will affect the balance of the whole foot and push the toes one way or the other when the foot is placed down. This altered way of going can further affect the direction of growth resulting in all sorts of undesirable characteristics and gait problems. This is another good reason to get your pet’s nails checked out every 2 months, whether  or not their hair needs cutting .

Here is a great gift idea for a dog or a dog owner-and you can save a bit too as they are on special offer right now with 20% off the usual price! The pamper packs include jumpers,jackets and hoodies plus harnesses collars and dog collar charms in your choice of pink for the girls, or blue for the boys. The set comes in a big gift wrapped box, just how sweet is that?  Its a great value gift idea for a friend or family member who dotes on their dog, or even if you bought one for your own dog you will save money on a complete new and very cute wardrobe! This is just a brilliant offer from smartdogclothing.co.uk  and there are two pages of other sale items as well, including camouflage harness, lead and cap sets- also available in red tartan and pink or black gingham while stocks last. I have also seen some lovely dog coats and brightly coloured girly dog dress harnesses which I wish I could squeeze my labrador and poodle into!

I just love these handmade dog collars on www.smartdogclothing.co.uk . They are a bright blue, encrusted with tiny blue, silver and pink sparkles for a really stylish look. The silvery buckle has been decorated with tiny red accent crystals, and the main body of the collar is edged  with tiny silver baubles. They come with a matching lead in the same sparkly fabric and, although blue, they would be suitable for girl dogs as well as they are simply so pretty!  The full set costs £16.95. So  you won’t break the bank by treating your fur baby to this lovely set! There is a reason I prefer collars with metal buckles too- my standard poodle baby Reba gets very excited and sometimes pulls on her collar or harness. One day we had just crossed the busy road outside our grooming salon on the way home, and the plastic buckle on her harness snapped and she broke away! This could have been a disaster because Reba, although extremely clingy to me, is at the stage of thinking it is a hilarious game to come to me and then dart away!  Luckily we were near some green parkland so i ran there and she followed me and with the help of two very pleasant passers by I managed to catch her again. I was extremely shaken up, and since that day I have only purchased buckled items of clothing for my dogs.

One of the questions I get asked the most is ‘how come my stinky dog always smells so nice when he has had a groom at the parlour? What did you use?’ . Of course any dog that has spent some time at any professional grooming salon will smell nice for quite some considerable time afterwards- I am told the nice smell is very long lasting, up to 2-3 weeks in many cases!

The answer is that it is not all down to  the brand of dog  cologne that I use, (and I will write more about how to get your dog smelling fresh in another article), but the fragrance spray  adds the perfect finishing touch to a grooming session. I always think that  if the owner buys dog perfume spray to use at home as well,  we are well on the way to a sweet smelling dog!

Why use cologne on my dog?

Naturally many dogs seem to prefer to smell awful, shunning the fresher smells for a nice roll in fox poo every time! But in modern times more and more our dogs are being seen as a very  important part of the family, and they live in our homes and spend a huge amount of time with us, quite rightly. They enjoy positive attention in the form of cuddles and grooming, and they come with us when we  pay visits to friends and family, and when we meet the kids from school. So we like them to smell good to us, and a smelly dog is far less likely to receive lavish praise and hugs than a fresh one!  Dog cologne sprays are not strong like human perfumes, because a dog’s sense of smell is way more developed than ours  so they do not want to be plastered with human scent. Therefore it is better to buy and use a specially formulated product, so that the dog can enjoy smelling good. (This has two benefits actually, as a dog would try and mask a harsh human perfume by rolling in something nasty, more often than not!)

How do I use the product?

A quick spritz in the area of the back and shoulders once a day, or every few days is usually sufficient  just to freshen the dog up. Many dog sprays are in fact also coat conditioners and can be used all over to add shine and help to keep the coat in good condition and tangle free.

When choosing your pet’s fragrance, make sure the brand is a good reputable one, use the same products that we groomers choose as they are of better quality and have more beneficial properties than the cheap ones often found in pet stores.  I am certainly not saying that cheap sprays would harm your dog, but I hear from customers how disappointed they often are with the sprays they purchased on the high street, and they always end up buying a good quality spray in the end.

Dogs with sensitive skin

If your dog is known to have really sensitive skin that is easily irritated by leave-in products such as conditioner or cologne, it will be wise to steer clear of spraying directly onto your dog . All of our customers leave the shop with little brightly coloured bandanas and/or collar bows so if any dog is sensitive (and we know which are, and we keep records) I usually spritz a little fragrance on to the bandana instead of onto the dog’s skin.  There are some products which are formulated specially for sensitive dogs, but I would say if in doubt, just stick with using rinse-off products like shampoo and make sure your rinse really well.

Which fragrance?

Your choice of doggy spray will to a big extent depend on your personal tastes. If your preference is for musky aromas, fresh citrussy smells, floral or vanilla-based sweet blends such as Silky Jasmine Vanilla Spray 8.4oz the choice is yours. Some companies, such as Simpsons have fragrances based on Masculine/Feminine qualities, Mutneys have a range including fruity and sweet smells, Animology are fast becoming a recognised brand among professional groomers and they are adding to their ranges all the time, the best seller at the moment is ‘Stink Bomb’  which sounds funny but smells great! Groomers of Newbury have a couple of old favourites in their range, such as the Baby Fresh and (while not strictly speaking a cologne), the Evening Primrose Oil Conditioning Spray is a really gorgeous product and will do two jobs, help detangle the fur and provide beautiful fragrance.When I use this on my doggy visitors my owners are guaranteed to rave about how good their pet smells when they collect them! Any dog groomer will tell you it means so much when the owners are delighted-and show it!

How much should I pay?

For a decent product that is going to do its job well you are looking at around £4-£14 . You will probably have to order online unless your local groomer keeps a retail store of salon colognes, so factor in the shipping. When it comes to dog shampoos and sprays you really do get what you pay for, and a fresh dog is a pleasure to live with. Happy grooming!

 

 

I have some really nice bows to give away! They slip onto the collar-one size fits all-so that any dog can wear them, not just the longer coated breeds. Of course they can be worn in the hair, but for ease of application and comfort they were designed as collar bows. This contest is open to all, and the bows will ship anywhere in the world . If you win, you can choose any 5 bows from the dog bow website  that you like, including luxury bows and personalised ones having your own dog’s name on the bow!

 To enter simply put a comment on this post describing which of the bows you like best and why.  At the end of the month a name will be selected at random and the winner can choose their bows, which will be made specially and shipped to them.

Dogs in bows get loads of attention everywhere they go! Good Luck!

Dog pedicures -or ‘pawdicures’ is a service that we got asked for more and more at the dog grooming salon over the last few years and so we decided to introduce it to our list of ‘extra’ pampering options alongside the spa scrubs and massages and oil treatments. There are those people who frown on this type of service, saying that ‘a dog is a dog’ and that they are not toys to be played with. I can fully endorse those sentiments, but as a dog care professional I can honestly say
1) It doesn’t hurt
2) It doesn’t interfere with a dog’s lifestyle in any way
3) Nail colour earns the pup lots of extra attention (which most dogs relish)
4) An owner who gets his or her dog a pawdicure with polish is extremely unlikely to allow overgrown and sore nails to occur, which is actual cruelty and a lot more common than you think
5) My dogs adore having their nails painted-as far as they are concerned all pampering is extra attention to be enjoyed

Now I am not going to say that painting a dog’s nails is easy! It takes a steady hand and a steady paw! It helps if your dog is used to having his or her feet messed with on a regular basis-this also comes into use when you need to trim the nails. The best way to get your own dog used to having the feet dealt with is to massage and stroke the feet while the dog is in a relaxed mood, maybe in the evening when he or she is sleeping by the fireside. Do this every day and you are well on the way to successful nail painting! If your dog isn’t keen and starts up when you approach his feet, you can introduce treats and teach him to have his feet held just as you would teach him to ‘sit’ or ‘stay’.

Once you are confident that you have your dog’s co operation, gather your tools together- nail trimmers, nail file and nail polish of your choice (I use OPI , Espree or Colour Paw and have never known of or experienced any adverse reaction to these brands. I just find that they are quicker drying, better visible and longer lasting than the other brands) , some cotton wool in case of ‘oops’ and nail varnish remover.
Have some treats to hand to reward your pet for his steady paw. Have a friend sit and hold him if that helps, you dont want him making a sharp exit halfway through and wiping the polish everywhere! Ensure that you will be performing the pedicure on a clean surface, any fluff or fibres etc will adhere to the polish very quickly.
Trim the nails if they need it -there is a post on this site about how to do that, and gently file the ends too for a smooth finish. Give each nail a quick wipe with a piece of cotton wool with some remover on it-this will clear the nail of grease and make the varnish more durable. Unscrew your bottle and have it within easy reach, but not where the dog can barge into it and knock it flying. Next, take one paw and hold it with your thumb on the top of the paw and your fingers under the middle gently parting the toes. Next- and this is where you have to be quick- give each nail one quick swipe from top (where the hair is) to bottom, then just sit and hold the paw for a minute or two. Maybe give the treats now, to help keep your dog from making that sharp exit! If the dog has dewclaws and you wish to paint them, I recommend leaving them till last, and painting them when all the other nails are dry. They are harder to get right and speed is of the essence as you will no doubt find out! Once each paw is touch-dry, you can allow the dog to put the foot down and move on to the next when you are ready. You may decide to give your dog a break for play in between feet-it is up to you, each dog is different and you want to make it fun for them as much as possible.

I would say one or two coats is plenty, any more and you start to get gooey, gunky nails which the dog will rub and smear within about 2 minutes!
Obviously some breeds are easier to paint than others-very hairy dogs are almost impossible unless you get their hair cut beforehand! Here are some pictures of pedicures from our salon archives

I read this article and thought it very moving, I sure hope these two have found a loving home already!  Here is the link to the original BBC report

A new home is wanted for two dogs who have become inseparable, as one acts as the eyes of his blind fellow pug.

Franky has taken on the role of guide dog for Elly, who sniffs the air to locate him and then nuzzles up to follow him wherever he goes.

The pair, who are both four, have been taken in by Newport RSPCA officials, who say they must be homed together.

“He looks out for her and provides support while guiding her on walks or to food or water,” said Elaine Buchan.

Both Elly and Franky must go to the same new home, says the Newport RSPCA
The pugs will need operations before they are able to leave for any new home which offers to take them both in.

“There’s absolutely no option of homing them separately as it would break their hearts and also be wholly impractical,” said Mrs Buchan, the Newport RSPCA manager.

“They’re great little dogs and I’m already jealous of the lucky owner who will get to care for such a loving pair.”

Mrs Buchan said Franky, a boisterous and playful dog, looked out for Elly, who is affectionate and cuddly.