American pet owners take their dogs’ looks seriously: The average
pet owner spends $73 a year on grooming-related expenses,
according to the American
Pet Products Association (APPA). All together, the APPA
projected that grooming and boarding-related expenses for US dogs
would total $4.11 billion in 2012. Just four years earlier, in
2008, the amount spent was $3.2 billion. So what are some of the
new and unique grooming services pet parents are opting for?
Temporary TattoosUSA
Today reports
that the trend of animal tattoos--airbrushed, using temporary ink
from non-toxic dyes--is growing. The pet tats, which usually cost
about $10 from a professional groomer, work best on dogs with
fair coats and typically fade away after a few baths.
Dogs Dyed, Painted, and Groomed to Look Like Anything But
Dogs…Painted
pets have been spotted in China for years and have been
recently been causing a stir among American
celebrity animals. Groomer to
Groomer magazine notes
“painting” dogs as a trend, particularly among dogs with
light coats. We’ve seen photos of dogs trimmed, dyed and primped
to look like
Raggedy Andy, giraffes,
camels, lions
(one Virginian Labradoodle decked out as a lion was so convincing
it recently spurred a police search for a baby lion on the
loose), pandas, octopi, dragons, snails,
ducks, peacocks--you
name it! Perhaps inspired by some of the daring looks sported
on TLC’s
Extreme Poodles, many of the pictures we’ve seen
surface have been of larger-breed dogs like poodles.The National
Association of Professional Creative Groomers (NAPCG) cautions
that only
semi-permanent dyes formulated for pets should be used. Pet
health expert Dr. Marty Becker took to the question on an episode
of Anderson
Live , and said the safest bet is to use food
coloring--but to also note that dyeing pets is illegal in some
states.The NAPCG does
not condone the use of bleach on pets. The industry
magazine Groomer
to Groomer has recommended Pet Paint as a product
that works on darker-coated dogs.
Wigs
From dog dreds to pups posing in more traditional-looking
toupees, we’ve seen plenty
of pictures of pets in fake hair. In a report on “outrageous”
trends,
Animal Planet interviewed Ruth Regina, wig-maker for
the stars, who has a bustling side business in making wigs for
pooches in all colors, lengths and styles. Newsman Anderson
Cooper’s even in on the style: He surprised
actress Kristin Chenoweth with hair extensions for her
pet.
Feathers, Beads, Glitter, Piercings, and More Bling
According to GroomingBusiness,
glitter stenciling--hearts at Valentine’s Day or a paw print just
for fun--is a new trend pet owners are interested in.
GroomerTV gives a demo of this style in action on
an English Bulldog, giving step-by-step instructions for applying
what they refer to as “booty
bling.” Feather extensions is also cited
by GroomingBusiness as a trend to watch.
GroomerTV video footage of the 2012 Atlanta Pet
Fair runway show off beads
and feather extensions, as well as dogs
dolled up in glitter.
Woman’s Day has included pet piercing in a
roundup of popular pet aesthetics, but it’s not without
controversy: A New York Assemblywoman from Staten Island
has suggested
the practice should be outlawed and a Pennsylvania
groomer who offered these procedures to clients was charged
with animal cruelty.
Trendy Haircuts: Mohawk, Teddy Bear, Puppy Cut
It may be
Ryan Gosling’s fault , but mohawks on dogs are kind of a
thing now. SheKnows.com lists it among the cutest
pet haircuts of summer. Other popular do's include the teddy
bear haircut (you can blame Khloe Kardashian for
that dog hairstyle’s rise to the top), also known as a puppy
cut, which you’ve probably seen on smaller breeds like
Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus and Malteses.It's
clear that for some, dogs have become an extension of
self-expression. Many may argue that some of these trends are
going too far, and we may see laws catching up to some practices
in many states.What dog grooming tricks would you try, and which
will you pass by?
How to Groom Your Dog at Home
Humans invest in grooming for a variety of reasons. It isn’t just
about looking good, but also about feeling good and maintaining a
routine. Well, the same is true for our canine buddies. Dogs,
too, need to be groomed in a consistent manner. While some prefer
to take their dogs to professional grooming places, others like
to do the procedure at home, but not everyone is comfortable
doing the latter. However, it’s important to know how to groom
your dog at home, especially given the current period when the
world is facing a pandemic. It really is all about building trust
and a deeper bond with your dog.
What to Remember When Grooming
Your Dog at Home
Once your dog is comfortable with the idea of you grooming them
at home, it becomes a lot easier. If you’re planning on grooming
your dog at home, here are a few things to remember:
· Gather All the Material Beforehand
Before you begin grooming your dog at home, make sure that you
have all the necessary items in place so that you don’t have to
go about looking for them right before you start the process.
Look up and research well about the items you will require, such
as scissors, nail clippers, trimmers, and so on. Consult your vet
to be absolutely sure about the equipment that’s best and safest
for your dog. You can also perhaps engage in a bit of
pre-grooming playtime with your dog so that they’re slightly
tired before getting groomed, and will hence sit still and be
quieter during the process.
· Start with Combing
A very good way to keep mats out of the question is by combing
your dog’s coat either daily or every other day during the week.
Simple brushing is not enough to get rid of the mats. Combing
thoroughly, therefore, should be the first step of the dog
grooming process, because once the mats dry up, they will only
become less manageable. Start from the head and go down to the
tail. Be careful around the belly area because that’s sensitive.
If while combing, you come across a tangle, just take a brush to
untangle it. Make sure that you don’t brush for too long, because
that could end up burning your dog’s skin if you do it on the
same spot for a long time. Keep checking under the fur to see any
signs of irritation. Gloves and curry brushes can be used to
brush dogs with short hair. Medium and long-coated dogs should be
combed and brushed using tools such as slickers, steel combs, or
a pin brush.
· Praise Your Dog and Give Them
Breaks
Your dog will obey you better if you praise them and acknowledge
their good behavior while going through a grooming session.
Reward their cool and calm behavior with treats so that they feel
better about themselves and the grooming part gets easier in the
future. This is especially important in puppies, so that they’re
more tolerant towards home grooming as they grow up. Also, give
them breaks so that they can relax and play around a little.
Going at it continuously will only get them exhausted or
agitated.
· Cleaning the Ears
Even if your dog’s ears are clean, they could contain a little
bit of wax inside, which is totally normal. However, it shouldn’t
have a funky smell. In order to clean your puppy’s ears, get some
cleaning solution and pour it on a cotton pad. Don’t pour too
much, or else it might spill inside their ear. Clean it till all
the dirt and wax washes away, making sure that you don’t rub too
hard, because this could cause sores. Don’t push the solution too
far inside their ear either. When in doubt, you can follow what
the groomers do: See to it that the cleaning solution is up to
body temperature before you put it inside your dog’s ears. Once
you’re done cleaning their ears, pat them with a dry cloth. Make
sure you praise your dog for going through this, because their
ears are sensitive, and they will need and appreciate your
comforting words.
· Brushing the Teeth
Using a dog toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth every day is the
best way to make sure they have healthy teeth and gums. However,
it can take a while for you to get there. Be sure to use a dog
toothpaste and not one made for humans, because those contain
ingredients that could be harmful for your dog, such as fluoride.
If you feel your dog could bite you, it’s best to not rush into
the process. If your dog feels overwhelmed during the brushing
process, give them some time to calm down.
Take a small amount of dog toothpaste on your fingers and spread
it across your dog’s teeth for a few seconds. Once your dog is
okay with you doing that, you can then slowly move on to finger
toothbrushes before making your way onto a dog toothbrush.
· Trimming the Nails
Be very careful before using nail grinders and clippers to trim
your dog’s nails. If your dog has white nails, clip until you see
the pink part. If they have black nails, keep clipping
little-by-little till a solid black dot is visible on the tip.
Clip slowly and close the clippers quickly, making sure that you
don’t use dull clippers, because they can cause chipping and
splitting.
· The Bathing Process
While some dogs love water, others don’t enjoy it so much. Praise
your dog and encourage them before a bath, especially if they
seem anxious. Make sure that the bath space is big enough and
that the temperature of the water is neither too cold nor too
hot. If a tub-type bath is something your dog does not prefer,
you can also go for a sponge bath by using a soft cloth to apply
water and shampoo on them. Be careful that it doesn’t go inside
your dog’s eyes, because that will sting them. Once you’re done
bathing them, ensure there’s no soap residue on them, or else it
could lead to dermatitis.
