Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes a companion animal look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health.

1. Grooming your dog accomplishes much more than just making your pet's coat look nice and shiny.
   It will provide us the opportunity to spend some "quality time" with your dog, combing, brushing, bathing and generally bonding.
2. We will be able to check your dog closely for any problems while grooming.
   We will examine the skin closely for signs of flea, ticks or skin irritations, and will look for any unusual problems with the coat such as mats, tangles, dandruff, etc.
   Mats and tangles can be carefully removed while grooming.
3. All dogs have sensitive areas that need to be groomed a little more gently and carefully than others. By paying special attention to these areas, we will help make your dog more comfortable while being groomed, and he will not resist future grooming sessions.
4. We will let your dog sniff the brush and comb before grooming, and then talk to your pet in a reassuring tone while grooming.

If the grooming procedure is made comfortable for your dog, he will begin to look forward to regular grooming sessions.

You always can be assured that your dogs is on good hands while being groomed with us!

Dog hair grows and dies just as human hair does.

1. Some dogs — particularly hard-coated Terriers and Poodles — hang on to their dead hair, thus requiring special grooming to remove it.
   
   
2. Other dogs give it up quite readily, all over the house. - Another reason for grooming...
   
   
3. Double-coated dogs generally drop their soft undercoats twice a year and lose their guard hairs once a year, although some individual dogs might shed constantly or only every 10-12 months.
   Shedding can take anywhere from three weeks to two months. A warm bath helps accelerate the process and daily (or twice-daily) grooming can help control clouds of hair that scurry into corners and under furniture.
   
   
4. Shedding is controlled by hormonal changes that are tied to photoperiod (day length) and is influenced by level of nutrition and general state of health. In addition to natural biennial shedding, a dog may drop its coat after surgery, x-rays under anesthesia, and whelping puppies.
   
   
5. Double-coated dogs that shed heavily are; Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Collie, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Newfoundland,
   St. Bernard, English Toy Spaniel, Pomeranian, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Smooth Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and American Eskimo.
   The Dalmatian sheds constantly, and many dogs shed a moderate amount of hair.
   
   
6. Owners should be aware before purchase that a long-coated dog, purebred or mixed, will require grooming throughout its life.
   If the inclination to groom or the time to do so are not part of the plan, provisions should be made for professional coat care for the dog.

Regular grooming is essential to your dog's health and well being.

1. Regular combing and brushing will keep the coat clean and healthy.
2. It will stimulate the skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate to the coat.
3. It will also allow us to carefully check for potentially serious problems.
   Check areas for hair loss, inflammations, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin.
   Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem.
   Check with your veterinarian about any unusual problems found.

Like children, puppies have short attention spans.

1. They will require some special attention.
2. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic.
3. We will begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so.
   We will constantly talk to your puppy in a gentle, reassuring tone while grooming to make him feel comfortable.
4. We will check his ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure.
   This will, in time, make him accustomed to being handled and examined.
5. Eventually, he will be quite comfortable being groomed, and will look forward to these sessions.
   

Ear care is an important part of grooming.

1. Ear infections can not only be painful, but lead to permanent hearing loss.
   The signs of a problem with a companion animal's ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odor.
2. The skin inside and on the flaps should be pale pink. If there is a foul odor and/or any red, brown
   or black skin, we will suggest to have a veterinarian examine your pet's ears...

Healthy skin is certainly a consideration for a well-groomed dog, and healthy skin begins with a good diet.

1. The rule of thumb is thus: If your dog does well on the food you buy, if his skin and coat are healthy, if he has energy and enjoys life, if he is maintaining his optimum weight, if his intestines are working well, if the food is highly digestible and thus leaves little manure to clean up, keep on keepin' on.
   But if the dog's energy level is low, if his coat is dull and his skin dry and itchy or sore, if a vet check shows no thyroid or other medical condition to account for the anomalies, consider switching the diet or supplementing with fatty acids.
   
   
2. Grooming is essential for healthy skin, not so much for keeping it clean, but for making the owner aware of any problems that may be developing.
   
3. Flea allergies can cause severe skin problems, so daily examination of the dog during flea season is a must.
   
4. Contact allergies can also cause skin to break out. Irritated skin leads to scratching, which can open the skin to staphylococcus infections.
   An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure for the dog and the pocketbook.
   
5. Skin irritations and infections can crop up overnight, so keep a close eye on the situation.
   

The choice of a groomer should be done with at least as much care as choice of a doctor, beautician or hair stylist,
for you must be pleased with the results of the "haircut" and the dog must be treated with care while at the salon.

If you own a Poodle or a Terrier, the selection may be a bit more difficult, for these breeds have special grooming requirements that take more time and expertise.

Needless to say that we specialize in these breeds... and ...naturally we are recommending our own grooming salon, so please come around, ask us questions and look at our tools and facilities. We can assure you, you won't be disappointed...

What your groomer can do...

1. Professional grooming is one of the best ways to aid in keeping your dog or cat free from fleas and ticks
   During the summer, in addition to playing your part at home, it's a good idea to schedule more frequent grooming appointments.
2. During a professional grooming, it is more likely that a groomer will discover any "hidden treasures" beneath your dog or cat's fur, such as ticks, and be able to remove them.
   A good, thorough groomer will actually search your pet for fleas and ticks in areas where you might have overlooked.
3. A well-groomed dog or cat is less likely to attract fleas and ticks in the first place. For example, we recommend clipping your pet if he is likely to frolic in areas where fleas and ticks may be present. "Clipping not only makes it easier to detect any fleas or ticks that have found their way onto your pet's body, it makes it easier to remove them and treat other skin problems that may occur."
4. For those who subscribe to the theory that pets' fur should be kept long during the summer months in order to insulate them and keep them cooler, we recommend extra grooming, especially with pets who have an undercoat, to keep fur from becoming tangled. Tangled fur often becomes a harbor for flea and tick eggs.

So when it comes to keeping your pet safe from fleas and ticks, it's important to understand that although good professional groomings are a great start, Pet Parents need to play an active role at home...and do their very best to keep their furry family member a parasite-free pet!