When you think of dog grooming, you may think that it is something only for the fluffy lap dogs and poodles of the world. Owners of breeds who don’t typically require haircuts—such as Chihuahuas, Labradors, bully breeds, and short coated terriers—often believe that an occasional scrub in the home bathtub will suffice in place of a visit with a professional groomer. In actuality, there are many ways in which breeds with these kinds of coats will benefit from regular grooming appointments! Here are four great reasons to pamper your pup with a visit from the groomer, even if your dog isn’t getting a haircut.
Intensive deshedding
When your dog is in the process of shedding, you might find that after bathing and towel drying her, she will leave furry tumbleweeds in your home even more than before the bath! The reason for this is that scrubbing and rinsing your dog aids in the process of loosening all of that excess undercoat, leaving it to fall off easier and collect on your floors and furniture. Brushing seems like the natural solution, but the fur just keeps on coming.
What makes professional grooming different is that there are special tools and methods groomers have access to in order to effectively get the job done. Hand drying with a grooming dryer is one of the first and most important steps. These dryers are nothing like the ones intended for human use at home, rather they are designed specifically for use on dogs for the goal of blasting away undercoat whilst staying cool so that your dog never becomes uncomfortable in the process.
After drying, your groomer will have a plethora of tools at their disposal to work the rest of that loose fur out. Different types of deshedding combs and grooming rakes will be highly effective and gentle on your dog when used by the hands of a professional.
Caring for your dog’s skin
It’s not just about the fur! A dog’s skin needs care, too.
Dogs can develop many different kinds of skin issues. The trained eye of a groomer is invaluable for spotting canine skin problems and handling them with the appropriate products, or for recommending your dog see a veterinarian in the case of more serious conditions.
Sensitive, itchy skin will benefit from an oatmeal bath or use of a hypoallergenic shampoo, while dry skin will be relieved with a moisturizing conditioner or mineral mud bath. Your groomer has access to some of the best products on the market and will know exactly which one to use.
And if your dog’s skin is healthy now, remember that prevention is the best medicine!
Pawdicures!
Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is important, but that isn’t always the easiest task for doggie parents to do on their own. A groomer can safely work with an uncooperative dog to get this essential task done, but keep in mind that pawdicures go far beyond that! Here are other things your groomer can do to pamper your dog’s feet: 
- File his nails down so they’re smoother than when simply cut with nail clippers
- Trim the fur between her paw pads to give your fur kid better traction when walking on smooth surfaces
- Moisturize his paw pads to protect them from becoming dry and cracked
- Paint her nails for a pretty, pampered pooch
The yuck factor
There are some tasks important for maintaining your dog’s health that are just plain gross. Luckily, a professional groomer won’t be squeamish about doing them!
Gently cleansing your pup’s ears of excess wax and debris will help prevent foul odors emanating from them. Expression of your dog’s anal glands to prevent them from becoming impacted can be done upon request. If your dog ends up with a flea problem, your groomer won’t balk at giving him a flea bath. If bad luck of the stinky variety hits and your dog gets skunked, deodorizing treatments will be happily provided.
If you’ve never tried professional grooming for your short coated dog, we hope you will now consider pampering your pooch with the loving care of a skilled groomer. If you are in the San Diego area, making an appointment need not be a hassle: Awesome Doggies will come to you. We hope to hear from you soon!