How often should you groom your dog? The answer really depends on your type of dog. Your ideal grooming schedule will depend on things like:

• Breed & coat type
• The purpose of grooming (show?)
• Time of the year/season
• How frequently you brush at home -this often will diminish required trips to the groomer

Outside of these categories, the general consensus for the average dog is about once a month. Having your dog groomed regularly and by the same groomer can be great because your groomer may notice health concerns long before you do! It can be another person keeping an eye out for your furbaby! 

Types of coats:

Short Hair, Single Coated Breeds

Most short hair dogs will need only occasional baths with minimal grooming. On average, the lack of a second coat indicates these dogs were bred to endure mostly warmer climates, and it also means they will probably shed less often.

Short Hair, Double Coated Breeds

Typically, these guys will shed seasonally, and still don’t require too much in the grooming department. To get rid of that dead undercoat, you’ll want to groom them at least four times a year.

Double Coated Long Hair Breeds

These fellows were probably bred or descended from those who lived in seasonal or colder climates. You’ve got iconic breeds (just to name a few), able to tolerate extremes in either water or on land, like the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Labrador Retriever (bred to tolerate cold water), or even many of the amazingly intelligent herding or protective livestock breeds out there. In general, the ‘how often should I groom’ question was developed for these guys.

Called ‘blowing their coat’, most of these guys will shed seasonally, but will also shed, well, all of the time. Longer hair on these guys can become matted, and often the best way to keep up with the immense shedding is regular, daily/semi-daily brushing.

Thick Undercoats

In some breeds, the undercoat is so thick it won’t properly shed, potentially causing severe matting issues and may need to be shaved. You already know shaving a double-coated breed is not usually recommended and can prevent the two layers from growing in sync again.

Problems Due to Shaving Coat

If it is a warm/hot time of the year and you are not careful, your dog will become more susceptible to harmful radiation from the sun (sunburns), as well as overheating to the point of severe heat injuries. For this reason, it is vital you keep up with these breeds, visiting the groomer at a Minimum of every three months.

• Two coats may never grow in sync again, for the life of the dog
• Dog’s coat may lose that beautiful ‘sheen’ quality, sometimes permanently
• Coats can no longer trap cool air; more susceptible to heat injuries -If the proper length difference between the two doesn’t correct itself, this can also last.
• Coat no longer offers protection from insects (fleas will still exist if your dog has short hair)
• More susceptible to sunburns
• Coat loses water resistance quality, a potentially fatal danger in extremely cold climates

Silky-coated Dogs

These particular pups have a single coat that grows continuously and will need to be trimmed on a regular basis. Very short cuts can sometimes last from two to three months, but every 4-6 weeks is recommended to prevent matting.

Hairless Breeds

Today, there are 4 recognized hairless breeds out there. The Chinese Crested is probably the most popular, ironically still growing hair on portions of his body (the PowderPuff version is not hairless).

Bathing (with warm water) once a week is recommended since the Chinese Crested is more prone to skin issues than many other breeds. Sunburns can be a problem, but be aware he may lick any product put on his skin.

We hope this answered some of your general questions or concerns about grooming your pet!

A collar or a harness. Which is right for your precious little one? Which is more expensive, and what is better for that certain situation? They both have their benefits and drawbacks, but it really comes down to two things.

1. What is the situation you are accommodating for, and ‘Why’ are you considering a change?
2. The main argument against a collar is the pressure applied to the animal’s trachea (windpipe).

Below, we’ve designed a simple cost/benefit table for you! Though there are many more benefits (depending on the situation), these are possibly the main concerns for you.

When it comes to puppies or toy/teacup breeds, your answer can’t be more straightforward. Because they are delicate, much more prone to injury than larger dogs, you don’t want something applying pressure to the trachea. Though it can be the simplest, most basic design, you’ll want to go with a body harness.

What Discourages Pulling Better?

As you already know, there are countless designs of both above. The table you see only accounts for the traditional dog collar, but others exist serving many purposes.

Head Halter: The ‘head halter’ is almost like a harness for the dog’s face, and will force the head to turn in one direction if pulled, thus discouraging pulling, but the dog must also be trained simply to allow you to put it on. There are body harnesses that will also force a dog to turn in one direction if pulled, though not quite as effective.

‘Pinch’ or Prong Collar: Dog lovers might see these painful-looking metal devices and cringe, but in reality, they can be a useful tool if used properly. Though these collars are often called ‘choke chains’, that is the last thing they should do. In fact, these are designed to pinch the loose skin around your dog’s neck if pulled, not choke. If applied incorrectly, however, a metal prong jabbing into the trachea can be very dangerous. These are NOT recommended to use with small breeds or puppies.

• ‘Slip collars’, also called choke chains often, are designed to tighten when pulled, then loosen when the dog stops pulling. Of course, these can also malfunction if worn incorrectly.

Reflection/ Traffic & Road Safety

If you’ve ever had a pet run out in the middle of a busy road, you know well that terrifying ‘slow motion’ feeling you get when something dire is about to happen but there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.

No matter what material a dog collar is made out of, it can only offer a small reflective surface area. The vast majority of dog collars aren’t reflective at all. Most body harnesses made for dogs these days offer at least a small reflective surface, and some are designed completely with road safety in mind. If you invest in the right dog harness, your dog will light up like a Christmas tree in front of a car’s headlights and would be absolutely impossible to miss unless the driver wasn’t looking at all.

So with all this in mind, you may want to keep using what you are already using or get a new reflective collar or a harness for your little chihuahua. Whatever you decide, we wish you and your furry friend lots of happy walks!

Your lovable little companion, that warm and squirmy little wiggle worm you remember from days long past, is getting older. The gleeful excitement and zest for absolutely any activity is beginning to fade or has years ago. Your precious little furry child no longer moves so quickly, though he seems to jump at any random noise.

We all wish our loyal companions could live forever, but aging is an unavoidable fact of life. That being said, there are a few things you should prepare for, so you can offer the absolute best care possible during your pet’s golden years!

Weight Management

Because your older pet has less energy, he won’t want to play or run as much. This means he won’t be burning calories at the same rate. Also, just like humans, a dog’s metabolism will begin to slow as he ages. He won’t want to eat any less though!

Exercise and proper nutrition are both extremely important, even if it is only mild exercise your pup can handle. It’s natural for a dog’s joints to begin to wear as he ages, sometimes leading to things like arthritis (another fact of aging). Arthritic joints are made even more uncomfortable if those joints are forced to bear excess weight.

• Consider ‘ramps’ for your car, stairs, and any other incline so your dog isn’t forced to jump and climb.

Sight

Eyesight deterioration is another natural result of aging. Most dogs that live long enough will begin to develop cataracts (thickening of the lens, causing the eyes to appear cloudy). Seeing things around your house might become more difficult.

Thankfully, everything about a dog’s vision evolved strictly to augment his hunting abilities, and today’s domesticated pets no longer need to rely on their sight for survival. Even a 100% blind dog will be able to live a completely happy life, as long as you make accommodations! Be wary around traffic/roads, move furniture around your house to make navigation easier (or don’t change anything), and warn strangers or company not to move too quickly or get their faces close to your older pet (especially important for children).

Dental Health

Dental disease from plaque and tartar buildup can become a problem. Chewing on things like bones naturally helps break up these things, but if chewing is uncomfortable, your dog won’t want to do it. Thankfully, your veterinarian will clean your dog’s teeth if you ask, and you can purchase specially designed toothbrushes with Dog Specific toothpaste at most pet stores!

• Plan veterinarian visits regularly.

Conclusion: Accommodate

As he (or she)  gets older, there will be accidents. Your precious pet might begin to lose bladder control, which is something we humans can only hope others will be understanding when it happens to us. Our dogs might become more anxious and jumpy, have trouble getting around, and develop other health concerns. Remember, not any of this is due to poor training or your pet’s fault. Provide the same loving care you did with that tiny, squirming 5-pound puppy!

The end of the year has arrived, and again the year has flown by. Every year as I reflect back, I’m always so grateful for our customers who continue to support us day in and day out. Without the support of you, we would not be here. Secondly, I’m so grateful for my amazing staff who shows up and loves on all the dogs as if they were their own. The combination of both these aspects makes my job so enjoyable and reminds me that I’m lucky enough to do what I am most passionate about, loving and caring for dogs. As Pets in the City continues to grow each year our mission will always be to provide the highest level of care for each dog that walks through our door. We are so excited to enter 2020 with a bang and continue to serve you!

[We have our 2020 holiday hours posted click HERE to take a look!]

Do you remember that tiny, perhaps 4-month-old puppy with sparkling white teeth? They couldn’t be cleaner! Unfortunately, as they age, our dog’s teeth usually don’t stay that way.

Plaque: Soft, sticky substance, containing countless bacteria, that builds upon the teeth.

Tartar: Solid deposits that trap stains on teeth; almost impossible to remove without dental care.

Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth

You can actually find specially made ‘pet brushes’ for your pup at almost any pet store! At first, your dog isn’t going to understand or enjoy your hands around his mouth, but take a look at this neat training principle called Counter-conditioning.

Feeding your dog treats while trying to brush his teeth may seem counterproductive, but you can use enthusiastic praise, implement short sessions with breaks, and play! Your goal is to teach your pet that by sitting still and allowing you to brush, he is rewarded; the reward more valuable than the discomfort of having his teeth brushed.

Be Choosy About Toothpaste!

You want to be sure to use a dog-approved toothpaste purchased from a pet store or recommended by your vet. Human toothpaste contains fluoride, which can cause a bunch of different health issues and we don’t want our dogs to lick or swallow. That’s exactly what they would do since they can’t exactly spit any of it out.

Give Your Dog a (Safe) Bone!

Believe it or not, the simple, mechanical act of chewing can help break up plaque before it’s able to harden into tartar! Chewing bones is already a natural, instinctual act. All you have to do is provide the right kind of incentive, and watch him go.

Hard, thick rubber toys, like Kongs or toys with ridges, are also both great for your pup to chew on!

Dental Chews

There are several tasty treat-type-chews on the market these days, designed to enhance your dog’s oral hygiene. For example, this limited ingredient dental chew, designed by Nylabone, gives off a flavor dogs love while offering ridges to help break up that plaque.

Wet Food vs. Dry

Nutritional benefits of wet vs. dry dog food aside, wed dog food tends to cause a film to build up, and is more likely to stick to your pup’s teeth. Whereas chewing dry dog food doesn’t really give the mechanical benefits of chewing on a bone, it probably won’t leave as much of a sticky residue.

• Don’t offer Poultry, cooked, or hollow bones that might splinter!

Too Much Human Food?

We always want to treat our little ones with all the numerous tasty treats we can offer, but human meals weren’t designed to nourish a dog. They often contain more carbohydrates than you should be offering, in addition to the carbohydrates already found in their foods- potentially contributing to excess weight gain. Human food can also offer more sodium than you want.

Ask the Vet!

Not only will many veterinarians actually perform a comprehensive dental cleaning upon request, but they will also be able to thoroughly answer any ‘Canine’ dental related questions you might have! For some dogs, cleaning under anesthesia is the only way they will ever allow a human to play around with their mouths.

Holiday Ideas! Going to a friend or family member’s house for thanksgiving that has a dog? Bring a special dog treat just for the family dog! Other Gift ideas for your canine friends during the Holidays: Doggy toothpaste, toothbrushes, toys and treats that are specific to dental care!

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Anxiety is a body’s response to stressful situations, or simply stress in general, in both humans and dogs. A dog could suffer from anxiety because he is afraid of something, injured or in pain, simply uncomfortable, or not getting what he wants at the time (for example).

Symptoms of Anxiety in Dogs

Though they might change based upon the reason your dog is feeling anxious, he might experience any of these. It usually isn’t hard to spot a dog feeling anxious, for those who pay attention.

• Aggression
• Urinating or defecating in the house
• Drooling
• Panting
• Destructive behavior
• Depression
• Excessive barking
• Pacing
• Restlessness
• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors
• Yawning

Three Main Causes of Anxiety

Though there are many things that can cause a dog to feel uncomfortable, there are three main causes or reasons for a dog to feel anxious. Once you figure out which one it is, the symptoms all fit and treatment usually become easier.

Fear

Fear-based anxiety can be caused by simple loud noises, strange people, animals or objects, new and unfamiliar smells, or probably the most problematic for humans- fear of injury and harm.

For example, imagine you see a small dog huddled in the corner of his crate at a shelter, shivering and crouched, tail tucked and avoiding eye contact. This dog is suffering from fear-based anxiety, possibly fearing humans or the other shelter animals along with this new, strange environment he’s not used to.

Sometimes, all this takes is simple ‘counter-conditioning’, pairing what your dog fears with something he enjoys enough to dismiss the fear. Eventually, he will no longer fear what he once did. On the other hand, fear-based anxiety can be very difficult to cope with, especially in dogs suffering from past trauma, and sometimes requires the help of an accredited animal behaviorist.

Separation

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety don’t like being separated from owners or other animals, feeling uncomfortable when alone. This is very common, affecting an estimated 14% of dogs according to the American Kennel Club (which is a LOT).

This happens most often to dogs used to being around people suddenly left alone for long time periods, or dogs coping with owners that come home angry.

To cope with this, you want to slowly condition your pet to be alone. For example, start out with 20 minutes, 30, 50, an hour, an hour and a half, 3 hours, etc. The process needs to be very gradual, and you can’t greet your dog with punishment. He needs to learn you will come back to him every single time (which is probably what he fears), and your return will only ever mean good things for him.

Aging

Age-related anxiety is also common in older dogs, a fact of life. A memory, awareness, learning, and perception begin to decline, anxiety becomes expected. This takes an owner who is sympathetic and understanding to help cope with the confusion an older dog is dealing with.

Treatments 

If your dog is showing signs of anxiety It’s best to make an appointment with your vet. There are many treatments such as anxiety vests, medication (prescribed by your vet), training techniques to use and more. So if you have any concerns about your furry friend there are options! Talk with your vet, and see what he or she thinks!