Hair, Hair, Everywhere Hair
by Casey Hampf
By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist
It’s August. It’s still hot and my girls are shedding. They were groomed a couple weeks ago, but you’d never know their long hair was trimmed and they were bathed and brushed. I can still brush them and get gobs of fur. I read online that there are two shedding seasons. To me, that doesn’t seem accurate because it feels like my two girls shed year-round. They perhaps did not get the notice.
Do you recognize any of these tropes? (A trope is a figure of speech using words in a non-literal way. I had to look it up.) The Second Dog: you can pull off enough hair to make a second dog. The Permanent Season: a running joke that double-coated dogs only shed twice a year – six months in the first half and six months in the second half. Mine are in this trope. Tornadoes: Videos of owners pulling off clumps of hair from their dogs. Vacuum Battles: videos of trying to vacuum a furry dog to only give up and let the hair roll around on the just swept floor. On that note, here’s a tangent regarding vacuums that may be helpful for some readers: I have finally found the vacuum of my dreams. This has been an on-going battle for years. Most vacuums have a brush roll, and it collects and wraps dog hair around it. That requires cleaning it after each use using a knife and scissors. Tiring and not the way vacuuming should work. Finally, I found a vacuum with “blades” and there is no tangling and wrapping. I was so excited.
There is no shortage of videos online showcasing dogs at the groomer. Some come out with cute new hairdos, while others look like completely different dogs when the grooming is finished.
YouTube has many videos of groomers tackling extremely matted dogs who have been rejected by most groomers. I watched one titled “The Most Incredible Grooming Transformation of My Entire Career.” A groomer from Canada filmed her untangling and shaving a matted Malamute who had been turned down by other groomers. She doesn’t use a brush. Instead, she uses a special blower and loosens the hair and then pulls it off the dog in clumps and throws it on the floor. There was enough hair to create several dogs.
While these videos can be fascinating to watch, they also serve as a reminder that every dog will have a different coat type and different grooming needs. Some dogs will require much more intensive grooming than others, depending on their breed, coat, lifestyle, and individual needs. Regular grooming can help keep your dog’s coat healthy and comfortable, but there isn’t one routine that works for every dog. To find out what is best for your dog, speak with your veterinarian or a professional groomer. They can help you determine how to support your pet’s coat, skin, and overall health.
Besides researching on the internet, there are many books about how to groom your dog. Amazon likely has some, or maybe your local library has one you can borrow. Alternatively, local bookstores can order one and would appreciate the business.
Two titles of available books on grooming are,“Dog Grooming for Dummies” by Margaret Bonham and “Dog Grooming for Beginners” by Jorge Bendersky. There are many others, so there is plenty of information available if you want to learn more about caring for your dog’s coat.
Whatever your dog’s grooming needs, a little research and regular care can go a long way toward keeping your dog comfortable, healthy, and looking their best.
Happy grooming twice a year or almost every day!
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