A Step-by-Step Guide to Grooming your Silky Coated Dog
When grooming your dog, it is important to understand the coat type, to ensure you are using the correct tools and methods to achieve the desired result. Silky coated dogs are often known as long haired breeds, and usually feature fine and soft straight or slight wavy hair. They are often single coated, but some do have a soft undercoat of dense hair. The majority of silky coated dogs shed hair throughout the year, with some having heavier shedding periods known as blowing the coat as they get rid of a winter undercoat in preparation for the warmer summer weather. Regular grooming is essential for silky coated dogs to promote skin health, remove any dead hair and prevent tangles forming in the coat. Silky coated breeds include the Chinese Crested, Yorkshire Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Irish Setter and Afghan Hound.
Brushing Tools & Techniques
Silky coated dogs tend to need a fair amount of attention to prevent tangling and to keep them looking their best. Regular brushing will remove any dead hair, and will stop the coat from becoming matted and tangled, which is very uncomfortable for the dog. Some trimming of the face and feet may also be necessary on a regular basis. It is a good idea to plan a grooming schedule to keep on top of the needs of the silky coat. A full groom by a professional groomer is recommended every six to eight weeks for those belonging to less experienced owners.
Step 1: Brush the dog's body, legs, tail, chest and underbelly areas with a Pin brush, which helps to gently separate hairs while reaching the undercoat and removing loose hairs.
Step 2: Remove any tangles using a detangling spray and a dematting comb, using a gentle teasing motion, moving away from the body.
Step 3: Use a Bristle brush to smooth the coat and distribute the natural oils throughout the coat.
Step 4: Use safety scissors to remove any stray hairs which are around the dog's eyes. Always cut with the scissors pointing downwards, away from the eye, and with extreme care.
Bath Time!
Silky coated dogs tend to need regular washing, usually every 4-8 weeks, as their coats are prone to holding smells and debris whcih can make the coat appear dull. Bathing can help to loosen undercoat so can be done more often while the dog is blowing their coat.
Conditioner should be applied after bathing to help moisturise the skin and hair, and protect against tangles.
Human shampoos should never be used on dogs, as dogs and humans have very different pH balances in the thin layer called the acid mantle, which protects the skin. Human skin has a normal pH balance of 5.5-5.6, which is on the acidic side. Dogs, on the other hand, have a normal pH balance of 6.2-7.4, which is more neutral. Using a human shampoo on dogs disrupts the acid mantle, leaving your dog vulnerable to parasites, viruses, and bacteria. It also makes his skin feel dry and flaky, which can lead to repeated scratching and abrasions. This makes it easy for bacteria to invade. Dog’s skin is also more sensitive than ours; we have 10-15 layers of skin cells, canines have only 3-5. Shampoo with the wrong pH balance and/or harsh chemicals can irritate a dog’s skin and strip away the protective oils from his coat and skin.
Step 1: Collect all the items you will need for the bath, including a jug to dilute the shampoo if required, your chosen shampoo and conditioner, a bathing tool such as a Kong Zoom Groom to help massage the shampoo to the skin, and a helper to hold your dog if necessary.
Step 2: Place your dog in the bath or shower on a non-slip mat. Ensure the water temperature is suitable, not too hot nor too cold, and thoroughly wet the dog all over. Massage shampoo into the coat, ensuring that it is reaching the skin and that you do not miss any areas. Take care around the eyes and ears to ensure that shampoo and soapy water do not get into these sensitive areas. Rinse the coat thoroughly until you can hear a 'squeak' from the coat when you hold it between your fingers - squeaky clean! Repeat for conditioner.
Step 3: Towel dry your dog as much as possible while they stand in the shower or bath. They will almost certainly shake as soon as you let them loose. If your dog will tolerate it, you can finish drying with a hair dryer, taking care to avoid burns or discomfort from the heat of the hair dryer. Use a Pin Brush to disrupt the coat throughout the drying process, to help spread the natural oils and speed up drying.
Eyes, Ears & Teeth
Eyes: Check the eyes and clean any gunk which has accumulated. This should be done on a regular basis to stop deposits becoming hardened and more difficult to remove. Use lightly dampened cotton wool or Petkin Eye Wipes for mild cases. If there are excessive deposits around your pet's eyes, you will need to contact a vet as this could signify infection. If your dog suffers from tear staining, use a Tear Stain Remover on a regular basis as these need to be broken down over time.
Ears: Cleaning the ears is an essential part of a grooming routine, and is best done outside before a bath as when your dog shakes after ear cleaning, the debris has to go somewhere! Before cleaning the ears, inspect them. If your dog has a lot of hair coming from the ear canal, it may need to be plucked. Talk to your groomer or vet's office about how to properly pluck the ears without hurting your dog. Squirt a few drops of ear cleaner into the ear and gently massage the base of the ear as the cleaner dissolves wax and loosens dirt. Allow your dog to shake and gently wipe down the ear with a suitable wipe. Most dogs are not keen on this process, so be sure to reward with a delicious treat.
Dental: Choose a suitable toothbrush and toothpaste (one designed for dogs!) for your pet. Most toothpastes are designed to be used on a daily basis. If your pet will not tolerate tooth brushing, implement other strategies to control their dental health and hygiene such as using a Dental Rinse which can be added to their water bowl.
Nail Maintenance
Unless your dog spends a lot of time exercising on hard surfaces, it is likely that they will need their nails trimmed on a regular basis.
Few dogs enjoy this, so it is unlikely to be your favourite shared activity, but regular handling of the feet, weekly nail trims and lots of rewards will help to make the process easier and less daunting to both you and your pet.
Ensure that you hold your dog's paw gently yet firmly to prevent slipping, and always use clippers such as Ancol Nail Clippers which have a guard to help prevent serious accidents.
It is common to cause a small bleed when clipping nails, especially with darker nails, so keep some first aid gear on hand to stem any bleeding and reduce the trauma to both yourself and your dog.
If your dog is likely to resist nail trimming, enlist the help of another calm person to help with holding the dog as still as possible.
