Getting Ready for Spring: Skunks

            It's the worst nightmare of every pet owner, that foul stench that sticks to everything your dog touches; the dreaded skunk spray.  

            Skunks naturally seek shelter, which means that the easiest place for them to find a home is in and around your yard; under decks, sheds and porches.   Making matters worse, skunks are scavengers, and are attracted to the scent of your delicious garbage cans and the feast inside - giving them yet another reason to visit your property. 

            Most animals in the wild will be warded off by skunks colouration and smell.  Of course, dogs have lost this instinct in their urban environment and will go after a skunk with abandon.  

          When a skunk senses danger (such as your dog chasing after them) they will emit their spray with accuracy up to 10 feet away. Not only is the smell highly offensive, it can temporarily blind another animal if it gets directly in their eyes.  

A skunk's spray in action. 

Unfortunately for pet owners in the 'Forest City' it is not a matter of if your dog will be sprayed but when.   So what can do you do once it happens?  

When it comes to a skunk spray the most important thing is actually what NOT to do. You should NOT quickly give your dog a bath.  A skunk's spray is an oil-based secretion and giving them a bath with their regular shampoo will only open the pores and allow the spray to be absorbed into their skin --  Basically ensuring that the smell will stick to your dog even worse than it would have in the first place! 

So what to do? Like most things in life, a little preparation goes a long way.  There is unfortunately no way to eliminate the smell entirely, but by using an appropriate product you will be able to minimize the effect the smell has on your pet, your home and your own body. 

Ideally you will take your dog to the groomer so your dog does not have to be de-skunked in your own home. However, dogs seem to have a knack for getting sprayed at 3 AM when everything is closed.  This is why I strongly advise all of my clients to keep a bottle of  a product called Nature’s Miracle  at home.  It works like nothing else I have seen before and is available at most major pet stores.  

If you do not have a bottle of this and you happen to be reading this at 3 AM with a skunked dog beside you, there is a good home remedy you can turn to.  Everyone has heard of using tomato juice, don't bother with this one. In my experience tomato juice mostly leaves your dog and house smelling like tomatoes and skunk. This hydrogen peroxide/baking soda/dish detergent recipe can be used instead.

Unfortunately, even after effectively washing your dog it is still very likely that you will be able to smell the skunk odour for several months, most notably when they get wet.

 So far I’ve been lucky and Wallace (my springer spaniel) hasn't been sprayed. Now if my luck only holds for another ten to twelve years we should be just fine - otherwise I've got a bottle of Nature's Miracle stashed away.

-Peter

Keeping Your Dog's Coat Beautiful: Brushing

Brushing is one of, if not the, most important thing you can do to help your dog's coat and skin stay shiny and beautiful. Brushing helps to prevent matting which can be uncomfortable, and even dangerous to your dog's health.

Many pet parents do not realize the severity of mats. Often, a  will matted dog will be brought in for "just a trim" and it will end up having to be shaved.  Asking your groomer to brush out mats is like asking a hairdresser to brush out dreadlocks. It just isn't going to happen without causing an unnecessary amount of pain to your pet.

Aesthetics aside, matting is extremely uncomfortable for your dog. Imagine grabbing a clump of your own hair, twisting it taught then yanking. Ouch!

In addition to being uncomfortable, the biggest concern with mats comes when they proliferate and whole patches form on their body, concealing other issues.  Matting can also trap moisture, dirt and bacteria which can lead to infections and sores.  It’s very easy for fleas and other pests to hide under a matted coat, leading to even more discomfort for your furry friend.  Here is a great article with information on why paying attention to your dog’s coat (and not just for matting) is a great way to keep and eye on their overall health

Finally, shaving a dog with mats is dangerous.  As the mats are pulled tight to the skin, there is the chance that the groomer’s clipper can snag skin that has been pulled up by the matted fur.  This is, of course, something every groomer takes precautions to avoid, but unfortunately accidents do happen.  

Needless to say, it’s in your pet’s best interest to keep a close watch of their coat for matting.   For most dogs, matting is easy to prevent, a quick brush all over (don’t forget the legs!) once or twice a week and they’ll be fine.  Other dogs' coats are a little higher maintenance and may need daily brushing.  It's important to make sure that you're using the best brush for your dog's coat type; for help with this click here. And this is a basic brushing tutorial. 

There's no better time of year to give your dog's coat a fresh start than spring.  Many dogs are clipped short in the spring and summer to keep them cool anyway, so your dog will blend right in!

  

- Peter 

My Best Friend Wallace

Animal lovers understand all the wonderful ways our pets touch our lives. We develop a meaningful bond with our pets that lasts long after they've gone.

I didn't know what I wanted to be "when I grew up" until Wallace came into my life. Caring for Wallace is what opened my eyes to the fact that my enjoyment of dogs was something that could be turned into a career.

Working with dogs every day as a groomer has only cultivated my love for them.  In fact, I'd go as far  as to say that caring for dogs has become my full-blown passion. I am one of the lucky few people who look forward to going to work when they get up in the morning. 

So thank you Wallace, for helping me to find my path and walking alongside me as I go down it.

This blog is dedicated to you buddy.

- Peter

Puppy's First Groom

Grooming puppies (dogs under 6 months) can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a groomer’s job. Sometimes it seems almost unfair that I’m paid to play work with a puppy that is happy, cooperative and playful -- Then there are the other times that they are frightened, overwhelmed and aggressive.

When a puppy is first being groomed it is best to keep the grooming short and easy. It’s more important to make a puppy’s first few grooms a positive experience than it is to get an extensive groom completed.

You can help to ensure your puppy’s first groom goes well by regularly brushing them and playing with their paws at home. This will to help to get them used to being manipulated.   

It’s also important to resist spoiling your puppy (I was guilty of this too, don’t worry). Puppies that aren’t told “no” at home take longer to submit to brushing, having their nails clipped or their chins held. Puppies need to learn when they are young, as with children, that acting up and crying will not get them their way. 

When puppies are frightened they will generally act in one of two ways; scared stiff and fairly acquiescent or defiant and aggressive… You can guess which my preference is.

Frightened puppies usually just need a little positive encouragement.  I always try to keep the real work to short spurts followed by a few cuddles and belly rubs to make them a little more comfortable.  Once they know that they are with someone who will reward them for good behaviour (with treats, positive encouragement and scratches behind their ears) they usually relax.

Groomers need to find the balance between being firm with the puppies and knowing when a frightened puppy simply needs to be comforted.  One of my most challenging puppies to groom to date was on my own Chinese Crested, Billie.  Some Chinese Crested dogs need to have their body and face closely shaved. This can be scary for them, however also dangerous if they squirm too much.

Billie would shriek and howl and make all sorts of awful noises when I first started grooming her.  The most important thing was to show her that, in spite of her protestations, I would not stop what I was doing and that she was not going to win.   However, understanding that she was scared, I also kept the grooms as short as possible and showered her with treats. 

After two or three grooms with mixed behaviour, Billie began sitting still and being very cooperative for the process because she knew that nothing bad was going to happen -- that she wasn’t going to be hurt and there was nothing to be afraid of.   Now at eight months, she is very comfortable being groomed, and the main interruptions occur when she tries to jump up to kiss me.

A puppy’s first groom can sometimes be hardest on the groomer who has to be firm while being looked at with, literally, puppy dog eyes.  Help your puppy (and their groomer) through their first grooms by booking short, simple appointments, playing with their paws and ears at home when relaxing, and as always, working on their obedience training to help them grow into healthy, happy dogs!

- Peter