A Dog About Town; When Is It Time for a Groom?

Is your dog overdue a groom?

We've taken the time to ask Ella Armstrong, Owner of A Dog About Town Dog Groomers nestled along Walkley's high street, her tips and tricks on telltale signs your dog is overdue a date with the groomers and what to expect on their first trip! Tell us about yourself….

How did you get into dog grooming?

I started showing dogs when I was around ten years old, then did my qualification at Sheffield college in 2013.

How frequently does a pet need a trip to the groomers?

How long is a piece of string! Some very high maintenance breeds prone to matting need very regular grooming, ideally 5-6 weeks especially if they are kept in quite a fluffy trim. These tend to be breeds such as Maltese, poodle, bichon frise, to name a few, or any of their crosses! Some breeds or dogs kept with very short coats can often go longer between grooms, and healthy short haired dogs usually only need a bath when they get smelly! Of course things like nails and ears need to be kept an eye on and may need seeing by a groomer regularly. 

What does a grooming session look like? Is there a difference between dog and cat pamper sessions?

The dog first goes in the bath, has a good shampoo, sometimes twice depending on how dirty they are and with conditioner if necessary. They are then dried with the high velocity dryer, taking into account how confident the dog is with this process. The dryer is turned down low if they seem distressed in any way. Once dry I clean ears, trim nails and start on the clipping and scissoring. Usually body, legs, tail and head in that order, but it's all dependent on the dog. I don't groom cats as it is a whole different kettle of fish! It very often requires two handlers and I believe cats skin is much thinner than a dogs and easier to cut, so this requires extra care when clipping and is very time consuming. 

How do you know a pet is due a session at the groomers, particularly cats? 

Ideally you want to take your pet before their coat starts to get any matts, but if they are starting to form/the coat is a bit tangly it's essential to get this dealt with asap. 

Are there any conditions that a groomer can recognise that an owner might not be aware of? 

The first thing I thought of was nails. Some dogs have particularly curly nails, which can  prevent dogs from waking properly and/or start to curl round into their pads, be it the pads on the bottom of their feet or their stopper pad near the dew claw. Obviously if this happens it is very painful. 

It's also common for people to think their dogs are brushed and knot-free when they are not. They often brush the surface of the coat with something like a slicker brush, leaving the coat underneath by the skin unbrushed. If this happens matts will quickly start to form and if left for long it will be impossible to brush out these matts without causing severe pain to the dog. To avoid this use a comb and ensure you are brushing every part of the coat and getting right down to the skin. 

Will a trip to the groomer be fun for my pet?

Most groomers try their best to make it a pleasurable place for the dog to visit, showing kindness at all times and offering treats. Taking your dog regularly as a young puppy is a way to try and make it an enjoyable place for them to visit, as they become accustomed to all the sounds and smells and therefore, hopefully, unafraid. Unfortunately lots of dogs don't particularly like going to the groomers for various reasons, be it a dislike of something such as getting wet, or an uncomfortable experience such as having to have matting removed. Groomers should do their best to keep dogs comfortable at all times and make it a positive experience.

What’s your favourite breed to work with and a breed that needs a lot more care than people think?

My favourite breed to groom is a cavalier as they are always so friendly and obliging. I think doodles are a tricky one, you see such a variation in coat type and every dog requires a different level of maintenance in terms of grooming, it's just luck of the draw. 

How would people find you / book an appointment?

I am very busy with my lovely regular customers nowadays and am unable to take on new customers, sorry! However, there are other wonderful dog groomers in the area.