QUESTIONS & ANSWERS...
This page is to try and answer some of the questions that come up regarding grooming: when, where, how
and why!?!! If you don't see the answer to your question here, please give us a call. We may add your
question here for others too see! Remember, if you have a question, at least one other person will too!
Q: Why does my dog need grooming?
A: All dogs need grooming at some point. Whether you do it at home or have it done professionally is up to
you and how much time you have. Regular grooming helps you to keep your dog clean (mostly!) and aware of
any skin issues, bumps, possible ear infections, and more. It is an opportunity to look closely at your dog and
observe him or her to ensure that they are healthy and nothing unusual is going on.
Q: How do you determine how much it will cost to groom my dog?
A: The cost of grooming a pet is based on the amount of time that we expect it will take. When we give you an
estimate we are expecting that your dog is standard for their breed or mix of breeds, they are not matted or
need excessive amounts of brushout, etc. and that they are well-behaved. These factors can vary from dog to
dog and then the price will vary. For example: a dog that is matted, not used to being groomed and very
wiggly and tries to bite for his or her nails will take us more time than one who comes in regularly, is not
matted and is well-behaved.
Q: When should I start getting my puppy familiar with the grooming process?
A: Ideally puppies should be introduced to grooming from birth. Whether doing it at home or having it
professionally done, nails can be done at the breeders and then continued at home. When bathing puppies,
be sure to use a shampoo safe for small dogs. A puppies first trip to a grooming salon would ideally be at 8
to 12 weeks of age for a bath and getting to know the groomer - in some cases a little bit of neatening and
nails. If you can't or haven't been able to get your puppy to start at an early age, don't give up! The sooner the
better so they will learn that there is nothing to worry about!
Q: Will my dog be taken out to pee while at the salon for grooming?
A: If time allows, we will take your dog out to pee. However, we cannot guarantee this and it is your
responsibility to make sure that your pet has gone to the bathroom prior to being dropped off with us.
Q:My dog has sensititive skin? Will grooming hurt him?
A: Grooming helps a dogs skin and coat, especially with the appropriate shampoos. At Bark Easy we use the
very best shampoos. We have gently scented, conditioning shampoos, all natural shampoos for sensitive
skin and coat and oatmeal products as well as hypo-allergenic products. If your vet prescribes a shampoo for
your pet, you can bring that in and we will use that to shampoo your dog for you. Please let us know if you
have any questions or concerns so we can help make this a great experience for both you and your pet!
Q: What happens to my dog a grooming salon?
A: There are different types of salons, some have you drop-off in the morning with pickup sometime in the
afternoon. Others have appointments specifically for your pet and will groom him start to finish.
At Bark Easy, we offer both grooming by appointment time and drop-off for extended periods of time. You can
drop your pet off any time between 8 a.m. and the scheduled appointment time for your pet.
Typically when your pet comes into the salon, there is some prework done such as dematting, nails, ears etc.
Then your pet will have her bath, and is dried on a drying table with a hand dryer. Your pet will be mostly dry at
this time and will likely go into a crate to finish drying so she will not be damp. (At Bark Easy none of our
dryers are heated dryers and all use room temperature air.) Once your pet is completely dry, she will come
out and have her finish work completed whether it is a little bit of neatening or a full-haircut.
We will work around your schedule if you give us advance notice of any appointments or plans you have for
the day. If you need a specific pick-up time for your pet - we will do our best to accommodate you.
We know in some cases you may need special accommodations for elderly pets or nervous pets and we will
be glad to work with you on giving them the best care possible and getting them home to you as soon as we
can.
Q: How do I know if a groomer is trained and will be good to my pet and keep them safe?
A: Groomers should have gone through a course of study that includes practical experience. There are
college programs, certification programs and apprenticeships that train people to groom pets.
There are also organizations that groomers belong to and additional certifications that a groomer can obtain.
Check to see if they are familiar with your type of dog or mixed breed. Unfortunately, there are no licensing
requirements for groomers at this time, so ask alot of questions!
The best way for you to be certain is to interview the groomer, either by phone or stop by. A good groomer
should not mind you stopping by at any time to ask questions or take a peek at where your pet will be.
Though be sensitive to the groomers time. If your pet where at the groomers and someone new came in, you
would want to make sure that the groomer was still giving your pet the care and attention he or she deserves!
Make sure you are comfortable with the person that will be grooming your pet. Bring your pet with you so you
can see how your pet and the groomer interact.
Word of mouth is a great way to find someone so just ask around! If you see someone walking their dog or
carrying their pet - ask them if they have any recommendations!
Q: Do I have to make a choice on which groomer to use?
A: You can choose to have your pet groomed by the same groomer for each visit or whoever is available. It is
your choice and we have customers that have preferences and some that don't. So either way is fine. Just let
us know at the time we book your appointment.
Q: What exactly does it mean when my dog has a matt or is matted?
A: A matt is a tangle in the hair. This can happen whether your dog is double-coated (sheds) or not (the hair
continues to grow like a human's hair and needs to be cut).
Imagine if you didn't brush your hair, how it would be. Even short hair can get messy! If you have longer hair
and don't brush it, it gets tangled. If you don't brush out those tangles and then wash your hair or it gets wet
when swimming or outside in the rain, the tangles tighten. When you sleep on your hair, night after night and
don't brush it, this adds to the tangles. This is how a dog's hair will tangle or matt also. The longer the hair,
the more brushing that is necessary to keep it from getting tangled.
If you take a comb (we suggest a metal toothed comb) and try to comb your dogs hair from the skin out - not
just the ends - and the comb gets stuck - you are finding the tangles. If these tangles are not removed, they
will turn into matts. Matts that are not brushed out will get tighter and tighter and closer to the skin. We can
dematt dogs that have occassional matts and/or when the matts are not too close to the skin.
Yes, this does hurt the dog, even if you are gentle, there is still tugging and pulling. Some dogs are better at
putting up with this than others.
Shaving a severely matted pet is not an easy task for the pet or the groomer. Though an experienced groomer
is very careful, there is still a risk of your pet's skin being nicked by the clipper when shaving them so closely,
but if they are that badly matted, there really is no choice.
If your dog comes in and is matted, we will work with you to help you prevent this from happening in the future.
Helping you to identfy matts and tangles, how to help at home between groomings and depending upon what
you can do at home, how you like your dog to look and what type of grooming schedule is best, there are
various styling and lengths can help alleviate this.
Q: My dog's shedding all the time! Will cutting the hair reduce the shedding?
A: Shaving a dog with a double coat (those that shed alot!) will usually change the dogs coat. There are guard
hairs and undercoat. When a dog with a double coat is shaved the undercoat can get thicker and over take
the guard hairs. This may make the coat grow back thicker and it can change texture and sometimes color.
Cutting the coat will not stop shedding, the hair that sheds is just shorter since it has been cut.
Q: Will cutting my dogs hair in the summer make him cooler?
A: Typically shaving a dog in the summer will not make him cooler. Dogs do not sweat through their skin as
people do, they cool themselves through panting (the tongue helps to regulate the dogs temperature) and the
pads on their feet.
What does make your dog cooler is making sure that the undercoat has been thoroughly brushed out! This is
very important! Typically dogs with undercoat shed all the time. The undercoat is constantly shedding and
filling in. You will see a bigger loss of coat with seasonal shedding in the spring and early summer. Making
sure all of this coat is removed is the best way to keep your dog cool! Leaving the guard hairs to protect the
dogs skin and insulate him from the heat, just as your refrigerator is insulated to keep the coolness in and the
heat out.
It is also important to keep the undercoat brushed out of dogs that go swimming and get wet in the summer.
If they are not brushed out regularly, they can develop "hot spots" or weepy, scabby spots on the skin that can
develop when the coat retains too much moisture and keeps it close to the skin where it gets irritated and
develops sores.
Q: Why would I want to groom my double-coated dog in the winter? Doesn't he need that undercoat to
keep him warm?
A: Grooming and removing undercoat will never hurt your dog and will always keep him from getting matted.
Again, it can help prevent hot spots that may be caused by the coat retaining moisture and not drying out.
Actually, a dog's coat, once the undercoat is removed, insulates him from the heat and cold, protecting his
skin from the elements!
Matts can form if undercoat is not removed. These are tight and can pull on the skin when the dog tries to
move. They will get tigher and tighter until they are so close to the skin, the only way to remove them is to
shave under them. Matts do not keep your dog warm, they are tight balls of fur. Keeping your dogs coat fluffy
and full and brushed out is the best way to ensure the he is warm and comfortable during the winter months.
If you wait and have your dogs undercoat only removed once a year in the spring, it will be very hard on your
dog, pulling on his or her skin and making the grooming process a difficult one.
We recommend grooming your double coated dog at least every 3 months.
Q: My dog has hair that grows when not cut, there is no shedding and I do not plan to get his hair cut, I
want to keep him in full coat. How often should I get him groomed?
A: If your dog is in full coat, that is long and not in a "pet" style haircut, you should be doing daily brushout at
home. Make sure you are brushing your dog out from underneath working torward the top of the coat, one
layer at a time and working from the skin out. Matts from quickly and if not brushing out, they can work their
way closer and closer to the skin. If they are not worked out, they will either pull all the hair out when brushed
or need to be shaved out. If bathing him at home, make sure he is completely brushed out before and after
the bath. If you bathe him when wet, it can make the matts tighter and tighter each time he is bathed.
If you were to keep your dog in full coat and want professional assistance, we recommend coming in every
two weeks for a bath and brushout. This is flexible depending upon how much work you will be doing at
home and how easy you find to maintain it.
Q: My dog has hair that grows if not cut and I want to keep my dog in a haircut so it easier to maintain.
How often should I bring her in for grooming?
A: Most dogs that get a regular haircut will come in every 4 to 6 weeks. The time between appointments
varies depending upon how much maintenance you do at home between appointments and how long you
want to keep the coat.
and why!?!! If you don't see the answer to your question here, please give us a call. We may add your
question here for others too see! Remember, if you have a question, at least one other person will too!
Q: Why does my dog need grooming?
A: All dogs need grooming at some point. Whether you do it at home or have it done professionally is up to
you and how much time you have. Regular grooming helps you to keep your dog clean (mostly!) and aware of
any skin issues, bumps, possible ear infections, and more. It is an opportunity to look closely at your dog and
observe him or her to ensure that they are healthy and nothing unusual is going on.
Q: How do you determine how much it will cost to groom my dog?
A: The cost of grooming a pet is based on the amount of time that we expect it will take. When we give you an
estimate we are expecting that your dog is standard for their breed or mix of breeds, they are not matted or
need excessive amounts of brushout, etc. and that they are well-behaved. These factors can vary from dog to
dog and then the price will vary. For example: a dog that is matted, not used to being groomed and very
wiggly and tries to bite for his or her nails will take us more time than one who comes in regularly, is not
matted and is well-behaved.
Q: When should I start getting my puppy familiar with the grooming process?
A: Ideally puppies should be introduced to grooming from birth. Whether doing it at home or having it
professionally done, nails can be done at the breeders and then continued at home. When bathing puppies,
be sure to use a shampoo safe for small dogs. A puppies first trip to a grooming salon would ideally be at 8
to 12 weeks of age for a bath and getting to know the groomer - in some cases a little bit of neatening and
nails. If you can't or haven't been able to get your puppy to start at an early age, don't give up! The sooner the
better so they will learn that there is nothing to worry about!
Q: Will my dog be taken out to pee while at the salon for grooming?
A: If time allows, we will take your dog out to pee. However, we cannot guarantee this and it is your
responsibility to make sure that your pet has gone to the bathroom prior to being dropped off with us.
Q:My dog has sensititive skin? Will grooming hurt him?
A: Grooming helps a dogs skin and coat, especially with the appropriate shampoos. At Bark Easy we use the
very best shampoos. We have gently scented, conditioning shampoos, all natural shampoos for sensitive
skin and coat and oatmeal products as well as hypo-allergenic products. If your vet prescribes a shampoo for
your pet, you can bring that in and we will use that to shampoo your dog for you. Please let us know if you
have any questions or concerns so we can help make this a great experience for both you and your pet!
Q: What happens to my dog a grooming salon?
A: There are different types of salons, some have you drop-off in the morning with pickup sometime in the
afternoon. Others have appointments specifically for your pet and will groom him start to finish.
At Bark Easy, we offer both grooming by appointment time and drop-off for extended periods of time. You can
drop your pet off any time between 8 a.m. and the scheduled appointment time for your pet.
Typically when your pet comes into the salon, there is some prework done such as dematting, nails, ears etc.
Then your pet will have her bath, and is dried on a drying table with a hand dryer. Your pet will be mostly dry at
this time and will likely go into a crate to finish drying so she will not be damp. (At Bark Easy none of our
dryers are heated dryers and all use room temperature air.) Once your pet is completely dry, she will come
out and have her finish work completed whether it is a little bit of neatening or a full-haircut.
We will work around your schedule if you give us advance notice of any appointments or plans you have for
the day. If you need a specific pick-up time for your pet - we will do our best to accommodate you.
We know in some cases you may need special accommodations for elderly pets or nervous pets and we will
be glad to work with you on giving them the best care possible and getting them home to you as soon as we
can.
Q: How do I know if a groomer is trained and will be good to my pet and keep them safe?
A: Groomers should have gone through a course of study that includes practical experience. There are
college programs, certification programs and apprenticeships that train people to groom pets.
There are also organizations that groomers belong to and additional certifications that a groomer can obtain.
Check to see if they are familiar with your type of dog or mixed breed. Unfortunately, there are no licensing
requirements for groomers at this time, so ask alot of questions!
The best way for you to be certain is to interview the groomer, either by phone or stop by. A good groomer
should not mind you stopping by at any time to ask questions or take a peek at where your pet will be.
Though be sensitive to the groomers time. If your pet where at the groomers and someone new came in, you
would want to make sure that the groomer was still giving your pet the care and attention he or she deserves!
Make sure you are comfortable with the person that will be grooming your pet. Bring your pet with you so you
can see how your pet and the groomer interact.
Word of mouth is a great way to find someone so just ask around! If you see someone walking their dog or
carrying their pet - ask them if they have any recommendations!
Q: Do I have to make a choice on which groomer to use?
A: You can choose to have your pet groomed by the same groomer for each visit or whoever is available. It is
your choice and we have customers that have preferences and some that don't. So either way is fine. Just let
us know at the time we book your appointment.
Q: What exactly does it mean when my dog has a matt or is matted?
A: A matt is a tangle in the hair. This can happen whether your dog is double-coated (sheds) or not (the hair
continues to grow like a human's hair and needs to be cut).
Imagine if you didn't brush your hair, how it would be. Even short hair can get messy! If you have longer hair
and don't brush it, it gets tangled. If you don't brush out those tangles and then wash your hair or it gets wet
when swimming or outside in the rain, the tangles tighten. When you sleep on your hair, night after night and
don't brush it, this adds to the tangles. This is how a dog's hair will tangle or matt also. The longer the hair,
the more brushing that is necessary to keep it from getting tangled.
If you take a comb (we suggest a metal toothed comb) and try to comb your dogs hair from the skin out - not
just the ends - and the comb gets stuck - you are finding the tangles. If these tangles are not removed, they
will turn into matts. Matts that are not brushed out will get tighter and tighter and closer to the skin. We can
dematt dogs that have occassional matts and/or when the matts are not too close to the skin.
Yes, this does hurt the dog, even if you are gentle, there is still tugging and pulling. Some dogs are better at
putting up with this than others.
Shaving a severely matted pet is not an easy task for the pet or the groomer. Though an experienced groomer
is very careful, there is still a risk of your pet's skin being nicked by the clipper when shaving them so closely,
but if they are that badly matted, there really is no choice.
If your dog comes in and is matted, we will work with you to help you prevent this from happening in the future.
Helping you to identfy matts and tangles, how to help at home between groomings and depending upon what
you can do at home, how you like your dog to look and what type of grooming schedule is best, there are
various styling and lengths can help alleviate this.
Q: My dog's shedding all the time! Will cutting the hair reduce the shedding?
A: Shaving a dog with a double coat (those that shed alot!) will usually change the dogs coat. There are guard
hairs and undercoat. When a dog with a double coat is shaved the undercoat can get thicker and over take
the guard hairs. This may make the coat grow back thicker and it can change texture and sometimes color.
Cutting the coat will not stop shedding, the hair that sheds is just shorter since it has been cut.
Q: Will cutting my dogs hair in the summer make him cooler?
A: Typically shaving a dog in the summer will not make him cooler. Dogs do not sweat through their skin as
people do, they cool themselves through panting (the tongue helps to regulate the dogs temperature) and the
pads on their feet.
What does make your dog cooler is making sure that the undercoat has been thoroughly brushed out! This is
very important! Typically dogs with undercoat shed all the time. The undercoat is constantly shedding and
filling in. You will see a bigger loss of coat with seasonal shedding in the spring and early summer. Making
sure all of this coat is removed is the best way to keep your dog cool! Leaving the guard hairs to protect the
dogs skin and insulate him from the heat, just as your refrigerator is insulated to keep the coolness in and the
heat out.
It is also important to keep the undercoat brushed out of dogs that go swimming and get wet in the summer.
If they are not brushed out regularly, they can develop "hot spots" or weepy, scabby spots on the skin that can
develop when the coat retains too much moisture and keeps it close to the skin where it gets irritated and
develops sores.
Q: Why would I want to groom my double-coated dog in the winter? Doesn't he need that undercoat to
keep him warm?
A: Grooming and removing undercoat will never hurt your dog and will always keep him from getting matted.
Again, it can help prevent hot spots that may be caused by the coat retaining moisture and not drying out.
Actually, a dog's coat, once the undercoat is removed, insulates him from the heat and cold, protecting his
skin from the elements!
Matts can form if undercoat is not removed. These are tight and can pull on the skin when the dog tries to
move. They will get tigher and tighter until they are so close to the skin, the only way to remove them is to
shave under them. Matts do not keep your dog warm, they are tight balls of fur. Keeping your dogs coat fluffy
and full and brushed out is the best way to ensure the he is warm and comfortable during the winter months.
If you wait and have your dogs undercoat only removed once a year in the spring, it will be very hard on your
dog, pulling on his or her skin and making the grooming process a difficult one.
We recommend grooming your double coated dog at least every 3 months.
Q: My dog has hair that grows when not cut, there is no shedding and I do not plan to get his hair cut, I
want to keep him in full coat. How often should I get him groomed?
A: If your dog is in full coat, that is long and not in a "pet" style haircut, you should be doing daily brushout at
home. Make sure you are brushing your dog out from underneath working torward the top of the coat, one
layer at a time and working from the skin out. Matts from quickly and if not brushing out, they can work their
way closer and closer to the skin. If they are not worked out, they will either pull all the hair out when brushed
or need to be shaved out. If bathing him at home, make sure he is completely brushed out before and after
the bath. If you bathe him when wet, it can make the matts tighter and tighter each time he is bathed.
If you were to keep your dog in full coat and want professional assistance, we recommend coming in every
two weeks for a bath and brushout. This is flexible depending upon how much work you will be doing at
home and how easy you find to maintain it.
Q: My dog has hair that grows if not cut and I want to keep my dog in a haircut so it easier to maintain.
How often should I bring her in for grooming?
A: Most dogs that get a regular haircut will come in every 4 to 6 weeks. The time between appointments
varies depending upon how much maintenance you do at home between appointments and how long you
want to keep the coat.
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"The Best Things in Life Are Furry!" |