Royal Oak Dog Groomer Gives 5 Reasons to Primp Your Pooch

Pets are part of the family, so it's important to schedule regular trips the groomer.

Beth Obey, of the Gentle Groomer, 4115 W. 13 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak, shares five reasons why you should wash, shampoo and pamper your furry friend on a regular basis.

1. Make your dog comfortable

"When your dog goes for long periods without grooming the hair grows longer and it knots up—and the knots only get bigger and bigger. By the time you finally get the dog to the groomer, we have to practically shave the dog down to nothing,” Obey said. That makes your dog uncomfortable. "They tend to get anxious and nervous."

When you maintain a regular grooming schedule, dogs get comfortable.They know how things go, she said.

"People will wait more than eights months to come in and their dog is just terrified."

2. Make your life easier

Does maintaining your dog cramp your style?

"As long as you visit your groomer regularly, the groomer has an idea of the length that works best for your lifestyle and the dog," Obey said.

3. Save money

Most groomers charge more for a heavily matted dog, Obey said.

4. Keep fleas away

When groomers work on a dog, they look things over from top to bottom.

"We can tell you if the dog has any parasites, if there is lice, fleas or any skin issues that might represent allergies," Obey said. "The number reason for dogs losing their overcoat—that’s the stiff wiry hair—is a health reason."

5. Avoid breaking or tearing nails

Most smaller dogs don’t have enough weight to wear their nails down, so they should have their nails clipped every four to six weeks to avoid breaking or tearing their nails, Obey said. 

"Getting nails done on a regular basis is an important issue, especially for older dogs."