Dogs with long and soft fur, such as spaniels, setters, Afghan Hounds or Maltese dogs, require regular grooming in order to keep their fur in a good state. Properly groomed fur is the most important factor in ensuring the dogs’ beauty.
How to groom long and soft coated dogs?
To make the coat of a dog with long and soft fur look appealing and healthy, one should bath and comb it regularly. If you have a dog with such a type of fur, try not to skip these grooming procedures. Caring for your pet’s coat systematically will result in healthy gloss and beautiful elegant appearance.
Choosing the right products
- Remember to use cosmetics designed for long and soft fur only.
- Bathing products should be safe. Avoid ones that contain dyes, which is a common cause of skin irritation and allergies.
- In the case of shampoos, look for those that contain jojoba oil or lanolin. They will ensure that the dog’s long and soft coat is smooth, glossy and remains in good condition.
- Pay attention to the scent of the cosmetics. Lavender aroma reduces stress in dogs and will ensure that the pet has positive connotations with bathing.
How to properly bath a long and soft coated dog?
Preparing for the bath
- The first step is to prepare the place of the bath. All the bathing and drying equipment needs to be arranged so that it is easy to reach. You need to have handy a shampoo, a conditioner, a towel, a hair dryer and a comb.
- Consider putting an anti-slip mat or a towel into the bath, so that your dog does not slip.
- Afterwards, the pet should be thoroughly combed. In order to facilitate the combing, you should use an untangling product.
Bathing
- You are starting the bath. First dampen the dog’s fur with warm water. You should start from the back of the body and move towards the front, not omitting the arms and paws. Do not wet the dog’s head. The temperature of water should be about 37-39 degrees.
- Afterwards, distribute some wiry coat shampoo on the fur so that foam appears. Champ-Richer (Champion) shampoo is very concentrated and needs to be dissolved in water. During the bath you should make sure that the shampoo does not enter the dog’s eyes, ears or mouth, by covering those areas.
- Next, carefully rinse.
- The first application of shampoo only washes out dirt; therefore, in order to enrich the skin and fur, you should repeat the process.
- When you finish the second wash, apply a protein conditioner in order to rebuild the protective layer on the fur. Apply it carefully and while you are on it, you can gently massage your pet so that it forms pleasant connotations with the process.
- At the end, thoroughly rinse the dog, paying attention to the less accessible areas, such as the belly and groins.
Drying
- After the bath you should dry the dog with a towel. Instead of rubbing, try to gently squeeze out excess water.
- Next, the dog should be brushed. During this process you can use a specialist untangling product, which will protect the dog’s fur from mechanical injuries connected to combing.
- Finally, spray a light revitalising conditioner onto the fur. It will help you to properly style the hair, prevent it from picking up static and getting frizzy. As a result, the coat will have a more appealing look.
- If your dog is not afraid of hair dryers, it is advisable to use one.