Dogs with a dense undercoat are always admired: they are beautiful, lush, spectacular looking and pleasant to the touch. But behind this beauty is very careful and proper care. Grooming of such breeds has its own nuances and secrets that can not be ignored, because errors of care can cause serious harm to the health and appearance of your Pet.
The main feature of dogs with a double coat is the presence of two layers of hair. The upper layer is hard, water-repellent, it protects the animal from moisture, dirt and even mechanical damage. The lower layer, the famous undercoat, has a thermo-regulating function: it keeps the dog warm in cold weather and protects it from overheating in the summer heat. Therefore, the first and most important feature of dog grooming is that this type of coat should not be shaved or cut very short. This can cause damage to the coat structure, loss of protective properties, and temperature regulation problems. Many owners, wishing to “ease” the life of their Ponytail in the heat, make the mistake of cutting the coat as short as possible, not realizing that this exposes the animal to the risk of overheating and sunburn. In addition, after such a radical haircut, the coat often grows unevenly, losing its original structure, becoming coarse and less attractive.
Grooming dogs with a thick undercoat involves regular and very thorough combing. It is this process that is the key to your dog’s beautiful appearance. If the undercoat is not combed out, it begins to form dense tangles that become a real problem for the animal. They impair air circulation, creating a favorable environment for bacteria and fungi, itching and skin irritation. Therefore, it is necessary to comb out such dogs constantly, and during the period of active shedding even daily. There are special tools for this purpose, such as fluffers, undercoat combs (rakes) and combs with sparse teeth, which help to thoroughly comb out excess hair without damaging healthy hair. The technique of combing also has its own subtleties: it should be done in layers, starting from the bottom layer and gradually moving to the top layer. It is important not to pull the hair too hard, so as not to cause discomfort to the dog. In the process of combing it is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin of the animal: if there are redness, irritation or signs of discomfort – this is a signal that care should be adjusted.
Features of bathing and drying dogs with thick undercoat
Another important feature of grooming dogs with dense undercoat is proper bathing and drying. Water and detergents can easily penetrate the dense layers of the coat, but they are difficult to rinse out completely if you don’t do it correctly. Shampoo or conditioner residue can irritate the skin and trigger dermatologic problems. This is why dogs with thick double coat should be washed thoroughly and not too often – optimally once every 3-4 weeks or when necessary if the animal is heavily soiled.
When bathing, it is important to use specialized shampoos for dogs with thick coats, which gently cleanse and do not dry out the skin. During bathing, the coat and especially the skin should be washed as thoroughly as possible, completely washing out all the residues of cosmetics. After that comes the very important stage of drying. Wet dense undercoat without proper drying can cause a “greenhouse effect”, which will lead to irritations, eczema and even fungal diseases. That is why professional groomers of our salons use special high-speed hair dryers, which allow to dry the undercoat quickly and deeply without causing discomfort to the animal. When drying, it is important to constantly lift and comb the hair so that it dries evenly and does not clump. As a result of a properly performed procedure, the dog’s coat acquires a healthy shine, becomes soft and silky.
In our network of salons V.O.G DOG SALON in Kiev grooming of dogs with thick undercoat is one of the priority directions. Our masters are familiar with the specifics of each breed, so they choose an individual approach, tools and cosmetics for the most effective grooming. All procedures are carried out on professional equipment, using hypoallergenic cosmetics, which gently cleans the coat and skin, preserving the natural properties of the coat. We carefully control the drying process, using powerful hair dryers to ensure fast, comfortable and deep drying.
