How Do I Keep My Dog Clean In The Spring?
A new season can bring new challenges to your dog’s grooming routine.
With the onset of warmer weather, it’s tempting to groom your dog less often – but they need grooming regularly during the warmer months.
Get the best out of your dog’s coat with our spring dog grooming tips, which will make it easier to keep mucky pups squeaky clean!
Table of contents:
How do I keep my dog clean in the spring?
How I do clean my dog without bathing?
How do I keep my dog clean in the spring?
It’s especially important to stay on top of your dog’s grooming routine in spring, as this is when dogs start to shed their winter coats. When this happens to long haired dogs, if you don’t brush your dog’s coat, it will start to mat.
To prevent this from happening, establish a time of day for grooming, preferably before your dog has eaten or after a walk, so that it becomes accustomed to being groomed on a daily basis.
Start by gently massaging its ears and paws whilst being careful not to knot the hair, to get it used to being handled, and end each grooming session with a stroke and a treat to reward your dog for its good behaviour.
Here’s how to get the best out of your dog’s grooming in the spring:
Brush its coat regularly
Spring is the time of year when a dog begins to shed its winter coat.
Although most dog breeds shed, if your dog is double-coated, it’ll begin to cast its thick undercoat from winter in favour of a much lighter, thinner one as spring and summer approach. This is to allow air to circulate and its skin to breathe.
That’s why it’s so important to brush your dog regularly. In springtime, brushing is vital to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming – failing to brush your dog regularly can lead to skin problems and irritation.
Regular brushing also helps to remove dirt embedded underneath the coat and stimulate the skin’s circulation for better skin health.
We recommend using a slicker brush to remove loose, dead hair, followed by a comb to ensure there are no knots left in the coat.
Bathing in spring
Allergens such as pollen are more active in the spring, so it’s best to regularly bathe your dog to avoid bringing these into your home.
The best way to remove allergens from your dog’s coat is to bathe it every four to eight weeks and ensure it’s thoroughly brushed before bathing. Doing this will prevent mats from forming when your dog’s fur is wet.
Dogs undergo a cycle of skin rejuvenation every 21 days, so it’s important not to bathe them too often. Otherwise, you risk drying out and irritating their skin.
Use a gentle dog shampoo and conditioner as these products are kinder on its skin, especially if you’re bathing your dog more frequently.
As well as removing allergens from your dog’s coat, you should double-check that it isn’t suffering from any allergies. Sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes are all signs that your dog is suffering from season-related allergies.
If in doubt, always seek advice from your vet on how best to care for it during this time.
If you can’t bathe your dog after long spring walks, wipe it down with a damp cloth or pet-friendly wipes to remove allergens, and check it over regularly for fleas and ticks.
Finally, too much bathing can remove parasite treatments and make your dog more vulnerable to fleas and ticks. Therefore, you should check your dog after each walk and regularly update its flea and tick treatments during the warmer months.
Spring clean your dog’s bedding and possessions too
Alongside bathing your dog, it’s important to clean its belongings too.
Fleas and ticks thrive in carpets and upholstery, so it’s best to treat your furniture, carpets, and bedding if your dog picks up some unwanted critters.
Look for pet-friendly detergent to freshen up dog bedding and towels, as the chemicals in normal detergents can irritate and harm your dog’s skin. Non-toxic pet deodorant is another good way to freshen up bedding between washes to prevent it from smelling.
Throw out – and replace – tired and torn bedding and toys, clean collars, and dog clothes, and wash your dog’s bowls for a full and thorough spring clean.
Check your dog’s paws and regularly clip their nails
You and your four-legged friend will inevitably spend more time outdoors in the springtime. But with the unpredictable weather that spring can sometimes throw at us, you need to keep your dog’s paws in check.
On colder days, wash and wipe your dog’s paws with warm water after every walk. Doing this will remove any harmful deicing chemicals, snow, or ice that it may have picked up from the road. It will also prevent paw pads from becoming sore and cracking or your dog from becoming sick.
After every walk, it’s always worth checking your dog’s pads for foreign objects. Remove any debris and clean paws thoroughly, examining each pad carefully for any unwanted objects or injuries.
As well as checking your dog’s pads, its nails shouldn’t be left to grow too long. If a dog’s nails become too long, walking can become uncomfortable, so it’s worth inspecting them regularly.
Dog’s nails contain a vein known as ‘the quick’, which can sometimes bleed if the nails are cut too short. If it does bleed, use styptic powder to stem the flow.
If you’re not confident enough to clip your dog’s nails yourself, book a regular appointment with your professional groomer, who can help you keep its nails in check.
How do I clean a dirty dog?
The unpredictable nature of spring means there’s still a lot of mud around for your dog to play in.
If it has been playing in the mud, you need to act fast and wipe it down as soon as possible after its walk to prevent mud from setting in. Once dry, brush your dog with a slicker brush to remove any excess dirt and tangles before bathing, to prevent mats from forming.
Evolution has meant that your dog’s hair is self-cleaning, which helps keep day-to-day dirt at bay. But when you have no other solution than to bathe your dog, there are some things you can do to make them grime-free in no time.
Start by rinsing your dog down, then follow with a shampoo with deep cleaning properties to strip back the hair of dirt and grime. For best results, follow with a gentle conditioner.
How do I clean my dog without bathing?
During muddy months, cleaning your dog is unavoidable. However, it’s important not to bathe your dog too often as this can make its skin sensitive, dry, and sore.
Opt for waterless cleaning products to keep your dog looking clean and smelling great without getting wet.
Here are our top tips and products for waterless cleaning your dog:
- Pet wipes are great for wiping your dog down after a walk to remove dirt and allergens.
- Pet deodorants and fragrance sprays are perfect for keeping your dog smelling fresh and clean.
- Remove dirt and debris from your dog’s eyes and ears safely and with ease with gentle eye and ear wipes. Safe enough to use every day, they’re a great way to clean delicate areas without washing.
- Dry shampoo is a great way to freshen up your dog’s coat between washes when bathing isn’t an option. Massage powder through the coat to degrease and refresh.
With all of these tips at your disposal, it’s never been easier to care for your dog’s coat during the spring season.
Regular brushing, frequent bathing, refreshing their belongings, and keeping their coats and nails in check between grooming sessions will guarantee that your dog has fun. Above all, these steps will ensure that your dog stays healthy and comfortable during the transitioning weather.
Shop professional bathing products at Groomers
Shop our full range of bathing products at Groomers for everything you need to keep your dog’s coat in check during the springtime and beyond. From shampoos and conditioners to coat styling and fragrance sprays, it’s never been easier to help your dog look good and feel great.
Related Articles:
Here’s how to maintain different coat types in winter
Top 5 reasons why your dog should visit a professional groomer
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