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Warmer weather is finally here, and what better way to embrace it than planning lots of exciting activities and adventures with your dog?
With the summer weather arriving, you may be considering your dog’s summer grooming routine and how to stay on top of it to ensure it stays at its happiest during the warmer months.
At Groomers, we’ve pulled together our 6 top tips for caring for your dog’s grooming needs between grooming appointments so you can keep them happy and healthy during the hottest weather.
From taking care of the basics and things to watch out for to our top summer grooming products, we’ve got your summer dog grooming routine all wrapped up!
Contents:
Should I groom my dog in the summer?
Should I groom my dog in summer?
Yes, you absolutely should groom your dog in summer!
Dogs benefit from year-round grooming as it keeps their coats shiny and healthy, frees them from uncomfortable mats and tangles, benefits their skin health and improves their well-being.
The added benefit of summer dog grooming is that it allows you to check how well your dog is coping in the heat and for unwanted parasites within their coats that can be rife during the summer months.
While it’s important to keep on top of your dog’s grooming schedule and book them in for a regular grooming appointment every two to three months, there are also some important things you can take care of at home between appointments to help your dog thrive during the summer.
Here are our top tips on caring for your dog’s summer grooming needs;
1 - Brushing
Brushing is important in summer, particularly for double-coated dogs with a thick, soft undercoat, as it helps to reduce shedding, keeping their coat clean and tangle-free.
Brushing also helps keep your dog cool and allows you to check them for infections, allergies and parasites that may be hidden in their thick coats.
Mats in your dog’s hair can be uncomfortable, whatever the season, but in summer, they can trap moisture and irritate your dog’s skin. Brushing helps to prevent mats from forming (and can help you identify and work out any that have already formed) by removing the dead hair that could become tangled when left.
Removing dead hair from your dog’s coat also helps circulate air on the skin’s outer layer.
How to care for your dog’s coat in summer
Brush your dog daily during summer to keep its coat healthy.
If your dog is double-coated, its undercoat may need extra attention as it begins to shed. For best results, use a slicker brush and a wide-toothed or combination comb to groom your dog and keep its coat under control.
If your dog is single-coated, a pin brush and comb are perfect for keeping its coat tidy between grooming appointments.
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2. Bathing
In summer, your dog spends more time outside, which can result in a dirtier coat. It’s not just dirt you have to worry about either; foreign objects, such as burrs and grass seeds, could also get caught up in their fur.
Muddy, dusty outings may call for more frequent baths, but just remember that bathing your dog too often can harm their coat and skin health. In most cases, your dog shouldn’t be bathed more frequently than every six weeks, but this does mean that if they get dirty, they may require a bath between their grooming appointments.
Bathing your dog at home
When bathing your dog at home:
- Brush them first to remove any mats and tangles.
- Wet them from the neck down, using a damp cloth to clean their face to avoid getting water in their eyes and ears.
- Choose a gentle shampoo made to prevent dry skin, such as an aloe vera or oatmeal option. Massage the shampoo into your dog’s coat, again avoiding contact with the eyes, ears and mouth, then gently rinse with cool or lukewarm water.
- Post-bath, towel dry your dog to remove excess moisture.
- To avoid over-bathing your dog, regularly brush them and invest in a good coat fragrance spray to keep them smelling fresh between grooming appointments.
Recommended products
Can I use human shampoo on my dog?
Never use human shampoo on your dog, as this will upset the pH balance of your dog’s skin. Human shampoo is built to strip oils from our hair, whereas dog shampoo is formulated to retain oils and keep their coats looking healthy and shiny. Human shampoo will irritate your dog’s skin, making it itchy and sore, so avoid using it at all costs.
3 - Ear Care
Ear care is important all year round, but check your dog’s ears more frequently in summer, especially if they love to swim! If your dog can’t keep away from the water or has floppy ears where moisture could easily be trapped, check their ears regularly for any signs of infection.
Cleaning your dog’s ears once a week with a gentle ear-cleaning solution is the best way to keep them free from bacteria and infections. Use a dog-specific ear solution and avoid using cotton swabs or sharp objects that could damage their ear canal.
Unsure how to clean your dog’s ears? Use our handy guide on How To Clean Your Dog’s Ears and follow our simple step-by-step instructions.
If your dog shows any signs of infection, such as excessive scratching or pawing at its ears, odours coming from the ears, redness, swelling or any discharge, avoid cleaning its ears and visit your vet for advice and treatment.
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4 - Summer trim
Not every dog will require a summer trim, but breeds with longer coats may benefit from having one to keep them cool and fresh during summer.
Your professional groomer can advise you on how often your dog will require its coat to be cut during the summer months based on their breed type.
Should I shave my dog in the summer?
Never shave your dog or have them shaved in the summer unless your groomer advises it is safe to do so.
Double-coated dog breeds are at the greatest risk here.
Their coats are made up of two layers of fur: a soft and dense undercoat, which provides insulation, and a coarse outer coat, which provides protection from the elements. Their coat helps regulate their body temperatures throughout the seasons, keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter.
Shaving could damage this natural insulation system beyond repair, making them more susceptible to heatstroke whilst putting them at an increased risk of sunburn and potentially damaging their coat’s ability to regrow.
With this in mind, always seek a professional groomer’s advice before trimming or shaving your dog at home. As an alternative to shaving, there are other ways to keep your dog cool in the summer, such as regularly brushing their coat to circulate air around their skin and cooling mats to regulate their body temperature on hotter days.
5 - Flea and tick prevention
Flea and tick prevention is important to your summer dog grooming routine.
In summer, fleas and ticks become more active; flea eggs hatch and ticks are ready for a good meal after a long winter. Regular summer grooming is so important for keeping fleas and ticks at bay. Every time you brush your dog, you should check for fleas and ticks, particularly after long walks in grassy areas.
If you notice your dog scratching or biting excessively, redness or irritation or flea dirt in your dog’s coat, they will require a further flea shampoo treatment to rid the coat of fleas. You may also need to flea-treat your home to prevent recurring problems.
If your dog has a tick, you may notice a small black lump on its skin, which grows as it feeds. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and be incredibly harmful to your dog, so if your dog has one, it must be safely removed with a tick twister following these simple steps:
- Hook the tick twister underneath the tick and lift slightly.
- Turn until the tick is removed.
Most flea and tick treatments are oral or topical, and if you’re unsure of the best type and the amount to give your dog, consult your vet for advice.
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6 - Nail and paw care
In summer, the hot ground below their feet can cause your dog’s paw pads to rip, tear and blister, so regularly inspecting their feet is important.
Paw pads
Before a summer walk, place your hand on the concrete for five seconds; if you can’t keep it there for the full time, the ground is too hot for your dog’s sensitive paw pads and could harm them.
Never walk your dog when it’s too hot and inspect their paw pads regularly for any signs of damage from hot pavements and foreign objects such as grit and thorns. Regularly applying paw balm can help to soothe and strengthen cracked paws and prevent further issues.
Nail care
Your dog’s nail care is also important during the summer months. If your dog spends a lot of time outside, you may find that their nails need to be trimmed less during summer as the dry ground helps to file down their nails naturally. However, if the nails are tapping on the ground, it’s best to give them a trim to prevent them from splitting or breaking, causing your dog discomfort.
Recommended products
Find all of your summer dog grooming essentials at Groomers
Now you know how to care for your dog’s grooming needs during the summer months, why not shop for all your dog’s essentials at Groomers? From top-quality shampoo and conditioner to fragrance sprays and nail clippers, keeping your dog looking good and feeling fresh has never been easier! Or, if you’re looking for top tips on caring for your dog’s health this summer, read our guide Beat the Heat: 7 Essential Summer Dog Care Tips for Every Owner.
