5 Dog Grooming Myths Demystified

Dogs give their owners lots of pleasure and in return they are well looked after, fed a nutritious healthy, balanced diet and given a lovely home to live in. However, other things owners have to do when caring for a dog is to regularly groom them not only to keep the amount of hair they leave around the home under control but to make sure their four-legged friend's coats look brilliant too. The other advantage of regularly grooming a dog is you get to check them over for any lumps, bumps or sores.

However, there are some myths about grooming, regarding a dog's coat and how they shed that need to be clarified and a few myths dispelled so dog owners know what is fact or fiction.

1. Some Dog Breeds Don't Shed

There is a belief that some dog breeds don't shed but this is a myth because all dogs shed the only difference is that some dogs shed less than others. There are low-shedding breeds out there but this doesn't mean they do not require the same amount of grooming as a dog that does shed copious amounts of hair around your home.

If you are a first-time dog owner, you need to be aware that your new pet, although considered a low shedder, would still need regular grooming, bathing and care to ensure they're coats are in top condition and to keep as much hair off your carpets and furniture. The only way to tell if you are going to suffer an allergic reaction to your pet is to spend some time around the breed that interests you and see how things go!

2. Dogs Only Need the Occasional Bath

Although it may be true for certain delicate and more fragile breeds, dogs do need to be bathed on a regular basis and this is especially true if they spend lots of time in the great outdoors doing what dogs do best - which is to get a little bit dirty! The other reason is that if a dog is not used to being given a bath and develops a skin condition that requires them being bathed regularly as part of the treatment, it could prove to be problematic if they are not used to this as part of their routine.

Regular bathing also helps prevent certain skin conditions from developing but the key to this being a success is to ensure you use the right type of shampoo which your vet would be all too happy to recommend for you.

3. People Shampoo is the Same as Dog Shampoo

This is one grooming myth that needs to be dispelled because dog-specific shampoos are formulated for use on our canine friends so it suits their skin type. With this said, some pet shampoos much like people ones, are better than others. The thing to remember is that a dog's skin is not as acidic as that of a person's. Humans have sweat glands all over their skin whereas a dog has them on the pads of their feet. On top of these differences, there are others which dictate the chemical formulation of a pet shampoo as opposed to that of a human one.

The main concern is that by using a human shampoo on your dog, you are in effect stripping all the valuable oils out of their skin and as such you cause the top layers to become dry which in turn comprises your pet's natural barrier against nasty infections and allergens.

4. You Have to Get Rid of Tear Stains

Although not very attractive to look at, tear stains are simply caused by reddish pigments found in a dog's tears. They are therefore, just cosmetic issues which really don't require any medical attention and as such are not considered as a health issue by vets.

A lot of pet owners around like to treat tear stains which is great if you want to have a prettier looking four-legged friend sitting beside you. But in reality, unless the tear stains start to look nasty and gunky they can be left well alone.

5. Choosing a Hypo-allergenic Breed of Dog Solves an Allergy Problem

There are certain breeds of dog on the planet that would be best suited to people who suffer from allergies. However, no dog in the world is not going to shed dander which is what causes people to have an allergic reaction not their hair. Even hairless dogs shed their skin in tiny particles which could cause a person to have an allergic reaction to them.

The rule of thumb is to spend some time in the company of a so-said hypo-allergenic dog to see you have a reaction to them before deciding to either buy or adopt a particularly breed of dog. If your allergy is going to be triggered by the breed you hope to share a home with, it will happen pretty quickly so you wouldn't have to spend hours checking this out before deciding on sharing an allergy-free life with them.

Conclusion

Owning a dog no matter what breed, is a huge responsibility. Our four-legged friends bring a lot of joy and pleasure into our lives and they become wonderful companions and friends. As owners it is important to make sure your pet is well cared for in every way so they stay happy, healthy and content with life. Grooming your dog is all part of a brilliant bonding process that just gets you closer to them each and every time you pick up their brush. Making sure you keep their coats in top condition doesn't involve a lot of hard work and certainly keeps our canines friends very, very happy.