Why dog grooming is extra important in winter?

Dogs need their coats to be healthy and looked after well to help them regulate their core body temperature. Over winter, we’re not just worried about keeping our dogs warm, but we’re also focusing on keeping them dry and clean. That’s because over the coming cooler months, your pooch is likely to be out and about in damp, muddy and even frosty conditions that can have a big impact on the condition of their skin and coat.

At Everything Dog, we’re proud to have an amazing team of experienced groomers working in our ‘Groom Room’. Today they’re sharing with us why grooming is so important in winter, and how they aim to make it the best possible experience for your pup.

Winter dog grooming – why does it matters so much in Christchurch

Christchurch has quite a variable winter climate, it might even feel like you experience all seasons in one day sometimes! It’s not uncommon to start off the morning with a bitter frost, and then find yourself ending it outdoors basking in spring-like sunshine. 

Something we often see over these cooler months is that dogs are coming into the Groom Room with coats that sometimes need a bit more care than they might typically need during warmer parts of the year. 

Here are a few things we find ourselves looking out for and dealing with when we’re grooming over winter: 

Matting

When dogs get wet/muddy and their fur isn’t kept clean or cared for well enough, it can start to get knotty and matted. When this happens it can actually even start to restrict their movement. These matted areas also can act a bit like a sponge, holding onto dampness right against the skin which can cause irritation as well as yeast infections and other rashes.

Skin Conditions

Mud and debris caked into a dog’s fur can unfortunately sometimes hide skin conditions like rashes and infections. A good groomer will not only remove any dirt from the fur, but they’ll make it their mission to carefully check all areas of a dog’s skin for irritation or infection, flagging anything they notice for you to bring up with the vet.

Shedding

Finding fur everywhere at the moment? You’re not alone, it’s THAT time of year. While losing lots of fur might seem counter-productive in the cooler part of the year, it’s actually an amazing process that supports your pooch to grow a brand new coat that provides the insulation they need. Grooming helps to prevent matting and tangling as your dog goes through periods of heavy shedding.

Which breeds need grooming?

People often think that only the dogs with big, heavy and fluffy coats need to be groomed, but this isn’t quite true. Grooming is actually for ALL dogs, but how you groom them is something that can vary between breeds as different coat types have different needs.

From Shih Tzu’s and Bichon’s right through to our big Newfoundlands, we adapt our grooming routines to suit their unique needs to keep them clean, comfy, healthy and HAPPY through winter and all year long!

How to care for your dog’s coat in winter

Grooming needs generally depend on your dog’s coat type and condition, as well as their lifestyle. Some pooches might just need brushing and washing on occasion at home, while others might need a professional groomer to give them a tidy up or more extensive groom more often.

A few key steps for coat care over winter:

Bathing

It’s really important to keep your dog’s coat and skin clean for their health and wellbeing (and to minimise bad smells). While you can of course bath your dog at home regularly, you might also like to opt for a ‘Bath Only’ at the groomers for a deep clean and brush. This can help to remove mud and dirt from their fur. At the Everything Dog ‘Groom Room’ every bath booking includes a full blow-dry to ensure their coat dries completely and remains free of nasty matting. Plus, it removes old skin cells (they renew every 21 days) so we can take a good look at their skin health underneath their coat.

Regular brushing

Brushing your dog’s coat in the winter months is one of the most important ways to support the shedding process and prevent knotting, and how frequently you brush will depend on their coat type. We recommend keeping a brush that’s appropriate for your dog’s coat handy through the winter months. If you’re not sure which brush is the best or how often you should be using it, come and chat to our team who will be happy to help!

Grooming

There are a range of grooming services available from a ‘Bath & Tidy’ through to trimming, detangling and styling. For some dogs with double coats, we might recommend deshedding treatments as these can be really helpful for coat performance (and less fur on your clothes and sofa!).

Paw and Nail Care

The cooler months can really take a toll on your dog’s paws. When you take them out they might encounter anything from cold concrete and muddy trails, through to dirt and tiny loose stones that can easily get stuck in the fur between their paw pads. Regular grooming trims this fur, keeping their paws clean and healthy, and at Everything Dog we include nail trims with every grooming service.

Why grooming at Everything Dog is different

At Everything Dog we believe grooming is more than just an essential part of your dog’s overall health and wellbeing, but it should actually be something they enjoy and are happy to return to time and time again.

Here’s what’s different about our approach:

• We’re not in a rush

Our ED ‘Groom Room’  is not run like a production line with a big line of dogs each day. We aim to only work at your dog’s pace… not the other way round.

• We keep things positive and stress-free

Our groomers use stress-free techniques that put your dog’s comfort first. This helps us as we work on building trust with them. We’ll use lots of reassuring voices, pats, cuddles and even a few well-deserved treats throughout your dog’s grooming appointment, ensuring the environment remains calm and positive every step of the way.

• We look beyond the fluff

As our expert groomers work, they also cast a careful eye over every millimetre of your dog’s skin and coat, looking out for anything unusual. We’ll always tell you if there’s anything we notice and alert you early if we think your dog may need to see the vet for their skin.

• Tailored experience

While many dogs LOVE the experience of being groomed, it does sometimes take other pooches time to settle in and relax. Either way, it’s all good with us. We’re happy to take our time and adapt our methods to suit your dog’s needs.

• Combine grooming with daycare

At Everything Dog, we are also home to Christchurch’s premium dog daycare service. If your schedule is tight, or you just want your pooch to have the best day ever, we can combine their grooming appointment with daycare, so they get to play, socialise, and relax all in one day… and return home looking (and smelling) their best!

Book your dog’s winter groom to get through the Christchurch winter!

From nail clipping to baths and full grooms, Everything Dog has a service tailored to your pup’s needs.

Get in touch today to book your dog’s stress-free grooming appointment. 

Book here