During the summer months your dog's care routine needs a little tweak, much the same as you would with your own beauty routine. The weather is warmer, we're generally a little more active and outdoors a lot more- all of this has an affect. Taking good care of your dog is important, not only because you want to keep them looking good, but because you also want to keep the coat, eyes and ears healthy too. There are lots of potential summer hazards out there, and because we love our four legged friends so much here at Little Soap HQ, we thought we'd share our top 3 grooming tips for your dog. Do let us know in the comments what you think.
Make sure long haired dogs have a cut
Not only will a good trim help to make the whole grooming process a lot easier by cutting down on the amount of time you need to spend brushing, but it will help to reduce a number of other potential issues too. Dogs wit longer hair tend to get knots and a matted coat can not only be unsightly but can pose problems for your dog too. Not to mention how difficult it can be to brush! Curly or extra long coats will need more frequent trims, so get the appointments booked in and don't skip them. With this in mind, it's worth remembering that your dog's coat has the amazing ability to help keep them cool in warmer weather, so never be tempted to shave them right down. This will only leave you dog susceptible to sunburn, and can result in the coat growing back differently for some breeds.Bathe often, but not too often...
We hate to give contradictory advice! It's important to give your dog regular baths, especially when you notice they're smelling a little less than clean, but too frequently is no good for your dog. Too many baths can strip your dog's coat of essential oils and lead to itchy
skin which is no fun for anyone. Aim for every few weeks if you can, and in between you can use a damp towel or grooming cloth to give a lighter clean.
When you do go for the plunge, we recommend using our Little Beast range to ensure your dog is pampered well. All products in this range are made with totally natural products and fragranced with only pure Essential Oil (no synthetic fragrance). We use English Lavender Essential Oil which is known to have a calming effect on pets as it does on humans, Apricot Oil which is both nourishing and moisturizing and ground coffee granules in the Little Beast Bar which naturally protects against fleas and ticks.
Your dog's bath water should be cool or lukewarm and you should avoid the head and eyes too. Always rinse your dog well and use a towel to dry them thoroughly afterwards.