Grooming your pet can be a chore at the best of times, but at least in the winter your dog is indoors most of the time. In the summer, all bets are off and any dirt, mud, or water is likely fair game for Fido. Add intense summer heat to the mixture and grooming your dog can seem like a full time job as the days get longer and the temperature rises.
But it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Follow these simple rules and you and your pet will be able to enjoy the summer months with just a little careful maintenance.
First, make sure to always bathe your dog after a swim, so he doesn’t have any residual chlorine from a pool or bacteria from a lake or river. And definitely brush his coat anytime it gets wet to prevent matting In fact, it’s a good idea to brush it once a week regardless of whether he’s been near water. But summer is the best time to bathe your dog, because the warm temperature not only keeps them comfortable but also helps their coat to dry faster.
Grinding your pet’s nails might also be a good idea, since you’ll likely be wearing shirts and you don’t want your pet’s claws sinking into your leg. Make sure to keep his eyes clean as well. Summer isn’t just an allergy season for humans; pet’s can be just as susceptible, and they can’t even rub their eyes.
Feel free to groom your pet outside, but make sure it’s on a leash, and that all your grooming tools are near you, in order to make the experience as pleasant as possible for both of you. And because of the sun your dog will shed more, so make sure to get rid of the excess hair with an Oster rake or a similar grooming tool.
Finally, make sure to check your dog’s nails for cracks and tears on a regular basis. All the regular outdoor exercise means more wear and tear on his paws.
