How to Groom a Hypoallergenic Dog

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How to Groom a Hypoallergenic Dog

Medium

10 - 30 Minutes

1 Day

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Introduction

Hypoallergenic dogs are great for people who can't be around shedding dogs due to pet allergies. When most people think of hypoallergenic dogs they think of Poodles, Shih Ttzus and Yorkshire Terriers, but hypoallergenic dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Havanese, Irish Water Spaniel, Portuguese Water Dog, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Schnauzer, Puli, Wheaten, Airedale, Border, Carin, Highland and Wire fox terriers and Bouvier des Flandres are just some of the other breeds that have hair-like coats instead of fur, and are considered to be low shedding, hypoallergenic dogs. That’s the good news!

The bad news: they require quite a bit of grooming, as the hair coats tend to be wavy and catch loose hair and debris, forming knots. Also, because they do not shed much, and their hair continuously grows, it can become quite long and unruly, and the hair that is not lost tends to stay embedded in curly coats and needs to be removed. If you do not wash, brush and clip or trim your hypoallergenic dog, you’re going to end up with a tangled, matted mess.

Dog's Perspective

Hypoallergenic dogs sometimes do not love being groomed, even though they desperately need daily grooming and monthly trimming and clipping. The reason is that their curly coats become tangled easily, and if someone has been rough in the past or overly aggressive grooming him, your hypoallergenic sweetie got his skin pulled, and it hurt! It is important to carefully separate hypoallergenic dogs' hair into sections and work thoroughly, but carefully, to remove tangles without pulling. Also, finding a good professional groomer to help you with monthly or semi-monthly clipping and trimming, who is patient and skilled, will make grooming much more pleasant for your hypoallergenic-haired friend.

The Regular Clipping Method

Effective

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Clipper

Step

Do your research

Find a good professional groomer. Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors, or research on the internet or your with local business bureau to get feedback and reviews.

Step

Check them out

When you visit the salon, talk to the groomer. Do they ask for guidance on how you want your dog trimmed, or ask if you have any concerns? Is the salon clean? Does the groomer act professionally? If not you may want to find another salon before committing your hypoallergenic dog.

Step

Check for equipment

A professional groomer should have an elevated grooming table, appropriate for your dog's size and fitted with a neck restraint, non-slip pads, and sometimes an under the belly restraint to hold your dog securely while being groomed.

Step

Get professional grooming

The professional groomer will brush, bathe, dry, and trim and clip your dog. They may also express anal glands and trim toenails.

Step

Check your dog

Check afterwards for uneven trimming or cuts or nicks on your dog. There should not be any. Make sure no razor burn occurred from clippers and tools being overheated. If you have any concerns, address with your groomer or find another provider.

The At Home Method

Effective

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Spray

Slicker Brush

Comb

Step

Use detangler

You will need to brush your hypoallergenic dog daily between salon visits to keep his coat knot-free. Spray with detangler and use a slicker brush. Part your dog's hair.

Step

Brush in sections

Working in sections, starting at the ends and working backwards to the skin, brush hair.

Step

Get trouble spots

Move all over your dog's body, getting trouble spots like the belly, under limbs, neck, back end and behind ears.

Step

Break up mats

Check your brushing job with a comb, if you find tangles, use a dematter to remove, or trim knots out with scissors.

Step

Bathe as needed

You may need to bathe your hypoallergenic dog, especially if he gets dirty or has itchy skin. Use a gentle oatmeal based shampoo and use a leave-in conditioner.

Caution & Considerations

If you find skin conditions, or parasites while bathing or brushing your dog, get appropriate treatment.
Be careful working with sharp tools like scissors around your dog. Hold scissors parallel to your dog's body with tips pointed away from him. Make sure he will hold still.
Not all professional groomers are created equal! Make sure you have a skilled professional groomer that does not rush jobs and works with well-maintained equipment to avoid razor burns, nicks and cuts.
If you have any concerns about your dog's health or behavior do not hesitate to discuss with a groomer or a veterinarian as appropriate.

Conclusion

Most hypoallergenic dog owners have their dogs regularly groomed and clipped by a professional groomer. Finding the right groomer for your dog can take a few tries to find a good fit. Get references and check out the salon before committing your dog to grooming. If there are any red flags, fnd another groomer. Between professional groomings you will need to brush your hypoallergenic dog daily and you may need to bathe him also. When brushing, work in sections to get tangles out and remember that sensitive skin can become dry and itchy, especially on hypoallergenic dogs that don't shed much. Regular grooming and bathing with a gentle shampoo when necessary to relieve itchy skin may be necessary.

How to Groom a Hypoallergenic Dog

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Regular Clipping Method

The At Home Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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