Keep reading to learn the physical and emotional benefits of dog grooming and how Hounds Lounge can help your doggo put their best paw furrward.

Physical Benefits of Dog Grooming

Maintaining Hygiene and Preventing Infections

As a dog owner, it’s your job to keep Fido happy and healthy. A huge part of that is keeping him clean! Regular brushing and bathing goes a long way. It’s also important to keep your woof’s eyes, ears and teeth clean to help avoid infection. 

Pooches must be cared for from top to bottom, so nail trims and sanitary cleanings are parts of the grooming process you just can’t skip! Luckily, if you’re worried about potentially hurting or irritating your woof’s sensitive areas by cleaning them yourself, you can have Hounds Lounge do your dirty work! We offer the a la carte spa treatments below:

Reducing Shedding and Promoting a Healthy Coat

For dogs who shed a lot, life is ruff without grooming – especially during Arkansas summers! Help lighten Fido’s load by brushing his fur to remove excess fur, prevent matting and distribute the natural oils in his coat. Monthly baths are also necessary to remove dead skin and dead hair, as well as all the pollen, dirt and other debris Fido picks up on a daily basis.

With regular trips to the groomer or dedicated grooming at home, Fido’s coat will look like a million bucks, and he’ll feel free as a bird! If you struggle with allergies, you might notice some improvements to your health, too. The benefits of dog grooming extend to hoomans!

Detecting and Preventing Skin Problems

It can be hard to know exactly what’s going on underneath a doggo’s fur. Luckily, professional dog groomers see pooches every day and can recognize skin irregularities. You can also check your dog for lumps and bumps yourself during bathtime. 

While every pooch should take flea and tick prevention, it never hurts to double check their skin for pests!

Emotional Benefits of Dog Grooming

Bonding with Your Dog

Whether you’re bathing your woof at home or at our self-wash stations, bathtime is an opportunity to bond with your pooch. It gives you the opportunity to love on your woof while building trust. Even the more difficult DIY tasks, like nail trims, can be a bonding experience, because they show your dog how much you care about them.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Just like hoomans, doggos need the occasional dose of “self-care.” That’s why dog grooming is important! Getting pampered at home or at the dog spaw is a grreat way to calm your pet and improve their mood. A clean dog is a happy dog!

For dogs who suffer from anxiety, grooming can be daunting. It might be helpful to get your dog accustomed to grooming sounds at home – use an electric toothbrush or razor to help desensitize them to “scary” noises. The more you brush and bathe your dog at home, the more they’ll learn that grooming makes them feel good.

Improving Overall Behavior

If your dog can sit and behave while being groomed by you or a professional, they deserve all the praise in the world – and some treats! One of the benefits of dog grooming is that it teaches your dog discipline and social skills. Who knew grooming appointments could double as obedience training?

Grooming for Specific Breeds

Different Grooming Needs for Different Breeds

When it comes to dog grooming, different breeds have different needs. Furr example, a Yorkie is going to require more frequent grooming appointments than a Labrador Retriever! However, both breeds can reap the benefits of dog grooming. Check out our Dog Grooming and Style Guide to learn how to groom the most popular breeds at Hounds Lounge.

Grooming for Long-Haired Breeds

Although it depends on the breed, long-haired dogs will likely need more trips to the groomer than their short-haired counterparts. Among other services, they require the occasional fur trim.

Grooming for Short-Haired Breeds

Short hair doesn’t necessarily mean low maintenance! However, much of the grooming for short-haired breeds can be done at home. Brush and bathe Fido often, and he’ll stay in good shape.

Some dogs don’t have any hair at all! Surprisingly, hairless dogs typically need more frequent baths than their furrier furriends. Talk to your vet or professional groomer about the benefits of dog grooming for woofs without hair.

Grooming Tools and Services

Essential Grooming Tools for At-Home Grooming

For at-home grooming, you’ll need the following tools:

• Brush
• Nail Clippers
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste

For more specifics on different types of brushes and clippers, as well as more benefits of dog grooming, check out our Dog Grooming and Style Guide.

Because shedding is inevitable, cleaning your house goes hand-in-hand with cleaning your dog. Vacuum cleaners designed for pet hair are the current bark of the town! Read our Essential House Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners to learn about other cleaning supplies you might already have on hand.

Professional Grooming Services 

A lot of grooming can be done at home. On the other paw, there are some jobs best left to the professionals!

Whether you need professional grooming services out of convenience or necessity, bring your dog to Hounds Lounge. Our professional dog groomers will treat them like their own and style them up right – Hounds Lounge has been voted Best Dog Groomer by Little Rock Soirée since 2017.

Check out our list of dog grooming services, ranging from a la carte offerings such as toothbrushing and nail trims to full service grooms with added spa treatments, like blueberry facials and pawdicures!

One of the benefits of dog grooming at Hounds Lounge is all appointments come with a complimentary day of play at doggy daycare! Sound grreat? Request a grooming appointment online now.

Self-Serve Dog Wash

If you want to scrub-a-dub Fido yourself but don’t want to make a mess at home, use the self-serve dog wash at Hounds Lounge! We have raised tubs for dogs of any size and provide all the products and tools you’ll need. The best part is, you get to leave with a clean dog and no back pain! Read our DIY Dog Wash blog to learn more.

Our DIY dog wash stations are first come, first serve with a one-hour time limit. Find a location nearest to you!

Ready to Get Fido Squeaky Toy Clean?

It’s clear that the benefits of dog grooming go beyond cleanliness. When you prioritize grooming, you’re ensuring that your pooch stays happy and healthy. 

As long as you keep your dog groomed, it doesn’t matter how or where you do it. However, if you need a professional groomer or a space for bathtime, we’d love to have you at Hounds Lounge!