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Grooming on the cheap
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Just because money is tighter these days, your dogs hair will not grow slower or remain dirt free any longer. Thankfully there are things you can do to keep your pooch fresher longer without costing more money. By examining your schedule, your ability and your dogs needs you can save hundreds a year on grooming for your pet.
DYI approach
Bathing your own dog can save anywhere from $25-$75. Depending on the size of your pet and the coat type bathing at home is an option. While smaller short coated dogs are far easier to bathe in the sink or bath tub, there are places where you can bathe your large or excessively hairy pet for much less than it costs to have a groomer do it.
Sometimes its possible to bathe your pet in between groomings and save. If you have a dog that sheds heavily three times a year like a Golden Retreiver, having the groomer bathe, comb and deshed her every 16 weeks, while you bathe her halfway in between. This leaves the heavy labor to the pros, and keeps your dog smelling sweet.
If you have a dog who gets haircuts regularly, bathing in between, if done properly can also save a great deal of money. The key to keeping up with your dogs grooming is to brush yor dog thoroughly. In face, brushing your dog MORE will save money across the board, cutting down on dematting fees and possibly alerting you to problems before they get underway which saves money on vet bills.
Trimming in between appointments is not for the faint of heart but its not impossible. Your stylist can help you decide which tools to buy. Trimming the sanitary areas, around the eyes and the pads of the feet along with thorough brushing can lengthen the time in between grooms by 3-4 weeks.
Style frugal
A shorter and sportier style is another way to extend the time between groomings. Asking yoru stylist to clip your pet even on blade length shorter can add a week or two onto her hairstyle. Properly brushed at home a dog who is essentially shaved can be groomed 4 times a year proffessionally.
If your not willing to go shorter you can still help the style last longer by brushing more and stopping into your groomers mid way through, for a trim around the eyes and sanitary areas. This can add two weeks or more to the time between appointments.
You can lengthen the time between full grooms with a bath as well. Instead of a haircut every five weeks, you could try a bath and trim four weeks after a haircut, and another haircut 4 weeks later.
The most important thing to remember is that brushing is the key to keeping grooming costs low.
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