The Balance Between At-Home Grooming and Professional Care

Why Grooming at Home is Important

Regular grooming not only keeps your dog looking their best but also plays a crucial role in maintaining their health. This includes brushing to remove loose fur, trimming their nails to prevent overgrowth, and cleaning their ears to reduce the risk of infection. In-home grooming also allows you to build trust with your dog, making them feel more secure in a familiar environment preparing them for other interactions such as with vets and groomers.

For breeds like working Cocker Spaniels, regular at-home grooming is even more critical. These active dogs often get muddy and tangled, so it’s essential to keep their coats in good condition. Grooming your Cocker Spaniel at home ensures that you can give them the attention they need, while also keeping an eye out for skin irritations or other health issues.

For example, my dog Thea, who we affectionately call a "bramble womble," loves exploring the undergrowth, and as you can imagine, this makes keeping her coat tangle-free a challenge. I use at-home tools like detangler sprays and brushes to maintain her coat. But when it comes to more intricate tasks—like trimming her fur around sensitive areas or when her coat needs reshaping after an uneven growth pattern—I turn to professionals like Alessandro from Pawfect Cuts

When to Seek Professional Grooming Help

Alessandro from Pawfect Cuts, our official grooming partner, specialises in handling more complex grooming tasks that require precision. These include safely using sharp tools like clippers and scissors to style dogs with long coats or those whose coats have changed texture due to age. If Thea's coat becomes uneven—like after a vet visit where patches of fur are shaved—I trust Alessandro to style her coat back to its best.

This is why I recommend Pawfect Cuts for professional grooming. For your first appointment, they offer £5 off with the code ADW5—an amazing deal if you want expert care for your pup.

Tips for Grooming Your Dog at Home

If your dog is not as calm as Thea during grooming, there are ways to gradually help them become more comfortable with the process.

If you're wondering how to keep your dog still while brushing hair or clipping nails at home, there are several tips and tricks that you can use. These strategies will help you manage even the squirmiest dogs during DIY grooming:

1. Touch Training and Cooperative Care

For dogs who fear grooming tools like combs or clippers, a great place to start is with touch training, as detailed in this guide. This involves getting your dog used to being touched in key grooming areas before introducing tools.

For instance, I gently touch Thea’s paws, ears, and shoulders, rewarding her with treats each time she remains calm. Over time, I add in the comb or clippers, still following the pattern of touch-treat-reward. This technique creates a positive association with the grooming process and gradually desensitizes the dog to the tools used.

By the time I introduce the tool, Thea is relaxed and ready for the next steps in her grooming routine.

2. Use Puzzle Toys for Distraction

Distraction is a powerful tool when trying to keep your dog calm and still during grooming. One of the best ways to achieve this is with an interactive puzzle toy, which can hold your dog’s attention for a long time. For example, the Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy by Outward Hound (available here) is an excellent option. You can mash soft food into the compartments, such as raw food or soaked biscuits, to keep your dog occupied.

If you feed your dog a raw diet, like Bella & Duke, simply smoosh their raw food into the toy. For those times when you're away from home or don’t have raw food available, soaked kibble or soft pâté can work just as well. By giving your dog a tasty treat to focus on, you’ll be able to work on grooming tasks without them becoming restless.

3. Break Grooming into Short Sessions

Long grooming sessions can be overwhelming for your dog. Instead, break tasks like clipping nails or brushing fur into smaller, more manageable sessions. Focus on one part of the grooming routine at a time—perhaps clip just one paw's nails, then take a break and return later for another part. 
I aim to feed one meal a day via a puzzle toy and groom my target area(s) until she finishes eating. 

Preparing Your Dog for Professional Grooming

While I handle day-to-day maintenance at home, I rely on professionals for more complex grooming tasks. When Thea needs a trim, styling, or has specific grooming needs—such as uneven fur growth after a vet visit—I trust Pawfect Cuts to handle these jobs with precision.

Grooming Tables and Restraints for Professional Precision

One of the benefits of professional groomers like Alessandro is their use of grooming tables and restraints. These tools help keep dogs still, which is essential when using sharp tools like scissors or clippers for a precise cut.

For me, my role is simple: keeping Thea tangle-free and comfortable between sessions. When the time comes for her full grooming and styling, I leave it to the pros at Pawfect Cuts.

Conclusion

Grooming your dog at home doesn’t have to be stressful, as long as you have the right tools, techniques, and patience. Keeping your dog tangle-free with regular brushing and using distractions like lick mats can make the process enjoyable. However, for complex grooming tasks, never hesitate to seek out professional help from trusted groomers like Pawfect Cuts.

Whether you’re maintaining your dog’s coat between professional appointments or working on making grooming a positive experience, consistency and care are key to success.

For professional grooming, don’t forget to use code ADW5 for £5 off your first appointment at Pawfect Cuts.