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General Grooming for
Staffordshire Bull Terriers |
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Grooming your dog is extremely important for a number of reasons, the most obvious of those reasons being to keep their fur neat and clean. Grooming can also help to prevent certain skin conditions from occurring, such as thrush. It allows you to health check your dog, scanning for cuts, abrasions, lumps, parasites and other abnormal signs. It also strengthens the bond between you and your dog, which is extremely important for building trust. Particularly for dogs that shed a lot, grooming loosens the dead hair, preventing mats of fur from accumulating, as well as helping to keep them cooler in the summer.
Grooming is not limited to the dog’s coat; additional attention should be paid to the teeth, gums, eyes, ears, paws, claws, genitals and anus to ensure their cleanliness and health remains at a good standard.
Grooming equipment:
Curry brush – This brush is usually made from a flexible plastic or rubber material, with short, blunt teeth on one or both sides. They are intended to loosen dead hair and dirt from the coat, stimulating the growth of new hairs and helping the skin’s production of natural oils. The preferred method for use of this brush is to rub the brush firmly in circular motions along the dog’s body, which also helps to loosen and relax the muscles. They are ideal for dogs with short to medium length fur. Care should be taken not to mistake these with metal curry combs.
Metal curry comb – This brush is used to remove dead hair from curry brushes and should not be used to groom a dog in the manner of a curry brush, as the metal teeth may scratch and damage the skin.
Rake – Useful for double coated dogs or dogs with dense or slightly longer fur. Some staffies shed more than others, so this tool is useful for removing the dead hairs which may become trapped close to the skin. It has closely-spaced metal teeth to gather hair. Useful for grooming prior to a bath, as it loosens up the dead hair and allows the water to penetrate the fur properly. Care should be taken when using this grooming tool, as the metal may scratch or damage your dog’s skin. For short-coated dogs, very light strokes should be used – it may be useful to try it on the inside of your arm first to judge the pressure you should use. If the dog appears to be in any discomfort, stop immediately.
Bristled brush – Can be used for daily grooming to loosen dust and dead hair from the dog. For short-haired dogs such as the staffy, a bristle brush with short, densely packed bristles are preferable.
Dog shampoo – Used to clean the dog’s fur and skin during baths. Directions for use can be found on the bottle. Owners should take care to only buy shampoos specifically designed for dogs, as human shampoos are often too harsh. If possible, avoid scented shampoos or shampoos containing alcohol.
Dog conditioner – Used to lock in moisture to the dog’s coat and skin, preventing irritation from occurring due to the natural oils being stripped from the body.
Nail trimmers – These can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including guillotine clippers and scissors, but the general usage is the same: they are designed to snip off any excess of the claw. Care should be taken not to cut into the blood vessel feeding the claw (the quick). For dogs with pale claws, it is usually visible as a light pink line down the centre of the claw. For dogs with dark claws, taking off a little bit at a time is preferable, as this allows you to judge whether or not you are coming close to the quick – as you near the quick, the nail will be softer and you may be able to see a dot in the centre.
Styptic powder – Used to coagulate blood from any minor cuts (clipping nails, for instance) and disinfect the wound. In the absence of styptic powder, flour may be used.
Toothbrush and toothpaste – Dogs need their teeth to be kept clean, as well. Take care to only buy toothpaste specially designed for dogs, as human toothpaste contains ingredients which are toxic to dogs if swallowed. Also be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scratching the gums.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers have short, smooth coats, so you may not need to use all of this equipment. The coat of each individual dog differs from the next, though, so you should take into account your dog’s fur length, density and shedding rate. Unlike a select few breeds of dog, staffies do shed their fur. Careful grooming will help to prevent the dead hairs from collecting around your house.
When grooming your dog, it is easiest to start right at the front (the nose) and work your way down to the last point (the tail). This ensures that you don’t miss anything. Staffies are relatively low maintenance when it comes to grooming, so they may only need a quick brush over once every other day. However, a thorough grooming should be carried out every two to four weeks. When looking at body parts such as the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, genitals and anus, be sure to check for any foul smells, discharge, irritation, broken skin or any other abnormal signs.
To clean your dog’s ears of dirt and debris, the preferred methods are to either buy an ear cleaning solution from your local vet or use olive oil and a cotton pad to wipe away dirt from the flap of the ear. Never use cotton buds or insert small objects into the ear, as they can damage the fragile lining of the ear canal and may perforate the ear drum. They can also push dirt further into the ear.
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A Staffy-bull-terrier Frequently Asked Questions |
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