Canine Winter Coat Care Myths

There are several misconceptions about dog grooming in the winter.

Myth 1: 

"The longer and thicker my pet's coat is, the warmer it will be in the cold temperatures."

Truth: Grooming in winter is extremely important to your dog's health. Long, wet, matted hair can create a cold, wet, infection-susceptible dog. 

Matted fur does nothing to insulate the dog and can cause discomfort, pain and even hot spots.

Also, remember, if your dog is a house dog, it is in a room-temperature environment for most of its day. 

At Zoom Zoom Groom, we feel a much better option is to keep your dog's coat in a moderate trim and provide it with a jacket for winter hikes. This way, your dog's fur can stay mat-free, dry and remain easy to maintain. 

Zoom Zoom Groom carries a large selection of jackets for teeny tiny pups to giant breeds! Presently we offer Chilly Dogs and GF Pets winter apparel. 

Myth 2: 

"I have a double-coated/heavy-coated breed, so I don't want to remove any coat in winter."

Truth: If your dog has a shedding coat, the shedding hair will remain interwoven in the healthy coat, not allowing proper skin insulation. This process often causes dandruff, itching, excessive shedding and matting. Without appropriate distribution of the natural oils, the coat picks up dirt and other pollutants, resulting in a dirty, smelly dog.

Myth 3: 

"My pet is relatively sedentary in the winter and isn't getting dirty enough to warrant a bath."

Truth: Pets require bathing as often in the winter as in the summer! Pets often suffer from central heating-related dry skin and can absorb salt and gravel into their coats.

Myth 4:

"I can weather the storm and bath and comb my pet to prolong its grooming until spring."

Truth: It is possible to maintain a home-grooming program and stretch your dog's grooming needs for a few extra weeks, but only if you groom your dog correctly. Different breeds have different coat demands. There are specific imperative techniques if your dog has a curly or naturally long coat. Your dog must be 100 percent free of any tangles before the bath. If you bathe a matted dog and allow it to dry naturally, the knots become tighter and create a woven pelt. 

If you have questions about how to brush your dog correctly or the proper tools needed, ask about our Start From Scratch: Home Maintenance Consultation Program. 

Myth 5:

"I want to leave the hair in my dog's pads to keep their paws warm".

Truth: The hair between the pads can grow long and matted. If left unattended, it can cause significant discomfort. Snow, ice balls, and rocks can collect in your dog's pads. Imagine walking around with stones inside your wet shoes!
Overgrown hair in the pads may also disguise foot problems such as long and ingrown nails or cracked, dry pads.

A happy, healthy dog has strong, shiny, mat-free fur — all year. Your dog's coat provides insights into its physical or emotional condition. A professional groomer can help with your pet's physical appearance and assist you towards your goal of a healthy pet — both inside and out.

If you are concerned about your dog's feet in the winter elements, come check out our Muttluk Boots. They are amazing and stay on the dog!  

We also carry a product called Musher's Secret. Musher's Secret is a 100% natural, food-grade wax that forms a breathable barrier for your animals' paws.

Musher's Secret protects the paws from:

- salt residue

- ice melt

- ice build-up

- snowballing

Chilly Dogs Great White North Coats are truly the best Canadian-made jackets! Come see for yourself @ Zoom Zoom Groom.