Welcome to our Grooming Care Guide. Here you’ll find simple tips to help our clients best maintain their dog between grooming appointments. Regular at-home care, combined with professional grooming, helps keep your pet healthy, comfortable, and looking their best.
BRUSH REGULARLY
We understand that life can get busy with work, family, and daily responsibilities, and it’s not always easy to find extra time in the day. However, taking just a few minutes to brush your beloved pet can make a meaningful difference in their overall comfort and coat health.
Regular brushing helps reduce tangles, remove loose hair, and keep your pet's coat looking neat. If you're unsure which brush is best for your pet, our team is happy to help.
Even more importantly, brushing time can become a special bonding moment between you and your pet—helping to strengthen trust, relaxation, and connection through gentle touch and care.
I Don't Want to Shave-Down My Dog — How Do I Avoid That?
The best way to avoid a shave-down is to brush your dog's coat regularly and keep up with professional grooming appointments.
Many pet parents don't realize that mats are much more than tangles. As they tighten, mats pull on the skin every time your dog moves, causing discomfort and, in severe cases, significant pain. This can be especially difficult for senior dogs, whose skin is often thinner and more sensitive.
A simple way to think about it is this: imagine several pieces of chewing gum tangled throughout your hair and then trying to brush them out. Every pull would tug on your scalp and become increasingly painful. Severe matting can create a similar sensation for your dog, except they experience that pulling every time they walk, sit, lie down, or scratch.
Heavy matting also prevents air from reaching the skin, trapping moisture, dirt, and debris close to the body. Over time, this can lead to skin irritation, hot spots, infections, and other health concerns.
Unfortunately, when a coat becomes severely matted, there is often no safe or humane way to brush the mats out. Attempting to do so can cause extreme discomfort and may injure the skin. In these cases, the only option is to carefully shave beneath the mats, which means clipping the coat very close to the skin.
To help keep your pet comfortable and avoid a shave-down:
Brush regularly at home.
Schedule routine professional grooming appointments.
Ask your groomer for the ideal grooming frequency for your pet's coat type.
Our goal is always to preserve your pet's coat whenever possible while prioritizing their comfort, health, and well-being.
Why We Don't Recommend Shaving your Double-Coated Dogs
It's easy to see why many pet parents think shaving a double-coated dog will help them stay cooler. After all, we humans feel more comfortable in shorts and a T-shirt than in a winter jacket during the warm season. Naturally, we assume that less hair must mean less heat.
And what about all that lovely fur our furry friends leave around the house? Shedding is another common reason many pet parents think shaving their dog might be the perfect solution.
But dogs don't cool themselves the way we do.
Double-coated breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Huskies, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, and Pomeranians come equipped with a built-in climate control system. Their coat works much like the insulation in your home—it helps keep heat out during warm weather and warmth in during cold weather.
Think of it this way: if you remove the insulation from your house in the middle of summer, it doesn't necessarily stay cooler. In fact, it often becomes harder to regulate the temperature. The same can happen when a double-coated dog is shaved.
Here is what it could happen when the coat is shaved:
- The skin becomes more vulnerable to sunburn.
- The coat may grow back patchy, fuzzy, or uneven - especially in older dogs.
- Natural temperature regulation can be disrupted.
- The coat can permanently lose its original texture and appearance.
The best way to help these dogs feel fresh and comfortable is through regular brushing and professional de-shedding treatments. Removing loose undercoat allows better airflow while keeping the protective outer coat intact.
So while shaving might look cooler to us, your dog's coat is actually doing an important job behind the scenes. Nature designed it that way for a reason.
At Sherman Paws, we're always happy to explain the best grooming options for your pet's unique coat type and help keep them comfortable all year long.
KEEP UP WITH NAIL CARE
Long nails can become uncomfortable and affect your pet's movement. Routine nail trims help keep paws healthy and comfortable.
Did You Know That Regular Nail Trims Can Help Keep the Quick Shorter?
The “quick” is the soft, living part inside your dog’s nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. If the nails are left to grow long, the quick also grows longer with them, which makes nails harder to keep short over time.
The good news is that with regular nail trims, the quick can gradually move back, allowing the nails to stay shorter, healthier, and more comfortable for your dog.
Have you ever tried trimming your dog’s nails and accidentally saw a little bleeding? This usually happens when the nail is cut a bit too close to the quick. It’s very common, especially when nails are overgrown, and it’s one of the reasons many pet parents feel nervous about nail trims.
That’s why consistent, gentle maintenance is so important—it helps reduce sensitivity over time and makes future nail trims easier and safer for your pet.
At Sherman Paws, we always focus on keeping your dog comfortable while maintaining healthy nail length.
CHECK EARS AND EYES
Keep an eye out for excess buildup, irritation, or discharge. If you notice anything unusual, consult your veterinarian.
Signs of Ear Problems
Your dog’s ears should be clean, light in smell, and free of irritation. It’s important to check them regularly so you can catch any early signs of discomfort or infection.
Some common signs of ear issues include:
Redness or swelling inside the ear
Excessive scratching or pawing at the ears
Unpleasant or strong odor coming from the ear
Dark brown, yellow, or waxy discharge
Head shaking or tilting to one side
Sensitivity or discomfort when the ears are touched
If you notice any of these signs, it may indicate an ear infection or irritation. In these cases, it’s best to consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Regular grooming and routine ear checks can help keep your dog comfortable and allow issues to be caught early.
Eye Care & Health Signs
Your dog’s eyes should be clear, bright, and free of irritation. Regularly checking your pet’s eyes can help you notice early signs of discomfort or potential health concerns.
Some signs to look for include:
Redness or inflammation around the eyes
Excessive tearing or watery eyes
Yellow or green discharge
Cloudiness or changes in eye color
Squinting or keeping one eye closed
Pawing or rubbing at the face
If you notice any of these symptoms, it may indicate irritation or an underlying eye condition, and it’s best to consult your veterinarian.
Tear Staining (Brown Tears)
It is very common for some dogs to develop brown or reddish staining around the eyes, often called tear stains. This happens when tears overflow and mix with natural bacteria and yeast on the fur, which can cause discoloration over time.
Tear staining is more noticeable in dogs with lighter-colored coats, but it can happen in any breed. In many cases, it is not painful, but it can sometimes be a sign of irritation, allergies, or blocked tear ducts.
Some things to look for include:
Brown or reddish staining under the eyes
Excessive tearing or wetness around the eye area
Mild irritation or frequent wiping of the face
Keeping the area clean and dry can help reduce staining. However, if tearing is excessive or sudden, it is best to consult your veterinarian to rule out any underlying eye issues.
STAY ON REGULAR GROOMING SESSIONS
Every pet has different grooming needs depending on breed, coat type, and lifestyle. Regular professional grooming helps prevent matting, maintain coat health, and keep your pet feeling fresh and clean.
We're Here to Help
Not sure how often your pet should be groomed? Our team can recommend a grooming schedule tailored to your pet's needs. Contact Sherman Paws to keep your furry family member looking and feeling their best year-round.