Many people underestimate just how intense caring for a dog can be. They have to be fed, entertained, exercised, have their nails trimmed, and be brought to the vet regularly. What a lot of dog owners forget to work into their doggy care regimen is proper shampooing and conditioning of their dog’s hair.
A dog’s coat provides many advantages for a dog’s survival and all of them have developed their coats to help them survive in whatever environment they were bred for. Even though we’ve taken on breeds of dogs now for their looks or attitude, there are still certain things their coats are made for. Usually these things are temperature regulation, protection from the outside environment, or to help them complete tasks like sheep herding or hunting. If you are losing a pet their coat could be their best protection until they are found.
Why is shampoo and conditioner essential for your dog? Well, let me tell you:
Avoid Matting
If a dog’s fur becomes consistently dirty and filled with sticky/unwanted debris they are much more prone to matting. Mats in a dog’s fur will result in pain and discomfort and will seriously affect your dog’s mood and overall health. You wouldn’t be too happy if you were covered in hair and always felt like there was gum all over it, would you? Proper shampoo and conditioner will pierce through the upper and lower coats of your dog’s fur and untrap even the most resilient types of dirt. This will allow your dog’s fur to flow freely and effortlessly, keeping your pup healthy and happy.
Distribute Nutrients Throughout The Entire Coat
Your dog produces natural oils and other substances meant to keep their fur healthy much like our own hair does. Without regular shampoo and conditioning, there will be an uneven amount of these nutrients spread around your dog’s fur leading to an uneven coat or even worse brittle hair that won’t do your dog much good. A good wash cycle followed by a comprehensive brushing will allow all of these natural chemicals to be evenly distributed so they can do their job of protecting your furry friend.
Make A Healthy, Radiant Coat
You can easily tell when someone doesn’t take care of their hair, and the same applies to dogs. If you want your dog to have a vibrant and even coat you need to make sure you’re using a quality shampoo and conditioner. A resource like Breedsy is a great place to look for what kind of shampoo or conditioner your specific breed of dog needs. Things like texture, shine, and overall health are all determined by how well you take care of your dog’s hair.
Not all dogs are the same, so be sure to look for the right kind of hair care products for your individual breed’s needs. Some hypoallergenic dogs have coats that are closer to hair than they are to fur, while other breeds have up to three or four different layers in their fur that need specialized care. Make sure to do your research before settling on a particular brand of shampoo, you wouldn’t want to buy the wrong kind just because it was the cheapest one.