Dogs are wonderfully bad at telling us when they need a haircut. They'll happily peer at you through a curtain of bangs or skate across the kitchen floor on fluffy paws without a single complaint. So we pay attention for them. Here are the little signs our groomers look for, plus a simple way to figure out which of our four services fits your dog right now.
Signs your dog is due for a groom
They're looking at you through their fur. Hair growing over the eyes is one of the first things people notice, especially on doodles, poodles, shih tzus, and other dogs with face furnishings. If you're brushing it aside every time you say hello, it's time.
Tangles are showing up in the usual places. Behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits, and on the backs of the legs are where knots tend to start. Small tangles are easy to work out. Left alone, they can tighten into mats that pull at the skin and are uncomfortable for your dog.
Their paws are getting fluffy. When the hair between the pads grows long, dogs can slip on hard floors, and the fur collects mud, sand, and whatever else they find in the yard. Neat feet look better and are easier to keep clean.
You can hear their nails. A click-click-click on the floor usually means nails are due for attention.
The sanitary area needs a tidy. Longer hair back there can hold onto things you'd rather it didn't. A quick sanitary trim makes daily life cleaner for everyone.
The coat has lost its shape or shine. If your dog's outline looks shaggy, the coat feels dull, or that "dog smell" is coming back sooner than you'd like, a fresh groom will make a noticeable difference.
It's simply been a while. If you can't remember the last groom, that's a sign in itself.
Choosing the right service
Every Pawsh groom includes the same foundation: a bath and blowout, a thorough brush out, nail trimming and grinding, ear cleaning, teeth brushing and breath spray, paw and nose balm, finishing cologne, and a bandana. The difference between services is how much trimming and styling happens on top of that.
Bath & Full Haircut
This is the complete refresh: a haircut all over, in the style you choose. Your dog's whole coat is trimmed and shaped to the length you like, whether that's a short, easy summer cut or a fluffier teddy-bear look. It's the usual choice for dogs whose hair keeps growing, like doodles, poodles, and many small, long-coated breeds, and for any dog whose coat has gotten ahead of you.
Bath & Tidy Trim
Along with the bath, blowout, and brush out, a Tidy Trim focuses on the three areas that grow out first: the face, the feet, and the sanitary area. The body coat stays as it is. It's a great way to stretch the time between full haircuts, or to keep a dog looking neat when you like their current length.
Bath & Outline Trim
The Outline Trim is made for Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and dogs with similar coats, whose feathering grows long and wispy. We scissor trim the rear, belly, chest, legs, and feet, and finish with a sanitary shave. Your dog looks neat and polished and keeps their natural look, no full haircut needed.
Bath & Blowout
For dogs who don't need a haircut, like many short-coated breeds and double-coated dogs without much feathering, the Bath & Blowout is everything they need to look and feel their best. It includes a sanitary shave, and we'll shave the paw pads too if you'd like. It's also a lovely in-between visit for dogs who get haircuts, keeping them clean and brushed out between bigger grooms. If shedding is the bigger concern, you can add a Deshed Treatment.
A quick way to decide
- The whole coat is long, uneven, or starting to tangle: Bath & Full Haircut
- The body looks fine, but the face, feet, or sanitary area are growing out: Bath & Tidy Trim
- An Aussie, Golden, or similar coat with feathering that's getting long and wispy: Bath & Outline Trim
- No haircut needed, just clean, fresh, and brushed out: Bath & Blowout
Not sure? Pick your best guess when you request an appointment and tell us what you're noticing in the notes. Your groomer will take a look at your dog's coat on the day and talk it through with you.
How often should you book?
It really depends on your dog's coat, how active they are, and the look you like. As a loose guide, many dogs who get haircuts do well somewhere around every four to eight weeks, sometimes with a Tidy Trim in between. Short-coated dogs can often go a bit longer between baths. Busy outdoor dogs, swimmers, and pups who love a good roll in the grass may want to come in more often. We're always happy to suggest a rhythm that works for your dog and your calendar.
Let's find the right fit
If your pup is showing a few of these signs, we'd be glad to help. Our grooming trailer comes right to your home in Chesapeake and Suffolk, so your dog gets a calm, one-on-one groom without the car ride. Request an appointment whenever you're ready, and let us know what you have in mind.
Written by The Pawsh Team · Filed under Services Explained
