The Groom Room : News December 2009

DOG OF THE MONTH at The Groom Room

THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU MAY REALISE!!! Believe it or not this poor fella is a Lhasa Apso who has not been brushed or clipped in a very long time! His coat has matted solidly to his skin so he is in discomfort with every move he makes. It was incredibly difficult to shave the coat off, and as you can see it came off in one piece. I have to admit that we were so happy for this little dog once he was released from his straight jacket that we forgot to take a picture of him as a free dog!! Sufficed to say he was a happy little chappy and we gave him lots of celebration cuddles!

The moral of the story: Make brushing your dog a regular job that you both enjoy!

Lhasa Apso

Exercise for your Dog

Don't forget that despite dark mornings and darker nights! Your dogs still needdaily exercise to keep them happy and well behaved. (Many bad behaviour issues are a direct result of frustration due to a lack of daily exercise). There are so many ways in which you can drain your dog’s excess energy:

The traditional dog walk
Running with your dog
Cycling with your dog along side
Having a ball game
A tread mill (yes honestly!)

So go on, give them the exercise and stimulation they deserve, and they will reward you with the relaxed and happy atmosphere that we all love to see in our pooches!

Winter Visibility and I.D. Tags

If you do go out with your dogs in the dark, a great idea is an L.E.D flashing light attached to their collar, so you can always see where they are. Alternatively you can now buy all sorts of Hi-Visability clothing which stands out even in the dark.

I.D. tags attached to your dog's collar are of course a must at all times of the year, but many more dogs go missing in the winter dark! So make sure your dog is tagged: Essential (and legal) information to include is:

Surname
Address
Telephone numbers, (especially mobiles because you will be out searching for your dog, not at home).