Tis' the season: to keep our pets safe

As we take all possible steps to keep ourselves safe and warm, it's just as important to think about keeping your pets protected from the cold.

Seasoned pet owners know the drill, but its always important to remind those with little furry friends of the small things that can make a big difference.

First rule of thumb: if it's too cold for you to be outside, it is definitely too cold for your pet. Make sure to bring your pets inside and, on colder days, limit the time spent outside for walks or bathroom breaks to as little as possible.

Before heading outside, preparation is key. As you don your jacket, gloves, scarf and boots, remember to prepare your pet for the outside elements as well. If you're walking your longer coat dog, let their fur grow out for the winter as it'll provide your pooch with the necessary warmth and protection it needs. For shorter coat dogs (and cats, if you can manage to put a leash on yours) sweaters, coats and booties go a long way to protect their bodies and feet.

On your way back home, wipe off your pet's stomach and paws. Sidewalks are often treated with chemicals, which can irritate your animal's paws and can be poisonous if ingested. Some pet owners even opt to use a protective balm if your pup can't stand to wear protective booties. You can find more tips on how to protect your pet's paws during the winter here.

This one is a given, but needs to be reiterated all the time (even in the summertime) - don't leave your pets alone in a cold car. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS ALONE IN A COLD CAR. Not only is it inhumane when temperatures drop, but it's also illegal to do so in some States. 

Pay close attention to your pet's grooming and health. Animals with matted coats cannot keep themselves warm and require an extra layer for protection. As for long-haired pets, just letting their fur grow out isn't enough; especially during heavy periods of shedding, your pet will need some extra help maintaining a healthy coat. Senior pets also suffer from increased arthritis pain in the cold, so make sure to check with your vet the steps you can take to keep your best friend comfortable.

Even if you don't own a pet, this one is particularly important: always check under the hood of your car or on top of your tires as feral cats often warm themselves up in any little nook and cranny they can find. Always pound on your hood and give your car a quick visual check before starting your engine to avoid burning or severely injuring any little ones seeking shelter from the cold.

Finally, make sure to cuddle up with your best friend and keep each other warm during the winter season! For more information, visit the Shampoodles Pet Grooming website here.

Source Credit:  Manoella Macedo

Bichon Puppy Breed: Shampoodles Pet Grooming

 Bichon Dog Breed

Bichon is a fluffy, little white dog that loves human company. It has an independent breed,  that is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively. This gentle dog is not a barker. It has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with. These little dogs are easy to train and great with everyone.  Very sociable and are great to be part of a family that takes them everywhere. The Bichon Frise needs rules to follow, and limits to what they are and are not allowed to do. These are not Bichon traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated. If you begin to be your dog’s pack leader, and are consistently self-assured, calm and assertive toward the dog, providing daily pack walks, the Bichon will be a very stable-minded, trustworthy dog.

Height: 

• Males 9 - 12 inches
• Females 9 - 11 inches 

Weight: 

• 7 - 12 pounds

 Grooming your Bichon:

Bichons should be groomed frequently and bathed every month. Professional grooming is recommended every 2-4 weeks depending on the coat of the dog. Triming around the eyes and ears with a scissors and clean the eyes extensively to prevent staining. the body of the dog is usually the same length all the way around. This dog breed is a hypoallergenic breed. This means that the dog does not shed and can not be the cause of allergies to us. If you are looking for a dog breed that does not shed this is the perfect one for you.

Why Grooming Your Animal Is So Important?

Grooming is so important because it is more than just having a Clean Pet.  You're also preventing potential health conditions.

Coat:   

Brush your dog or cat several times a week, most Groomers say, no matter what the coat style is. Doing this will cut down on hairballs, which cats almost always vomit or eliminate in the litter box. Also helping your house from becoming less hairy from your animal shedding.

Eyes and Ears:

Very important to keep these areas clean on your pets. These are the main places on your animals that catch infections, an can become very smelly if not treated correctly.

Nails Triming: 

Mostly all active dogs that wear down their claws may not need nail trimming but declaw will need attention. If nails are not trimmed including the dewclaws on the inner paw, can grow into the animals toe pads and skin, causing pain and infection. When trimming your Cats nails you should just snip the tip of the nail. When cutting nails on animals it is very important to watch out on cutting the nail to short, especially near the vein (blood vessel) in the nail. This being cut can cause a lot of blood to run and make quite a mess. It is important that if this does happen you use a grooming tool called Quick Stop! Which comes in a yellow powder form that quickly stops your animals blood from nail.

Labrador Retrievers, Shampoodles Pet Grooming Delray Beach FL

Labrador Retrievers

There are two types of Labradors, the English Labrador and the American Labrador. The English bred Labs are heavier, thicker and bulkier. The American bred Lab is tall and lanky. The double coat is smooth and does not have any waves. Coat colors come in solid black, yellow or chocolate.

• Life span: 10 – 14 years
• Temperament: Outgoing, Gentle, Agile, Kind, Intelligent,
• Height: Male: 22–24 inches
• Female: 22–24 inches
• Weight: Male: 64–79 lbs 
• Female: 55–71 lbs
• Colors: Black, Yellow, Chocolate

Labrador Retrievers have a short dense coat. Meaning you don’t typically have to get tangles or mats out and can go longer between grooming than you would be able to with other dog breeds. Many owners of labs will only bathe their dogs a few times a year.

The exception to this rule would be if your dog gets really dirty and simply must be cleaned. Labrador owners quickly learn this breed enjoys rolling around in dirt, mud, and questionable messes.

Remember that bathing your dog too often can dry their skin, laying a foundation for problems. This happens because Labradors have special oil on their coat which works to prevent dry skin and protect them from dirt. Frequent washing will remove the oil leading to health problems.

When cleaning your Lab. It is very important to clean his or her ears to avoid ear infections. Nails trimmed to help keep them from foot pain and ripping up things around the house. If you want to keep your vacuuming down to a minimum try shaving your Labs. Coat once every few weeks.

Goldendoodles Shampoodles Delray Beach FL

Goldendoodles

Goldendoodle are a hybrid of a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Goldendoodles have been bred primarily to be large breed family pets. They can make amazing service dogs for all different needs. They are friendly, trainable, people oriented. First-generation Goldendoodles are highly variable in appearance and coat. Multi-generation Goldendoodles - whose parents both are Goldendoodles - are much more consistent in type. If well socialized from puppy hood, Goldendoodles usually are great with children, adults, strangers and other pets.






A Goldendoodle’s temperament depends on several things including the temperaments of his parents, the amount of socialization he receives. In general, Goldendoodles are friendly dogs who are devoted to their families. A well bred Goldendoodle shouldn't be shy or aggressive to people or other animals. They are inclined to be careful around infants or toddlers and can be great playmates for older children. They are outgoing, social dogs and often have an uncanny ability to communicate with people.



Weight: 30 – 45 lbs (Adult, Medium size)

Height:

• Male: 2 – 2.2 ft
• Female: 1.8 – 1.9 ft.

Temperament: Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Trainable

Westie Puppies:Shampoodles Delray Beach FL

West Highland Terrier aka Westie

Hypoallergenic: Yes
Life span: 12 – 16 years
Origin: Scotland
Temperament: Alert, Friendly, Courageous, Hardy, Active, Independent

Height:
Female 9–11 inches
Male 10–12 inches

Weight:
Female 13–15 lbs
Male 15–22 lbs (7–10 kg)


The West Highland White Terrier, aka Westie, is a small, sturdy dog. Head is proportion to the body and when viewed from the front gives off a round appearance. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and shorter toward the nose. They have a black nose. The un-docked tail is relatively short, about 5-6 inches long, thicker at the base and tapering to a point. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat has a straight, hard outer coat that is about 2 inches long and a soft, dense undercoat. The coat color is solid white.

Westie Grooming

Westies have a double coat with a soft, furry undercoat and a stiffer outer coat. The tough texture of the outer coat doesn’t retain dirt, keeping the dog clean and protecting the undercoat. It’s necessary to comb or brush all the way through to the undercoat to prevent mats. The undercoat doesn’t grow in until the Westie is at least a year old; in some cases, it can even take up to five years.

The Westie only sheds a tiny bit, but his coat must be cut. Some people choose to use electric clippers themselves to save money and further bond with their Westie, while others prefer the services of a professional groomer. Depending on the Westie, a clipper can either make the coat softer or wavy; a hand-stripped Westie has a wirier coat.  The rest is basic care: Trim his nails as needed, usually every week or two. And brush his teeth daily with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for overall health and fresh breath.

Coton de Tulear: Shampoodles Delray Beach FL

Coton De Tulear

• Height: 10 - 12 inches
• Weight: 12 - 15 pounds 

Hypoallergenic: Yes
Life span: 14 – 16 years
Colors:

• Black
• Gray & White
• White
• Tri-color
• Black & White
• Lemon & White

The Coton is good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a backyard.

Cotons do shed little, mainly in the spring time. These guys are often recommended for people with allergies, which it's always wise to meet and spend time with a number of different Cotons before deciding on the one for your family.

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Grooming:
Preventing matted fur, you must brush the coat at least 3x a week with a pin brush. Pay special attention to the areas behind the ears, legs, and elbows. Brush your there teeth a few times a month to remove tartar and bacterial buildup.Trim his nails twice a month or as needed. The Clicking the nails on the floor is a sign they are to long. Short nails keep the feet in good condition.