Getting the Family Pet Ready for Holiday Guests

During holiday season, we want our home and family to be decked out in style - and that includes the family pet!

It takes a bit of time, but a pre-holiday makeover can be well worth the effort.  Dogs, in particular, are social animals and will want to participate in family gatherings.  It's important to be sure that they are "nice to be near" - especially if you are expecting holiday guests.    Best Friends professional groomers offer the following tips for sprucing up your pet for the holidays:

Step 1:  Brush, brush and brush again to get rid of loose hair.  If your pet has long hair with tangles, a conditioning and untangling spray can help make the process more comfortable.  After systematically brushing through the coat, use a professional steel-pinned comb to make sure that all the knots and shedding hair have been removed. 

Step 2:   Shampoo and condition.   Your pet can't look and smell his or her best without a bath.   Don't be tempted to use your own hair care products on your pet.   Animal's skin has a different people from human's skin, so choose products specially formulated for pets.   Always follow with a conditioning rinse or moisturizing treatment.  Towel dry your pet, then using a comb and brush, separate the hair thoroughly.  Be very careful if you use a standard home hair dryer to speed the process.  Even on the lowest setting, it is easy to burn your pet.  Hold it well away from the skin.

Step 3:  Trim nails.   No grooming is complete without a manicure.  Use only a proper nail clipping tool specifically made for your pet, and take off a small amount at a time.  Stay well away from the "quick", the point at which there is blood flow.    Be prepared with a styptic product in case you do clip into the blood vessel. 

Step 4:  Add a special holiday collar and your pet is ready for company!   Avoid costumes that restrict your pet's movement and don't cover his eyes.  Best Friends offer a selection of both fun and functional for holiday dress-up. 

The entire process can take several hours, so you may want to turn you pet over to a professional groomer.   Contact your nearest Best Friends center for an appointment.  But don't wait, quality groomers book up quickly for the holiday period!