Between Friends readers send in lots of questions about grooming basics. For this month's column, we've selected some of the most frequently-asked questions and turned to Val Penstone for answers. Val, who has more than 35 years experience, is Director of Grooming for Best Friends.

Q: How often is it safe to shampoo my pet?

Val Penstone: "Pretty much as often as you like, as long as it is done properly."

"About every 4-6 weeks is fine for most breeds. This keeps the house pet hygienic and odor free, and controls dander and shedding. It is important to use a quality shampoo that is specifically formulated for pets. Always follow up with a conditioning rinse.

"It is very important to remove tangles and loose hair when shampooing or dense felted mats will result. If the skin and hair is left damp for a long time after the shampoo, irritation may occur."

Q: I have a flat-coated outdoor dog. Does he need grooming?

VP: "The smooth and flat-coated breeds have minimal grooming needs. The coat should be brushed to remove the shedding hair and to stimulate a good healthy protective cover. Shampooing is not needed as frequently as for indoor pets, but every dog needs attention. Often, all that is needed is a weekly brush, when skin, ears and nails are checked. Inflamed skin, and a dry brittle coat can indicate nutritional and parasite problems that would be overlooked, if not for routine grooming."

Q: How often should my dog have a haircut?

VP: "It depends on how fast his hair grows, and what length it will attain. Some coats reach a couple of inches and stop, others will grow and grow!

"The length at which a coat is kept depends on the maintenance time available. If you are willing to spend a couple of hours each week on maintenance, your dog can have hair to the ground. However, most pet owners choose to have the hair kept shorter. This means a haircut at least every six to nine weeks, depending upon the breed."

"The fluffy coats, like Poodles and Bichons probably need attention every four to six weeks. The same is true for the long straight coats of the Lhasa, Shih Tzu, Yorkie, Maltese, Afghan, etc. The soft-coated terriers like Kerry Blues and Wheatens need as much attention as the fluffy and long coats.

"Harsh terrier coats, such as Cairns, Scotties, Wire Fox, Welsh can go longer between clips. Specialist treatments like rolling a handstripped coat take more frequent sessions."

Q: How do I choose a good style for my pet?

VP: "The style you choose depends on how much time and money you want to spend achieving a look that you like."

"Also consider the personality of the animal. It is not a good idea to subject a grumpy, difficult-to-handle dog to long, tedious hours getting a fancy hairdo. The aged pet does not need to be primped for hours. That does not mean that a very short clip is the only choice. An attractive style with some length is possible, as long as grooming sessions are regular."

"Most grooming salons keep a portfolio of their work, or a stylebook, showing different styles and lengths. The groomer can explain the practicality of keeping that style, in terms of maintenance and cost."