Categories
Pets

A guide to dog grooming

Whether your dog needs a simple quick clip or a full-on makeover, the feeling of embracing your knot-free, freshly groomed pet is blissful. We know it’s important to find the right pet groomer who can provide the best type of care for your four legged friend, so here are three tips to ensure a smooth pet groom.

When to groom your dog

According to pet groomer, Jane from Puppy Love, the best time to organise a groom is when your pet’s matting or knotting, is closer to the top of the fur. If the knots are close to the skin, it’s likely that the dog will need to be shaved by grooming from underneath the knots.

Do your dog a favour and organise a groom while the knot is not yet close to the skin.

Before and after grooming / Source: Amy’s Furry Tails

How often to groom your dog

The frequency of your grooms is an individual choice, depending more on lifestyle and preference. If it’s a clip, aim for every 10-12 weeks, but for a wash, dogs with easy to manage coats can go 6-8 weeks. Take care of your pet’s fur with frequent brushing and washing between grooms.

Keeping your dog calm during a groom

To help your pet enjoy the pampering experience, make it as comfortable as possible by keeping a favourite toy or blankie handy.

It’s important that you let the pet groomer know beforehand of any anxiety or nervousness in your pet so the expert can do their best to accommodate. It can involve helping your pet get used to the sound of the clippers or sometimes, it’s as simple as a little love. Jane says that before every pet groom, she loves getting on the dog’s level to connect with them personally.

On a visit to the groomer, try and make your dog as comfortable as possible with familiar toys or blankets / Source: Totally Groomy

After the groom is done, don’t forget to reward your pet with long cuddles or appease your dog’s love of food with a tasty treat during the groom.

Contact local pet groomers

Clipping

Clipping is the most popular pet grooming request on Oneflare, followed by bath requests. While clipping seems easy to imitate, Jane recommends a professional clip rather than a simple DIY.

“Most owners pick up some clippers because they see it’s easy but they can end up cutting their dog, developing a fear of being groomed.”

If you need a simple cut between professional clips, soften the nails first with a bath or gradually clip little by little. There are many grooming tools at your disposal, ensure such as Bristle brushes, wire-pin brushes, shedders, rakes, blades and each tool has their place. Dematting your dog is often a crucial first step if your dog has long coat.

Categories
Pets

All you need to know about animal portrait paintings

As they say, memories last forever and hanging photographs and portraits in your space are one of the best ways to live those memories forever. We all love to hang pictures of our family, friends, and loved ones around us, but has anyone ever thought of capturing memories of their pets and hanging them.

Our pets become an integral part of our family. Their love for their masters is incomparable. So, it’s essential to acknowledge that love and affection and love them back. One such unique and heartwarming way of showing your love for pets is through animal oil painting.

Source: Carlita Sari Photo

Easy hassle-free process

The process of getting customized animal paintings is quite easy. You have to select the best artist in your vicinity, sign up for their program, and send a digital photograph of your pet to them. The photo should be clear enough so that the artist can capture all the minute details on the canvas.

Once the sketch is ready, the artist paints it according to the likes of your pet. These days there are programs available, where you can paint these animal prints under the guidance of a trained professional. Once the painting is ready, you can hang it in your home, office, or anywhere you want to feel the presence of your favourite furry friend.

Why get a pet portrait painting?

Many of us think that it’s convenient to take pictures on phones and professional cameras, then why to spend money and time getting paintings customized. Well, a digital photograph cannot replace a beautiful hand-painted portrait. Let’s have a look at a few advantages of getting animal portrait paintings.

  1. Token of love: We all know pets become the most favourite member of the family, and their love of the family that they live with is selfless. So, getting animal portraits is probably the best way of showing gratitude to these furballs.
  2. Customization options available: At first, a couple of photographs of the pets are shared with the artists, but customizations are done further to the sketch to give it a more personal effect. Artist draws the final portrait considering the expressions of your pet from various pictures, his or her favourite activities, and then your favourite activity with your pet.
  3. Timeless paintings: These paintings by experienced artists, are painted using professional pens, brushes, and colours and due to which the pictures remain new for many years.
  4. Best gift for pet lovers: The struggle of looking for a gift for a loved one is real. Dog canvas paintings can be the best gift for all dog lovers. These paintings might be the gift that they will cherish for their lifetime.
  5. Immortal memories: Unfortunately, the life span of animals is shorter than that of humans. These sketches are a way to immortalize your memories with your pets forever.

Shop around as there are lots of companies offering pet portraits – like everything it’s important to check out the reviews and paper quality before purchasing. Keep in mind there is often a range of products to choose from, for example Paint My Pooch offer regular prints as well as digital & box mount options. Remember to get your pet freshly groomed before any photograph or painting.