Grooming by Amberley

02/04/2025

Luna was a brave girl for her first spaw 🐾 day

01/31/2025

01/30/2025

01/28/2025

Sometimes owners believe it is best to not groom their pet in the winter months so they "will be warmer". However, not grooming your pet in the winter can have the opposite effect.

Pets with coats that are groomed on a regular schedule, should be kept on schedule throughout the year. Every spring we see it in our salons. Dogs who are on a regular grooming schedule, but haven't been in for months simply because it's cold outside. The coat is matted and/or pelted and the poor pet gets shaved to the skin. Owners are upset because they don't understand that a blade must pass 'under' matting, it cannot go through it. Sometimes there are injuries or skin infections discovered underneath all that mess which leads to veterinary visits.

Keeping fur bearing breeds groomed means excessive undercoat does not build up allowing the coat to do it's job. The guard coat reflects wetness and cold, while the undercoat holds warm air near the skin.

For hair bearing breeds, it's okay to groom a bit longer for winter warmth, but dead undercoat still needs to be removed. However, 1/2 inch of extra coat keeps your pet no warmer. You will need extra inches if you are growing for warmth and that may mean more frequent grooming to prevent matting.

Is winter grooming really necessary? Absolutely it is!

01/25/2025

"It was out of the blue" 💥
"He just snapped" ❗
"It happened in an instant".
If we look back, there are often many signals given.
Even if it was just a second before.
For many dogs they can escalate to a bite because every other signal and sign they have desperately given either us or another dog to stop or back off has been ignored or dismissed.
Reading dogs is tricky, but there are things we can do that can help us read our dogs.
✅Read their body language when they are relaxed.
What are their bodies doing?
Is their mouth relaxed?
What are their ears and tail doing?
Are their eyes "soft" and is there facial tension?
All of this can help you decipher when they are escalating and can help you with those "out of the blue moments".

Number one priority for everyone's safety is muzzle training.
While that isn't something many people want to do, a well conditioned and properly introduced muzzle is protection for everyone while you can truly understand what happened and put steps in place so this doesn't happen again.

Learn how dogs display they are uncomfortable and recognise this in your own dogs.
There will be a video in the comments that can help with this.

This dog training handout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-bite?srsltid=AfmBOooXHFzjLYcmQziE4--eOrRd269G2tVU4-VP7Pf69uPBnQe8P-EZ

01/25/2025

February is pet dental/oral health awareness month. All February grooming appointments will include complementary teeth brushing (depending on your lil buddy's current oral health and tolerance) as well as a toothbrush to take home.

01/17/2025

I've decided to open up some extra spots this weekend. Text to book 780-668-2682.
-January 19 @ 10:00/12:00

01/17/2025

If seeking a force free or Fear Free pet professional, please be aware that training and grooming are unregulated industries. It's still important to do some research and ensure who you are choosing to work with is, in fact, trained and certified through reputable organizations such as Fear Free Pets or Alberta Force Free Alliance.

01/16/2025

Do you struggle with walking your dog? Would you like to learn how to enjoy your walks together more? Feel free to reach out!

01/11/2025

Nuka was a new visitor this week. Nice to meet you, little floof!

01/11/2025

TDIF (Thank DOG It's Friday)
We are closed for the weekend but have openings for grooming throughout next week (Jan 14, 15, 17, 18)
Text for times and to book, 780-668-2682 🐾 Please see Pinned Post if you are a new client.