Lancashire Heeler

A bold, friendly, active, competitive, and adaptable dog full of energy needing lots of exercise and stimulation, all seem to have larger than life characters. They have a thick top coat with a soft undercoat and can generally be kept in good condition with a thorough weekly brush using a good quality Pinhead brush.

You should brush your dog weekly and generally their coats do not mat and tangle if groomed regularly but as with all dogs it pays to check looking out for and dealing with any tangles or mats which occasionally develop. During their sheds in Spring and Autumn we would recommend a brush at least every two to three days, or daily if needed, to remove shed hair and to avoid tangles and knots developing.

For the visits to the Groomer you should concentrate on clipping of nails  and of course a good wash and groom, and most owners advise these visits can be as often as every 6-8 weeks but with regular washing and grooming this can be reduced to every 3- 4 months.

So in between these visits keep your dog in great condition by having your own washing and grooming sessions at home, this can be a rewarding and fun experience and keep your pet’s coat from a strong doggy smell. So we would recommend that you wash only if the dog has developed an unpleasant odour and ideally no more frequently than monthly

Before you start your shower and grooming sessions make sure you have all tools and materials required: –

Shampoo ensure you use a specific Dog Shampoo this will ensure that the Fur is maintained in great condition, Human Shampoos have different formulas not always compatible with Dogs.

Towels 1 x Roses PVA Mega Absorbent Towel, and I x Roses Large Microfibre Towel

1 x Roses Grooming and Drying Brush

1 x Good Quality Dog Pin Head  Brush and/or A Good Quality Firm Bristle Brush

A good supply of treats

Washing your Lancashire Heeler

For all dog’s we advise you to use the shower, (and use a non-slip shower mat) as washing in the sink or bath may result in your dog jumping out and potentially harming itself. If you do choose to use the sink or bath again a non-slip mat and if possible secure your dog to stop them jumping out and hurting itself. Ensure the water is a comfortable temperature not too hot or too cold use the shower attachment to thoroughly wet your dog’s coat and then apply the shampoo and knead it thoroughly into the coat.  Now this is important when rinsing the shampoo out you must ensure that all shampoo is rinsed away as any residue can cause itchiness. Another key point we would make is to avoid getting shampoo into the eyes and try to keep the inside of ears dry away from shampoo and water.  A useful tip is to start from the head and work towards the tail this can minimise the risk of shampoo in the eyes and ears. Also this is also a good time to check the ears for dirt, redness or burrs etc.

If using a conditioner repeat process and again make sure the conditioner is thoroughly rinsed out of the coat

When coat thoroughly rinsed it is time to dry and technique is important here to keep your dog’s coat in great condition. Firstly, dab the coat all over with the Roses Mega Absorbent PVA Towel, squeezing excess water out often to ensure maximum absorbency. Once all surplus water is removed then wrap your dog in a Roses Large Microfibre Towel gently dabbing and rubbing the towel all over until the coat is just damp. It is important that you do not vigorously towel dry your dog as this can result in Frizz, Split Ends, knots, tangling and matting.

Now to the final drying and grooming, connect your Roses Grooming and Drying Brush set on medium heat and low speed and start brushing and Drying the coat, there is no correct place to start but the key advice we would give here is to ensure the whole coat is dry particularly around the base of the tail and around the ears. Ensure all the coat is brushed through and dry. If your dog is a little anxious at first encourage with treats and words of encouragement. Once your dog is familiarised and comfortable with your Roses Grooming and Drying Brush you can increase the heat setting to full and increase the speed to high, but note when drying around the eyes and ears only use medium heat and low power.

The permanent IONIC feature will ensure great condition to your dog’s coat

The choice of Brush head to use varies from Dog to Dog, but for the Lancashire Heeler we recommend  the oval pin head brush head for the whole dog. But once you have used the tool a few times you will develop your own technique and use brush heads which you feel give you the best results.

We know that following these simple instructions you will soon be getting great results and you and your dog will enjoy these sessions which can help create an excellent bond between you and your dog and of course keep your loved pet looking great and smelling good most of the time.

Following a wet walk, you can also follow these guidelines if not dirty no need to shampoo or condition simply towel dry as outlined here and quickly dry off with the Roses Grooming and Drying Brush, and on cold winter walks your dog will welcome being dry and warm.

We look forward to hearing your experiences and of course receiving pictures of your Lancashire Heeler’s after your Grooming and Pampering Sessions

THE ROSES TEAM

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