Braving the cold winters doesn't mean putting a pause on your dog's daily adventures, but it does introduce the inevitable - cold, wet fur, and paws making their way into your living space. To ensure your furry friend remains healthy and joyous throughout the frosty season, a touch more grooming is essential.

Delve into our dog grooming tips and techniques designed to tackle winter woes head-on. Plus, discover how integrating grain-free dog treats and natural dog food into their routine can contribute to their overall wellbeing, keeping them sprightly and well-groomed from the inside out.

Bathing

You might think that less time rolling around in the grass and mud in the winter means you can skip your dog’s regular baths, but it doesn’t mean you should stop bathing your dog altogether. Dirt and ice-melting salt can accumulate in your dog’s coat, and if you’re one for winter cuddles (like us), keeping their fur smelling fresh certainly isn’t a bad thing.

To make cold weather baths a little more pleasant, use warm water (not hot!) to lather them up and rinse them off. (If they’re especially dirty, you can shampoo them twice.) After washing their hair, apply conditioner. You can comb it through longer fur with a wide-tooth comb to detangle it while you wash. Conditioner is beneficial for short-haired dogs too, moisturizing your dog’s skin and fur in one go.

After bathing, make sure to dry your dog thoroughly, especially before their next walk outside—going in the cold with wet fur can chill your dog to the bone very quickly! Dry them by patting and squeezing with a towel (avoid rubbing to prevent tangles) or by using a hair dryer on the cool or warm setting. Feel free to wrap them up in a cozy blanket or dry towel as they finish air drying. Give them grain free-treats after a bath to make sure they look forward to this essential grooming time!

Brushing

Brushing your dog’s fur is essential—especially with those thick winter coats! It removes dirt and shedding hair and helps to detangle hair. If you have a long-haired dog, you know just how important that is—tangled hair can be painful, and it just gets worse when that fur gets thoroughly matted.

That’s why brushing should be part of your regular grooming schedule! Most dogs benefit from being brushed at least once or twice a week, but it depends on your dog’s hair type and activity level. Every fur baby is unique, so whether you're working with a sleek short coat or a fluffy mane, these dog grooming tips and techniques are all about keeping them looking and feeling paw-some. Let’s make grooming a fun bonding time, not a chore!

Short-haired dogs can go longer between brushings if they don’t shed much, while dogs with curly hair prone to matting (we’re looking at you, golden doodles) might need to be brushed every couple of days to keep their fur in tip-top condition. Use the right brush or comb for your dog’s fur type and stay consistent and you’ll have an irresistibly pettable dog. 

If you discover any particularly stubborn tangles when you’re trying to brush your dog, take it slowly and gently. Detangling matted hair can be stressful for your dog and you, so be patient (and keep some grain free dog treats on hand as a bribe).

We recommend starting by giving your dog a bath with shampoo and plenty of conditioner to clean and begin to loosen any mats. Once they’re clean and dry, begin gently teasing the tangled hair strands apart with a metal comb (sometimes called a greyhound comb). A good detangling spray can be a lifesaver for loosening the knots and making the experience less painful for your dog!

Start at the ends and move closer and closer to their skin as you detangle the mat. Once you can comb their hair through smoothly, congratulations! You’ve vanquished a dreaded mat.

If you can’t thoroughly detangle the mat, it’s okay! Sometimes mats go too far and require professional attention. Take your dog into a groomer to see if they can detangle it or if it will need to be snipped or shaved out.

A slicker brush is also a useful tool to keep on hand for removing those big chunks of snow that can get stuck in long fur. Simply brush the snow away (and add a spritz of grooming spray to the brush if needed) to help your dog look more like a dog and less like a snowman. If you have to tackle persistent ice chunks that won’t brush out, a soak in warm water or a blast from a hair dryer on the warm setting will make quick work of them.

Diet

It's not just about what happens on the outside that counts. The secret to a glossy coat and healthy skin starts with what's in your dog's bowl. Here's the deal: feeding your furry friend natural dog food and grain-free treats is like giving them a beauty boost from the inside out. Think of it as their daily dose of glow-up, ensuring their fur is as healthy and vibrant as they are.

It's not just about cutting down on grooming time; it's about embracing a lifestyle that keeps your pup's tail wagging and their coat shining. So, as you explore dog grooming tips and techniques, remember the power of a good diet. It's the foundation of every head-turning, paw-stopping strut down the street. Let's make every meal a step towards effortless beauty, shall we?

Paws

Dog grooming tips don’t just stop at the fur, even though we spend a lot of time on it (as we should because it’s gorgeous), you can’t forget paw care!

Those toe beans take a beating in the winter between freezing snow and ice and the caustic salt used to melt ice on roads and sidewalks. All that nasty stuff can build up in the nooks and crannies between your dog’s toes, causing irritation if left unattended. If your dog tries to lick that gunk out themselves, eating all that chemically treated salt can irritate their stomachs—a thoroughly unpleasant double whammy. 

Wipe your dog’s paws off with a towel or wet wipe (and get between all those toes!) or give their paws a rinse with warm water whenever you come inside from an icy walk to avoid irritation and melt any clinging snow. Applying a little balm to their dry paw pads isn’t a bad idea either to prevent painful cracked skin. (Pro tip: apply a little waxy balm to their paws before walks to help stop snow from sticking to them!)

As part of your regular dog grooming techniques, keep any long toe fluff trimmed to prevent snow and salt from clinging to it. You might want to consider getting booties (and other winter gear) for your dog if they’re experiencing persistent paw irritation. 

Also, don’t forget those nails! You might have to trim or file them more frequently in the winter because they’re not getting to naturally wear down those talons by running on the rough ground.

As we wrap up our guide on dog grooming for the winter, it’s clear that maintaining your dog's grooming routine through the colder months is important for their health and comfort. From the necessity of regular baths to prevent dirt and salt buildup, to the importance of brushing to keep their coats free of mats and tangles, each step is vital.

Just as important is the role of diet in your dog’s grooming regimen. Feeding your dog grain-free treats and natural dog food can have great benefits to their coat's condition and overall well-being. This approach not only aims to reduce grooming efforts but ensures your dog remains healthy and vibrant from the inside out.

Winter grooming is about more than just aesthetics; it's about ensuring your dog's comfort and health in harsh conditions. By incorporating these grooming tips and techniques, alongside a diet rich in natural dog food, you’re setting up your dog for a happier, healthier winter season. Remember, a well-groomed dog is a happy dog, and a proper diet is key to achieving that.