Home grooming keeps pets fresh between spa visits — but a few common habits cause more harm than good. Our stylists see the same five mistakes every week, and each one is easy to fix.
1. Bathing with human shampoo
Human shampoo strips the natural oils pets need. Always use a pH-balanced pet formula, and rinse twice as long as you think necessary — residue is the top cause of post-bath itching.
2. Brushing a dry, tangled coat
Raking a brush through dry mats pulls skin and breaks hair. Mist the coat with a detangling spray first, work from the ends inward, and reach for a mat splitter — never scissors — on tight knots.
3. Clipping nails too short
Cutting into the quick hurts and bleeds. Trim a sliver at a time at a 45-degree angle, and keep styptic powder nearby. Dark nails? Let our team show you the safe line once, then copy it at home.
4. Skipping ear drying
Moisture trapped after baths breeds infection, especially in floppy-eared dogs. Gently dry ears with cotton pads after every wash and check weekly for odor or redness.
5. Waiting too long between grooms
Most coats need professional attention every six to eight weeks. Waiting longer turns light tangles into painful matting that must be shaved — stressful for pets and owners alike.
When in doubt, book a tidy-up. A thirty-minute brush-out with our team costs less than fixing a matted coat later.