Dogs are Casually Chic

Dear Amy, I just attended my first dog show and saw a bunch of breeds I’d never seen before. I saw dogs with their ears all wrapped up, others getting shaved and poodles trimmed to look like moving topiaries (you know, those fancy shrubs in animal shapes). Even the “plain Jane” dogs with shorter no-muss fur got bathed and polished. Now I feel like I’ve neglected my own pooch, Jethro. He’s a Labrador, loves getting down and dirty in the mud puddles or lake, and he’s lucky if he gets a bath once a year. Please explain: what’s the deal with all the frou-frou fancy grooming?

Though you may consider some of the grooming of show dogs a bit extreme, all these styles developed over centuries have very specific historical purposes. Many of the hunting breeds developed harsh coats to protect them from the brush or to shed water. Their owners trimmed the fur in certain ways to better protect the dog by keeping his joints warm or preventing ear damage. In fact, many of the dogs seen at conformation (“beauty”) shows also compete in trials that show off their hunting or working skills.

Most pets certainly don’t require such dog grooming extremes. Longer-haired pets need human help staying spiffy and avoiding painful fur mats. A simple trim is casual and easy to maintain.

Though dogs are hardly the “neatness freaks” that cats are, our canine companions do groom themselves. They lick themselves religiously, particularly after (ahem) going out in the yard. Teeth nibbles help comb and tease burrs out of fur or ice from paw pads. Scratching with a rear paw also helps remove debris and parasites, like fleas and ticks. Dogs like your Jethro even “bathe” themselves when they dive into any available body of water. They just have trouble soaping behind their ears.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of more than 20 nonfiction books about dog care and behavior.