Ask a Groomer: Top 10 Dog Grooming Questions We Get at Furology

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “How often should my dog really be groomed?” — you’re not alone.

We hear many of the same questions from pet parents every week. So we’re answering the most common ones here, straight from the grooming salon.

Our goal at Furology is simple: calm, clean, comfortable grooming that supports your pet’s long-term health and emotional well-being.

Let’s dive in!

1. How often should I get my dog groomed?

Grooming needs vary by breed, coat type, lifestyle, and skin health, but most dogs benefit from professional grooming every 3–6 weeks.

A helpful reference point: a dog’s skin cycle averages about 21 days. That means oils, dander, allergens, and debris naturally build up over that time. Regular bathing supports healthier skin, coat balance, and odor control.

Nails are often overlooked, but they usually need maintenance every 2–3 weeks to prevent overgrowth, joint strain, and slipping on hard floors.

Routine grooming isn’t just cosmetic; t’s preventative care.

2. Do you express anal glands?

We do not express anal glands, and we believe this is best handled by a veterinary professional.

Not because it’s gross (trust us, groomers have seen everything — although if you ask us to change a human diaper, that’s a hard no 😅), but because routine, non-medical expression can increase the risk of injury, infection, and long-term dependency.

If your dog is having ongoing anal gland issues or is unable to naturally express them during normal bowel movements, that’s an important conversation to have with your vet. Our role is focused on external care (skin, coat, nails, ears, and comfort) while internal health belongs with your pup's veterinary team.

3. How far in advance should I book my appointment?

Many of our guests prefer to schedule their grooming appointments for the year in advance.

This creates consistency for your pet and avoids the stress of scrambling for appointments during busy seasons and holidays.

We understand that not everyone can commit to long-term scheduling, but if you’re able to, it’s the best way to secure your preferred days and times.

Because we offer true one-on-one, low-volume care, availability is intentionally limited; especially around holidays.

4. Do I need to pick my pet up right when they’re done?

Yes. Because we do not use kennels and schedule appointments back-to-back, pets must be picked up promptly once their service is complete.

We do not offer boarding or daycare services. This keeps our environment calm, quiet, and predictable for every pet.

4. How do you keep dogs calm during grooming?

We prioritize pace, positive reinforcement, and predictability.

We allow pets to move at their comfort level, use gentle handling techniques, provide breaks when needed, and never rush through a service. Our calm environment, one-on-one scheduling, and consistent routines help many anxious pets feel safer over time.

Grooming should build confidence, not fear.

4. What’s included in a professional grooming appointment?

A full grooming appointment typically includes bathing, drying, brushing, nail care, ear cleaning, and coat styling when applicable. The exact services depend on the package selected and your pet’s individual needs.

We customize every appointment based on coat condition, behavior, and health considerations.

7. How do I prevent matting at home?

The key to preventing matting is regular brushing and combing.

The body is usually the easiest area to brush, which means mats tend to sneak up in trickier spots like:

• Behind the ears

• Under the belly and armpits

• Legs

• Tail

  
  

If your dog isn’t a big fan of brushing, work in short sessions and focus on one section at a time.

Always use a slicker brush that’s appropriate for your pet’s coat. We love the slicker brushes from Chris Christensen for their quality and effectiveness.

After brushing, always follow up with a comb. You should be able to run the comb smoothly from the skin all the way to the tip of the hair without snagging. If the comb can’t get through, tangles are still present even if the coat looks brushed on the surface.

Consistent at-home maintenance paired with routine professional grooming is the best way to keep coats healthy, comfortable, and mat-free.

7. Can you brush the mats out instead of shaving?

Sometimes - with important caveats.

Light matting in one or two small areas can often be safely brushed out with extra time, proper conditioning, and a gentle approach.

The structure of the mat and how long it has been forming makes a big difference. Some mats simply cannot be brushed out without causing discomfort or risking skin irritation or injury.

When matting is present in multiple areas of the body, the safest and kindest option is usually to restart the coat and take the hair down to a short, manageable length.

It’s also important to know that aggressive brushing and dematting can damage and break the coat. Broken coat is more prone to tangling and matting even faster moving forward.

Our goal is always your pet’s comfort, safety, and long-term coat health.

7. Can you keep the hair long if we only come in every couple of months?

Truthfully, probably not.

Longer coats require significantly more routine maintenance to stay healthy, comfortable, and mat-free. If you love a longer haircut on your dog, we typically recommend grooming appointments every 2–3 weeks depending on coat type and lifestyle.

Waiting several months between visits often leads to tangles, matting, coat damage, and ultimately shorter haircuts than originally desired.

Consistent scheduling helps maintain the look you love while keeping your pet comfortable and stress-free.

8. Can you make my dog look like this photo?

Maybe (with a little flexibility.)

Inspiration photos are a great starting point, and we love seeing what style you’re drawn to. That said, the dog in the photo may not be the same breed, coat type, coat texture, density, or body structure as your pet. Those factors all influence what’s realistically achievable.

In many cases, we can recreate a similar look or use your photo as inspiration while tailoring the haircut to what works best for your pet’s coat and comfort.

One important note: we’re unable to replicate AI-generated images. These often depict coats, proportions, or finishes that aren’t physically possible on real dogs.

Our goal is always a beautiful, balanced result that works for your pet’s unique coat and lifestyle.

9. Do you have products for pets with sensitive skin?

Yes! Absolutely.

We have two hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner options for both dogs and cats. These formulas are designed to be gentle, soothing, and supportive for pets with sensitive skin, or allergies.

If your pet has specific skin concerns, we’re happy to help guide you toward the best product options and customize their bathing plan to keep their skin healthy and comfortable.

10. Who is that handsome dog yelling from inside the house?

That would be Mordi, my Miniature Pinscher security guard and resident fun-police. 😄

He stays upstairs while we’re working and settles back down once we’re inside. He takes his neighborhood watch duties very seriously.