Continental Kennel Club - feist, field spaniel, fila brasileiro, finnish hound, finnish lapphund, finnish spitz, flat-coated retriever, fox terrier, smooth, fox terrier, wire, french bulldog

CONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB
FINNISH SPITZ INFORMATION PAGE

GROOMING YOUR FINNISH SPITZ

Grooming can be a special time of bonding between a pet and its owner. Some areas of grooming include bathing, coat care, eye/ear care, and nail/teeth care.

Your Finnish Spitz should be bathed only when needed; too frequent bathing will dry out the skin and coat. Use a good shampoo which is veterinarian approved. Dry bathing your dog is another option. These products are sold at most pet stores and are applied by rubbing into the dog’s coat; afterward they are brushed out. If you give your dog a wet bath, keep it indoors and protect it from any drafts until it coat is fully dry.

Most Finnish Spitzs love having their coats brushed and combed. They are usually easy to handle if you are gentle, taking care to not pull the hair. During the shedding season, it’s a good idea to give your dog a hand massage in order to remove the excess hair; this should be done outdoors.

Check your Finnish Spitz’s eyes and ears during the grooming process; the eyes should be clear and bright, and the ears should be clean. It may be necessary to clip some hair within the ears if there is not a clear air passage. Pay close attention to the ears; if you notice any redness, swelling, or sensitivity to touch, contact your veterinarian immediately.

You should keep your puppy’s nails clipped to ensure good foot development. Let your veterinarian show you how to do this so you do not clip too much. If you clip too far back, you may cut a vein and make the nail bleed. Be sure to have a good, sharp nail clipper to do this job. If it makes you uncomfortable or your dog will not cooperate, you can pay a professional groomer to clip the nails.

REFERENCES

De Prisco, Andrew and James B. Johnson. Canine Lexicon. TFH Publications, Inc.: 1993.

Hart, Ernest H. Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. TFH Publications, Inc.: 1975.

Walkowicz, Chris and Bonnie Wilcox, DVM. Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World. TFH Publications, Inc.: 1991