Eliminating static charge doesn’t have to be a pain

Static charge can build up in your dog’s coat just as it can in your own hair. Have you ever been brushing your hair and gotten zapped by a little charge? It hurts, doesn’t it? Well, your dog doesn’t like it either! My dogs have long hair that require frequent brushing so I have to do what I can to keep the static out of their coats when I’m brushing them. It’s not always easy.

Static can be caused by dry, cool air in your house or rubbing and building up an electrical charge on the carpet or an area rug. Any type of friction can build up some static so even brushing your dog can create static if you do it vigorously enough. But there are some solutions!

Reduce the friction!

Sometimes increasing the humidity in your home can reduce the static charge in the atmosphere and in your dog’s coat. You may wish to get a humidifier for you house to raise the humidity. This can be good for both you and your dog.

Grooming Shouldn’t be a Shocking Experience

Your dog’s hair is usually most prone to building up static when he has been recently bathed and dried because there are fewer natural oils in his coat to help keep it under control.

You can try two things. First, use a conditioner after you shampoo your dog. This will add more moisture to the coat. Try Fur Butter or Fur Worse , a deep conditioning treatment for dry coats. This products adds tons of moisture in the coat and will leave it super soft too!

You can then  take the charge out of your dog’s coat by using a spray-on conditioner or detangler before brushing your dog. This is effective because it adds in moisture so that bruhsing your dog is a less "shocking" experience. Try Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer ,  an all-natural detangler and leave-in conditioner that reduces static in your dog’s coat. The great thing about a spray on product is that you can use it anytime, whenever you notice that your dog’s coat has static. You don’t have to wait until bathtime to "take charge."

You can also spray it directly on your dog’s brush before you brush him. This will help reduce the static that the brush could cause when you use it on your dog’s coat.

Dogs are not laundry!

Some people like to rub their dogs with a dryer sheet to reduce static since they reduce static in clothing. However, dryer sheets contain some chemicals which can be dangerous for dogs. They are probably all right used lightly on your dog’s coat but you should be very careful not to leave any lying around where your dog could make a snack of one. The same advice goes for when you use dryer sheets with the laundry. Be careful not to leave them where your dog can get to them, either before or after they’ve been used in the dryer.

You should not use anti-static laundry sprays on your dog’s coat. The chemicals in these sprays can be dangerous for your dog, particularly if he licks his coat.

Prevent build up

If you have a certain area of your home set aside for brushing and grooming your dog you may want to consider getting a rubber mat for the floor. Rubber will help prevent an electric charge from building up in the area. This is a great idea for groomers who have to deal with lots of static charge.

No more static

Raise the humidity in your home and use products designed for dogs instead of laundry and you should see a reduction in the amount of static in your dog’s coat. No one likes the ouchies that go along with static, least of all your dog!

Do I Really Need To Use Conditioner on My Dog?

Most people dislike bathing their dog because, let’s admit it, it’s a pain in the rear end.  By the end of the process you’re wetter than your dog, and the bathroom is left in shambles.   So for most, the idea of prolonging the  bathing experience one minute longer is not even an option.  However, that one or two extra minutes to condition your dog can really improve the state of their coat.

The case for conditioners - As we all know, shampoos by design are used for removing unwanted grime from the skin and coat. But shampooing, without sealing the coat afterwords, leaves the hair shaft open where residue can enter and oils and hydration escape. But conditioning after shampooing will close the hair cuticle and restore hydration, moisture and elasticity.

Conditioners also fill in the damaged hair that drying, brushing, dematting and petting cause. Just normal wear and tear chips away at the hair cuticle which a conditioner will restore to a smooth state and one that gives a more lustrous appearance and feel.

The most amazing conditioner I’ve used is Fur Butter (or Fur Worse) . It’s an oatmeal-based ultra rich conditioning treatment for dry, damaged and long coats. It’s very think and rich and leaves the dog super soft & silky.

So, in a nutshell it’s definitely better to condition your dog than not to condition. But some dogs benefit more than others.  To determine if your dog is a good candidate and if the extra two or three minutes conditioning your dog is worth your time, answer the following questions:

1. How long is your dog’s coat?
2. Does he/she have an under coat?
3. How often do you wash your dog?
4. Does your dog have itchy skin?
5. The cuddle factor (CF) you would like to achieve.
6. How adverse is your dog to bath time?

Long Coats
If your dog has a long coat,  then it may be prone to mattes and tangles (think Maltese, Yorkies, Afgans). Using a conditioner will not only make your dog’s coat healthier it will make your job a lot easier by helping to remove mattes and tangles and the after bath brush out will be a breeze.

Undercoat
Dog’s without undercoats will probably receive the most benefit from a conditioner. Because their hair most resembles human hair, it’s thin, easily tangles and gets dirty quickly. Dogs with undercoats usually have thicker coarser hair (like a lab) and therefore do not matte and the coat tends to repel dirt.

Wash Frequency
If you wash your dog often (more than 1x per month) you should definitely condition your dog to close that hair shaft so the coat retains moisture. To read more about how often to wash your dog, click here

Itchy Skin
If your dog has itchy skin , you may want to bathe your dog more often to get rid of allergens. And if you’re washing you dog frequently, conditioner is a good idea. Be sure to use one that has oatmeal which works wonders for itchy skin and other botanicals to help combat itchy skin. Look for herbs like aloe, burdock, comfrey and boswellia to help with inflammation.

The Cuddle Factor
Of course this is the most important thing to consider!  I have a maltese and nothing is better than slathering her with Fur Butter (or Fur Worse) Deep Conditioner. Her coat is left so amazingly soft. It immediately makes the CF go from 10 to 1,000,000.

Bath Time adversity
If your dog really really hates the water and can’t hang around in the tub for one minute longer, there are still things you can do to condition your dog. For example, there are some great 2-in-1 Shampoos and Conditioners you can check out like Bubbles ‘n Beads. Not only does it smell amazing but it gets the job done fast.  Or, get a leave-in conditioner that you simply spray into the dog’s coat after a bath. This aids with the brush out process and adds moisture into the coat. Most of these can be used on a wet or dry coat.

So there is some science to this after all, it’s not all just fluff (not pun intended) Although for most of us it will come down to unquantifiable things like the all important Fluff Factor and of course the already mentioned Cuddle Factor.

Is there really any difference between dog shampoo & human shampoos?

We hear this question all the time– "what’s the difference between my shampoo and my dog’s shampoo?"

You may be surprised to learn that a lot is different. Of course, if you run out of Fido’s shampoo and you use your own to wash your dog a couple of times, nothing will happen. Your dog’s hair won’t fall out and life will probably go on as normal.

But there are areas in which human and dog shampoos differ. You may not notice the ill effects of human shampoo if used only a couple of times on your pooch, but after repeated use, you’ll start to see.

1. Ingredients. Dog’s have different problems that humans do. We usually don’t sit around and scratch our heads as much as dogs scratch. This is because dog’s eliminate toxins differently than we do. We can sweat them out. Since dogs really don’t sweat their toxins are eliminated through their kidneys and bowels. Try Healthy Skin Shiny Coat an all natural herbal detoxifier that you add to your dog’s food. As a topical solutionto relieve itchy skin and soothe skin inflammations try products with colloidal oatmeal , boswellia, burdock and comfrey. The best shampoo to help relieve itchy skin is Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo for Dry & Itchy Skin.

2. Ph Balance. A dog’s skin is about 7.5 while human skin is about 5.5 (to put it in perspective, water is about 7.0). Therefore, a dog’s skin is more alkaline so ideally a dog’s shampoo should be between 6.5-7.5 or it could be irritating to the skin. Highly acidic shampoos may also diminish the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from the coat and skin. the result is dry, irritated skin and a dull coat. Of course it’s a vicious cycle because the dog will scratch which only makes the problem worse.

3. Dog’s have sensitive skin- A dog only has about 3-5 cell-layers thick while we have about 10-15 layers thick. So, harsh shampoos with lots of chemicals and those that aren’t PH balanced will be irritating.

The case for conditioners - Shampoos by design are used for cleaning- removing unwanted grime from the skin and coat. But shampooing, without sealing the coat afterwords, leaves the hair shaft open– at that point residue can enter and oils and hydration escapes.

What you can do is use a conditioner after shampooing to close the hair cuticle and restore hydration, moisture and elasticity.

Conditioners also fill in the damaged hair that drying, brushing, dematting and rubbing causes. Just normal wear and tear chips away at the hair cuticle. Conditioners can help to remove the cuticle to a smooth state and one that gives a more lustrous appearance and feel.

The best deep conditioner I’ve used is Fur Butter (or Fur Worse). It’s an oatmeal based ultra rich conditioning treatment for dry, damaged and long coats. It’s the richest conditioner I’ve used and leaves the dog very soft & silky.

So know you know the difference– there really is one!