Grooming Your Pet

A well-groomed dog makes everyone feel better. You don't want your dog having a bad hair day and your dog doesn't want matted hair, fleas, ticks and infected skin. For many dogs, regular professional grooming is not a luxury, but a necessity. Poodles, Schnauzers, Bichons and others are much healthier and happier when they are groomed every 6-8 weeks. Cockers and other spaniels often need to be groomed 4-6 times a year. Lhasas, Pekinese and Shih-tzus may be easier to live with if they are groomed 2-4 times a year. Many longhaired dogs that are not traditionally "groomed" do so much better if they are shaved down in the Spring after the threat of cold weather has passed. We often recommend a second shave down in the early fall to keep the hair from becoming too long and matted before the Spring shave down.

Just look at Mother Nature. All wild dogs have erect ears. We bred dogs with long, floppy ears and with lots of hair in the ear canals. In addition, all the longhaired dogs live in colder areas and the warmer areas have all shorthaired dogs. But we don't follow the natural course so the long hair dogs in our area need a little help to be comfortable. Then for hundreds of years, dogs like poodles have been bred with routine grooming in mind. So you as you can see, many dogs need to be on a regular grooming program.

Grooming may be as simple as a bath. When dogs lived outside, a little odor was not an issue, but now out pets live with us and even sleep with us so we want our pets clean and odor free. Weekly bathing with a high quality pet shampoo can make living with a dog much more pleasurable.

Of course, you can bath and groom your own dogs, but we provide professional grooming in a clean, comfortable environment at Animal Crackers. Laura Reed has been grooming dogs for over 25 years. Whether it’s a poodle clip, a shave down or just a bath, we are here to help you keep your pets looking their best.

Animal Crackers also has a complete supply of grooming supplies for home use.
Here is a brief listing of some of the products we sell, and why we recommend them.

ü       Shampoos and Rinses

o        Designed to moisturize the coat and make hair more manageable. 

o        Much better than many over the counter pet shampoos that are little more than soaps with a short acting insecticide in them or human products that are designed for human skin that is very different from dog skin. 

o        Much better for use with Frontline and the other long acting flea and tick products since they don't remove the normal oily layer on the skin surface where these products work.

ü    FURminator

            o     The FURminator is for removal of undercoat and loose hair.

            o     It is for long and short-haired dogs and cats. It reduces shedding up to 90%.

 ü  Universal Slicker Brush

o        The flat-out best pet brush on the market.

o        Curved bristles in a rubber base remove loose hair and tease out mats.

o        Curved design works with the natural ark of your brushing motion.

ü       Resco Nail Trimmers 

o        Much better than the bargain brands. 

o        Cleaner cut and more comfortable for your pet.

o        Replaceable parts. 

Animal Crackers also carries a very select line of pet supplies.  We won't have the selection of a pet super store, but you can count on the quality of what we carry. 
Some of our featured product include:

ü       Lupine Collars and Leashes

o        Guaranteed for life. 

o        Stylish and fashionable

o        Martingale design that tightens just enough to keep it from slipping off your dogs' head when they pull on the leash.  This little feature can mean the difference in life or death.

ü       Dental Supplies 

o        Toothpastes and Toothbrushes designed for pets.  The BEST option, but not for everyone.

o        Enzadent.  Enzymatic rawhide chews that also clean teeth and freshen breath.  A less expensive option than Greenies.

o        PetKiss.  An additive for your pets' water that bonds the volatile sulfa compounds in bad breath and contribute to tartar buildup. 

o    Dentahex Oral Rinse. It can help to slow the return of periodontal disease, by using everyday while brusing.

ü       Treats