Qatar’s extreme climate and sandy environment can be challenging for pet skin and fur. Dust and sand can easily get into their coat, leading to discomfort, severe matting, excess shedding, and skin infections. Long exposure to heat can also harm your dog, particularly if their fur is not adequately maintained, and hot surfaces can cause paw cracking and dryness. Luckily, you can take care of your furry friend on your own, with a couple of essential tools. Here are some easy and effective dog grooming tips.

Brushing and detangling remove loose fur, dirt, and debris. They also help in preventing mats and tangles, which can cause discomfort and lead to skin problems. Different fur types require varying grooming schedules and tools:

• Short-haired pets need 2 to 3 brushings per week 

• Long-haired dogs require daily brushing

• For curly coats, use a special curly dog comb to prevent tangling

• For double-coated breeds, gently de-shed them once a week with an undercoat rake to reduce mats

It’s important to choose the right grooming supplies for your dog’s fur type, as the wrong combs can cause skin irritation. For instance, short-haired breeds like Boxers, Greyhounds, Bulldogs, Pugs, and Dachshunds should be brushed with soft bristle tools, grooming gloves, or rubber curry brushes.

On the other hand, long-haired and curly dogs like Collies, Poodles, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Akitas, Sheepdogs, and Maltesers need wide-tooth metal combs, undercoat rakes, and slicker brushes for detangling and shedding.  

Regular bathing removes dirt and allergens from the coat. But if you bathe your pet too often, you can strip its skin of natural oils, leading to excessive dryness. Ideally, you should wash your dog once a month if they're rarely out, and every 2 to 3 weeks with more active pets. 

During baths, use lukewarm water and a gentle pet shampoo. Never use human products, as their pH level is not adequate for dog skin and can cause irritation. What’s more, try to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day and use a gentle towel or cotton cloth when drying. Even better, if your dog can handle it, use a blow dryer on a low setting. Before and after baths, brush your pet to remove tangles and prevent mats from tightening.

Nails and paws are one of the most sensitive parts of your pet’s body, which is why most of them hate when their owners handle them. Don't let that discourage you, as overgrown nails and tangled paws can cause discomfort, pain, and injuries.

Purchase a dog nail clipper and trim your pet’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks. For sensitive dogs, try quiet, cordless ones. Also, look for high-quality, adjustable blades for even cuts.

In addition, hot surfaces and sand can affect the skin around the paws. So, make sure you brush them regularly and check for dryness and dirt. Invest in a paw balm, wipes, and moisturizing sprays to keep this area clean and hydrated. 

Dogs’ ears can accumulate dirt, wax, and moisture, leading to infections. Thankfully, this process is pretty slow, meaning you won’t have to do it more than once or twice a month, unless the pet has been in a dirty environment. You can use an alcohol-free ear solution and cotton pads.

Eyes are a bit of a different story, as mucus, debris, and oils collect around them more often. So, it’s best to wipe the corners with a damp cotton pad a few times a week.

Maintaining oral hygiene is crucial for your dog’s overall health. Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth using a dog toothpaste and toothbrush every day. But, if that’s not feasible, try to do it at least 3 times a week. 

Furthermore, feed your dog one dental chew a day to reduce plaque buildup. Dog chews are great for your dog’s teeth, but they are not a substitute for regular dental care. 

Although DIY grooming is important, trims around sensitive areas and professional haircuts can only be done at a salon. For the best outcome, it’s recommended that you get your pet groomed every 4 to 8 weeks. Here are some great saloons in Qatar to try.

Vee Paws

Located in Mesaimeer, this pet grooming salon offers both in-shop and mobile grooming services, with different tiers. Basic package includes wash, blow dry, nail clipping, and paw trimming, while the full one comes with a full haircut and a sanitary area trim.

Fluffy Tails Grooming

Fluffy Tails is a mobile pet grooming service offering basic, full, and deluxe packages. They arrive in a fully equipped, customized trimming and washing van at your doorstep. 

Each package includes organic cleansers, washes, and bath products. The basic one offers sanitary trims, tooth brushing, bathing, nail filing, eye and ear cleansing, and post-grooming fragrance. The full package includes all basic services plus a full haircut, while the deluxe package comes with fancy organic fur conditioning and paw and nose balm. 

Pearl Pet Grooming

Similar to Fluffy Tails, Pearl Pet Grooming also offers mobile grooming in their fully equipped vans that come directly to your home. They offer four tiers of service. 

Touch-ups are regular washes with ear, eye, and sanitary cleansing. Basic grooming includes nail clipping, de-shedding, and paw waxing, while full grooming includes a haircut and teeth cleaning. Lastly, a luxurious package includes a body oil massage for your pet.  

WowPaw

WowPaw is a specialized mobile grooming company that also comes to your address. They offer full spa grooming services, including massage baths, inside the fully-equipped vans. 

WowPaw offers basic wash or haircut packages that can be customized with add-ons, starting at QAR 25. Alternatively, you can choose a basic groom that includes shampooing, a massage bath, nail filing, eye cleansing, and a haircut, or a full groom that adds gland expression and teeth brushing to the services.

Parkview Pet Center

Parkview Pet Center in Madinat Khalifa North provides veterinary-backed dog grooming for all breeds and coat types. The main advantage of this center is immediate access to veterinary care. 

In case the groomer discovers a skin condition, lump, parasite, or ear infection during your dog's session, the on-site veterinarian can examine and begin treatment the same day. The clinic offers professional dog grooming at the location and via mobile service. Prices are disclosed upon request.