Swellendam Doggy Parlour

  We spend plenty of time looking at our pets' coats, but how often do we think about what's underneath all that fur? Your pet's skin is doing far more work than you might realise. In fact, skin is the body's largest organ. It forms an important barrier between your pet and the outside world, helping protect against environmental factors while also playing a role in temperature regulation and sensation. Your pet's skin isn't simply one layer either. It consists of several layers, each with its own job. Beneath the outer epidermis is the dermis, which contains blood vessels, nerves and other structures. Hair follicles, oil glands and other important structures are also associated with the skin. Those little oil glands have a job too. They produce sebum, an oily substance that helps keep the skin soft and pliable while giving the coat some of its natural sheen. And then there's the relationship between skin and coat. Healthy skin provides the foundatio...

Finding pet hair on your clothes, furniture and probably places you didn't even know your pet could reach is simply part of life with many dogs and cats. But why do our pets shed in the first place? Shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. Old hairs eventually fall out, making room for new ones. How much a pet sheds depends on factors such as breed, coat type and the individual animal, so there can be a big difference between one pet and another. Some dogs with double coats can experience particularly heavy seasonal shedding. During these periods, their undercoat may come out in noticeable amounts, leaving what looks like little clouds of fur around the house. Cats can also shed seasonally, while indoor cats may shed throughout the year. So when should shedding make you pause? Finding loose fur around your home is generally nothing to worry about. Shedding is different from noticeable hair loss, though. Bald patches, thinning areas or a sudden change in how much ...

  Have you ever wondered why one dog can leave enough hair on the sofa to make a second dog, while another seems to leave hardly any behind? Or why some coats feel silky and fine, while others are thick, curly or wonderfully wiry? There is a fascinating reason for this: dogs have an incredible variety of coat types, and their coats are not all built the same way. Some dogs have a single coat, while others have a double coat made up of a softer undercoat and a coarser outer layer. The outer coat helps protect the skin from the elements, while the undercoat can provide insulation. Double coats can vary considerably too, from the shorter coat of a Labrador Retriever to the much fuller coat of a Border Collie. Then there are curly coats, wiry coats, silky coats and coats that grow continuously. Even the words "hair" and "fur" don't really tell us much about the biology of the coat. Both are made from keratin, and the differences we notice are largely related t...

Every pet has its own personality. Some walk into the grooming salon with tails wagging and noses twitching, ready to investigate everything around them. Others are a little more cautious and prefer to take their time. Neither reaction is unusual. Just like us, pets gain confidence through positive experiences, and every good visit helps build trust for the next one. That confidence can start long before a grooming appointment. Spending a few minutes each week gently brushing your pet, handling their paws or checking their ears helps them become comfortable with everyday handling. These simple moments teach them that being touched isn't something to worry about. Offering praise or a favourite treat afterwards helps create positive associations that carry through to grooming visits. Routine also makes a remarkable difference. Pets that are groomed regularly soon become familiar with the sights, sounds and gentle handling involved. The experience becomes predictable rather than...