Autumn’s here — the season of colourful walks, cosy nights, and, of course, a bit of extra mud! As the weather cools and the leaves start to fall, it’s important to give your dog’s grooming and care routine a seasonal refresh. From keeping their coat in top condition to managing shedding and wet-weather tangles, a little preparation will help your pup stay happy and comfortable through the chillier months.
Here’s your complete guide to autumn dog care and grooming in the UK.
Essential Grooming Tools For Autumn Dog Grooming
- The change in daylight hours in autumn signals the start of your dog shedding their summer coat shed in preparation for their thicker winter coat to come through. Grooming them more frequently during this time is essential to remove the loose, dead hair and prevent it from becoming knotted into the coat and forming uncomfortable matts.
- The amount of hair shed around the home can be greatly reduced with routine brushing, plus grooming is a great time to bond with your dog. Keeping your dog’s hair well-groomed also promotes a healthier, shiny coat and will help to keep it tangle free between home clips or grooming visits.
- Brushes and combs are the perfect tools for detangling the coat while slicker brushes, rakes and grooming mitts will help to remove the shedding summer coat.
- It's important when brushing, for the pins of the brush to reach deep into the coat down as mats mainly form close the skin rather than at the surface. Our Super Slicker brush has long pins to help reach deep into the coat - perfect for detangling for doodles and long coated breeds!
- Line brushing is a grooming technique where you part your dog’s coat in small sections and brush each layer from the roots to the ends. It ensures the entire coat is thoroughly brushed, preventing mats and tangles — especially in long or curly-haired breeds.
How To Deal with Matted Hair
- If you find a mat in your dog's hair, start by gently prising it apart with your fingers. Small mats that are not tight to the skin can be gently broken up using a dematting and detangling comb and then carefully brushed out.
- Small, tight mats that dont come apart easily, are in a sensitve area or are uncomfortable for your dog, can be clipped out using the Showmate dog trimmer or our A5 dog clippers with a 10F clipper blade to reach close the skin behind the knot to carefully release it.
- For larger matted areas, it's best to seek help from a professional groomer to avoid leaving large patches of clipped hair.
Clipping For Cooler Weather
Whilst clipping keeps your dog looking great, we need to ensure their coat offers them enough protection from the changing weather.
- If your dog is due for a clip, you may want to leave their coat a little longer during autumn to help them stay warm. A longer coat also provides a little extra protection against environmental factors like brambles, thorns, and cold winds.
- Use a longer clipper blade or a comb attachment to achieve the length you need. Sometimes, keeping the coat short in winter is best for maintenance, helping to keep them cleaner and tangle free - in which case, using well fitting dog coats will keep them warm and dry when they're venturing outdoors.
Keeping Paws Clean And Healthy
- Autumn walks can leave your dog’s paws muddy, but keeping them clean helps to prevent irritation and infections.
- A quick rinse with a mild shampoo does wonders, and regular trimming around their paw pads stops mud from sticking to the hair. Our range of Wildwash all-natural dog shampoo’s perfect for muddy autumnal adventures!
- Wet paws can be quickly dried with our quick drying microfibre cloths before heading inside to help keep the floors in your home clean.
- Check for grass seeds, especially between the toes as they can cause serious problems if left unchecked. If your dog has lots of hair around the feet, trimming the hair around the paws and between the pads will help to spot any issues, provide better grip on surfaces and prevent debris and grit from getting caught in the hair and causing irritation.
- Just like us, dogs can suffer from dry, cracked skin as the weather turns colder. Use a soothing specialist balm for dogs to keep their nose and paws soft and moisturised and to help create a barrier against the cold.
Taking Care of Your Dog's Eyes And Ears
Autumn isn’t just about pretty leaves – allergens like mould and pollen can irritate your dog’s eyes and ears.
- Use gentle products for eye and ear care to keep them clean and free of debris. Regular care of these sensitive areas will prevent itching and discomfort, especially after breezy autumn walks.
- Our Showmate trimmers are ideal for trimming long hair from the ears and excess hair from the canal to allow for good air circulation to prevent bacterial infections and yeast. You can watch our video of the Showmate trimmer here.
- Bull nose scissors and thinning scissors are ideal for trimming the hair away from the eyes and tidying up fluffy ears to help air flow and prevent infections caused by damp and dirt.
Parasite Protection
Don’t let the cooler weather fool you – fleas and ticks are still a threat in autumn. Keep your dog’s flea, tick and worm parasite prevention up to date.
- A quick check during grooming sessions ensures your dog stays pest-free. Adding a flea comb to your dog grooming routine can catch any unwanted visitors early on.
- Taking the time for an all over groom will also help you to spot and feel for ticks, wounds or unusual lumps and bumps on the skin.
Beware of Seasonal Hazards
- Acorns, conkers, and grass seeds are everywhere during autumn, but they can be dangerous if swallowed or caught in your dog’s fur or paws.
- Regular grooming helps you spot and remove nuisance grass seeds before they cause any harm.
- Make sure to keep a close eye on your dog during walks and clean them up as soon as you get home.
October and November bring the additional worry of Halloween dangers and fireworks. Check out our Halloween blog here for tips to keep your pets safe during the Halloween celebrations. Plus there's top tips for how to keep them calm come Diwali and Bonfire Night in our firework pet saftey blog here.
Enjoying Autumn Adventures With Your Dog
Autumn is such a beautiful season, and with a like extra grooming care and adjustments, your dog will enjoy it just as much as you. Keep your pup looking and feeling great this autumn:
Regular brushing: To manage seasonal shedding, keep their coat tangle free and spot issues early on to keep them healthy.
Longer clips and trimming: To balance warmth and facilitate grooming whilst providing protection from the elements.
Seasonal hazards: Watch out for parasites, acorns, conkers, mud and grass seeds that can irritate your dog or make them poorly. Be mindful of events such as Halloween and Firework celebrations and take extra measures to keep your dog safe.
With a little extra grooming attention, you’ll ensure your dog is comfortable and ready for all the autumn fun. Feel free to browse our range of dog clippers and grooming accessories, or get in touch with us if you’d like any further grooming advice.
