Pet grooming: Helping your furry friend look and feel good

By Paul Adams
Translated by Niccole Yang

With the summer heat upon us, it's time for many pet owners to take care of their four-legged friends shaggy winter coats and get ready for the long, hot season. For many dog breeds, Taiwan summers can be severely uncomfortable. We all know about dogs dying in hot cars, but even in a park they can become dehydrated and ill very quickly. So where can you go for a quick trim, claw clipping and maybe something more adventurous?

As mundane as it seems, the first suggestion is simply your local vet. If you're thinking of trimming back your pet's fur purely for comfort then it always helps to check first. Certain dog breeds, for example, don't react well to having too much removed as they depend on their coat for cleaning as well as for oils beneficial to their skin. Too severe a cut can lead to skin irritation and scratching and may actually harm their natural cooling abilities. Most vets will offer a basic grooming service and you will have the added benefit of them potentially catching any problems you may have missed.

For something over and above the basic service, there's Bobby Pet Shower on ZhongXing Street. The team here provides a comprehensive range of grooming options and has experience with most breeds you can think of. The big draw at Bobby is the cafe service for pet owners, who can relax and enjoy a drink and snacks while their little (or large) ones are being pampered. Smaller salons exist all over the city. Those out near Tunghai University can try I Love Pets on XiTun Road. While more geared towards smaller dogs (yes, you can opt for the "cube head" cut, if you so desire) they can also handle larger breeds and cats.

Also recommended is Austen Pet Grooming School where you can not only have your pooch pampered, but also learn how to do it yourself via a pet-grooming class. The courses are only offered in Mandarin so if you aren't a proficient speaker it may be best to go with a local friend.

Austen Pets Grooming School
1, HanKou Rd, Sec 5, Beitun Dist
(04) 2236-6472
10 am-10 pm (closed Wed)
http://austen.com.tw

Bobby Pet Shower & Sunshine Cafe
120, ZhongXing St, West Dist
(04) 2301-7868
11 am-10 pm
http://bobbypet.pixnet.net/blog

I Love Pets
14, Lane 159-11, XiTun Rd, Sec 3, Xitun Dist
(04) 2462-8089
10 am-8 pm (closed Tue)
http://www.facebook.com/salonipet