One of the great things about having a Whippet around the house is that they have no funky dog odor and are rarely shed. This has a lot of dog owners wondering “do Whippets need to be groomed?”
Whippets only require occasional grooming, so owners don’t have to worry about grooming them often. Most Whippets will stay clean and tidy with a weekly brushing. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to keep a Whippet well-groomed.
If you decide to adopt a Whippet, it’s important to know when and how to groom the dog. On this page, we’re going to discuss if a Whippet needs to be groomed. We will also talk about how often you should groom them and what you need to do. Keep reading to learn more about keeping your Whippet clean.
Do Whippets Need to Be Groomed?
Since Whippets don’t have a bad odor like other dog breeds, it’s not as obvious when these dogs need to be groomed. Whippets don’t require grooming often, but they should still be done every 4 to 8 weeks. This is because the dogs need to have their teeth, ears, and eyes cleaned.
In most cases, the Whippet won’t require a bath for its grooming. Whippets only require a bath when they have gotten dirty. One thing you may notice about Whippets is when they are outdoors playing, they will avoid wet and muddy areas. This is because Whippets hate the feeling of getting dirt and grime on their fur.
Many owners can keep their Whippet well-groomed between grooming appointments simply by using a brush or grooming mitt. it’s recommended to brush their fur once a week, but Whippets love being brushed so your pet won’t be upset if you decide to brush them more frequently.
While brushing the Whippet will keep it looking and feeling good between grooming sessions, it doesn’t mean grooming can be left ignored. Grooming every 4 to 8 weeks is necessary because the following things need to be attended to.
- Dental care
- Clipping nails
- Clean ears
- Check and clean eyes
- Check anal glands
- Check the condition of skin and coat
How Do You Keep a Whippet’s Coat Groomed?
Whippets have short fur, which makes it easier to keep their coat groomed. While Whippets tend to avoid muddy areas, they still enjoy occasionally digging holes and romping around outdoors. At some point, the Whippet is bound to get dirty. So, this is when dog owners wonder if they need to give their Whippet a bath.
First of all, you should determine how dirty the Whippet is. If it looks like it was rolling around in a sandpit, then you may want to draw it a bath. However, if there are only certain spots on the dog that are dirty, you can get away with wiping it with a damp cloth.
Before bathing your Whippet, keep in mind that it is a two-step process. Since the Whippet has such short fur, you need to consider its skin. The shampoo on its own will dry out the dog’s skin, so you will need to use conditioner. It’s highly recommended to use a hypoallergenic shampoo when bathing your Whippet.
The second part of your bath will depend on the condition of your Whippet’s skin. If your Whippet doesn’t have any skin allergies or skin issues, then you can use a conditioner after shampooing to make sure the dog’s skin doesn’t dry out. If your dog has a skin issue, you should use a medicated shampoo recommended by the vet for the second step.
Why Checking a Whippet’s Ears and Teeth Are Important?
A Whippet dog usually doesn’t have an odor. However, if its ears and teeth are left unattended, the Whippet could start to smell.
Keeping a Whippet’s teeth clean is important for its dental health. If a Whippet’s dental health isn’t looked after, bacteria can continue multiplying in its mouth and tartar can build upon its teeth. Tartar is very difficult to remove and can lead to further dental problems.
In order to keep a Whippet’s teeth in good condition, you should brush its teeth weekly or give it chew toys, such as bones, that are designed to clean teeth. This will help you keep the dog’s teeth healthy and clean.
It’s also important to examine the Whippet’s ears. You can wipe them down with a cotton pad or gauze to wipe away any buildup. If there are signs of discharge, excessive buildup, or an odor, you should have the dog inspected by a vet. This is because Whippets could get ear mites or ear infections.
Do a Whippet’s Nails Need To Be Trimmed?
A very important part of grooming is trimming the Whippet’s nails. A Whippet could injure itself if its nails grow too long. A rule of thumb with grooming a Whippet is to ensure its nails are trimmed short enough so they don’t touch the ground when your Whippet is standing.
If you choose to trim the Whippets nails at home, it’s important to only cut the top off. While you want them to be short, it will cause discomfort for the Whippet if the nails are cut too short. When you cut the dog’s nails too short, it could cause bleeding.
Trimming a Whippet’s nails at home is an easy task once you and your Whippet get used to the routine. It’s strongly recommended to start giving the dog manicures at a young age so it gets used to it. This will help the Whippet stay calm and relaxed when it’s older and you want to trim its nails.
If you aren’t comfortable with the idea of cutting your Whippet’s nails yourself or adopting an adult Whippet, you can arrange to have the dog’s nails trimmed by a professional groomer. They will ensure your Whippet is comfortable and its nails get trimmed safely.
Do Whippets Need to Visit a Professional Groomer?
Whether or not you take your Whippet dog to a professional groomer is a personal choice. One of the good things about Whippets is that they are one of the healthiest and cleanest breeds. The short coat means that these dogs don’t require grooming as frequently. It is also very easy for owners to keep up with the grooming at home.
However, there are some aspects of grooming that owners may need a professional to take care of. The anal sacs of the Whippet need to be inspected. This is to ensure that the oils in the sac get released properly. If this is something you are not familiar with, it may be safer to have a professional take care of it.
A professional groomer will also be able to safely flush any buildup that has occurred on the Whippet’s eyes. If your Whippet was not trained to have grooming at home from an early age, it may be more difficult for the pet owner to complete certain tasks successfully.
Are Whippets Difficult to Groom?
Most Whippets are very easy to groom. The short fur prevents issues like odors and tangles, making the process quicker. One advantage to grooming a Whippet is that these dogs love the attention. Some dogs are fussy and energetic, which makes them difficult to groom. Whippets, on the other hand, thrive on affection from people so they are always happy to be the center of attention.
Since a Whippet loves it when people touch them, it makes it easier to brush them. A great investment for Whippet owners is a grooming mitt. It’s very easy to keep its fur clean with one of these mitts, and the Whippet loves it because the process feels like you are petting it.
While brushing the dog and giving it bathes may be easy tasks for most owners, other aspects of grooming could be tricky. Whippets are typically low energy and easy to get along with. They are often calm, which makes it easy for a lot of owners to keep up with their dental care, manicures, and checking their ears.
However, if your Whippet wasn’t trained to get used to these tasks from a young age, it may be more difficult to get it to stay still for the process.
Final Thoughts
Do Whippets need to be groomed? Whippets do need to be groomed, but not as often as other breeds. Depending on your Whippet, it should be groomed every 4 to 8 weeks. While the fur is easy for owners to keep clean, grooming includes more than just clean fur. Owners will also need to clean the dog’s teeth, ears, and eyes.
Performing the Whippet’s grooming can be done at home. However, if you are not sure of what to do or have a dog that wasn’t trained to be groomed at a young age, it may be more difficult to groom it. In this situation, you should take the Whippet to a professional groomer. Even if your Whippet does receive professional grooming, you should still brush it every week.