Dog Grooming in Tampa
15417 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL, USA
How to choose the right haircut for your Bichon
Consider these factors:
Choosing the right haircut for your Bichon isn’t just about looks—it's about finding a length of coat that suits their lifestyle and keeps them comfortable. Here are several ideas that can make your Bichon stand out while ensuring their coat is easy to manage.
When deciding on a haircut for your Bichon, it's important to consider these factors that will impact both your dog’s comfort and the ease of maintaining their coat:
- Frequency of Brushing: Some cuts, like the Breed Profile Trim, require regular brushing to prevent mats and tangles. If you have the time and enjoy grooming your dog regularly, this style can showcase your Bichons natural beauty. However, the Short Bichon Trim requires much less frequent brushing.
- Lifestyle: Active lifestyles involve swimming, camping, and roughhousing. If your Bichon takes part in the family's adventures, an easy maintenance style like the Kennel Cut or the Short Bichon Trim would be a great choice.
Considering these factors will help you choose a haircut that enhances your Bichons appearance and fits seamlessly into its lifestyle and grooming routine needs.
Selecting the best haircut depends on your dog’s personality, your lifestyle, and how much time you want to dedicate to grooming. Each style has unique strengths, ranging from low-maintenance trims to bold, eye-catching cuts.
- Low-maintenance: Short Bichon Trim or Kennel Cut for a neat, simple style with minimal upkeep.
- Bold and unique: Fusion Styles for a unique and fun appearance that requires more regular grooming.
- High Maintenance: The Breed Standard Bichon trim is beautiful, but requires a lot of coat maintenance to keep the coat in pristine condition.
- Comfort for seniors: Kennel Cut or the Short Bichon Trim helps to reduce matting and make grooming easier for older dogs.
Bichon haircut services
The Kennel Cut
This style is best for those looking to reduce the coat maintenance involved with the fuller Bichon styles.
Maintenance Level: Moderate. The Kennel Cut is relatively easy to maintain. Weekly brushing is required to prevent matting. A good comb through after brushing to keep the coat in good condition.
Grooming Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks to keep your Bichon in optimal condition.
Best For: The Kennel Cut is perfect for people who do not like the traditional Bichon look, for senior dogs, and dogs who enjoy outdoor activities.
The Short Bichon Trim
This style is about 1/2 to 5/8 inch long on the trunk of the body with the legs a little longer.
Maintenance Level: Moderate. While the Short Bichon Trim is relatively easy to maintain, it does require regular brushing to prevent matting, especially around the cheeks and legs where the hair is left longer. A professional trim every 4 weeks will keep the look sharp and fresh.
Groomer’s Tip:
Use a high-quality slicker brush weekly, followed by a comb out to maintain the body and legs. This keeps the coat tangle-free and enhances the natural shine of your Bichons fur.
The Puppy Trim
Breed Profile Pet Trim
The Puppy Trim is hand scissored. This trim is best for the puppy's softer coat as they mature.
- Grooming every 4 weeks is essential, especially as the puppy learns to be groomed in the salon.
- Daily or frequent brushing helps prevent mats, especially on ears, legs, and tail. Daily brushing also helps to train your puppy for the lifelong grooming the puppy will need.
Breed Profile Pet Trim
The Breed Standard Trim
Breed Profile Pet Trim
This hand scissored style keeps the Bichon look with significantly less coat.
Maintenance Level: High. The Breed Profile Pet Trim requires frequent grooming to maintain the distinct shape and features. Regular brushing is essential to keep the coat looking fluffy, and professional grooming every 4 weeks will help preserve the style’s shape.
The Breed Standard Trim
The Breed Standard Trim
The Breed Standard Trim
This style is very full with stylish scissoring.
Maintenance level: Very high. The Breed Profile trim is a pet version of the show trim, (Meaning that the price is brought down to a realistic maintenance level). The upgraded show trim adds perfection (=time) to the scissoring.
Best for: The Breed Profile Trims are best for those who really want their Bichon to LOOK like a Bichon.
- Grooming every 4 weeks is essential, with some cuts needing sooner touch-ups
- Daily or frequent brushing helps prevent mats, especially on ears, legs, and tail.
Bichon Show Groom
The Breed Standard Trim
The Breed Standard Trim
This groom requires about 3 hours of time to complete provided that there are no tangles or mats in the coat. Dogs with more than one month of growth of coat will require at least an additional one to two hours of time due to the extra blow dy and scissoring time (which could add $85 to $170. to the grooming fee.)
Maintenance Level: Extra, extra high. The show groomed style requires frequent grooming to maintain the distinct shapes and features. Regular brushing is essential to keep the coat tangle free and fluffy. Professional grooming every 3-4 weeks will help preserve the style’s intricate details and your cost down.
- The body is kept 2-4 inches long.
- The face is round with very full neck hair.
- The legs are trimmed into full pillar shapes.
- The ears are blended into the head.
Fusion Inspired Style
Fusion Inspired Style
Fusion Inspired Style
These styles are characterized by an oval shaped mustache, tight trimming on the trunk of the body, and flared legs.
Maintenance Level: High. The Asian Fusion style requires frequent grooming to maintain the distinct shapes and features. Regular brushing is essential to keep the coat looking smooth and fluffy, and professional grooming every 4 weeks will help preserve the style’s intricate details.
- The body is kept short, using a # 5 blade (¼ inch) for a sleek, clean finish contrasting the more exaggerated features.
- The face has an oval shaped mustache and extra short (shaved) chin.
- The legs should be left fluffy, with a bell bottom look.
- The ears are trimmed short and rounded to match the aesthetic. Discuss the desired look with your groomer to ensure a cohesive style.
Teedy Bear Trim
Fusion Inspired Style
Fusion Inspired Style
The Teddy Bear Trim is an adorable style that works well with a short body and legs. This style softens the face with cute rounded ears.
Maintenance Level: Moderate. The Teddy Bear Trim is relatively easy to maintain. Weekly brushing is required to prevent matting. A good comb through after brushing to keep the coat in good condition.
Grooming Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks to keep your Bichon in optimal condition.
The best tools to maintain your Bichons coat
Buttercomb 004
Flexible slicker brush
Flexible slicker brush
The Buttercomb #004 comb is an essential piece of equipment to have in your coat care tool kit.
Pro Tip: Use this comb after the brush out to check for tangles and prevent mats.
Flexible slicker brush
Flexible slicker brush
Flexible slicker brush
I use the Paw Brothers Flexible Slicker, this brush helps to prevent tangles and knots in coats that are less than 1" long.
Pro Tip: Use this brush to remove those pesky hitch hikers from your dogs coat.
Big Paw Slicker Brush
Flexible slicker brush
Extra Firm Long pin Slicker Brush
This brush is excellent for getting deep into the coat to really bring out that fluff.
Pro Tip: Use this brush after you have loosened up the curl with the flexible slicker, to reduce to drag and pull on the coat from this firmer brush.
Extra Firm Long pin Slicker Brush
Extra Firm Long pin Slicker Brush
This brush is excellent for dematting, and penetrating coats that are extra thick or longer.
Pro Tip: Use this brush after you have loosened up the curl with the flexible slicker, and when dematting is necessary. Always check the coat with a comb to ensure that the tangles and mats are removed See video below.
The Pin brush
The pin brush is a must have for caring for your Bichon in show coat. The Maxi Pin Vip is my personal favorite, especially for the neck hair and tail.
Pro Tip: This brush is best for all areas of the coat that are 3" or longer.
Tear Stain Prevention
This is an amazing product for removing and softening eye crusts. I use it in the salon regularly. This product is helpful for tear stains.
Pro Tip: Keeping the eye area clean is a secret to preventing tear stains.
Anti Static Spray
Argan Oil Products
A good quality anti static spray helps to reduce static in the coat making brush out sessions a breeze.
Pro Tip: Mist the coat lightly before brushing and combing to help the brush glide through the coat. Best for thinner coats, and the tail.
Argan Oil Products
Argan Oil Products
This is my favorite shampoo and conditioner for Bichon coats.
Pro Tip: Always brush and comb the dog from one end of the body to the other the same day as the bath. Preferably as the dog is drying, or once the dog is dry.
Ear Wash
Brush out Spray
Ear cleansing is esesntial every time that the dog gets wet. This helps to prevent ear infections by drying moisture, as well as removing wax and debris.
Pro Tip: Fill each ear canal with the solution after the rinse, but before the towel dry. Rub the base of the ear, and allow the dog to shake it out. Then lightly blot the ear dry.
Caution: Do not use in abnormal looking ears, if the ears have a dark brown discharge, redness, swelling, or other discharge, seek veterinary help.
Brush out Spray
Brush out Spray
Brush out Spray
Wonder Spray is a fantastic brush out spray for extra thick or matted coats.
Pro Tip: Mist over the coat lightly before brushing, lay a towel under the dog to catch overspray. Reapply before combing to hair to check for tangles. Best for the thickest of coats.
Tooth Paste
Brush out Spray
Tooth Brushes
Brushing your pets teeth daily helps to prevent expensive dental bills and keeps your pets breath fresh and clean.
Pro Tip: Putting your pet on a non slip surface helps them to feel safe. Be careful not to hold to dog covering the soft area just behind the nostrils, as this blocks their airway.
Tooth Brushes
Brush out Spray
Tooth Brushes
Use these eco friendly tooth brushes to keep your pets breath fresh.
Caring for your Bichons coat
How to prevent matted hair.
So, you want to grow your dogs hair longer. I hear this a lot. Dogs are beautiful with long flowing coats. That natural, scruffy, shaggy, puppy look is adorable. You try to keep the hair brushed, you really honestly do.
But your dog is young. She needs to learn. She doesn’t like it, That’s okay, that’s what a professional is for, right? Wrong! Pet groomers are actually pet stylists. The one responsible for caring for the condition of the dog is the owners of the dog. The reason for this is that the maintenance of the coat is a constant routine. The level of difficulty depends upon the length of the coat, and other factors such as:
1. Do you wash the dog?
2. Does the dog swim or go into a wading pool?
3. Do you leave a harness on the dog?
4. Does the dog wear clothing?
5. If the dog is in full coat, or has a lot of hair around the neck, does she wear a collar?
6. If you wash your dog, do you that very same day, thoroughly brush and comb that dog over every inch of it’s body?
All of these factors determine the amount of work necessary to maintain the coat. I specialize in maintaining a full coat. My own dogs, and many of my clients dogs have had coats in amazing condition.
It is a labor of love. The secret is dedication. It is not a chore, it’s actually a bonding time for you and your pets IF and only IF both of you enjoy it.
Sometimes it can become frustrating, the dog fights the brush, or you give the dog a quick bath with no brushing only to later realize that was a disastrous decision. Or you leave the cute Christmas sweater on for 3 days while we have freezing temperatures, only to end up with a completely shaved down dog.
Sometimes, clients think, no worries, the groomer has special techniques, special tools, and wonderful conditioning treatments that they are trained to use in the event that your dog gets a few little mats. And to an extent, this is true.
The problem is, when we brush out matted hair, it hurts. And when the dog already hates the brush, it can be traumatizing. Sometimes I can do it once, to save the dogs coat, but the next time, the dog says NO. I often have clients prefer for me to save the coat, to please keep the hair that I trimmed short underneath the last time, and to let the coat grow. But if the coat is matting at this shorter length, why should we grow it longer?
The dogs owner must listen to the pet. If the pet cannot tolerate the brush, then keep the hair shorter until the training and routine are established.
The routine and tools depend on the desired length of coat and the type of coat that the dog has. Long flowing silky coats benefit from the use of a Pin Brush, and a Comb, a Chris Christensen Buttercomb, and a Face Comb.
Cottony bushy coats benefit from the use of the flexible slicker brushes, a Long Pin Slicker, and the Chris Christensen Poodle Combs.
The type of pins on the slicker depend on the depth of coat and the area you are brushing. I use both and go back and forth using both brushes on each dog, using the stiffer shorter pins on mats, the legs, and sometimes under the arms, and the longer pins in the areas where the hair is longer and thicker.
Most slicker brushes either have short pins or angled pins. The short pins are useless for penetrating a coat that is more that a half inch long. I do not recommend any brushes with plastic coated tips.
Brushes with sharply angled pins have a lot of drag and pull in a thick coat. This can make brushing very uncomfortable for the dog. Therefore, the brushes that you choose need longer pins that are not too sharply angled.
People often ask, “Should I brush every day ?” Or “How often should I brush?”. The answer is different in each situation.
My own dogs have always been brushed on bath day, with the exception of long top knots (which is every 1-3 days) . The length of the coat determines the frequency of the bath days. Long, flowing coats every 5 days. Lamb Trims every 7-14 days. Miami Trims and Kennel Cuts every 7-21 days. This system works only if you are very diligent to completely brush and comb the dog from one end of its body to the other on the same day as the bath is done.
Here are a few key things to know about the Bichon coat:
- It’s hair, not fur. Bichons have continuously growing hair that behaves more like human hair than typical dog fur.
- Prone to matting. Those tight curls can lock together quickly, especially around high-friction areas like the ears, armpits, and collar line.
- Variety in curl type. Some Bichons have looser waves, while others have very tight curls, which can change how often they need brushing.
- Seasonal comfort. The coat provides insulation, but it can also trap heat. Choosing the right haircut helps your Bichon stay comfortable year-round.
- Allergy-friendly. Their coat sheds very little, making them a popular choice for families with allergies, but that also means regular trims are essential.
The takeaway is simple: a Bichon coat can be their best feature or their biggest challenge. With the right brushing routine and consistent grooming, that signature curl will always look stylish, stay healthy, and be easier for your groomer to shape into a beautiful cut.
Why we do not pluck a dogs ears
- Is there an alternative to plucking dog ear hair?
- Does plucking the hair hurt the dog?
- Is dog ear plucking necessary?
At Grande Style Pet Grooming, located in the Northdale/ Carrollwood area in Tampa, we do not believe that the pet groomers should excessively pluck their clients dogs ears. We only remove hair that is in the exogen phase, and releases easily with finger and thumb.
We never use ear powder, as this can clog the ears.
The dogs ear canal is shaped like a capital letter L, glands and hair line inside the dog’s ear. The glands produce wax, and the hair moves it up and out to clean the ear. This is the way it is supposed to naturally. Dogs ears are self-cleaning! A normal, clean ear should pink and free of debris.
In the past, it has been recommended that dogs should have hair-free ears and ear plucking has been a regular part of dog grooming. New evidence has revealed that ear plucking in the normal, healthy ear is not necessary. Excessive ear plucking may actually result in micro-trauma and inflammation to the ear canals. This may predispose your dog to an ear infection.
If your vet insists that ear hair be plucked, I recommend that the vet be the one perform the procedure.
Alternatively, ears can be trimmed of excessive long hairs from the ear. This can help reduce the amount of ear wax that gets trapped in the ear, thereby minimizing the ear odor. This is commonly recommended by veterinary dermatologists.
An ear cleansing solution can help reduce the incidence of ear problems. Ask your veterinarian which product would be best for your dog. In her presentation to Tucson groomers, “Ears: What Every Groomer Needs to Know”, Dr. Heide Newton, DVM, DACVD plainly stated that groomers should stop plucking ear hair from inside dog’s ears. “Healthy ears are self-cleaning”, stated Dr. Newton. She encouraged groomers to continue the practice of ear cleaning, however, using products formulated for ear care, and massaging the base of the ear to allow the product to loosen wax and debris from deep in the ear canal.
Another clear statement from Dr. Newton was that “Bathing with clean water will NOT cause ear infections.” Contaminated water may introduce microbes that lead to ear infections, but clean water is not a problem. The possibility of cross-contamination from an infected ear to the other ear or another animal is the one area where groomers might be at fault. It is very possible for pseudomonas bacteria to transfer from the ear to various surfaces and then be picked up by other animals or even humans. The most obvious sign of a pseudomonas infection is what vets call a “purulent exudates.” Translation: yucky discharge. If the groomer suspects an ear infection, Dr. Newton suggested the following protocol:
1. Clean the GOOD ear first.
2. If the ear with the suspected infection is cleaned, be gentle and use a non-stinging ear cleaner. The groomer may also choose to not clean an ear with a suspected infection, especially if it looks serious.
3. Disinfect everything that the dog has contact with or might spray with shaking of the ears. This includes, your hands, the tub, the faucets, any tools, the table, the kennel and bedding, and the tip or spout of the ear cleaner bottle.
In addition to ear discharge, other signs of ear abnormality are redness, itchiness, odor, swollen tissue of outer ear, hair loss on earflap, and scabs or scaliness. Ear problems are often quite complex and difficult to nail down and treat. A referral to the veterinary dermatologist can result in a quicker and more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment, thus lessening the time the pet has to suffer with uncomfortable, often painful conditions. By encouraging pet parents to seek treatment for suspected ear problems, the professional groomer is serving the needs of the pet.
Veterinary dermatologists such as Dr. Newton, undergo several years additional training and examinations beyond that required of general practitioners.
Dr. Newton is part of Dermatology for Animals, a network of veterinary dermatologists serving the Southwest United States. In addition to working full-time in the Tucson practice, she currently serves on the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) Exam Committee (the certifying board) and is a lecturer for the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum (NAVDF) Resident Education Forum.
Some pets are prone to ear problems and may need a regular ear cleansing between veterinary visits. I suggest using an ear cleansing solution every time your pet gets wet, as this helps dry out any moisture in the ear canal. I follow the instructions in the video immediately after each and every bath or swim.
Ear cleansing can help remove dirt and wax that builds up as a normal part of epithelial migration (“self-cleaning”). It can also reduce the buildup of bacteria or yeast that may contribute to inflammation or infection. This is easy to do at home, see the video below demonstrating the correct ear cleaning procedure.
In my salon we always do this to prevent issues with your pets right after the final rinse in the tub ( only in healthy ears). Clients are encouraged to bring their own veterinarian recommended ear cleanser.
Because ear cleansers may contain chemicals that are harsh on the delicate ear canals, it is important to use only products as recommended by your veterinarian.
I personally avoid homemade preparations and products containing propylene glycol. If for any reason, your pet becomes agitated or the ear cleaning procedure is excessively painful for your pet, stop and seek veterinary advice.
Signs of ear trouble
•Strong or foul odour
•Redness or leathery ear flaps
•Scratching or rubbing at ears or side of head.
•Ear discharge & excessive debris
•Shaking or tilting of the head
•Not wanting the head or ears to be touched
•Irritability
In my salon, if I see any of these signs, I do not touch inside the ears at all. This is a controversial topic that continues to make the rounds in the grooming and veterinary world.
Some professionals think that ear plucking should be a part of a dog’s grooming regimen while others think it’s not.
According to veterinary dermatologists, plucking hair from a dog’s ear can do more harm than good. The procedure can cause microscopic tears in the tissues of the ear canal which can cause bacteria to invade and cause infection.
If recurrent ear infections are not a problem for your dog, there is no reason to pluck the hair from his ears regularly.
Most dermatologists who say that the dog needs plucking due to ear issues, also say that they must do it under anesthesia because it’s too painful to pluck an infected ear.
Just make sure the hair is well-trimmed, so the ear opening is not blocked and air flows freely. Keeping your pet’s ear hairs short can also prevent ear wax and debris from getting trapped.
If you have concerns about the pets ears, make an appointment with your veterinarian. For chronic issues, seek a referral to a veterinary Dermatologist.