By Heather Long Vandevoorde, Ph.D.
Samer Al Ogidi is more than a dog groomer. He is a dog lover and a genuine dog advocate. “I opened the Pooch Parlour Pet Salon because I was not happy with the alternatives available to groom my dogs,” he says. “They required drop off at 8am and pickup at 5pm. During that time my dogs were kept in cages alongside other dogs. I found this added stress to an already-stressful event. My dogs hated it. I figured other dogs must feel the same.”
Three years ago Samer went to training school in the UK. He returned to the UAE and broke the groomer’s mold by creating the only cage-free dog salon in Abu Dhabi. Samer serves one dog, or dogs from one family, at a time. Clients are booked for specific times so there is no overlap. That means the dogs are free to roam the salon as they like and are not caged, sedated or muzzled. “Some groomers put the dogs into cages after the bath and point a blow dryer at the cage while they work on another dog. The noise and heat is scary for the dog and can cause burns. We do not do that,” he says.
Time-lapse videos of various clients on the Pooch Parlour Facebook page show how relaxed the dogs actually are. “Many of my canine customers fall asleep while I’m grooming them. I try not to take it personally,” Samer jokes.
When it comes to the heat of summer, Samer is not laughing however. He has some important tips to help your dogs stay healthy, safe and cool. Even if you have had dogs for many years, you may be surprised at the advice:
- Not all dogs should be shaved. If your dog is double coated, it may keep your dog cooler and do less harm to remove the undercoat instead. Double coated dogs come in all sizes, from Pomeranian to Retriever, so do not assume because your dog is small it is single coated. Further, some single coated dogs run the risk of painful sunburn and should not be shaved either.
- Care for the pads. Fur between the pads of a dog’s paws is often overlooked. If not trimmed properly, it can knot and matt to the extent that it feels like an annoying pebble in a human’s shoe. This can be painful and even get infected. A dog’s instinct is to please its master so they may go days or weeks without complaining even though they are suffering. Likewise, hot asphalt hurts the paws. Walk your dog only before sunrise or after sunset.
- Sensitive skin. The sand and sun extremes in the UAE can wreak havoc on a dog’s sensitive skin. Use natural products to bathe your dog and do not over-bathe. Once every ten days is plenty to protect the skin and not wash away a dog’s natural oils. Beware of products with chemical ingredients and never use human shampoo on dogs.
- Use common sense. Do not leave your dog in the car for any amount of time, even with the window open. Do not leave your dog outside during the hottest parts of the day. Give your dog plenty of fresh water to keep it hydrated.
The Pooch Parlour is located in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. Facebook: Pooch Parlour, www.poochparlour.ae.
