With salons and beauty parlours around the country closed due to the current social distancing measures, it is fair to say that most of us are not feeling our best. So whilst we’re treating ourselves to some new luxurious toiletries and giving ourselves questionable at-home haircuts, why not spare a thought for our pets who are missing out on their usual groom and pamper? Not only can you treat your pet to some indulgence, grooming your cat or dog at home is a great way to spend some quality time together and bond with them. Also, if you become a pro dog groomer now, you could possibly save some pennies in the future. It’s a win-win! So, until you and your four-legged friend can make the trip to your favourite groomers again, here are our ideas for a luxurious pamper in the comfort of your own home.
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Written by Leona Chapman
Estimated Reading Time 3 minutes
Header Images and one below from Caren Olivier
Firstly, we would recommend that if you intend to cut or clip your dog's fur at all that you do your research. There are some great online guides and videos to help you along in the process, some that we’d recommend are the Blue Cross ‘How to Groom your Dog’ guide and the Australian RSPCA ‘Ultimate Guide to Grooming and Bathing your Dog’ to get a good basic understanding. Most importantly, make sure that you are using good quality clippers or scissors that are designed for grooming specifically. You could also always ask your usual groomer or vet for advice if you feel a trim is vital. However, if you don’t feel confident giving your dog’s hair the chop it is probably best to wait.
For brushing out tangles and dead hair, we recommend Bamboo Groom and their range of eco-friendly, handmade grooming brushes that are available via Ethical Pets. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, making it one of the most renewable natural resources, ensuring that these brushes are not only good for your pets, they are also good for the environment! They offer a range of different brushes to suit every pet and coat type. Their grooming tools are also all specifically designed to mimic a natural petting sensation so that your pet will feel relaxed and pampered throughout their grooming routine.
Next, it is time to give your pooch a bath. We recommend warming a nice fluffy towel on the radiator before taking your dog off for their bath so that they have something cosy to bundle up in after! For shampoo, we love The Dog and I handmade dog soap bars. These solid shampoo bars are packed full of natural goodness and are suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Made using a coconut oil base which is well known for its natural anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. The Dog and I is a completely cruelty free and plant based company, so you can rest assured no animal were harmed in the making of their products. Their soap bars are also a great alternative to plastic bottle packaging, making them a more eco-friendly choice. Our top pick is the Canine Soap Kit which comes with 4 different 50g bars of soap, including a lavender with blue poppy seeds bar and an un-perfumed bar with oatmeal. We love this set as it allows you to try a few different soaps to find out which one fido loves the most! We think these make the perfect luxurious treat to pamper your pooch, however if you prefer a more traditional liquid shampoo, we’d recommend their handmade Soothing & Conditioning Shampoo which is made with oatmeal and aloe vera.
These doggie shampoos aren’t suitable for cats, and let's be honest, most of our feline friends would hate a traditional bath anyway! Our cats usually do a good job of keeping themselves clean and well-groomed anyway, however if you did want to treat your cat to the spa experience, we’d recommend trying a dry foam cat shampoo. A dry foam shampoo requires no rinsing out, meaning no need to get wet! They also provide a great opportunity to give your cat a good massage whilst you are rubbing it in, providing a great bonding experience and a relaxing treat for your cat companion. There are many of these dry foam shampoos on the market but we would recommend the TropiClean Waterless Deep Cleaning Cat Shampoo available via Viovet. TropiClean make 100% natural grooming products for pets in biodegradable packaging. This waterless cat shampoo contains raspberry and mango to help restore cats natural moisture balance, whilst the addition of mild coconut gently cleans and freshens.
If you have a pet that really hates bath time, to help them relax and enjoy the experience, we recommend Pet Remedy’s Calming Wipes to help ease their anxieties. Pet Remedy make naturally de-stressing and calming products for your pets to help ease any anxieties they may have. Their products are all made in the UK with a blend of natural ingredients including valerian, vetiver, sweet basil and clary sage. We recommend using one of these wipes on your hands as well as your pets face and chest before a bath or grooming session if it is something that they typically find stressful. This will help relax them and give them the full, serene spa experience.
Looking for a real treat to spoil your pup? The Goodwash Company is a really fantastic social enterprise based in Wales that makes luxurious products for both pooches and people out of the highest quality natural ingredients. Their Paw Balm is the perfect moisturising and protecting treat for sensitive paws, noses and skin - and bonus points, can be used by humans too! It contains naturally healing seed and essential oils that are also antibacterial. The balm is cruelty-free and free from sulfates and parabens. All of their packaging is fully recycled and recyclable and made from FCA marine grade paper. The profits from selling the Paw Balm also goes towards helping to improve the lives of local rescue dogs in Barri, Wales. So not only is this product a real treat for you and your pooch, it’s also kind to our environment and helps improve the lives of our other canine companions.
If you’re looking for something super indulgent to spoil your dog then look no further! Milly’s, a UK-based brand that produces an amazing range of natural grooming products for your four-legged friend. Their Peppermint and Lime Perfume is specially formulated to be safe for dogs - we know, amazing! We love this refreshing, zesty scent and think it provides the perfect pick-me-up for hounds who may be feeling down during this time. Milly’s dog perfumes are all handmade by a small team using natural ingredients and are completely cruelty free. These perfumes are brilliant to use after grooming or even as a refresh between bath times. They come in a whole range of scents to suit every pup's mood, including rhubarb and black plum, blueberry and vanilla and classic baby powder.
What’s the best part of any pamper session? The treats! Now whilst we might tuck into some chocolate and prosecco, these treats are certainly off the table for our animal companions. But that doesn’t mean you can’t treat them to something truly indulgent. Award-winning UK-based company WOOF & BREW have a brilliant range of ‘tipples’ for your pets! We love their cham:paws which is a non-alcoholic, non-carbonated ‘champagne’ for cats and dogs. It’s made from an infusion of limeflower, rose petals and rooibos which means it is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants - and it’s pretty tasty too! It’s also made from human-grade ingredients so you can have a sip, we won’t tell. And for snacking on, Hiro + Wolf both love Edgard Cooper’s Divine Duck & Chicken Jerky Treats which is made from delicious gently baked duck and chicken with added pumpkin and banana for vitamins. And for the feline in your life, why not treat them to Green & Wilds delicious Fish Nibbles with Lobster, a truly luxurious treat for even the most discerning tastes. These treats are packed with proteins, oils and nutrients, to build and maintain health. The fish is all caught in Icelandic waters and are sustainably, and responsibly sourced.
Now to finish off your paw-fect day of pampering, why not treat your dog or cat to something truly stylish to wear? Of course, we’re talking about Hiro + Wolf bow ties, bandanas and reflective flowers! Perfect for all fashion-forward felines, we recommend the colourful Kaleidoscope Cat Bow Tie which is perfect for spring and summer with its psychedelic design in beautifully vibrant candy colours. Simply slip our cat bow ties onto your cats collar using the handy elastic loop on the back for an instant style injection. And for a timeless classic, why not dress your pup in our always-popular Red Shuka Dog Bandana. These bandanas are made from durable Masai ‘shuka’ fabric in a red, white and black check, sourced from our travels to Kenya. These bandanas are also easy to adorn, simply slide them onto your dog's existing collar, making sure the D-ring is positioned in the centre space so you can still go out for walkies. Matching collars for cats and dogs are also available, as well as matching leads and harnesses for hounds if you want to really make a fashion statement and truly pamper your pooch!
We hope you enjoyed reading our tips and are looking forward to your own at-home pet spa day! Be sure to tag us in any pictures over on Instagram using @hiroandwolf so we can see all those pampered pooches and content cats. What’s your favourite thing to do to pamper your pets? Let us know!