lab/chow puppy

Question
I was wondering about grooming, what kind of brushes could I get him? He has fluff but short hair. I want to take him to the groomers for a bath do you think this is a good idea? Just to get him use to other people and enviroments. Do you know what would be a good shampoo and how long could a dog go without a bath, when to bath him?

Answer
I think taking him to a groomer for a bath is a great idea. He can get used to being groomed, bathed, dried, and being handled by strangers. Ask the groomer about what brush(es) would be best for his coat, as she will be able to better evaluate it than I can from your description. Just guessing, I would say a large Universal slicker brush and possibly a Miller Forge undercoat rake; ask her about those.

Most dog shampoos are pretty good; I choose mine by its odor since my dogs are often up in my face. A dog doesn't need to be bathed more often than every couple weeks, and some can go even longer. If he starts to smell, give him a bath. The important thing is to make sure that the shampoo is thoroughly rinsed out.

Karen