Hiring a professional to groom your dog not only saves you the time and effort that you'd need to perform this difficult task yourself, but it also ensures that you'll be happy with how your pet looks afterward. If you've recently become a dog owner, it's important to find the right groomer in your community — after all, this is someone you'll likely visit dozens of times over the course of the animal's life.

If you're like many dog owners, you enjoy sharing outdoor adventures with your canine companion—especially during the summer. Camping, hiking, and other warm-weather pursuits can be a lot of fun for dogs. You may already know that it's important to check your dog for ticks after spending time outdoors because ticks can cause disease, but ticks aren't the only danger to domestic dogs lurking in outdoor environments. Continue reading for three other summertime pet dangers you should know about.

Most dogs benefit from regular grooming, even if they have shorter hair. Grooming can prevent the hair from matting. It can also help soothe itching and keep the skin healthy. Older dogs can benefit from grooming, too, but there are some particular tips to follow when arranging for an older dog to be groomed. Have them groomed more often As your dog gets older, it can be helpful to increase the frequency of their grooming.