Chihuahua grooming in Gloucester, MA

The AKC breed standard describes the smooth coat as soft, close and glossy, with a ruff on the neck preferred and the hair thinner on the head and ears; heavier coats with an undercoat are allowed. The long coat is soft, flat or slightly wavy, ideally with an undercoat, and carries fringed ears, a full plume of a tail, feathering on the feet and legs, pants on the hind legs and a large ruff at the neck.

The AKC's grooming advice follows the coat. A smooth Chihuahua needs only occasional brushing and regular baths to look its best. A long-coated one should be brushed at least once a week to keep tangles and mats away, mostly in the ruff, behind the ears and in the pants. Both varieties weigh no more than six pounds under the standard, which puts a Chihuahua in our smallest price band.

The AKC says special care must be taken with a Chihuahua in cold weather, and the hour after a bath is when that matters most. A small body has little mass to hold heat, and damp hair near the skin holds the chill. Every Dogtown bath includes a blow-dry, and a Chihuahua should go out the door dry right down to the skin, not just on the surface. Ask the groomer to check the ruff and the pants, which dry last on a long coat.

Cape Ann adds wind. In winter the walk from our door on Eastern Ave to your car can be raw, and a nor'easter can turn a pick-up into a slog. Bring a coat or sweater for the trip home and have the car warm. If a storm closes the roads, call to move the appointment rather than skipping it, since the $10 cancellation fee applies to grooming appointments cancelled without notice.

Small paws and small mouths are where a Chihuahua's grooming really happens. The AKC calls for regular nail trims on both coats and says good dental care, including brushing the teeth, is necessary; your vet may also suggest tooth-care treats. Whether the groomer clips or files your dog's nails is confirmed at check-in. At home, our how-to on cooperative care for nail trims builds the habit one toe at a time.

Check the ears regularly too, removing any excess wax or debris, as the AKC suggests, and see your vet about redness or odor. A long coat needs its weekly brush, behind the ears and through the pants. For exercise between grooms, the Gloucester Dog Park at Stage Fort Park has a separate small-dog area, and from April to November, tick season, a quick look along the ruff after a walk is worth the minute.