At-Home Grooming Tips for Dogs

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Author: Brian Jenkins

Proper grooming can make a huge difference both in the appearance and the comfort level of your dog, but having your dog professionally groomed can be quite expensive, especially if you plan on having it done regularly. Because of this, a growing number of dog owners are choosing to groom their dogs at home. If you have been thinking of grooming your dog at home but are not really sure where to start, not to worry. Home grooming is generally quite easy to do and has a fairly large margin of error. Even if you do make a mistake while grooming your pet, chances are that it will not likely harm him or her. Here are some tips that you can follow when learning to groom your dog’s hair at home that will help you to produce professional-quality results in no time. Learn About the Grooming Needs of Your Breed Not all dogs will have the same grooming requirements. When you get a dog, take the time to do a little research on the dog’s breed to try and find out the recommended grooming requirements and also the types of grooming involved. If your dog is a mixed-breed, base your grooming pattern on the most physically dominant breed, i.e. the breed that your dog looks the most like, since grooming recommendations are generally based off of coat type and body structure. Start Grooming Early If possible, start grooming your dog while it is still a puppy so that it will grow up being used to getting groomed. This is helpful because it will not only eliminate any fear that your dog might have of grooming, but it will also give you a chance to teach the dog some essential tricks such as how to sit and stay still, in conjunction with the grooming. By being groomed at the same time that it learns how to sit and stay, your dog will be much more likely to sit still during the grooming process. Bathing Your Dog Bathe your dog semi-regularly to help avoid freak-outs when your dog really needs a bath. Start by standing the dog in still water, and pour water over your dog using a cup or small bucket. Many dogs are okay with being wet, but are scared by the sound of water running through pipes and hoses so try to use still water as much as possible. Use dog-specific shampoo that contains oatmeal or aloe in order to revitalize and bring luster to your dog’s coat. However, be careful not to get the shampoo in your dog’s eyes. Brushing the Coat Unless your dog has a very short coat, you should brush the coat regularly with a slicker brush to remove both dirt and excess hair. This is especially important in the late winter and throughout the spring when your dog begins to shed. Talk to your dog and stroke it as you brush in order to help the dog associate the brushing with being petted. In doing this your dog will likely see the brushing as another form of affection and will be much more willing to keep still during the process. Clipping Your Dog’s Nails Be careful when clipping your dog’s nails, especially if the nails are dark in color. If you do not have any prior experience in clipping a dog’s nails, than it is advisable that you ask your veterinarian to show you the proper way to trim them so that you learn how to avoid cutting too deeply. Remember, it is important that you focus on trimming a little bit at a time instead of taking off large slices. While you are not likely to hurt your dog severely if you cut too deep, the nails could bleed and also stand a chance of getting infected. Check the Ears, Eyes and Teeth When grooming your dog, check the ears for scabbing, odor or other signs of ear mites. Make sure that there is not any discoloration or discharge from the eyes, as well as check for any obvious damage to your dog’s teeth or infection of the gums. Should you notice problems with any of these areas, schedule a visit to your vet to have your dog checked out immediately. Trimming Dog Hair Use an electric trimmer, but make sure that your dog is not afraid of it before you use it. Turn on the trimmer to let your dog get used to the sound of the trimmer while simultaneously petting it to keep your animal soothed. Try to trim against the grain of the dog’s hair, keeping it an even length as you do so. If your dog starts to get upset, stop trimming; you can always come back and finish the job when the dog has calmed down.

Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about pet care and pet medications.