Grooming your dog...
Combs, brushes, and clippers, OH MY!
Grooming your dog can be an enjoyable experience. Every dog needs to be groomed, and many dog owners prefer to take their dog to a professional groomer. Basic dog grooming, however, can be done at home.
Basic dog grooming is not difficult, nor does it have to be time consuming. Basic dog grooming consists of five essential parts: eyes and ears, teeth, coat, paws and claws, and bath. By following a few simple steps and suggestions, you can keep your dog looking and feeling great!
Basic grooming begins with the
eyes and ears. Your dog's eyes should be bright, shining, and clean.
All dogs have a slight discharge and buildup around the eye. To remove
this discharge, simply wipe with a clean, dry cloth. If you dogs eyes
show excessive, thick, or mucous-like discharge, or if your dog's eyes
are very red, you should take your dog to the vet.
Ear care is also extremely important, and equally easy. Moisture and dirt buildup inside your dog's ears can lead to bacteria growth. Keep your dog's ears clean by trimming ear hair regularly (be careful!), and wiping the inside of the ears with a clean, dry cloth. On occasion, your dog may develop a buildup of earwax. Earwax buildup should be treated immediately. If you cannot afford to visit the veterinarian, you can treat your dog's earwax buildup with a solution consisting of one part water, and two to three parts hydrogen peroxide.
Simply pour a small amount of this solution into your dog's ear, and try to hold your dog's head tilted to the side for a minute or so, to let the solution dissolve the wax. After a minute or so, cover your dog's ear with a clean, dry cloth, and tilt their head to the other side, allowing the solution to drain out. Then, using a Q-tip, gently clean the wax from your dog's ear. For excessive wax, or wax that simply won't come clean, you can use a very small amount of pure hydrogen peroxide. In this case, it is best to use a Q-tip soaked in peroxide to apply a small amount directly to the ear wax. Wet the was thoroughly with peroxide, and wait for two or three minutes. Then, using a clean Q-tip, remove the wax. If this does not remove all of the wax, take your dog to the verterinarian as soon as possible.
Dental hygiene is essential for your dog. A common misconception is that a balanced diet of dry dog food will prevent gum disease and other tooth problems. This is simply not the case. Have your dog's teeth professionally cleaned once a year, or check with your veterinarian on the best way to do this, yourself.
Brushing your dog's coat should be a weekly activity. Although it's perfectly fine to do some light brushing every day, you should spend time each week to give your dog a thorough brushing. The method of brushing will differ depending on your dog's coat. For short-haired dogs, use a stainless steel comb . This type of comb slides through the dog's coat very easily, and ensures that any tangles are removed.
For medium to long-haired dogs, start with a (slick) brush, brushing all of your dog's coat, and then use a stainless comb to ensure that all tangles are removed. To really make your dog's coat shine, finish the grooming with a soft-bristle brush.
Every dog groomer suggest trimming your dog's nails regularly (at least once a month). This can be done with an ordinary pair of nail clippers, although nail trimmers are best, as they offer more control. Be careful, and don't trim back too far.
Once you have trimmed your dog's nails, finish by filing down the sharp edges from the clip. This will help keep your dog from scratching you (or itsself) badly with sharp edges. After the filing, trim the hair between your dog's toes. It is a common misconception that this hair will help keep your dog's feet warm in winter. In reality, it offers little to no protection, and will instead trap dirt and bacteria. Keep the hair on your dog's paws trimmed at all times.
Ah, a bath! Many people dread giving their dogs baths. They shouldn't! Most dogs like the water, and are willing to let you bathe them. A sink is usually all that's needed for small dogs, although a tub or shower is neccesary for larger canines. Make certain you use only warm water, and a shampoo designed for dogs! Human shampoo is too harsh, and will irritate your dog's skin.
When you wash your dog, work from the back to the front, lathering the head last. Then, rinse in the opposite direction - beginning with the head. Rinse once, then rinse again, and then, rinse a third time. This will ensure that you have removed all of the shampoo. Short-haired dogs normally only need to be towelled dry. Longer-haired dogs may need to be brushed after towelling, to ensure that tangles are removed from their hair.
Following the above suggestions will help keep your dog clean and healthy! Good grooming doesn't have to take a long time, but it is essential to your dog's health and happiness! Don't forget, when you've finished grooming your dog, give them a treat and a hug!