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 Grooming for dogs is one of the basic things you need to do for your dog to keep him healthy and happy.
There’s more to grooming for dogs than simply running a brush over your pet. Take care of your dog’s teeth, his nails and his ears, too. Good grooming for dogs and hygiene can help your dog live longer.
Grooming for Dogs - Preparation
You can prepare your dog for grooming by starting when he’s a puppy. Get him used to being brushed and combed. Handle his paws frequently. Let him see nail clippers and a nail grinder.
It’s very easy to trim a puppy’s nails and there is no reason for him to ever have a bad experience with nail trimming if you are careful. Clean his ears regularly.
If you start grooming a puppy when he’s young then he should not have any fears about grooming later on.
If you have adopted a dog who is already afraid of grooming you will need to go slow to undo some of his fears. Do the things that he can tolerate, such as brushing. If he’s fearful of having his nails trimmed or his ears cleaned then you may need to have a veterinarian help you with these things in the beginning.
Grooming for Dogs - Dental Hygiene
Grooming for dogs includes dental hygiene. Doggy dentists say that we should brush our dogs’ teeth daily. You really should brush them at least weekly. It’s estimated that a high percentage of dogs already have gum disease by the time they’re three years old.
Many dental problems in dogs can be avoided simply by brushing. There are toothbrushes for dogs as well as toothpaste especially for dogs. Dog toothpaste comes in flavors dogs love such as peanut butter, beef and chicken.
You should not use human toothpaste on your dog. It contains artificial sweeteners that can be harmful to dogs.
To brush your dog’s teeth simply put some dog toothpaste on the brush and brush your dog’s teeth. Make sure you reach the back teeth where tartar can accumulate. Most dogs love the toothpaste and quickly learn to like having their teeth brushed.
Grooming for Dogs - Coat Maintenance
Grooming for dogs means different things depending on the kind of dog involved. If you have a shorthaired dog then you might only have to brush your dog to keep him from shedding. If you have a Poodle or a Bichon then you may need to take your dog to a professional groomer to have your dog clipped.
If you have one of the terrier breeds you may need to have the dog “plucked” by hand or have his coat “rolled” -- terminology that refers to pulling out the stray wire hairs and keeping the wiry coat short without clipping.
If you have a longhaired dog you may need to brush the hair out frequently to keep it from getting tangled.
Whatever kind of dog you have you should plan to groom your dog when he has a clean coat. That means you should use a shampoo and conditioner that are appropriate for his coat type. There are all kinds of shampoos and conditioners available for dogs, from oatmeal shampoos for irritated skin to conditioning shampoos.
You can check catalogs, pet stores and pet supply web sites to see which shampoos may be right for your dog. If in doubt you can ask a pet groomer or someone familiar with your kind of dog.
Some coats, such as those on longhaired dogs, may require some extra conditioning. You can judge your dog’s coat by how it feels and looks. Is it dry or scraggly-lookinig? Is it glossy and shiny? Sometimes it may need a trim or conditioning.
On the other hand, if the skin looks bad then you may need to consider changing dog food. Good coat depends on good health and that can depend to a great extent on what you feed your dog. Look for healthy foods with good quality ingredients and you may see a improvement in the condition of your dog’s skin and coat.
Grooming for Dogs - Clipping Dogs’ Nails
If you start trimming your dog’s nails when he’s a puppy then he shouldn’t have any problem with having his nails trimmed as an adult. You should only trim a small amount each time you trim the nails, but you should trim them weekly. Do this and your dog will never have any fears about having his nails trimmed.
Nail grinders for pets are great to use. Some of them are more powerful than others. Find one that words on your dog’s nails.
Grooming for Dogs - Essential Dog Grooming Equipment
No dog grooming tips would be complete without a mention of dog grooming equipment. Just about all dogs will need the following items:
- Boar bristle brush
- Greyhound comb
- nail clippers or nail grinder
- Styptic powder
- Pin brush
If you have a longhaired dog then you will use a pin brush regularly to brush and separate your dog’s long hair. You can use the boar bristle brush on all coats. A Greyhound comb isn’t for Greyhounds. It’s simply the name for a long metal comb that has wide teeth on one end and medium teeth on the other end.
If you have a shorthaired dog you may want to use a hound glove or a slicker brush to help brush out short hair when it’s shedding.
A good pair of grooming scissors -- the same kind that hair stylists use -- are a good investment if you plan to do any trimming on your dog.
If you want to do more grooming, such as using clippers, you may want to get a few books on dog grooming for dogs or take a course. You can learn to groom your dog at home and do a very good job at it.
Dogs require regular grooming to look and feel their best. Grooming for dogs is important in the same way that veterinary care and good food are important for your dog. Brush your dog regularly, take care of his nails and dental hygiene and he will be a much happier, healthier dog.
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