If you own a dog, we probably don’t need to tell you that
they can be a lot of work, but ultimately worth it. Along with plenty of
exercises, proper diet, regular visits to the vet and lots of love, dog grooming is
a critical responsibility.
Regular grooming ensures that your dog remains clean,
healthy and feels comfortable. Grooming is more than just washing your dog’s
fur and brushing. It’s a head-to-toe exercise which gives you a great
opportunity to make sure that everything about your dog looks clean, healthy
and normal. Some dog owners opt to leave this responsibility to professional
dog groomers, but with a few tips and pointers, you can perfectly do it on your
own.
If you don’t have a professional dog groomer in your area,
or just prefer to take your time grooming and bonding with your dog, then this
article will guide you through what you need and should do during the grooming
process. The best part is you will also save some money while at it. We will
segment each grooming practice into a separate section, but first, let’s take a
quick look at things you need.
1. Dog Grooming Equipment👇💧
Depending on the task at hand, you need to have all the
things required before you start grooming your pet, you don’t want to stop
midway to fetch or start looking for some tools. Here is a general list of the
tools and items you will need when preparing to groom your dog. They might vary
depending on the breed and size of your dog.
Things You'll Need
• Curry brush or glove
• Ear cleaner
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton ball/cloth
• Pet toothbrush
• Dog nail clippers
• Collar
• Dog shampoo
• Blow dryer/towel
• Slicker, Pin brush, or Undercoat rake
2. Brushing your dog
Brushing your dog removes excess fur and dirt, and also
prevents tangles. Additionally, it removes dead hair and conditions the hair by
spreading their natural oils. Your dog’s coat length and type will determine
what kind of tools to use and how often you should brush. You should brush your
dog’s hair every after a couple of days.
Simply brushing your dog’s hair is not enough for most dogs;
the brush will only pass over the coat at angles and allow mats to build up.
You should always start your grooming with a thorough combing to make sure that
mats don’t become tight and unmanageable when they dry. The standard procedure
is to comb from the head, back and down to the rest of the body. If you find
tangled hair, use a brush to try and work out the knot.
Be carefully not to irritate your pet from grooming in the
same spot for too long, and go slow under the belly as it is a sensitive area.
Don’t forget to comb the tail. You can use curry brushes to groom short-haired
dogs while the medium- to long-coated dogs might require more specialized tools
such as a slicker, steel comb, pin brush or an undercoat rake.
If your dog has severe matting, they can feel a little
uncomfortable when moving around. If the mat can’t be combed out, then you need
to either shave or cut it off. Be careful when using scissors and try to cut
parallel to the growth of the hair to avoid injuring your pet or ending up with
a rough look. If you are not sure you can safely remove the mat, then you might
need to take him to a professional groomer. Keep in mind that mats that are too
tight and close to the skin can occasionally promote bacterial infection
underneath.
3. Dog Groomer Certification 💇
Dog grooming does not require certification or certain
qualifications. On the other hand,
having a certification can help a groomer enhance their credential and earning potential.
Certification will also afford a groomer the confidence and skills to better
groom their furry clients.
Several certification options can further enhance your
skills in your dog grooming endeavors. Below are some of the recognized
organizations you can get your certification from;
• International Professional Groomers Inc: this is a
worldwide recognized organization that certifies individual dog groomers and
also accredits grooming schools, salons, and mobile grooming salons. Groomers
can either pursue the Salon Details Certification (SDC) program or the
International Certified Master Groomer (ICMG) program.
• International Society of Canine Cosmetologists (ISCC):
this is another global organization that certifies groomers through a blend of
practical and written examinations. ISCC’s testing is offered at all their
education events, local proctor services and major shows where ISCC has a
booth.
• National Dog Groomers Association: an international
association that provides certification via its National Certified Master
Groomer program. The certification involves a series of practical and written
skills tests across several breed groups. Some of the practical skills tests
include grooming of sporting breeds, non-sporting breeds, short-legged terriers
and long-legged terriers.
You can also look around for organizations that offer
training and certification from within institutions in your region. There are
also various online dog grooming courses you can enroll to and pick up the
required skills.
4. Bathing💧
Bathing your dog will keep them clean and smelling fresh.
The ritual of bathing is something you need to do once or twice per month
unless your dog is smelly or has done something messy. Bathing your dog too
frequently can deprive the skin of natural oils and leave them dry.
Start by choosing an appropriate shampoo for your pet’s
skin, age, and coat type. Put everything you need in place and make sure you
are appropriately dressed because it can get a little messy and wet. Secure
your pet in non-slip basin or tub; you can put a non-slip bath mat or a towel
in the tub.
Pre-fill the tub or basin with lukewarm water. Try to avoid
running water into the tub while your dog is in it to avoid causing unnecessary
stress. As a rule, always go slow to avoid overwhelming your pet which can make
the process unpleasant for both of you. Not many dogs are fans of bath time, so
you need to work quickly but gently; you can use treats to add some fun to the
process.
If your dog has a habit of trying to escape during
bath-time, you can purchase a dog bath lead designed to attach to the bathroom
wall using a suction cup. Remember to replace the dog’s collar with one that
will not soak up in water and stain the coat.
Soak your pet thoroughly and make sure that the entire coat
is completely wet before you apply shampoo. If you have an unusually large dog
with a thick coating that is not afraid of running water, then you can buy a
high-pressure hose to ensure efficient soaking. Otherwise, you can just use a
bucket or cup to pour water over the dog. Avoid getting water into the ears of
your dog as this can cause bacterial infection.
Next, shampoo your dog starting from the neck moving
downwards. Use your finger to spread and work the shampoo into the hairs and
skin. You can also use an undercoat rake to distribute the shampoo if your dog
is particularly dense coated and large. Use a wet washcloth or towel to wash
the head and avoid using soap around eyes and ears.
Keep rinsing your dog until there are no more soap bubbles
or dirt coming out of its coat. You can apply the same technique you used to
soak your dog before shampooing. Use your hands or a squeegee to squeeze out
water off the coat and the body, and then use a towel to dry your dog as much
as possible while still in the tub or basin. If your dog is short-haired, you
can simply towel and let them dry naturally. Long-haired dogs with thick coats
might need some blow drying after toweling to quicken the process.
5. Nail Clipping
Trimming dog’s nails can be quite a tricky and daunting
process to some people –and rightfully so. If you trim your pet’s nails too
short, they will bleed, and if you don’t clip them enough, they can develop
issues such as infections, nail break, and played or twisted “toe” and “fingers”.
The best trick to becoming a pro nail trimmer is to teach
your dog to associate nail clipping sessions with things like toys, treats,
love, and lots of positive praise. Just don’t expect too much from your dog in
the very first attempt, it might take a few tries for both of you to get it
right.
Depending on how first they grow, you should trim the nails
at least once in every two weeks. Use dog clippers to clip the nails one small
bit at a time to avoid cutting too close the blood vessels. If you accidentally
cut too near the blood vessels, apply cornstarch or styptic powder with a bit
of pressure to stop any bleeding. Again, if you are not sure you can pull this
off safely or can’t even tell when you should clip your dog’s nails, it might
be a good idea to consult your vet. If you can hear the sound of your dog’s
claws touching the ground, then they need trimming.
6. Teeth care
Brushing your dog’s teeth is almost a daunting and nail
clipping, but critical in keeping your dog healthy. To keep your dog’s oral
health tip top, aim to regularly brush your dog's teeth at least three times
per week. Interestingly, experts reveal that brushing your dog’s teeth
frequently can increase its life expectancy by up to two years.
I must mention that teaching your dog to tolerate his teeth
being brushed requires some patience. Start by getting your dog used to having
his mouth touched, then try to work your way up to brushing with a dog brush
and paste. Be sure to use dog paste instead of human paste so that you don’t
poison your pet with fluoride. If by any chance you have ever been bitten by
your dog, you will need to be extra careful on how you approach the process. If
the dog gets overwhelmed at any one point, give him a break to calm down.
Before the actual brushing, you can start by placing a small
amount of paste on your finger and spreading across his teeth for about 10
seconds. Once your dog cooperates, you can advance to using finger toothbrushes
and work your way up to using the actual dog toothbrush. However, much as your
dog may seem to be cooperative, always start the process gradually to make it
pleasant and avoid any unnecessary stress.
If your dog already has a significant buildup of plaque and
tartar, you may not be able to clean the teeth thoroughly using a simple
toothbrush. At this point, your dog will need professional cleaning from a
veterinarian. Look out for brown material attached to the teeth or red gums;
this is a clear sign that home cleaning might be painful.
For general dental care, provide suitable chew items such as
chew toys and dental toys. Consult your vet about the kind of bones to give to
your particular type of dog, although raw, human-grade bones are preferred for
most dogs.
7. Cleaning his ears👂👂
You should regularly check your dog’s ears to make sure that
they are healthy and clean, and dog grooming time is the best time to do this.
A healthy ear will be light pink in color with no signs of irritation or
debris. It’s normal for healthy ears to have some traces of clear wax, but this
should not have any particular smell.
If your dog’s ears appear to be dirty, you can clean them
using a cotton ball dampened in mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide or specialized
ear cleaning solutions. Wipe wax and dirt away from the inner ear gently so
that you don’t cause irritation. Don’t push too far into the year, and never be
tempted to use cotton swabs. The general rule of thumb is to clean what you can
see.
If you notice redness, unpleasant smell, swelling, hair
loss, dark brown/black wax or discharge, it could mean that your dog has an
infection and you should seek medical attention from the vet. Dogs with droopy
ears, recurrent ear infections or allergies should be monitored closely, and
the owner should seek medical advice.
It might help to bring the ear cleaning solution to room
temperature before apply it to the dog’s ears. When you finish wiping the ear
with a damp cloth or cotton ball, use a dry one to dry it up. Praise your dog
with some treats and cuddles; the ears are quite sensitive so he may need some
encouragement.
8. Clipping hairs
Many dog breeds are short-haired and do not need regular
hair cutting. But if your dog is a shaggier, thick coated breed, he might
require regular clipping as part of basic dog grooming exercise. Before
clipping your dog’s hair, make sure it’s dry, and that you are using the right
clippers for your kind of dog. Be sure to read the clipper’s instruction manual
on how to correctly use it. Also, make sure that the Clippers are well
lubricated, and the blades are sharp.
Since you won’t have to pay for a professional grooming fee,
a small investment in proper dog grooming clippers is worth it. A pair of
scissors can do the job too but are not likely to give you a smooth, beautiful
coat, and there are high chances of hurting your dog or yourself if he moves
suddenly.
Before clipping the dog, just like when heading to the salon
or barber shop, you need to have an idea of what look you would like to create.
The cut style will depend on your dog’s breed and your preferences. There are
numerous cut styles such as the standard cut, top knot cut, show cut, bob cut,
teddy bear cut, Maltese short cut, among others. You can also search for
specific cut styles for your breed and watch videos on how each of them is
done.
During the hair clipping process, you can restrain the dog gently
using a leash so that he doesn’t run around spreading fur all over. If your dog
is nervous or fidgety, praise him, sing or offer some treats to encourage him
to stay calm and still.
Brush the hair against the direction of the growth before
running your clippers in the other direction. Using the clippers against the
hair growth direction will lead to low uneven clipping with a rough look. Move
the Clippers surely but slowly across the pet’s body to avoid uneven lines.
Begin at the neck towards the shoulders, under the ears, throat, chest area,
back and legs. As a precaution, do not use any skip blades on any spot of the
body that will fit between the teeth, such as armpits, anus, Achilles’ tendons,
the tip of the tail, or genital area.
9. Skin care and grooming
Dog skin can be affected by plenty of things that you need
to know about and expect. The skin is the most sensitive part of your dog, and
any irritation or discomfort of any kind can leave your dog helpless and
agitated.
You should look out for pests such as ticks, fleas, mange,
chiggers and fungus ringworms that can be detrimental to your dog’s health. If
you have any suspicions, act immediately to avoid potential spreading of the
pest.
Watch out for skin diseases and any other causes of allergies
that might irritate your dog. Some symptoms if allergies include licking,
scratching and hot spots. Lastly, avoid bathing your dog too often as this may
wash away the natural oils from the skin and cause dry skin. Other things to
look out for on the surface during dog grooming include rashes, hair loss, red
skin, discolored skin, dry fleck skin and greasy skin or coat.
10. Keeping your dog’s eyes clean
Depending on your particular breed, this step may only
involve pulling a little debris and dirt from the corners of the eyes. Breeds
with large eyes that water a lot may need personal attention in this area.
White-haired or long-haired breeds too need close monitoring to keep the coat
out of the eyes and avoid tear stains.
Healthy clean eyes should be clear with no signs of unusual
discharge or irritation. Trimming long hair strand away from the eyes is a good
practice. However, I highly recommend that you seek the help of a groomer or
vet for this one unless you are very familiar with the process. If you decide
to clip off the hairs on your own, use a blunt-nosed safety scissors. Try as
much as you can to avoid touching the eyes.
The best time to clean your dog’s eyes is during bathing.
Use a water-moistened sponge or washcloth to wipe around the eyes gently. This
loosens and removes the dirt. Be sure to approach this area carefully so that
you don’t startle your dog. Never use shampoo or soap near your dog’s eyes to
avoid irritation. Also, avoid using napkins or paper towels as these can easily
shred and leave small bits of paper in your dog’s eyes.
11. Combating “doggy smell”
A smelly dog, no matter how cute it looks, is not pleasing
to have around. In fact, one of the reasons that make people think twice before
owning a dog or letting it spend time in the house or car is the odor.
Unpleasant dog odors can be varied but come from bad breathe, poorly maintained
fur, flatulence, rolling or stepping into feces, and bacterial and fungal
infection.
Eliminating dog smell requires anything from a few steps to
a whole series of processes depending on the primary cause of the smell. Bad
dog odor can be combated by ensuring that all the hygienic dog grooming
practices are carried out as regularly as possible. These include bathing,
washing the ears, and brushing your dog’s teeth.
Other measures to combat the “dog smell” include washing dog
beddings regularly, using scented shampoo, adjusting your dog’s diet to reduce
flatulence, and ensuring your dog doesn’t eat from trash cans.
💡Bonus dog grooming tips💡
• If you own a wolf dog or particularly large breeds, never
clip their hair short as this might make them aggressive
• If you can’t find time to thoroughly clean and groom your
dog, consider hiring a professional groomer.
• Use a small amount of conditioner to prevent your dog from
looking and feeling greasy
• When bathing the dog, keep the water away from the nose as
this might startle and irritate your dog.
• Never use human toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth
• Try to avoid getting soap and shampoo into your dog’s
eyes.
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