Dog Grooming Hints

DIET: -
Choosing the correct diet for your dog can be a daunting task given the amount of different products on the market all cleverly marketed to be appealing to us human dog owners. Unfortunately, the best indicator of the quality of the product is the price the cheaper the food the less likely the products inside the packet are going to be of high nutritional value. Beware of ingredients listed such as meat derivatives which can be anything from bones, blood and even restaurant grease. Tinned food often goes through a process called extrusion in order to make the chunky shapes. This process forces the food through a machine at high temperatures further reducing the nutritional content of the tinned food.

Complete foods such as James Well beloved or Burns are often considered nutritionally sound with natural ingredients and the nutritional content worked out exactly suiting the requirement of your dog. Feeding your dog on a home cooked diet would always be the best, but achieving the right amount of all the nutrients is difficult to achieve.

However, the individual dog will require his own unique diet that suits him. The condition of his coat, whether or not he eats the food with relish and the substance of his stools will soon let you know if the diet does not suit him.

EXERCISE: -

Exercise is essential for keeping your dog fit and healthy and his coat in peak condition. An over or under weight dog will not perform as well as a fit and healthy one and this will be reflected in the health of his coat.

BEDDING: -

Where your dog lives will also affect his coat condition. If he sleeps kennelled in a concrete run he is liable to get sores and rub the hair from the parts of his body in contact with the ground. If it is very cold he is likely to develop a thick more hardy kind of coat to cope with the conditions. If he sleeps outside on the grass he is more likely to have trouble with insect bites and infestation and may be prone to grass seeds inside his paws or burrs causing mats.

A household dog can be open to allergic reactions from washing powders or disinfectants causing eczema or dermatitis. All bedding should be thoroughly rinsed and floor cleaners diluted to the correct ratios.

GROOMING: -

Grooming is an essential way of keeping a close eye on the health of your dog. You can check his eyes, ears, anal area, feet, arm pits, nails on a regular basis and perform routine maintenance on these areas.

Eyes: -
Check for any puss and foreign bodies and remove with cooled, boiled water and cotton wool as necessary

Ears: -
Check for mites, foreign bodies and clean as necessary with ear cleaner available from most pet stores

Anal area: -
Check for cleanliness, keep hair trimmed as necessary and look for any indicators of worms or itchiness

Feet: -
Keep close eye on the valleys between the pads and right up in between the toes for any grass seeds, clogged mud and mats causing the dog discomfort

Arm pits: -
A classic area for grass spears to become lodged and mats to form

Nails: -
Regular inspection required to keep nails at the required length. Professional trimming advised

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Brushing and combing your dog should be made into a pleasant ritual. Select a place to do the grooming-a chair, table or bench will be satisfactory. Lift the dog onto the chair or table, talking to him, reassuring him that all is well. Let him know that he’s in for a treat, not an ordeal. Let him sniff each tool; the comb, brush, nail clippers and scissors. It’s very important that he learn to associate these tools with a pleasant experience. Handle the situation with tact and care, and the pup will look forward to it. Botch the job and you will be looking for the pup the next time you bring out the grooming tools.

When brushing the puppy, stroke the brush with and against the lie of the hair. This will help to loosen dead hair and stimulate the skin. Use a brush with the correct bristle length; short for medium- and short-haired dogs, long bristles for long-haired dogs. If you do any combing, use a fine comb for the short-haired dog and a comb with widely spaced teeth for the long-haired, medium-haired and wirehaired dogs. You can bring out the gloss in your dog’s coat by polishing with a flannel cloth or one of the commercial grooming gloves. These grooming gloves are available in pet shops or pet supply stores.

Matted hair

If you have a short- or smooth-haired dog, you will not have to worry about matted hair. But medium- and longhaired dogs do get tangled or matted hair from burs, paint, tar, chewing gum or other sticky or prickly objects. Dried food will also contribute to matted hair, and this is common in puppies and very old dogs. Matted hair is not only unsightly, but it can pinch and irritate the dog.

If the hair is not too snarled, try combing out the mats. Do this gently. Hold the matted hair or tuft in one hand and gently comb it. If it is too tightly matted, you will have to cut it off. Use blunt-end scissors. Puppies are very quick and wriggly, so be careful not to jab your pup with the scissors. There’s very little danger with blunt-end scissors. Gently pull the mat away from the dog’s body, then carefully cut the hair between the skin and the mat or tuft. Avoid pulling or yanking the tuft; it hurts. Tar, paint, and other sticky or gummy matter can be softened with acetone (nail-polish remover) and then combed out.

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Dogs will instinctively try to protect or warn you when there is danger. Some dogs are fearless and will ferociously defend their owners by sacrificing their own lives.
Dogs are multi-faceted action heroes. Some dogs are trained to safely guide the blind from place to place, to secure perimeters as guard dogs, to control large numbers of animals, such as cows, sheep, etc.
In certain very cold remote areas dogs are trained to haul sledges — often the only means of transportation.

Dogs do magnificent jobs in Law Enforcement. They are trained to detect cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs.
In Forensics, they sniff out bombs, the presence of blood, dead bodies and follow scents leading to the apprehension of many bad people.
In the field of Medicine, dogs can be used to detect cancer in human beings.

The list of a dog’s accomplishments seems never-ending. It is extraordinary
how proficient dogs can be and this is shown in many different ways.

Each and every contribution dogs have made to help mankind is remarkable and I could go on and on. However, a Dog’s role as a pet is undoubtedly the greatest of all and will remain unsurpassed. The lives of many dog owners would be incomplete without their dogs. Dog-gone it.

Dogs are loved. They are indeed man’s best friend.

While we celebrate our devotion and love for our pets, there is an issue we should contemplate. Here it is.

All animals, dogs and cats in particular have their instinctive behavior which should remain as is, this is just an opinion.
We should not strive to modify a dog’s natural instinct to bark, or growl or whine, or the cat’s meow. Let the dogs bark and the cats meow, this is how they communicate, just as a baby uses cry before it achieves the ability to speak. Let’s all join in and strongly proclaim "Pet Power is in the House”. Thank you. Thank you.

However, dog training and dog grooming is very important and should be a priority.

Successful dog training is very satisfying. It generates a strong sense of accomplishment which is shared between owner and pet. It is not difficult and the process is very straight-forward. A little extra patience is required and selecting the most suitable training method for a specific dog is a major step in successfully accomplishing the task. Several methods may be used to train a dog. The most popular being the “Treat Reward System”, followed by the “Praise Reward System” and a few others. They all consist of simple instructions which are quite easy to follow.

The importance of grooming your pet should not be overlooked. All pets should be groomed on a regular basis and pets with long hair require more frequent attention. Regular grooming not only keeps you and your pet happy as he/she shows off a well maintained coat but it also helps to detect health issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Daily grooms are suitable for pets to protect their coats from being damaged. Long ungroomed hair is unattractive, unhealthly and unsafe. If your dog’s hair is not regularly combed and/or brushed, it could
quite easily become entangled with objects that the pet come in contact with and result in serious injury.
Regular grooming also creates a bond with the pet and also helps to reinforce obedience.

Finally, if you pet barks, growls or whines for reasons that are beyond human comprehension. It’s ok, it’s alright.

Always remember that dogs will be dogs and cats meow.

Check out petmust.com for information regarding dogs and cats, including cute dog clothes and pet charming pet supplies.

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For some of you dog owners, this article will simply be common sense. For other owners, however, this information might just be a real eye-opener. If you really want your dog to be as healthy as possible, than take a few minutes to make sure you’re really doing all you can to ensure your dog’s good health by reading this article.

Of course, proper nutrition is essential to your dog’s health. Making sure your dog has the necessary vaccinations, heart worm tests and preventatives and fecal tests done annually is also imperative for your dog’s very survival. But what about grooming your dog? Isn’t that just something that people who show their dogs or people with long-haired dogs need to be concerned about? Absolutely not! Dog grooming is something that every conscientious dog owner should concerned with.

So what’s the big deal about dog grooming? Let’s take a look and see. First, the obvious: it makes your dog look good and healthy. But it also makes him feel good too. Brushing your dog makes the skin and hair coat healthy by bringing up the natural oils in the skin that nourish and protect your dog’s coat.

Grooming your dog serves other important purposes as well. It keeps the shedding problem down, which is a big concern for the indoor dog. Grooming on a regular basis (which means more than a couple of times a month) will also keep snarls and tangles out of your dog’s coat, which is a big problem on the legs and tails of dog breeds like Golden Retrievers (like mine), spaniels, Pomeranians and scads more.

Regular brushing also gives you a chance to closely examine your dog’s skin for possible problems. Some examples are flea and tick problems, hot spots, rashes, cuts or lumps. Catching some of these problems early may prevent disease or infection or even be the difference between life and death.

When you’re through brushing, don’t forget to check their ears (some breeds require cleaning more often than others) and their toenails (more for inside dogs…my two outside dogs keep their toenails trimmed down just fine all by themselves just running around.) The eyes and teeth are important too, but your vet will examine them on your annual visits.

And what about those who just don’t have the time or desire to make dog grooming a priority? Ever heard of a professional dog groomer? Take the time to find a reputable groomer, or get a recommendation from a trusted dog owning friend. A seasoned dog groomer can give you some great tips for grooming in between visits, and are often a great source for tips on keeping your dog healthy.

Will grooming alone ensure good health for your dog? Of course not. But done regularly in conjunction with good nutrition and proper vet care, grooming your dog sure will give your dog a better chance at a long and healthy life.

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Working in a kennel and working with a dog groomer has not only given me a greater appreciation for what dogs really need in the way of personal hygiene and “styling”, but also a greater appreciation for what groomers are required to do to keep our dogs healthy AND happy.

A good groomer has to know more than how to give baths, clip nails and trim hair:

1) They should be a dog lover AND something of a dog expert.

2) They must have an ability to work with potentially difficult dogs who are distressed, uncomfortable and unhappy.

3) Unless they are a breed-specific groomer (for example, specializing in Poodles), they need to understand the grooming requirements (nails, coat AND what works best for the particular breed, at the time of year) of a variety of breeds (not all dog fur is alike).

4) They need a basic grasp of dog anatomy, so they don’t accidentally injure a dog while moving them around to trim and clip.

5) They need to have a basic understanding of the skin conditions common to dogs, and the types of shampoos for treating and preventing problems.

6) If you have special requirements, (for example, if you want a puppy-cut for a dog that isn’t going to be shown), they should honor your request.

7) They must have the patience of several saints.

So how do you find the perfect groomer for you and your dog?

As with any other service, get references. Talk to friends, talk to local rescue groups, talk to your vet. Don’t just ask about how they rated cost and the end result, ask about how the dog interacted with the groomer when they were dropped off and picked up.

When you find one or two groomers you think might fit the bill, call and ask to speak to the person who will be actually working with your dog – especially if you have a potentially difficult dog (coat-wise or temperament-wise). If you have any concerns about the skill-set listed above – ask. Ask about their training and or experience – experience is crucial. In particular, ask about their experience with the breed or breed-cross you have. If you like what you hear, ask them for additional references, and call them!

Don’t just consider a grooming salon or the salons in pet super-stores. If you use a kennel regularly, they may have a good groomer. And consider getting your dog groomed when you leave your dog for any length of time – especially if the dog needs a bit of work, the job can be divided over several days, so there is less stress.

When you bring your dog in, don’t be surprised if the groomer recommends more work than you originally intended to have done – often owner’s don’t realize that their dog’s nails and coat needed attention.

Even if you are pleased with the results of your first visit, don’t assume everything went well. When your dog comes home from their first groom, especially if your dog needed an extensive trim or long nails done, give them a thorough examination – there should be no nicks or cuts, and they shouldn’t be suddenly shy of having their paws handled (the nails may have been “quicked”, the equivalent of having your nails trimmed into the “pink).

Having “assisted” in several difficult groomings, I have a new appreciation for what groomers do – I don’t believe that a six-week correspondence course or corporate training is sufficient. Groomers deal with stressed, often uncooperative dogs, and they need to know how to keep those dogs calm and comfortable, as well giving your dog a bath and a trim.

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