Dog Grooming Hints

Choosing a dog is far more difficult in today’s world than it was in the past. Dogs in history served a purpose, they worked for their owners and in return they were fed, sheltered and taken care of. Very rarely were they kept solely for companionship. Some dogs are great no matter where or how they are kept and others need high-levels of exercise, training and even a job’ in order to be well-adjusted.

Things to consider (in this order)

1) Your lifestyle-Time, energy, financial resources

2) Age group. Puppy, adult, senior

3) Height/Weight

4) Grooming needs

5) Breed

6) Special needs-Medication, special bathing requirements etc.

7) Individual Appearance

The first thing to do when searching for a new companion is to sit down and objectively evaluate your lifestyle. How much time can you put into a dog for grooming, exercise, play and training? Decide why you think you want a new dog and then start looking for breeds that match your time allotment, personality and living situation.

Age is important when deciding to add a companion to your life. Puppies and seniors are going to require more time and money than a young adult dog. House-training and medication can be costly in both energy and cash so make sure you have the resources available for the age group you are interested in. Special needs are not always tied into age. Many breeds of dog need special care because of their risk of health issues. Pugs for instance need special bathing/drying care and English Bulldogs need tons of medical assistance.

Size and grooming amounts are consumers of time and money as well. Large dogs eat more, eliminate more and typically need large amounts of exercise/play time. Long-haired dogs need daily brushing and can require having the area beneath their tail trimmed short or shaved to prevent cling-ons. The same goes for dogs with double coats such as the spitz breeds. Their undercoat causes them to over-heat easily and needs a special rake’ to remove the matting under hair.

Breed is a very essential consideration because the breed dictates all of the above items. However in order to find a breed that is suitable you have to decide just how much you want to invest into proper care. Once you’ve got it narrowed down to a small sampling of different breeds or a breed group that you are interested in it’s time to hit the books or the Internet and find out as much about those breeds as you can. Research should be done before picking your new dog in order to provide you with a platform to start from. A good breeder will do their best to match personalities and many will also tell you if their breed isn’t right for you.

Once you’ve taken an honest look at your lifestyle and what breeds will mesh with you and your home it’s time to take a look at their physical characteristics. Only after everything else has been sifted through should a dog’s appearance come into the big picture. Getting a dog because it’s cute’ or funny’ is a bad idea that frequently results in the animal being dumped because it just wasn’t working out. Love at first sight can be a great thing however, it soon wears off if you aren’t prepared for the work involved. Don’t make that mistake if you want the best chance of a long, successful partnership with your canine friend.

The English Bulldog is a breed, that to look at, you wouldn’t think would need much grooming, but in fact there are a few key areas that need regular attention in order to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Coat-Bulldogs, although having short hair, need to be brushed regularly to help loosen the dead coat and keep the skin vital. Often prone to skin problems, the Bulldog will benefit from a weekly brushing to stimulate healthy oil production and blood flow. The best brush suited to their short hair is a rubber curry comb, that is held in the palm of the hand. It is made of a stiff rubber and usually oval in shape with two oval rows of teeth running around the inside. Always brush with the lay of the hair, never against the grain. To get around the neck, you may have to gently stretch the skin before running the brush over it.

Nails- All dogs, including the Bulldog will need to have thier nails trimmed every 6-8 weeks. If neglected, the nails can curve around and back into the paw, or it can cause the foot to change position, causing the dog to walk funny or even in severe cases, lameness. To trim the nails you will need a good quality pet nail clipper. If you dog has white nails, this will make the process easier. Looking at the profile of the nail, you can see a pink vein inside. You’ll want to clip just below this vein. If your dog has black nails, you’ll have to guess where the vein is. There are two ways to do this. You can start by taking off the tips of the nail and work your way up until you can view the end of the vein by looking at the cross section of the nail. You can also find approximately where it is by viewing the profile of the nail. Longer nails will have a point where the nail goes from being solid at the base to having a hook. If you clip up to this hook you are guarenteed not to come into contact with the quick- or vein. However, often the vein sits up higher than where the hook is, so if you stop there, you might not be cutting the nails short enough. If you are still unsure, you might want to take your dog to the groomer and watch how he or she does it. You should probably visit your pet store before attempting to trim the nails and pick up something called Kwik-stop. This will stop the bleeding if you accidently trim the nail too far. Just press some of the powder to the nail and hold it there for a minute. Don’t feel bad if you accidently clip the vein, it is a minor pain to the dog, much like a paper cut to us.

Ears- Bulldogs

What do you know about properly grooming your dog? Dog grooming is extremely important and your responsibility as a dog owner. Dogs generally need to be bathed once a month, brushed weekly, have their nails clipped, and some dog breeds need to be taken to the groomer every couple of months to have their coats trimmed. A properly groomed dog is a happier and healthier dog and makes for a happier dog owner!

Many dog breeds do not need regular visits to the groomer. Shorter-haired dogs like Labradors, Boxers, and Bulldogs do not need to have their coats trimmed, but longer-haired dogs such as Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Poodles do need to visit the groomer every 4-6 weeks for a trim. Regular visits ensure that your dogs coat is free of tangles and well-maintained.

Dog grooming also includes brushing your dogs coat, whether he has long or short hair. Regular brushing removes your dogs dead hair. This dead hair is what normally will shed, but with regular brushing you can brush out most of the dead hair and your dog will shed much less as a result. Brushing your dog also distributes the hairs natural oils, which makes the coat shiny and healthy looking. Its amazing what a good brushing can do in making your dogs coat shine. Not to mention, what dog doesnt like a good brushing?!

Proper dog grooming also means trimming your dogs nails. This may seem like a daunting task to some until you and your dog get used to it. You can buy a good nail clipper at any pet store. Make sure to buy one that fits your dog. Some dogs have small nails like Chihuahuas; other breeds like Labradors need a much larger nail clipper. If you dont feel comfortable clipping your own dogs nails, many pet stores offer this service for a reasonable price. Proper exercise of your dog should keep his nails at a good length but they will need to be trimmed occasionally. Be very careful not to trim the nails too short as dogs have a fleshy material inside their nails called quick. If nails are trimmed too short and you cut the quick, it is painful for your dog.

Are you bathing your dog once a month? This is a general rule of thumb. If your dog spends a lot of time outside running around or going to the beach, chances are he will need to be bathed more often than a dog that spends most of his time indoors snuggled up at your feet. Its important to spend a little bit more on dog shampoo, especially if your dog has any kind of skin conditions. Unfortunately, the less expensive brands of dog shampoo have harsher ingredients that can strip away too much of your dogs natural oils, drying the skin and possibly causing skin irritations. You may want to ask your vet for recommendations for the best shampoo for your particular dog.

Dog grooming is of the utmost importance in dog ownership! Most dog owners take pride in having a healthy, well-groomed dog. Bathing your dog, clipping his nails, and brushing him are also good bonding experiences for dog and owner. Take your time in grooming your pooch and enjoy the experience. A happy, healthy, well-groomed dog makes for a happy owner!