Dog Grooming Hints

by Barboni

Dogs are most kept pets in the world. People look after them like their own family because dogs are famous friendly animal to man and so for that people try to keep their dogs clean and well groomed because dogs tend to play in mud and gets dirty roaming around.

If you are a new dog owner and are not familiar with the basic hygiene requirements of a dog, there are a variety of products available in market which includes shampoos, dog collars, anti ticks powders and sprays, clothes, shoes and basically anything you can think of to groom your dog.

To start from basic grooming to keep your dog healthy he needs to be cleaned and brushed regularly so that his loose and dead hair which collects underneath his coat brushes away easily and most importantly fleas and ticks do not get easy hiding place, but still if the dog has fleas and ticks problems you need to buy anti ticks spray which is easily available in the market, once a week is more than enough to keep insects away, this usage depends on which breed you have, if a dog is hairy then he needs to be regularly brushed, but if he has short hair then there is not much problem, but still he needs to be brushed once a week.

You should give your dog a bath every six to eight weeks or take him to grooming salon. Bath is very important as it cleans and freshen him up and secondly the dog will smell better too, depending whether grooming spray is applied or not. Ask for the best grooming spray in the market as it makes the dog smell nice and plus keep his coat shiny and protects from extra hair falling.

One aspect of grooming that is often neglected when it should be attended is your dog’s teeth, give its teeth a good brushing with a toothbrush of suitable bristles and toothpaste. If you can’t persuade your dog to have his teeth cleaned now and then, give him plenty of bones and occasionally a dental stick to help reduce the tartar levels and keep his gums stronger for longer.

Apart from keeping your dog healthy, if you want him to stand out from other dogs and make him look attractive you should buy clothes, shoes, bands, different dog collars which some in variety such as in chains which are for big heavy dogs to control and small leather collars for small dogs.

If you cannot give much time to your dog’s care, then you should regularly take him to grooming salon, remember to take your dog to a reputable salon because the staff there will be well trained and very well experienced, there you can get complete services for dogs, starting from bathing, nail cutting, hair cutting and hair coloring. All dog groomers should have cotton balls, dog shampoos, Q-tips and ear cleaner on hand.

by Barboni

Cats have been domesticated since the times of the Pharos of Egypt. They believed themselves to be the first enthusiasts to bathe cats. The grooming and domestication has not made the cats incapable of grooming themselves properly.

Pet grooming is very important for its fur as it aids in getting rid of the undercoat, prevents hairballs, prevents parasitic infection and improves circulation. Different breeds need different types of grooming. Some need combing and brushing daily some need it less often. Most cats groom themselves and spend the considerable amount of day grooming themselves. You need to check the ears, eyes, mouth, nails and feet when you groom your cat. It is the perfect opportunity to check it over for lumps and bumps. Part the hair and check the skin for any problem such as fleas, sore or inflamed areas that require serious attention. For any serious cat illness consult a vet.

Use a short toothed comb to remove the dead hair of your cat. Some cats with short hair have delicate coats and skin so you need to be cautious while you use these combs and brushes that you are not damaging the cat. You can loosen the dead hair with your hands before you resort to using a brush or a comb on your cat. Run along your fingers through the fur in the direction opposite to which the hair grows. This also stimulates the natural oil of the skin and this keeps the fur shining and healthy too. Then you can use the pet grooming equipments that are best suited for your cat’s fur. You do not need to bathe your cat if it has been groomed well and completely. The natural oils in the cat fur will make it gleam. Bathing the cat could result into knots and mats, making the fur extremely unmanageable. If your cat has a specific skin complaint or is suffering from fleas then use a shampoo that is suitable for its skin. The cat shampoos are easier to rinse out and make less lather. Wet the coat completely before you use the shampoo.

Let us look at how you need to groom a dog that will make the differences evident.

As the fur is the most important for cat grooming, for dog grooming nail clipping is the most important routine that has to be carried out a couple of times in a month. If you do not clip the nails the dog will start to suffer from infections that grow in the toe nails and these require expensive treatment.

Dog’s nails need to be long enough to reach the ground, but should not be so long that it makes a clicking sound when they walk. Trim a small piece from the end of the nail and keep trimming it until it is short enough. Dogs with dark nails have to be especially taken care of as the quick is difficult to see. Once the quick has been seen, you can use a nail file to smoothen the edges. Do not cut the quick as it leads to bleeding. Use some cotton to stop the flow.

When clipping a dog’s coat, the first step is to make sure that the dog is secure, after which it’s important to continue holding the dog securely. Discover how to turn around dog clippers to avoid track marks with help from a professional dog groomer in this free video on dog grooming. Expert: Victoria Calvin Contact: www.splish-n-splashmobile.com Bio: Victoria Calvin is a professional dog groomer in Miami, and the owner of Splish-n-Splash Mobile Pet Grooming. She is a member of the National Dog Groomers Association. Filmmaker: Paul Muller

by windygig

It is important that you have the basic dog grooming supplies to take good care of your dog. There are several varieties of dog grooming supplies in the market. However, if you are not familiar with them, you could end up buying the wrong ones. Here is a list of basic dog grooming supplies that every dog owner must purchase.

Brushes and combs are two of the most basic, but important dog grooming supplies. They help keep the coat tangle free and shiny. A slicker brush helps in removing mats and dead hair from the coat. On the other hand, using a pin brush you will be able to untangle the knots in the coat without causing too much pain. You could also consider purchasing a medium and coarse wired metal comb.

All dog grooming supplies should include a good pair of nail clippers.

Next in the list of dog grooming supplies is shampoo and conditioner. Choose the type that will suit your the skin and breed of your dog. In addition, if your dog is prone to ticks and fleas, you will need to get special medicated shampoo and conditioner. You must buy these only after consulting with your local vet.

Dog grooming supplies are not complete without ear cleaners. Ear infections are quite common in dogs and hence, it is important that you clean its ears every time you give it a bath. Use ear wipes, medicated powders and drops for a thorough ear cleaning.

In order to keep fur well groomed and out of the eyes of your dog, you will need a good pair of scissors. You can use it to trim the fur on a regular basis. If the fur is too thick, you could consider buying electric razors or shears instead.

The health of your dog depends on how well you take care of it. A basic set of dog grooming supplies will you keep your dog clean and promote good canine health.

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by Barboni

There are many tools that professionals and dog owners use to keep their dog looking neat and clean. Some even use these tools in case they need to examine a certain portion of a dog’s body more carefully and there is fur getting in the way. Some of the tools used to groom a dog include curry brushes, scissors, stripping combs, shedding blades, clippers, rakes, and stand dryers. A curry brush is a rubber or plastic brush that one rubs over the coat so that the skin is able to produce oils and dirt is removed at the same time. These brushes are used on dogs that have a lot of hair and are used carefully. A curry brush can easily hurt the dog’s skin if the groomer pulls the brush away from the skin too hard.

Scissors and clippers are both used to trim the dog’s fur, especially the ones that are located in sensitive areas (in the ears and near the reproductive organs). In contrast, shedding blades are only used on dead hair and aren’t used for cutting fur. Only dog breeds with harsh coats require the use of a shedding blade. Owners of showdogs would have to use a stripping comb in order to remove long hairs by pulling these out by the hair root. Rakes are tools that are used to remove dead hair from the dog’s undercoat, dematting, and untangling dog hair. Finally a stand dryer is used to dry the dog’s hair quickly after it has been given a thorough bath.

Groomers are humans too, and it isn’t surprising that despite having an arsenal of tools at their disposal, they are prone to make mistakes. There are several mistakes that groomers are guilty of. First is groomers may use dryers the wrong way. Some grooming shops have dryers similar to a large cage with a heater, and careless groomers may leave the dog unsupervised (while tending to another customer, perhaps?). One can imagine the result of this outcome: the poor dog burned by the hot pans and even killed. When owners see that the groomer plans to place their dog in an enclosed dryer, they should make sure that the groomer checks on their dog owners can even do this themselves and that the dryer isn’t set at a high temperature and that it comes with a timer.

Another mistake groomers may be prone to do is having inadequate housing facilities for dogs. Some may even lack enough staff to walk the dogs and give them the proper care these dogs need. If owners plan to leave their dogs at the grooming salon for the day, they shouldn’t just hand over the leash to the groomers they should also check if the salon has cages for the dogs and the care the staff plans to give the dogs.

The third mistake a groomer commits is related to the first: leaving the dog unattended. In this case, there are groomers that use a grooming noose when grooming the dog. In case the groomer decides to answer a phone call or serve another customer, disaster can happen. Even if the groomer is gone for five minutes, that is more than enough time for the dog to attempt to break free from the noose and end up choking to death.

Now that you know the common mistakes dog groomers and dog owners make when grooming their pets, be sure to keep these in mind when grooming your dog. You wouldn’t want to be guilty of the same mistakes, now do you?

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In keeping with their self-assured temperament, Chows are a breed that truly likes to stay clean. While there are exceptions, most very much enjoy the dog grooming process. While clipping the coat of a Chow can actually be damaging to the two layers of its naturally dense coat, regular weekly dog grooming is what keeps the breed free from mats and tangles.

Regular dog grooming also builds a stronger bond an owner and their Chow, something that is quite necessary for this breeds temperament. Dogs love the feeling of good massage and the dog grooming process is a perfect time.

It is often recommended that grooming be done twice weekly with a good stiff bristled dogbrush and dog combs. Some find applying a coat dressing keeps static to a minimum and helps thoroughly condition the coat.

Because of their special thick coat, wet bathing should take place only when needed, or not more than once per month. In fact, applying a dry dog shampoo is the most recommended method of upkeep for this breed. When it is time to bathe your Chow, use only dog grooming supplies specifically formulated for your pooch, such as dog shampoo and conditioner; human products have a different Ph and will cause skin irritations.

The Chow is a breed that has at least two periods of heavy shedding. Spring and fall are two times of year that will offer the heaviest shed. Using a FURminator dog shampoo coupled with the FURminator dog brush will significantly reduce the hair left behind.

While it may seem their heavy coat would be uncomfortable for summer, shaving the breed is highly looked down upon as it not only takes away the dogs natural defenses, it can also lead to sunburned skin.

The recommended course of action is to be sure all dead hair is groomed out of the natural coat. With the Chow, it is always important to brush down to the skin. Otherwise, dirt, debris, and moisture can become trapped in the hair, which then kinks up causing bothersome skin problems.

Dog grooming should fun everyone involved and especially necessary for the Chow; not only for his or her thick coat but for their personality as well. Use the right dog grooming supplies and you will enjoy the beautiful thick coat of your Chow. As part of your dog grooming process be sure to brush your dogs teeth, they are just as susceptible to the same mouth diseases as humans.

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