Dog Grooming Hints

by heraldpost

Experience teaches that the more you know, the more you know that you do not know. If you have been grooming your dog for long, then you most likely are very good at it but you also know that there is always more that you need to know. In all grooming procedures, there are things you should do and things that you need to avoid. Many times we learn this the hard way when we realize we just did something that has counter-benefits, such as when cut the quick when trimming nails. We will look at the four basic grooming activities and highlight some of the things to do and those to avoid under each.

Let us begin with bathing. You should certainly bath your dog and you should do it regularly. Most veterinary officers will tell you that you should bath the dog at least once each month. Scrub it gently with shampoo and a brush and make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. These actions will help keep the skin fresh and free from infection. On the flip side, do not bath your dog as frequently as you bath yourself. Daily baths are definably good for you but certainly not for your dog as they will lead to loss of essential oils on the dog’s skin resulting in irritation and scratching. You skin on the other hand is able to quickly replace the oils lost during bathing.

Brush your dog’s hair on a regular basis. Use brushes that will not cause abrasions and do it gently. Move the brush along the hair fibers and not against them. When you brush properly, the dog will have a very appealing look. It will even look shinny and sleek, making it fun to walk in the park with. If the dog has long hair or fur, you may want to trim it. Hair clippers should be on hand for this and run the clipper gently through the hair. Please, do not do these procedures hurriedly because apart from doing a shoddy job, you can actually cause injury. Avoid clipping too close to the dog’s skin. Remember, you are reducing the hair, not “undressing your dog”. It is not safe to do this because that hair has a protective function.

You should develop a regular routine of checking your dog’s nails. The best time to do this is when you are bathing the dog since then you will be killing two birds with one stone. In fact it is advisable that during bathing, you also do physical examination for swellings, lumps, cuts, and so on. If the nails are long and possibly curving, trim them. What you should avoid it cutting too deep to reach the quick. This is why like mentioned above, you must never groom in a hurry. Trim small layers at a time while looking out for the quick. As soon as you sense that you are approaching it, stop trimming. A cut on the quick apart from being very painful can lead to serious infection.

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Averaging heights over 30″ and weighing up to 170 pounds, Great Danes are among the largest dog breeds. Luckily these gentle giants have amiable dispositions and require little grooming.

Grooming a Great Dane, as with all dog breeds, is best started young. When a puppy get the Dane used to having their feet held and nails clipped. Handle their ears and brush their fur. Start tooth brushing early. Make bath time a game. All of these activities should be considered fun. They should be accompanied by lots of praise and treats! Start the puppy out thinking that grooming is a positive experience. Grooming can, and should, be a bonding activity between owner and dog.

Coat –

Bathing – The thought of wresting a 160 pound unhappy Great Dane into a bathtub can be terrifying! Luckily with their short, single layer, coats Great Danes do not require many baths. Indeed, bathing too frequently may strip your dog’s coat of essential oils. Great Dane’s are prone to dry skin and the oils are necessary to keep their skin moist. If a bath is necessary use a biodegradable shampoo designed specifically for dogs. You may also choose to wipe down your Dane with a washcloth and some of the shampoo. Be careful to use a clean cloth to remove any residual shampoo when done. The frequency of baths is debatable but not more than once a month and often only twice a year seem to suffice.

Brushing – A Great Dane should be brushed at least weekly to remove any dead fur and to distribute the oils. A curry brush is usually recommended. Regular brushing will cut down on the need for baths.

Head –

Slobber – Some Dane’s are droolers and it is a wise idea to keep a drool towel with you to wipe up any excess. This will help keep your dog’s face clean and prevent them for sharing the drool with unsuspecting passersby.

Ears – Ears should be checked, and cleaned, once a week. Use a product designed for cleaning a dog’s ears. You may also make your own solution with apple cider vinegar and water. Squirt the solution into the ear and then rub and massage the ear for a few minutes. This will allow the solution to work its way into the canal. Then with a cotton ball, or damp soft cloth, gently clean the inside of their ears. Be careful not to go far into the canal.

Eyes – Clean around the eyes with a damp cloth if any mucus is present. A small amount of mucus is normal and not anything to worry about. If you notice an excess of mucus or if appears

The gentle giant, majestic, proud, loyal and friendly all describe the Great Dane. Great Dane’s are truly a joy to have as pets. They love people, are easy going and easy to care for. These massive creatures require little in the way of grooming. Your Great Dane will reward the time you spend on grooming them with more love and devotion than you could have imagined.

Great Dane’s are a short haired breed so their coat requires little maintenance. They do shed but it is far less than longer haired breeds. Maintaining their coat requires only a simple brushing. Some recommend a daily brushing but every few days will work just as well. The Great Dane usually enjoys this time because of the physical contact with their owner. Brushing with a firm bristle or body brush will help to loosen dirt and dead hairs and help keep the coat shiny and smooth.

Bathing a Great Dane can be quite a challenge given their size. Fortunately Great Danes should not be bathed very often due to their affinity for dry skin. Bathing too often will strip their coats of essential oils necessary for healthy hair and skin. When you do bathe a Great Dane, do not use human shampoo as this will irritate their skin and leave them with a dry itchy coat. A dry shampoo works well for Great Danes and is a lot easier on the owner.

Cleaning a Great Dane’s ears is an important part of the weekly grooming. Special cleansers are available but Tree Tea Oil works well too. Once a week squirt a little of the cleanser down into the ear canal then gently massage the area just below the ears for a minute or so. Most dogs will shake as soon as you are done massaging so be prepared because some of the cleanser will escape the ear canal. After massaging, take a soft cloth and gently wipe the inside of the ear and down into the canal to remove dirt and debris. Cleaning the ears weekly will reduce the risk of infection and because you are watching the ears regularly, you will immediately notice if redness or irritation is present.

Taking care of the Great Dane’s teeth is simple and will reduce the chances of developing tooth or gum disease. You can literally brush your dog’s teeth but it is much simpler to give him a bone 2 or 3 times a week. The action of gnawing on the bone helps to scour the teeth removing plaque and tarter build up. If you do not want to give your dog raw bones then brushing the teeth is really the only way you can ensure the dental health of your dog.

The final aspect

I spent some time searching the Internet for dog grooming products. Not difficult you might think as there are so many on the market. It wasn’t. A trawl on a search engine brought many to my attention, both direct from suppliers and via third party sites like ebay.

But I was after something that didn’t contain harmful or artificial chemicals. I wanted something that would work with the ph balance of the dogs coat and skin. I wanted something that would enable me to bond with the dog and for them to enjoy as well as me.

I then found www.thedogsbody.co.uk, a site based in England with a selection of products that on first reading fitted my requirements. It offers dog shampoo, pad balm and a massage oil with a hard soap bar under development. The ingredients list contains only natural simple ingredients together with the purest of essential oils with no petrochemicals, colourants, additives or fragrances.

So I ordered some and all I can say is I’m not sure who was happier, the dog or me.