Dog Grooming Hints

How to Groom a Long Haired Dog

Having been owned by four very long haired bearded collies for the past 12 years, I have learned the do’s and don’ts of grooming a long haired dog. I also showed my dogs, so have a few great tips for making any long haired dog’s grooming session a bit easier.

First of all, do not wait until your dog has mats all over his coat. The mats can be very difficult (NOT impossible) but difficult to get out and often results in going to a groomer to shave the poor dog.

Make up a spray bottle of water and add grooming conditioner. I am not talking about a conditioner you would put on the dog’s coat during bath time. This is a conditioner which can be put on a dog’s coat either wet or dry, and you do not have to wash out later on. There are many brands on the market. Crown Royale has a nice one, but there are many others that are great as well. I have tried all sorts of different ones, since I own two brown beardies, and two black beardies. The brown’s coat has a totally different texture than the blacks, so it has been trial and error to find one that works well. Everbody has their favorite.

You can buy grooming conditioner from a pet supply house or pet store or online. When you have chosen one, add water to a spray water bottle and put a teaspoon of the conditioner in the bottle. Shake it up and you are ready to go. Also, buy what is called a “rake”. It is in the shape of the “V”. It has teeth on it. I am not talking about the jagged edged ones you can get. This just has teeth protruding from the “V”. Also, buy what is called a PIN brush. I personally swear by pin brushes as opposed to others, because the pins get down nice and deep into the coat when grooming and that is what you are aiming for here.

Before starting to groom your dog, daily check his eyes to get the gunk out of them. This can build up and cause eye problems later on. Cleaning them daily can keep this from happening. Use a nice warm wet cloth for this.

Next once, a week or so check the dog’s teeth. Make sure there is no plaque on them. If you have a toothbrush (which you can buy both toothbrush and dogie toothpaste from your vet or local pet store) brush your dogs’ teeth.

One last thing, check weekly your dog’s nails. If they are too long cut them with a dogie clipper for toe nails. Do not take off the nail above the quick (that is the tiny red vein you can see running along the nail) or it will bleed. Cut just below this. If it bleeds, grab

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Think grooming a dog involves washing it in the bathtub? Think you don’t need a groomer?

Dog groomers do far more than just fluff and dry; they address several vital health practices regarding your dog’s eyes, ears, and anal glands. Of course, it’s not impossible to take care of these grooming concerns yourself, but in many instances it’s safer and more practical to let a professional handle these sensitive areas.

Proper ear car requires periodic ear cleanings. Veterinarians and professional dog groomers use an agent that dissolves earwax, or saline solution to clean dogs’ ears. These cleaning agents are usually put into the ear before bathing. It is crucial for the groomer to keep the dog’s ears dry. If water runs into a dog’s ear during the bath, a drying agent containing isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid, or boric acid must be put into the ear. Professional dog groomers recommend using a wash rag instead of Q-tips to help dry out the ears. Using Q-tips increases the chance of injuring the dog’s eardrum. If the cleaning requires reaching places that are out of a wash-rag’s reach you should seek professional help.

Dog groomers usually apply an ointment to the dog’s eyes before bathing in order to protect the cornea. However, the trend is to move away from these practices because some professionals believe the ointment may trap irritants that run into the eyes during the bath. Closing, redness, squinting, and excessive tearing are good indicators of eye problems.

Another part of proper dog grooming that the professionals see to is expressing the anal glands. Have you ever noticed your dog dragging its bottom across the carpet? If you have, you know how important it is to take it to the dog groomer. What it is trying to do is release the fluid that has built up in tiny sacs located under the base of his tail. If he is successful, you will know it by the rank smell. Since the sacs are fragile (and discoloration of the fluid could indicate infection), this part of grooming should be left to a professional or a veterinarian.

Adequate grooming is absolutely necessary to maintain your dog’s health. If it’s something you want to do personally, educate yourself on the finer points. But using a professional dog groomer will be the most beneficial to you in the long run.

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