Dog Grooming Hints

by Barboni

Dog grooming can be a frustrating and time consuming chore for you and your furry friend. Here are 6 tips to keep your home free of pet hair and your dog healthy and happy.

1. When choosing a dog or cat, keep in mind that animals with long or silky coats will require regular daily grooming. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Bedlington Terriers, do not shed at all, but do need to be clipped on a regular basis. Smooth-coated cats and dogs are the easiest to groom. All you need is a comb or a grooming mitt.

2. Regular grooming is easiest when you get your pet accustomed to brushing from an early age. You can do this in one of two ways: using brushing as a therapeutic tool or make it a game. Either way, grooming becomes an opportunity to bond with your pet as well as a simple way to keep your home from being overrun with pet hair. It’s also a good time to check for fleas and ticks.

3. If you choose to make brushing a game, your goal is to get your pet excited about being brushed so that eventually just seeing the brush will bring your pet running to you. Start with short sessions. With brush in hand, ask in a happy voice, “Do you want to get brushed?” Stroke your pet with the brush and then say, “Good boy!” Repeat the stroking a few times and use the word “brush” to help your pet associate it with the activity. Gradually lengthen the sessions.

4. Alternatively, you might opt to use brushing as a therapeutic tool, particularly if your pet is not used to regular grooming. Wait until your pet is in a comfortable, relaxed state and then alternate stroking with your hand and stroking with the brush. Speak in calm, soothing tones to reassure the animal. If your pet gets agitated, stop brushing, revert to stroking with your hand, and try again another day.

5. Before brushing, run your hands through your pet’s coat from back to front to massage the skin and loosen dead hairs. This massage will help to stimulate and distribute natural oils in the skin, which gives a healthy shine to the coat. Then use the type of grooming that is best suited to your pet which can be a brush, comb or mitt to brush your pet from head to tail. Don’t forget to brush the underbelly and also between toes and pads which can collect small stones, chewing gum and other debris. To avoid scraping your pets’ skin, try not to press too hard with a wire slicker brush.

6. If you come across matted hair, first hold the matt close to the skin. Next insert the end tooth of the comb into the matt and try working the matt loose. If you find this isn’t possible you might want to cut out a matt so you don’t cause your pet any unnecessary discomfort. After your pet is matt-free, comb down to the skin. Remember to comb or brush your dog against the lay of the coat.

Dog grooming really can be an enjoyable experience. A little prevention can go a long way and it also saves you time cleaning fur off your household furniture and carpets.

You may have found the right tools when it comes to dog grooming, but if you want to give your puppy a special treat, visit a local dog grooming spa for a dog massage. These dog massages can be very therapeutic, and can even help your dog to avoid certain health problems.

Arranging for your canine to get a dog massage could help to improve your dogs behavior. Moreover, dog massage around the dogs stomach can help improve digestion and help with the discomfort of gas and bloating (purchasing natural dog food will help with this as well). Dog massage for the legs will also improve circulation and bone strength, and will give Fido more energy. Dog massage therapists may also use natural products as moisturizers during the massage; lotions and sprays that contain Aloe Vera can condition your dogs skin and give him a shiny coat, and tea tree oil can be used to help rid your pets fur of infection during the dog massage. You may also consider incorporating a brush of some sort to soothing brush through the dogs fur as part of the dog grooming process.

Other services you may be able to take advantage of at the spa include dog yoga or relaxation classes, for both dogs and owners. Youll get helpful tips on how to get your dog to behave better. There may also be obedience classes, as well as tips for keeping your dog clean and training your pet. There are also a number of items you can purchase for your dog at the spa, such as dog towels and sleep masks that are guaranteed to give your canine a better nights sleep.

If you cant find a pet spa that offers dog grooming in your area, you can always give your furry friend a dog massage at home. A professional should only do deep tissue dog massages; however, you can do some basic massage motions to improve your dogs circulation or nervous system in the comfort of your own home. Start by having your pet lie on a firm surface such as a rug or dog bed (smaller dogs can sit on your lap). You could even try looking in the pet store for a dog massage table. Stroke the dog from head to tail softly to get your pet to relax, and then scratch gently behind the ears and the cheeks. Move to the chin, over the dogs nose and over the head. Then, rub each of the ears several times to increase relaxation.

As you continue your dog massage, proceed by pinching folds of skin in the loose areas on the back, stomach, and legs will help your dogs circulation tremendously. Squeeze gently on the forelegs, and then rub the muscles in the leg in opposite directions several times. You can give dog massages regularly, and use natural oils and moisturizers to give your pooch a pleasant scent and a healthy coat. You may also want to wrap your pup in a dog towel after the dog massage for added comfort.

Want to keep your furry friend happy and healthy? Follow these tips for a great start to maintaining your dog’s health…

1. Keep up with your dog’s “maintenance needs.” Get them vaccinated with everything that the vet suggests, get them wormed, get their teeth cleaned regularly, get them groomed regularly, and brush them as often as possible (preferably daily if their fur is prone to matting).

2. Get serious about who takes care of your dog. Don’t just drop off your dog at a pet store for grooming and pick them back up later – before you utilize a specific grooming location, check out their business and see how they care for other dogs. Are the dogs kept in an environment that is comfortable? Is water provided to them? Does the groomer treat the animals with care? How much time does the groomer spend on each animal? Is the owner/groomer a pet lover? Does the owner/groomer own their own pets? How long has the owner/groomer been in business? Talk to other customers – are they happy with the grooming service that you are investigating? Get referrals for groomers from other pet owners. Shop around and get the best service for the best price. If your dog seems unhappy or distressed after returning home from the groomer, this is obviously not a good sign. Switch groomers right away.

3. Find a good vet for your dog. Again, get referrals and talk to other pet owners. When your dog has a vet appointment, go with the vet when they take your dog for examination or injections if you can. Watch how the doctor treats/handles/speaks to your dog.

4. Sign up for services that send you coupons or notices of special promotions in the mail or online, like at iams.com.

5. Let your dog out often and walk them as often as you can.

6. Be gentle with your dog, but let them know who’s boss – dogs respond to you if you’re the leader in control – you’re the pack leader! Try dog training lessons at pet stores if your dog has trouble obeying you – the absolute last thing that you want is your dog to not respond to your call when you don’t want them to run out into the street.

7. Buy food and treats that have nutritional value. Look at the ingredients and find out what your vet recommends. For treats, buy healthy items like bones that promote dental health for your dog.

8. For puppies, don’t take them to parks or dog runs if they have not had all of their shots yet – this will put them at risk for diseases and infections. If your puppy cries a lot at night, switch

We may have made our pets dependent of a comfortable life, in which the master takes them out for casual walks and feeds them on command, after having cuddled them behind their giddy ears, but a natural instinct for self-grooming will never be gone, and the proud owner should sustain this instinct. This process is a daily and a weekly one, so dog grooming training is necessary in order to make it easier for the pet and for you too. As funny as a bubble bath may seem to our kids, your furry friend may find it strangely irritating, unless you follow some simple training guidelines to make him go through the ordeal of grooming: from clipping his toenails, brushing his fangs, to smoothing that cute rich fur of his, or sleek glossy hide with a welcomed bath. That is the reason why dog grooming training sessions are required, and the good news is you dont have to have a PhD or a BD for this; you do need some special tools, rewards to motivate the pet and the persistence of your school teacher when telling you about logarithms. The result will be a satisfying one, though, and your dog will be fit to walk on a cat walk!

A Dawdling Process

There are these few main activities that are compulsory when speaking of a dog grooming training session: the brushing of his teeth, the clipping of his nails so as not to scratch that beautiful leather arm chair you just bought or to gather germs that make him prone to diseases and taking care in every possible way of his fur, less or more existent, depending on the breed: the coat of a groomed dog must be glossy, healthy and resistant. In order to do this, you will imminently annoy the dog by touching him in forbidden places: his aggressiveness might be aroused and he may act strangely every time the process recurs. The most important thing is not to hurry up, dawdle here and there, with smooth caresses and sprinkle the dog grooming sessions with several rewards, so that he develop a conditional instinct of pleasure specifically in these times. The first activity is the brushing of his mean fangs, to maintain their health and that of the gums too. The muzzle of the dog is another sensitive area so pat him gently and caress the nose and when he pulls up his lip, you will be able to position the toothbrush. Make him feel good during this by enhancing his self-esteem, speaking to him slowly and soothingly and offering him a reward: you shouldnt be surprised if this training hint will enable you to brush his teeth often and even turn it into a spa for your pet, an enjoyable one.

If you desire to clip the nails, the identical gentle behavior and treats are required, except that you have to touch his paws and to press them to see clearly the nails: it is not a particular pleasant thing for your furry friend so be patient and persistent: the time you are investing in the dog grooming training will be recovered soon, when he will sit calmly every time you want to perform the task a bit faster. The brushing of the pets coat of fur is definitely not that difficult or disagreeable, like brushing his teeth or clipping his toenails, to some extent. However, when delicate areas such as his back end or tail are involved, things have to be taken slow: make him comfortable first, when touching these parts of his body, give him rewards, speak soothingly to him, pat him carefully and in the end he will lighten up and allow you to act there as well: operate with slow strokes of the brush in the back side and at the tail to obtain an ideal grooming where it is genuinely needed.

As it has been said, rewards and persistence are the main ingredients to performing a proper dog grooming training, achieving both a better relationship between you and the dog, and make it a more enjoyable task with the permission of your pet.

Whether your pet has a short, sleek coat or long, thick fur, grooming will be a part of your normal dog care routine. Since this is a ritual that you will be performing every day or week, dog grooming training will make the process more comfortable and enjoyable for both you and your furry friend. There are a number of steps to keeping your dog looking and feeling his best, from teeth brushing, to toenail clipping, to regular baths and brushings. All of these tasks will go much more smoothly if you and your pet have completed a few dog grooming training sessions together. The main tools that you will require (besides a few basic grooming tools), are patience and rewards, and plenty of them. Are you ready to get your pet looking his best? Read on to find out how to make grooming sessions a positive part of your pet care routine.

Take it Slow

Dog grooming training will incorporate activities like brushing your pets teeth, keeping his nails clipped, and maintaining his shiny, healthy coat. All of these activities will require that you touch your pet in areas that might be sensitive or guarded, making it extremely important for you to take the process slow and pepper it with many rewards. Begin with brushing his teeth, since healthy teeth and gums will lead to the better overall health of your dog. Since many dogs are not comfortable with their owners handling their muzzles, begin with some gentle strokes to the nose that will eventually lead to pulling up the lip and getting the toothbrush where it needs to go. Praise your pet every step of the way and reward him with kind words and an occasional treat as often as necessary. Before you know it, your dog will allow you to brush all of his teeth on a regular basis.

The same process can be used when clipping your dogs nails. Begin by touching his paws, and lightly pressing to expose the nails. With a bit of time and encouragement, your dog will sit calmly as you clip his nails, and you will be able to accomplish this task quickly and frequently. Brushing your dogs coat may not be as traumatic for your pet as clipping and teeth brushing tend to be until you begin to touch sensitive areas like his back end or tail. Wait until the end of your session to begin your dog grooming training in this area. Start by petting the area, praising your dog when he allows you to do so. As your pet gets used to you handling his tail and back side, he will eventually relax as you work a brush through the area. This will keep this very important part of your pet clean and free of mattes.

Dog grooming training takes some time and patience to complete, but it is not difficult and the rewards are far reaching. When your pet allows you to complete the cleaning process, you will both find these sessions to be pleasant and easy.