Dog Grooming Hints

Dog grooming is the basis for preventive health care for your dog and puppy. It gives you a chance to see small changes in and on your dog’s body that could lead to health concerns such as a lump or problems in his ears or with his teeth.

Dog grooming can be a time of further bonding with your dog. This is some serious one on one time when he gets loads of your attention.

So what do you do and when do you start grooming your dog and puppy? As with most things with your puppy, you need to introduce him to dog grooming slowly and help him be comfortable with it. Start with short sessions of about five minutes and work up to the whole routine as he adjusts.

Begin with brushing and combing. There are several different grooming tools used for brushing and which you use depends upon the breed of your dog and the type of coat he has. Ask the breeder you got your puppy from for the proper techniques.

Brushing should be done before you bathe your dog or puppy. Bathing your puppy should begin when he is about 14 weeks old or sooner if he is a very dirty dog. Most dogs should need bathing only once a month unless he gets dirty. Wherever you decide to bathe your dog, bathtub, sink or some type of tub, place a rubber mat within to give him something secure to stand on so he won’t slip around.

Soak down his body but not his face. Keep water out of his ears. You may wish to block his ear canals with cotton balls to prevent the water from getting into his ears. Lather up your wet dog with a dog shampoo. Rinse well. Any leftover shampoo in his coat is likely to cause dryness or skin irritation. Wipe his face off with a damp cloth. Squeeze off the excess water and then towel dry your dog. Complete the drying process with either a hair dryer set on warm, not hot, or by leaving him in a warm room until dry.

Be aware that a dog will shake just as soon as you release him. This is why some people want to run their dog outside quickly after a bath on a leash to prevent him from rolling and getting dirty again. If this is not an option, such as in winter, you may wish to consider a professional groomer.

A professional groomer may be a consideration for some of the more difficult haircuts and dog grooming considerations such as the stripping required by some wire-haired breeds. This depends upon your ability to do the required tasks and your desire to do them as well.

copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

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One of the most important things you can do for your dog is maintain a consistent and proper dog grooming routine.In addition to keeping your dog clean and smelling good, for both you and your guest’s sake, there are many health concerns that proper grooming address.Your dog’s coat and skin are very important to your dog and oftentimes are an indicator of other health problems that may be lurking. Grooming your dog properly, following correct dog grooming instructions, helps to keep her healthy while also building an important bond between you and your pet.
Basic Dog Grooming Instructions

Since grooming your dog is such an important part of your responsibility as an owner, you should not only have a sound and regular routine, but you should have the proper knowledge, brushes, shampoos, clippers and other necessary equipment.With correct dog grooming instructions, you can help keep you dog healthy and clean.

An important part of dog grooming, even before you begin thinking about baths, is simply brushing your dog’s coat on a regular, preferably daily, basis.Brushing helps remove dirt and pests, untangles knots and spreads the natural oils evenly through the coat.Each dog is different and you should consult your vet or a grooming expert on the proper type of brush to use based on your dog’s breed.You should brush thoroughly, including her stomach, behind her legs and her ears.

In addition to regular brushing, you should also make sure you keep your dog’s nails trimmed–an often overlooked aspect of dog grooming.You will probably want to do this monthly although it will depend on your dog’s habits and activities.Make sure you have proper trimmers made for dogs and do not cut them too short.You’ll want to stop trimming just before you reach the quick and don’t forget to get your dog’s dewclaw.Following these routine dog grooming instructions will help maintain your dogs coat and nails but should also be supplemented with a bath.
Dog Grooming – The Bath

An important part of dog grooming is the bath.Although it is okay to brush your dog daily, you should not bath your dog too often.Overbathing will reduce the vital oils that help keep your dog’s coat healthy and lead to irritation and itching of the skin.Four times a year is a good rule of thumb, but this will vary depending on the breed of your dog and the types of activities you and your pet regularly do.You should consult your vet or a professional groomer if you are unclear of the proper frequency for your dog.

Before you just throw your dog in the bath and start lathering up you should be adequately prepared.Get your shampoo (made for your dog not human shampoo), some brushes or combs, a washcloth, some cottonballs, a towel or two, and any other equipment or products you might need.You might want to use a detachable spray hose for your bath and a rubber mat makes a good idea to prevent slipping and sliding.Large breed dogs will most likely have to use the bathtub with the rubber mat on the bottom, but smaller breeds can use a plastic basin or rubber storage bin.

For the full article on dog grooming, please visit us at http://largedogbreedz.com/your-large-dogs-health/large-dog-grooming-techniques/large-dog-grooming-and-supply.html .

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