Dog Grooming Hints

If youre like most dog owners, you not only want to look good but you also want your canine companion to look good too. The key to having a dog that looks good is to make sure that he is clean, healthy, and properly groomed. However, professional dog grooming can be quite expensive. In fact, the typical groomer charges a whopping $25 or more to wash, dry and cut the fur of a small Poodle. I don’t know about you but that is a lot of money for such a small dog. Heck, for me to go to the beauty shop costs only $30 for a full service style. So, what can a concerned dog owner do? You can groom your dog yourself and save a ton! In this brief article, I’ll teach you how to successfully groom your precious dog.

First of all, you have to purchase the right supplies. Here are some things youll need:

- The right dog shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for your dog. For instance, if you have a white dog and want to keep his coat shiny and bright then you should purchase shampoo and conditioner specifically for white haired dogs. On the same token, puppies should have tear-free puppy shampoo.

Dog comb and brush (A mason or slicker brush works great for long haired dogs).

- Electric clippers and clipper blades for dogs

- Doggie nail clippers

- Doggie toothpaste

- Doggie treats

- Towels, cotton balls, alcohol or other drying agents to ensure that your dog doesnt get an ear infection.

Second, groom your dog about once a week. If you have a puppy, start grooming him while he is young so that he gets used to the grooming process. During your grooming session, carefully evaluate your dog to ensure that hes healthy. For instance, you should check his ears for signs of infection, evaluate him for lumps, check his limbs, paws, and other body parts.

Third, trim your dogs nails while making sure that they are long enough to touch the ground when he is walking. To trim his nails, you must put him in a comfortable position and then extend each nail while looking for the quick (the part of the nail that gets darker). Be extremely careful not to trim close to the quick. With darker nails, it will be harder to see the quick so make sure that you use adequate light.

Fourth, comb and brush out your dog from the top of your dog’s head all the way to the tail. If you come across any mats, you can gently comb them out. If they are too bad, you may have to shave him or have them removed by a professional. Either way, youll need to comb him thoroughly before washing.

Fifth, you should shampoo him with your favorite doggie shampoo. To do so, put cotton in his ears to make sure that you dont get water or soap inside his ear canal. If you have a long haired dogs or one that is prone to ear infections, you may want to put in a prescribed drying agent which youll put inside his ears to help dry out any left over moisture. Next, youll put your dog in a shallow tub and add warm water. Carefully put on the shampoo and keep the water and shampoo out of his eyes. Youll then gently lather him up, rinse him off and then put on conditioner and repeat the entire process. During rinsing, make sure that no residue remains which will prevent dry, flaky or irritated skin.

Sixth, dry him off with a warm towel or a blow dryer. If you use a blow dryer, use a low heat setting so that you dont burn him. Also, steer clear of his eyes and use your brush and comb while drying him off.

Once hes dry, brush his teeth. To do so, put a bit of doggie toothpaste in his mouth, run your fingers along his gums and then repeat gently with the doggie toothbrush being careful not to brush too vigorously. Work the teeth and the gum lines.

Last but not least, give your dog a yummy treat for surviving his home grooming procedure. This will reward him for his participation and help him look forward to these types of grooming sessions in the future.

In conclusion, you can professionally groom your dog at home. You simply have to be willing to take your time and have the right supplies. Once you do this, youll have the best looking dog on the block and a wad full of cash as well from all the money you saved from doing it yourself.

For some of you dog owners, this article will simply be common sense. For other owners, however, this information might just be a real eye-opener. If you really want your dog to be as healthy as possible, than take a few minutes to make sure you’re really doing all you can to ensure your dog’s good health by reading this article.

Of course, proper nutrition is essential to your dog’s health. Making sure your dog has the necessary vaccinations, heart worm tests and preventatives and fecal tests done annually is also imperative for your dog’s very survival. But what about grooming your dog? Isn’t that just something that people who show their dogs or people with long-haired dogs need to be concerned about? Absolutely not! Dog grooming is something that every conscientious dog owner should concerned with.

So what’s the big deal about dog grooming? Let’s take a look and see. First, the obvious: it makes your dog look good and healthy. But it also makes him feel good too. Brushing your dog makes the skin and hair coat healthy by bringing up the natural oils in the skin that nourish and protect your dog’s coat.

Grooming your dog serves other important purposes as well. It keeps the shedding problem down, which is a big concern for the indoor dog. Grooming on a regular basis (which means more than a couple of times a month) will also keep snarls and tangles out of your dog’s coat, which is a big problem on the legs and tails of dog breeds like Golden Retrievers (like mine), spaniels, Pomeranians and scads more.

Regular brushing also gives you a chance to closely examine your dog’s skin for possible problems. Some examples are flea and tick problems, hot spots, rashes, cuts or lumps. Catching some of these problems early may prevent disease or infection or even be the difference between life and death.

When you’re through brushing, don’t forget to check their ears (some breeds require cleaning more often than others) and their toenails (more for inside dogs…my two outside dogs keep their toenails trimmed down just fine all by themselves just running around.) The eyes and teeth are important too, but your vet will examine them on your annual visits.

And what about those who just don’t have the time or desire to make dog grooming a priority? Ever heard of a professional dog groomer? Take the time to find a reputable groomer, or get a recommendation from a trusted dog owning friend. A seasoned dog groomer can give you some great tips for grooming in between visits, and are often a great source for tips on keeping your dog healthy.

Will grooming alone ensure good health for your dog? Of course not. But done regularly in conjunction with good nutrition and proper vet care, grooming your dog sure will give your dog a better chance at a long and healthy life.