Dog Grooming Hints

Perhaps one of the greatest misconceptions about dog grooming is that dogs like and actually enjoy bathing as compared to cats. While felines clearly show abhorrence for water, some dogs may feel just exactly the same. Fido, Spot, Bingo, or Rocky may not be up for taking a swim in a little old tub, so if youre a dog lover why not try these fool-proof dog grooming ideas that can help control your little pooches in the bath?

Tip number one:

Remember that by all possible means, your dog will try to weasel its way out of the water. Do not even assume that your pet will cooperate and just sit and roll over as you attempt to douse it with some water and shampoo. This will only make it easier for your pet to escape. A good follow up for this tip is to decrease your dogs anxiety. Forget that youre the boss or master. Show your dog some compassion by joining it in the bath or by bring playthings as reward for being obedient.

Tip number two:

Another excellent dog grooming idea that can help control your dog in the bath is to not over coerce your dog into staying in the tub. This will only bring disastrous results, such as turning your bathroom into an unrecognizable mess and soaking you with water. Look at it this way: you are potty training your little pup and would not want to seem too threatening. Try to convince the dog by giving it the idea that water is fun. Use toys and treats. Use reprimands only in extreme cases— you do not want your dog to have any water-related traumas! The result of this will be rewarding. Your dog will actually stay in the tub. If youre worried about getting too much water around the tub, make sure to lay out towels around it.

Tip number three:

To be able to make the most of your dogs bath, one good thing to consider is the strategic placing of all the necessary bathing tools. This will let you devote your time and attention to your dog and not to looking for shampoo, soap, and towels! This will also allow you to work at a more leisurely pace, making your dog feel at ease. Remember that a seemingly frantic dog groomer will only trigger your pets anxiety.

Tip number four:

If faced with a very stubborn and uncooperative dog, the best dog grooming idea that can help control your dog in the bath is to use a leash. A leash will give you the advantage of having both hands to lather up your dog. It also doesnt seem threatening and coercive, since it is a familiar tool your dog encounters almost every day. Just make sure it isnt too tight.

Tip number five:

Imagine all possible blunders that may happen after giving your pooch a bath. This may include soaking you with water because of shaking and getting out of the bathroom to go to dirty areas with soil. Such incidences will defeat the purpose of your bath. Always remember to have more than one towel ready so that you can dry your dog before you leave the bathroom. Also do not forget to close the door, as your pet might make a mad dash away from the shower. Make sure your dog is mostly dry before you leave the confines of your bathroom.

Hopefully, these dog grooming ideas will help control your dog in the bath. These are just a few tips if how you can maximize bath time with your dogs. You can be creative and come up with other strategic ideas of your own.

If you care about your dog, you should learn the proper procedure for dog bathing which can make life much easier for you and your dog. Your dog should only get a bath when hes dirty and/or smells or you suspect he has fleas.

Most dogs dont really care for bath time. This is why knowing proper dog bathing techniques will help ease your dog into the bath time procedure.

When bathing your dog, if you plan to wash him in your tub, get him used to going in and out of the tub area by making a game out of it. The tub should be empty at this point. Once hes comfortable with entering the tub, slowly get him accustomed to being around water by having him hear the water running and then have him enter the tub with very little water in it.

Grooming is an important part of the dog bathing procedure. Introduce the grooming tools to him by having him sniff them. Be gentle when using the grooming tools for the first time because a bad experience, such as a nail being clipped to short or yanking on matted hair with a comb could have your dog running in the opposite direction every time its bath time. Investing this time will save you much grief later on.

Dog bathing procedure

Before you begin bathing your dog, make sure you have all the tools you will need for dog bathing and grooming. These tools are: Plenty of towels, hair dryer, comb or brush, cottonballs, ear wash, ear powder, cotton swabs, nail clippers, toothbrush, mineral oil, toothpaste, a small pitcher, blunt scissors, mineral oil, a stripping knife, dog shampoo and a few treats wouldnt hurt either. You dont want to leave your dog alone in the middle of a bath to get grooming supplies. The thought of what you might find when you come back can be quite scary.

Another thing you should do before dog bathing is brush him thoroughly. Remove all mats with a stripping knife, or for more stubborn matting, use a pair of blunt scissors because bathing can make matting worse.

Be sure to place a rubber mat in the tub (if you dont already have one) to keep your dog from slipping and sliding. He could get injured. For smaller breeds you can use a rubber basin. This can keep dog bathing from being a backbreaking experience. The tub should only be filled up a few inches.

Assuming youve accustomed him to the bath area, it should be no problem getting him into the tub. If you have trouble getting him in, you can try using a harness and a leash (different from the leash used to take him out). If he attempts to bite, use a muzzle until he gets comfortable. Hopefully, you wont have to use it all the time.

When starting your dog bath, wet your dog use a small pitcher or a detachable nozzle. Do not get water in his face, this can scare him and make him afraid of water. Use a washcloth with a mild soap to clean his face.

Dog shampoo is recommended for dog bathing. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER CLEANING AGENTS, such as dish washing liquid, detergents, or human shampoo, which can strip your dogs skin of its natural oils leaving it dry and chaffed. Use a dog shampoo that is appropriate for your dogs breed, age and type of fur.

With a cotton swab, apply mineral oil around the eye area. This will protect his eyes from irritation.

Pour the shampoo from the back of his head down to the tip of his tail and lather. You may have to apply more to each of his legs and paws. Lather him up good and try not get shampoo in his eyes, nose or ears. Dont forget to clean his belly. If your dogs ears dont flop over, put a cotton pad in each ear to keep water out. Dont forget to take them out when youre done.

Using a small cup, gently start to rinse his face avoiding as much as possible, getting water in his eyes, nose and ears. Do not use a detachable spray nozzle. This may be too aggressive initially. You can, however, use a spray nozzle for rinsing the rest of the body. Be sure to rinse a few times in order to get all the soap off the body because leftover soap can cause a skin irritation.

Once hes been rinsed thoroughly, wrap him in a towel and towel dry him in a playful manner. This will help make dog bathing a pleasurable experience for both of you.

You will want to groom your dog after drying him because dogs tend to be very restless when they are wet. Use a hair dryer at a low setting to fluff dry your dog. If the weather is warm, you can lay out a few towels outdoors for him to lie on and leash him in the sun. He will use the towels to rub his ears against and the towels will keep him from getting dirty all over again. If you plan to put him outdoors, you may want to groom him first if you can keep him still.

Grooming your dogs coat, ears, eyes, nails and teeth is part of the bathing routine. You will find more information on grooming through each of the links above. Remember, if grooming your dog is too much of a hassle, leave it to your groomer and just have him groomed more often.

Remember, dog grooming won’t be a hair-raising experience if you take the right approach.