Grooming your dog can be a daunting task, especially if you have a large breed that sheds a lot. However, there are many ways to keep your pup looking and feeling great without having to take them out of the house. In this article, we will discuss how to groom your dog at home by choosing the right brush for their coat type, bathing them with natural products only, trimming nails and brushing teeth on an as-needed basis.
How to groom your dog at home
Brushing your dog’s coat:
Before you start brushing, make sure to brush off any excess dirt and debris. Long-haired dogs should be brushed with a slicker brush or rubber curry comb after every time they are bathed. Short-haired dogs “blow” their coats at the end of winter so it is important that they are consistently groomed during this period in order for them not to lose more hair than necessary.
Facial Trimming (Nails):
Start by clipping away long hairs around the eyes using scissors, taking care not to injure sensitive areas like the nose and eyelids when shaving near these areas. To trim nails, use an animal clipper fitted with a metal blade on each nail on the paw.
Toenails should be trimmed with a small clipper or scissors, and care should always be taken to avoid cutting into the quick of the nail (the sensitive area in which blood flows) as this will cause pain for your dog. However, if you are not comfortable trimming nails yourself then booking an appointment at a groomers is recommended because they have experience doing so without causing injury.
Ears:
It’s important that long-haired dogs’ ears are checked regularly during grooming sessions to make sure there isn’t excess hair inside them; otherwise your pet might get an ear infection from all the dirt and debris getting trapped down in their fur. To clean out any unwanted material in your pet’s ears, use a few drops of dog ear cleaner or rubbing alcohol and cotton balls.
Teeth:
Brushing your dogs teeth is arguably one of the most important tasks when it comes to pet care because if you don’t, they’ll get really bad breath, their gums might bleed from brushing against tooth decay, plaque buildup will occur around their mouth which could lead to gum disease and eventually cavities as well as dental issues later on in life such as root canal treatments. This task should be done at least once every two weeks with a soft bristled brush designed for sensitive animal mouths. It’s usually easier if someone else can help hold your dog still while doing this process but there are other ways like using treats that have been soaked in a mild sedative or using a rubber cat toy to distract them.
If you have any questions about how to groom your dog at home, feel free to email us for more information.
