Image Credits:
Pixabay
Yes, dogs are capable of grooming themselves. Dogs groom
themselves to keep their fur and skin clean.
Dogs are highly creative beings. They invented several ways to
keep themselves clean and hygienic. Unless you know your pet
well, you will not be able to realize that your dog is grooming
itself.
If you see your dog doing any of these, then she is probably
deeply involved in a grooming session:
Nibbling
A simple nibbling action does multiple things to your dogโs skin.
When your dog nibbles, she uses her tiny incisor teeth, which act
like comb teeth to capture and remove dirt on the skin.
The gentle nibbling biting action also stimulates your dogโs oil
glands, which releases oil. The oil travels through the dogโs
body, causing dirt and debris to slide off of the skin in the
process. Oil also imparts a shine to your dogโs fur.
Licking
Licking is one of the most obvious ways of your canineโs
self-grooming. Dogs generally lick their whole body. But it is
their paws they lick the most. Sometimes, dogs lick their private
areas too to keep the area hygienic.
Dogs may sometimes lick their paws and then rub the paws on their
face, around the eyes or over the snouts. They are wetting their
paws by licking and then using them to clean hard-to-clean areas
of the body.
Rolling
Dogs may roll in dust, sand, and grass, to shed their excess fur.
Debris and dust sticking to their coats are also removed in the
process. Your dog may rub its face on the carpet or furniture
after a meal. This is to remove any leftovers of food on her
mouth and face.
Body Shake
Did you know that a dog can shake off nearly 70% of water from
her skin with a single full-body shake?
A full-body shake is your dog's survival technique against excess
cold. You may notice her shaking herself off after a bath, or
after being outside in the rain.
This is a powerful action as the shake produces a strong force
capable of getting rid of a huge volume of water. As the force
produced due to the shake is enormous, a dog closes her eyes
during the action.
While doing a body shake, a dog starts from her head and
progresses steadily to the tail, dislodging most of the water
effectively on the body.
Dogs also indulge in a full-body shake to get themselves rid of
foreign bodies on their coat. If you notice your dog shaking her
body after rolling on the ground, or after youโve been petting
her for a while, or after a nap, then she is probably doing it to
be free of foreign materials.
Dogs are aware of these foreign bodies because of the nerve
receptors present on their hair follicles. These receptors
increase pressure on your dogโs bodies, which enables them to
detect foreign matter and get rid of them. Though your dog is
capable of self-grooming, these actions alone are not enough. You
must include a regular grooming session in your pet care routine
to keep her completely clean and hygienic. You may groom your
canine yourself or hire a professional groomer for the purpose.
What Is The Right Age For Your Puppy To Be Groomed?
Bringing a new puppy home is a momentous occasion. Apart from
making sure that your little fluff ball got its shots and is
comfortable in its new home, you will also have to think about
puppy grooming at the earliest.Similar to babies, puppies tend to
fear or love their grooming routines based on their first
grooming experience. So, itโs extremely important to prepare them
for their first appointment. Puppies usually learn best when they
are 7 to 16 weeks old. Use this time to teach them that grooming
is a positive, enjoyable process.
Things To Do Before Grooming
Your Pup
- Speak to your pupper in a soothing voice. The world can be a
scary place for a new puppy. Speaking in a calm, soothing voice
can help your puppy get comfortable with you as you prepare it
for itโs first grooming experience. Remember, patience is vital
during this process.
- Try to associate โhandsโ with nice things. This includes
letting them sniff your hands, stroking them gently, and giving
them treats to reward good behavior.
- Tickle your puppy regularly. Puppies need to get used to you
touching their paws, ears, and backside in order for them to be
comfortable during their first grooming session.
- Practice holding and restraining. Gently hold the puppy for a
few minutes and release them and build up the holding time as the
puppyโs comfort level increases. Same is the case with
restraining. If your puppy struggles or becomes upset, it is best
to slow down or ask for professional advice.
- Introduce grooming equipment to your puppy. Before the
puppyโs first appointment, it is best to introduce it to common
grooming equipment such as combs, brushes, and nail clippers. It
is important to associate the equipment to a positive experience
so your puppy does not get overwhelmed during his or her first
trip to the groomers.
Puppyโs First Grooming
Session
The puppyโs first session should concentrate on making the
experience enjoyable. For the first few times, it is recommended
to just stick to a routine that includes a bath, a light brush
out and light trimming of hair, if necessary, trimming of the
nails, and cleaning the ears. More services can be added as the
pupper grows older and gets comfortable with the routine.Leash
training the pup also helps the grooming process move smoothly.
It is best to stay with the puppy during the first few
appointments to make sure that he or she is comfortable with the
process.The groomer also has a responsibility to make the puppy
comfortable during his or her appointment. In a nutshell, the
puppyโs comfort level during the session will make or break its
relationship with the groomer.
