Tips For a Proper Grooming Routine For Your dog

BY | August 30 | COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY
Tips For a Proper Grooming Routine For Your dog

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A well-groomed dog is a happy and healthy dog. Many owners like to seek the help of professional groomers while many others do it by themselves. A proper grooming routine includes combing, brushing, bathing, trimming nails and a regular inspection of their ears and fur to check for build-ups or residues of any kind.Some owner may find these grooming sessions a bit of a challenge, especially if their dogs are big and energetic. These boys and girls don't necessarily like to sit still or for that matter, take a bath. Here are some tips that will be helpful

  • Try to use a time when your dog is calm and maybe even a little exhausted. You can choose the time after a long walk.
  • Start with short grooming sessions and then slowly increase the time so that you can fit in a proper routine.
  • Entice him/her with the promise of a treat at the end of each session. It works wonders as you will see.

Grooming varies greatly with breeds. You will find that breeds such as Dalmatians, Italian greyhounds, and Whippets do not need regular grooming while other breeds like retrievers are more difficult to maintain.

Combing and brushing routines

Short haired breeds such as beagles need to be combed and brushed only once a week while long haired breeds need to have their fur taken care of every other day. It also depends on how often and how badly your dog gets dirty. Be gentle while brushing out tangles and trim the fur wherever or whenever needed. Use soft-bristled brushes for loosening dead skin or dirt and a stiff-bristled brush to remove dead hair. Remember to brush their tails as well

Bathing your dog

Brush your dog before giving him/her a bath and also once their fur is dry. Use lukewarm water. Make sure the lather from the shampoo does not get into their eyes or ears and do a careful check of their ears. If needed, you can use a hair-dryer at low setting to dry him/her.

Trimming your dog's  nails

This might be bit of a task. You will need to carefully examine your dog's nails for grime and dirt. While trimming, trim along the tips of their nails only and avoid cutting into the small vein within the nail. Use sharp trimmers and make sure that your dog is calm. You will need to reassure your dog by talking and petting him/her. If you feel it is too challenging, opt to go to a vet instead.Take care not to groom too less or too much and always remember that each dog is different and you may have to tweak your routine accordingly.

Everything You Need To Know About Grooming Your Dog

As someone who owns a dog, especially the hairy kind, youโ€™re obviously concerned about grooming him/her. Well, thereโ€™s not much to be worried about, as long as you follow the suggestions listed below.

The Right Age

Your dog, or pup, in this case, must be 8 weeks old, at the very least, for you to consider grooming him/her. There are far more important things than grooming when youโ€™re dealing with a puppy that young. The first is to have him/her get used to the new environment at home and also get used to the people around.Now, 8 weeks is the minimum age most groomers would recommend. However, we would say 12 weeks is the ideal. There are a few standard things you can expect when taking your little one for his/her grooming appointment.The grooming starts off with a bath, which is then followed by blow drying, nail clipping, and hair trimming. Full haircuts are reserved for adult dogs. Also, the pupโ€™s reaction to the trimming will determine if he/she can move onto haircuts. If the pup is agitated, you will be asked to repeat the trimming process a few times till the pup us read to deal with an actual haircut.

Cutting Hair According To Season

Another thing that pet owners tend to be confused about is cutting hair according to the season. This is especially true for those who have hairy breeds.For hairy breeds, in the summer, vets suggest keeping things cool by providing shade and plenty of water. However, hairy breeds did not evolve in hot climates and therefore, a little trimming isnโ€™t bad idea. It actually depends on your dog. If he/she is visibly frustrated during the summer, maybe itโ€™s time for a cut.As for winter, thereโ€™s no need to bother cutting the hair unless it's matted or grown beyond control.

Brush His/Her Teeth

One key step of grooming that most owners forget is brushing the dogโ€™s teeth. Brushing your dogโ€™s teeth is necessary because dogs have dental issues too and itโ€™s your job to prevent them. For instance, gum disease affects quite a few dogs and it happens due to the accumulation of tartar. Only brushing can prevent this accumulation.There are specific tools, such as canine toothpaste and toothbrushes, to make the job easier. In fact, you get toothpaste in flavors like peanut butter, chicken, and liver etc. Human toothpaste isnโ€™t advised as it can cause digestive problems for your dog.However, if youโ€™ve never brushed your dogโ€™s teeth, start small. Sue your fingers at first and then gradually transition to using the toothbrush.Use praise and appreciation to train your dog into liking this practice.

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