Taking better care while grooming your best friend may require higher amounts of patience and consistency but the love and bonding will settle both your nerves. Whatever breed your buddy is, set him up for a successful grooming session. Knowing several things up front about dog grooming will give your dog a day full of love and play rather than frustration and accidents.
Two ways of grooming that you may want to try with your friend… see which way will work best for both of you. You can do the grooming yourself at home or shops designed for diy dog-washes which lends to spending quality bonding time with your pet or you can get it done by professional services and save the rewards till they are done.
- Professional dog grooming service:
The professional dog grooming services are often offered by vets, individual firms and large retail stores. These are full-service grooming and bathing. Taking your dog to a dog grooming firm will cost anywhere from $30 upwards. The professional team can take care of all your dog’s needs or just the ones you want done like undercoats and fur, skin care, teeth, nails, eyes, and ears. The service will depend on the type of dog breed. It also depends on the temperament or behavior, size, and coat of the dog. - Groom your dog at home. Taking care of your dog requires some pre-knowledge and above all, you need to have a good understanding of his personality and tolerance. You should also know what calms him down. Your dog needs a grooming schedule just like his daily food schedule and play time.
If You Choose to Groom Your Pet Yourself – A few things you need to do for your dog
Brush the teeth
Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth daily. But, this can be a tough task as your dog might be intolerant so give him some time to get used to having fingers in his mouth to avoid getting bit. Use the dog toothpaste and not human toothpaste (which can cause fluoride poisoning). Start by letting him lick the paste off your finger and then try brushing with your finger. After few successful tries and with the trust of your pet, introduce a dog toothbrush the same way to clean the teeth. Before long he’ll be enjoying the paste not even thinking about the toothbrush.
Take care of his coat and skin
You will need both a comb and a brush to manage the dog’s coat and undercoat depending on the breed. For this, you need to begin from the head and move down to the body, combing with care. Where there are any mats or tangles, you can use the brush to work it out. Comb the dog’s tail downward slowly as you hold it in one hand and be gentle while combing the belly area of the dog. Remember, areas can be sensitive until you know your dog’s tolerance and what he enjoys.
Keep the eyes clean
Eye draining of the dogs varies depending on the breed. You may need to remove the stains. You need to check the eyes for the signs of irritation and discharge. Gently clean the debris from the corners of the eyes and watch for the amount of wet tears around your dog’s eyes. You may need to clean in the folds of skin around the eyes as well.
Clean the area of the ears
Most professionals advised to clean only the dirt that you see with your bare eyes in and around the sensitive ear. Use an ear cleaning solution sparingly with cotton for this job. Use the solution just to slightly wet the cotton and watch for signs of discomfort.
Nail Clipping
Specific dog nail clippers are the best tool for cutting the dog’s nails quickly and painlessly. Go slowly with small cuts to make sure you cut only the hard part and not the pink part which is painful and will bleed. Cutting is important as the dog’s nails can grow into the paw pad or twist into the toes.