Tips and tricks for beginners
Grooming isn’t just about looking your best; it’s about feeling great too! However, the bath and grooming schedule you have for yourself may not exactly be what you want for your dog. And when we speak of grooming, it isn’t only about styling your dog, but it has to focus on maintaining the health and hygiene of your dog.
A typical dog grooming routine will include trimming nails, cleaning the eyes, brushing the fur, brushing the teeth, and giving the dog a bath with proper accessories. If bathing the dog with water seems tricky at first, dry shampoo and blow-drying methods can be used too.
Checklist for Grooming your Dog
The tips and tricks for grooming your dog are simple. There’s nothing difficult about any of them but as a beginner, you may need to know how to go about trimming the nails, brushing the hair and even the teeth.
Let’s get started.
1. Trim your dog’s nails
Trimming your dog’s nails is a tricky yet essential part of their grooming. A healthy and well-groomed dog wouldn’t have their nails spiking out, that would be dangerous.
Keep in mind that nail growth also depends on the dog breed you have. Some dogs may require nail trimming after every week while others may need it after 5 to 6 weeks. Just keep an eye on your dog’s paws to get a clear idea.
2. Clean your dog’s eyes
Now you must be wondering – is cleaning the eyes safe? Of course, it is, if you’re careful enough to focus only on the areas around your dog’s eyes. You only need to clean your dog’s eyes if you find hardened liquid gathering up at the corners.
Grab a soft piece of cloth and drench it in mildly warm water. Make sure the water isn’t that hot and that you’ve exposed it to a bit of air before applying it to your dog’s eyes, otherwise they could get burnt! With the help of gentle dapping, you could soften the dirt in the corners of their eyes and then use a flea comb to remove it.
3. Brush your dog’s fur regularly
Does your dog have long fur or short fur? Maintaining the health and hygiene of your dog could be difficult if they have a long fur coat. If you don’t have it already, a brush designed for both short and long hair is the perfect place to start.
So, what are the advantages of brushing your dog’s coat regularly? Namely, here are a few.
- For a shiny appearance. Brushing the fur coat more often will result in thicker hair that flows effortlessly. Your dog will certainly thank you for it!
- To remove dead hair. With dead hair gone, new hair could grow for your dog. Otherwise, they may get prone to balding and other issues such as excessive hair fall.
- To eliminate smelly dog odor. It’s mainly caused by dirt sticking to the skin and the fur.
- To keep the insects and fleas away. In turn, it also protects your pet from developing long-term infections and skin diseases.
All in all, healthy skin is the trick to a good dog coat. So, use a gentle and deep comb if your dog has extremely long fur. Also, if you have a long fur coated dog, it’s best to comb and brush their hair daily to prevent them from tangling up.
4. Brush your dog’s teeth daily
If brushing your pet’s teeth daily seems impossible, limit it to twice or thrice a week and make it a part of the bathing routine. You could use a regular toothbrush with soft bristles. Hard bristles could be rough on your dog’s teeth and could easily annoy them.
As for the toothpaste, don’t use the one you have for yourself! Get products that are designed specifically for dog oral care, such as a toothpaste that not only cleans the teeth but removes the stinky odor!
5. Follow a good dog bathing routine
While all the above can make a part of your dog’s bathing routine, make sure you don’t miss these dog bathing essentials:
- Place your dog in a wash basin or a tiny tub. It’s better not to use your own bathtub or showering space as all the dirt and fur could stick to it. And thus, that would require extra time and effort to clean up.
- If your dog is wearing a collar, remove it before you begin bathing the dog.
- What is a bath without a shampoo for your dog? If your dog isn’t fond of water, you can try dry shampoos instead.
- Use a grooming pet shampoo brush to effectively spread and scrub the liquid effectively. Even if you’re using a dry shampoo for dogs, it would help untangle your pet’s hair.
- Use a doggie ear cleaner to remove wax from your pet’s ears. You could perform ear cleaning even outside your typical dog bathing routine.
Pro-tip: It’s best to use a dry shampoo in all seasons. Especially if it’s cold where you live, your dog may become prone to catching a cold or fever if you make them too wet during their bath session. If you don’t have a choice or many options, assure that you’re bathing them in an airtight area. Also, use a blow-dryer to give them a good hair job.
Conclusion
Some dog breeds may require trimming the nails more often than others. Similarly, brushing your dog’s coat may take more time if they have long hair. Eyes are the most sensitive body part of any living being, so make sure to gently dab with a mildly drenched cloth before you proceed to remove eye goop from the corner of your dog’s eyes.
There is no hard and fast rule on how to groom your dog. You can carry out all the above grooming essentials in steps or make them a part of your dog grooming routine. These few dog grooming tips and tricks can go a long way, so let us know what you think!