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Why should you groom your dog?
- Grooming your dog regularly can prevent pets’ fur or hair from becoming matted, which can be uncomfortable, and difficult to correct, and even mask underlying health issues like cysts, skin conditions, fleas/ticks, ear infections, and others. Brushing can remove dead hair, stimulate new growth, and brings your dog’s natural oils to the surface.
- If nails get tool long, they could cause your dog to start walking on the sides of their feet, which could, potentially, lead to medical issues, like bone deformations and arthritis, if untreated.
- Regular teeth brushing is important to prevent plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can lead to problems down the road.
- Finally, getting a dog groomed regularly, makes it part of their routine. Often they enjoy and look forward to the experience.
What steps can people do to groom their own dog?
- Gently brush their coat daily (or at least a few times a week) to reduce shedding, prevent matting
- Clean your dog’s ears every month - wet a cotton ball with ear-cleaning solution and clean the outside area first, gradually working your way towards the inner area. While it’s unsafe to use cotton swabs inside the ear canal, you can use them to gently clean inside the ear folds on the outer ear flaps.
- Brush their teeth regularly with a dog toothbrush and paste
- Trim their nails. A good rule of thumb: Your dog’s nails should not touch the ground when he’s standing still.
How can people get their dogs ready for grooming.
- Get your dog used to the idea of grooming at home. Because he’ll most likely be groomed on an elevated surface, start by putting your puppy on a table or on top of your washing machine. (Don’t leave him unattended and make sure he’s secured in some way to prevent falling.)
- From there, practice handling your puppy the way the groomer will.
- Run your hands up and down your dog’s legs
- Handle your dog’s ears, mouth, and face (specifically near the eyes)
- Brush your dog all over, including his legs, body, and face
- Wiggle and massage your dog’s toenails
- Gently hold your dog’s tail
If you have clippers or an electric toothbrush, you can also turn it on and put it near your puppy to get him acclimated to the noises he’ll likely hear during his grooming session.
