17 Mar How to groom a dog at home

HOW TO GROOM A DOG AT HOME

There are many different reasons why people prefer professional groomers over their canine companion’s owner, the consumer. Though the major reason is that they do it better, there are others as well. Grooming is one of the most time consuming parts of keeping your pet safe and healthy. The prices for professional grooming can be pretty high. On the other hand, dog owners can groom their pets at home to save money or just because. Basic grooming doesn’t require a lot of tools or a large budget. You can groom a dog at home using basic items found around the house and keep him looking great. This article will give you advice on how you can give your pet a proper grooming at home.

When you are not so tired and when you are the most concentrated let’s do some basic things and probably the most boring. 🙂

Eyes

With a gently damp cloth, wipe the area around your dog’s eyes. Dirt and crust (from tears) tend to collect here, and a buildup of both can lead to infection. Look for any signs of redness or swelling in the eyes while you’re at it.

The eyes of your dog must be maintained moist. Dry eyes might make your dog’s eyesight blurry or make him uncomfortable. Make sure your dog is in a humidified atmosphere or, if required, use eye drops.

Nails

Giving your dog frequent nail trims every few weeks, even if it’s not a duty that either of you enjoys, is one of the most important stages in keeping your dog groomed at home, according to Minaker. While some dogs’ nails may naturally shorten while walking on hard surfaces such as concrete or pavement, others will need to be trimmed on a regular basis.

According to Minaker, “most pet stores provide nail clippers in various sizes to fit the size of the dog.” “It’s a good idea to trim them every four to six weeks.” Remember to trim the dewclaw, a nail on the side of certain dogs’ feet; and if you nick the “quick” (nerves and blood vessels inside the nail), the styptic powder will stop the bleeding.

Brushing

Keep it easy and safe if you’re new to pet grooming. Brush your pet often to avoid matting and maintain the coat clean, decreasing the need for baths — as well as the amount of hair that accumulates throughout your home. Brushing aids in the distribution of your dog’s natural oils, making their skin and hair appear shinier and healthier. The frequency with which you should brush your dog is determined on its coat. Because longer-haired dog breeds are more prone to tangling and matting, they require more regular brushing. Brushing is less necessary for shorter-haired dog breeds. Don’t be hard with your dog if he has matting; instead, use a dog-specific conditioner or spray. Brushing your dog too forcefully might cause even the kindest dogs to react, so be cautious.

Bathing

Okay, I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical at first. Since the title started with “When giving your dog a bath” I immediately pictured being in a messy situation that would require lots of cleanup. The truth is bathing your dog isn’t much different than bathing yourself. The main difference is how you hold them because they are smaller and have limited balance. Here are the steps to take if you are interested in giving your dog a bath at home: You don’t have to completely submerge your dog in water while giving them a wash. Simply follow the instructions below: Soak their coat completely use dog shampoo instead of human shampoo. Avoid getting soap in their eyes, ears, or mouth by lathering gently.

Rinse their coat well until no more shampoo comes out. With towel you will keep them dry. to avoid blockage, place a hair trap above your tub drain.

Teeth

Oral hygiene is a part of grooming your dog that many pet owners tend to overlook. And it is pretty simple to brush a dog’s teeth. All you need is a canine toothbrush and some special dog friendly toothpaste. This will help you teach your dog good habits and improve dental health, even though he won’t necessarily enjoy the job!

We all love our pets and surely want the best for them. From the food they eat, to the toys they play with, their lifestyles are important to us. Grooming at home is an important part of any dog’s lifestyle. Regular grooming means less risk of injuries, cleaner teeth (and breath), and even better socialization skills. A dog that has better socialization skills is less likely to feel anxious around new people or animals they meet on the street later on. Grooming at home can become quite expensive though, so it can be easy to put aside. Is your dog’s toothbrush losing its bristles? As you know, toothbrushes made for dogs (like ours) feature wide heads and rounded tips that are gentle on canine.

You can find more tips to clean your dogs teeth without much trouble.

Trimming 

The task of grooming your dog’s coat needs a sharp eye and a lot of patience. Make the trimming process more enjoyable by providing a variety of extra rewards and having the following easy instruments on hand:

Clippers for hair

Scissors, curved and straight

When trimming your dog’s hair, start at the neck and work your way down to the tail. To trim the coat of a short-haired dog, all you need is a pair of curved or straight scissors. You can start with clippers and then finish with scissors on long-haired dogs.

Trim your dog’s hair in the direction it grows. Lines appear on their coat as they go against the natural flow of their hair. Hair clippers come with a variety of protection for cutting hair of various lengths. Start with the largest clipping guard and work your way down to the smallest.

While shaving, make sure the clipper is flat on the coat. This keeps you from shaving too close to your dog’s skin or cutting it.

Move on to the back and abdomen after the neck. Pay special attention to sensitive regions such as the underbelly, underarm, and hock. Switch to a pair of scissors if shaving these areas with a clipper upsets your dog. Trim away with the scissors, always keeping the tip of the scissors pointing away from your dog.

Trim the head, legs, and tail last. Because you may expect the most movement in these regions, you should shave them last. If at all possible, have someone hold your dog as you clip them carefully.

While brushing your dog’s face, keep their head steady. Brush their hair away from their face to reveal lengthy strands, which you may then clip away with the scissors. As you follow your dog’s face lines with clippers, be gentle. If you simply want to use scissors, thinning scissors may be preferred because they don’t leave straight scissoring cut lines behind, giving a more natural finish.

Ear flaps, sides of face, and below the jaws should all be trimmed. Remember to groom your dog’s brows, especially if he has a lot of face hair.

Trim one leg before moving on to the next. Trim the extra hair between the paw pads using a pair of scissors. The hair on your paw pads tends to retain a lot of bacteria.

Extra tip: Massage

Maybe sound funny but your dog will like it! A qualified groomer is familiar with all of your dog’s major muscle groups and acupressure sites. Check out our entire guide on excellent dog massage techniques if you want to learn how to offer your dog some TLC with a relaxing pet massage.