Dogs can be messy. They can spend the entire day playing in the backyard and then show up with dirt and mud all over their body.
But it’s impossible to take your dog to a grooming station whenever he gets dirty. As a dog owner, you should know the basics of dog grooming.
Grooming your dog might sound challenging and overwhelming if you’re a beginner dog owner. And it surely is, but you can take care of your dog’s grooming needs easily if you have the right tools in the arsenal.
Best Dog Grooming Tools & Products
1. Brush
One of the essential dog grooming tools to have is a brush. A good brush helps you brush your dog’s hair and eliminate any tangles and matting. It also promotes hair growth and makes your dog’s hair look nice and groomed.
2. Shampoo
Using human shampoo on dogs is one of the blunders new dog owners make. A good dog shampoo cleans and moisturizes your dog’s coat and makes it strong and shiny. But finding the right dog shampoo might be a hurdle.
Get in touch with your vet and buy the best dog grooming shampoo for your dog. The ideal shampoo is mild, non-toxic, and contains natural ingredients. If you opt for synthetic, chemical-based shampoo, it might irritate your dog’s skin.
Also, keep in mind your dog’s breed and specific needs. The shampoo that works for shorthair breeds like Pitbull and Doberman may not produce the best results for double-coat breeds like Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds.
3. Nail Clippers
Cutting the nails is an essential part of dog grooming. It makes your dog look neater, and it also prevents safety issues. Long nails can hurt others and lead to infections. If they break, they can also land your pup in serious pain. Nail clippers allow you to trim your dog’s nails easily.
4. De-Shedding Tool
A de-shedding tool is one of the best dog grooming tools for dogs that shed. If your dog sheds, staying in control of the hair situation might seem impossible.
A de-shedding tool helps you pull loose fur close to falling and prevent your dog from shedding it all across your place. Of course, when you comb your dog, you’ll have a pile of fur. But it’s better to have it in one place than all over your house.
5. Dog Drying Towel
After a bath, your pooch might run around the house, shaking off the excess water everywhere. If you don’t pay attention, your pooch will turn your house into a sloppy disaster. Besides, the best dog website in India also suggests that prolonged wetness of dog fur can cause infections.
A dog-drying towel helps you overcome both these hurdles. As soon as you wash your dog, wrap a towel around him immediately, and dry him off. Opt for a nice, thick, comfortable towel to make things easier for your dog.
6. Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Oral hygiene for dogs is as important as it is for humans. Unfortunately, most dog owners neglect it, which could lead to severe health issues like periodontal disease.
Regular brushings are recommended to keep your dog’s oral health in check. You can get toothbrushes and toothpaste to care for your dog’s dental hygiene. It’s ideal for brushing your dog’s teeth at least once a week.
Many types of dog toothpaste are flavored, so your dog will most likely enjoy its taste. Brushing your dog’s teeth might seem like a hurdle, especially if you’ve never done it before, but with time and patience, you can make it work.
7. Hair Clipper Set
Some dog breeds like Poodle and Maltese don’t shed. If your dog is one of them, a hair clipper set is one of the best dog grooming tools. Dogs that don’t shed need a regular haircut, and a dog clipper set helps you do it easily. It comes with a cordless clipper with different blade sizes and a comb and scissors for trimming sensitive areas.
8. Ear Cleaner
Dogs have long-year canals, about 5-10 cm in length. One of the best dog grooming tips to keep in mind is to clean your dog’s ears regularly. An ear cleaner solution helps clean out wax, dirt, and debris from your dog’s ears.
To make it work, soak a cotton ball with the cleaner solution, gently move it into the ear, and then move it around.
9. Grooming Wipes
Dogs can be messy. They’ll spend an hour in the backyard and show up with mud on their fur and face. And don’t forget that goop in the eyes and drool on their face. Bathing your dog every time he gets dirty can be a lot of work and effort. But you can’t leave the goop on their face.
Dog wipes allow you to keep your dog neat and clean without giving him a full-fledged bath. They’re gentle and effective and allow you to clean your dog instantly.
10. Treats
Lastly, one of the best dog grooming tools is treats. No dog appreciates being splashed, prodded, and poked. Treats can go a long way in encouraging your dog to behave well and cooperate.
When your pooch lets you groom him like a good boy, he deserves appreciation and reward. And what better way to reward him than giving him his favorite treats?
Other Dog Grooming Essentials:
- Comb
- Clippers and Scissors
- Oiling Your Dog
- Dental Care For Your Dog
- Dog Exercise
- Dog Food
- Health Check
- Care for Dogs with White Coat
- Special Care for Floppy Ears, Droopy Eyes
Conclusion
Dog grooming is essential to dog care, and every dog owner should do it regularly. But trimming, clipping, and bathing your dog regularly might sound too much, especially for new dog owners.
But it all gets easy once you have the right tools. So, if you want to groom your dog yourself, be sure to have the above-listed items.