Dog Grooming Guide 2022

We bring pets into our lives out of love. However, somewhere down the line, we forget that they too have needs, and being non-vocal, can’t express their feelings very well. It is our duty to care for them and to look after them.

An average person gets approximately 4.82 haircuts in a year. Similarly, it is of utmost importance for a dog to be neat, clean, and properly groomed. Also, dog grooming is not just about getting a haircut.

There’s much more, that humans do frequently to be presentable. Dogs also require such overall grooming.

Regular grooming ensures your dog looks good but also prevents causing further issues related to their hair, skin, teeth, or infections in sensitive areas.

Regular grooming is necessary for dogs of all breeds – it helps them maintain a shiny, tangle-free coat and provides you the prospect to see for parasite infestations and skin issues, improving their overall hygiene. Plus, grooming is often a one-on-one bonding experience for you and your pet.

Even dogs with short, low-maintenance coats need regular brushing, bathing, and manicure. Dogs with longer coats can also need clipping and hair trimming.

While you’ll wish to schedule regular appointments with a knowledgeable dog stylist – especially when it involves clipping and trimming your dog’s hair.

We have tried to list seven dog grooming tips into a total dog grooming guide that will assist you to establish an at-home grooming routine.

See Also: 5 Dog Grooming Basics

Following are the necessary pointers for a complete dog grooming experience:

1. Regularly brush your dog’s coat to stop matting

Regardless of breed, your dog will need regular brushing for its coat to stay glossy. The quantity of brushing per week depends on your dog’s coat length and texture. Longhaired breeds need regular brushing. The shorthaired breeds may only have an honest brushing every other week.

Badly matted hair can cause pain for longhaired dogs. Dogs will lick or bite themselves at the source of irritation, which can end in skin infections.

Foreign bodies like grass seeds may even hide and burrow into the skin to cause an abscess. Regularly brushing your longhaired dog prevents matting from becoming a drag.

Shorthaired dogs enjoy brushing, too. Brushing removes loose hair, dirt, and dander from your dog’s coat and extends the time between their baths.

2. Trim your dog’s hair – but cautiously

Most dog owners like better to take their pooch to a dog stylist to possess their dog’s haircut. That said, if you proceed carefully you’ll be able to trim overgrown hair around your dog’s eyes or paws in between professional grooming sessions.

Trimming hair around your dog’s eyes limits overgrown hair. This’ll prevent blocked vision and rubbing against the eyes which can cause irritation or injury.

Always wait until your dog is relaxed and preferably lying down. Crawl calmly and use extra caution when scissor blades are near the skin. Confirm to reward your dog’s calmness with a treat after you’re finished.

Trimming hair inside the ears improves air movement and helps prevent ear infections. However, this is best done under the supervision of an experienced groomer or at a vet clinic.

Remember: You may easily cut your pet accidentally with scissors or trimmers if you get too close to the skin. Always be attentive when trimming. If you’re nervous or would not do it yourself, address a knowledgeable person or a dog stylist for their grooming.

3. Safely trim your dog’s nails

Trim your dog’s nails once you hear them clicking on the hard floors in your home. This may prevent your dog from experiencing discomfort from overly long nails.

However, before you trim your dog’s nails, you’ll need a couple of safety tips. Follow the entire step-by-step guide to cutting your dog’s nails safely and simply:

1. Pick up a paw firmly, but gently, place your thumb on the pad of a toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe on the skin above the nail. Make sure none of your dog’s fur is in the way.
2. Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This extends the nail.
3. Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across. Include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw.
4. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick (the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels). Even a slight nick here is painful and will bleed.

Note: For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring.

4. Check your dog’s skin while grooming

In dogs, allergic skin diseases are common. This causes itchiness and makes them scratch, chew, or lick their skin frequently. To add to your pet’s misery, external parasites like fleas, ticks, lice, mites, or other parasites like the tapeworm can transfer diseases.

Make a habit of checking your dog’s skin whenever you groom them. First, run your fingers through your dog’s coat, feel its skin for unusual lumps or bumps.

Investigate further by parting the coat to look at the skin more closely. Look out for sores, redness, rashes, bald spots, and evidence of parasitic infestations.

5. Make grooming sessions enjoyable for your pet

Once you introduce many dogs to a grooming routine, especially puppies need encouragement and positive reinforcement.

These dog grooming tips will help at-home sessions go smoothly:

• Spread a touch of peanut butter on a washable surface and permit your dog or puppy to lick it while you sweep or wash them.
• Take things slowly and provide many treats and praise so your pup will anticipate its next pampering session.
• Before bath time, lay a slip-proof mat within the tub to stop your dog from sliding around.

6. Regularly check your dog’s ears

While grooming your dog, remember to check out its ears. Ear infections are often painful, so if you notice any of the subsequent changes or behaviors, take your dog to your vet for a check-up:

• The inside of their ears is inflamed or moist.
• The ears smell weird (often, the smell of a dog ear infection is sweet).
• They are constantly scratching their ears or shaking their head.
• The ears contain more or a special quiet discharge than usual (a little wax is normal).
• Whines or yelps once you examine the dog’s ears.

See Also: How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears?

7. Don’t bathe your dog too often

Most dogs with healthy skin only need to be bathed every few months to stop hygiene issues and unsightly odors. Bathing your dog more often than this will strip the natural oils from its coat and dry out its skin.

If your dog smells bad but hasn’t rolled in something awful, then you ought to discuss this together with your vet. Underlying issues may point to a skin infection or a dental disease.

When bathing your dog, keep the following pointers in mind:

• A dog’s skin features a different pH level from humans, so never use baby or human shampoo. Choose a soap-free shampoo specially formulated for dogs, which can be gentle on their skin.
• Pour warm water over your dog until it’s thoroughly wet then gently massage the shampoo into the coat. Avoid the dog’s eyes, mouth, and therefore the insides of its ears.
• Rinse the shampoo off with warm water, then let your dog shake and air dry outside in warm weather. In cooler weather, dry the dog by gently towel-drying the coat or blow-drying it using an optimal setting on the hairdryer.

Good grooming, periodic bathing, and regular skin and ear checks help keep your dog healthy. It also demonstrates your love for your pet and provides you with quality time together.

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