Understanding the Basics of Dog Grooming

May 18, 2020

As humans, it is crucial for dogs to lead a healthy lifestyle and to keep up their appearances. Dog grooming is one of your canine’s most basic needs and an essential aspect of dog ownership. Although dogs do not need to take a bath as often as humans, they still do need to follow a basic grooming schedule. When it comes to the schedule, you will need to make your choice based on the breed, hair type, lifestyle, and overall health of your companion. If your dog is suffering from any skin or nail condition, be sure to take advice from your veterinarian or a trusted pet grooming service such as Pets in the City before deciding on an in-home grooming schedule.

How to Brush My Dog’s Hair?

Almost all dogs enjoy being gently brushed, and for you as a dog owner, it is a practice that is highly recommended to strengthen the bond between yourself and the animal. Regular brushing also helps in keeping the animal’s coat healthy by removing loose hairs and spreading the naturally formed oils uniformly across its hair. While brushing, it is vital to ensure that the dog or puppy is comfortable during the process. Listed are some useful tips to structure a grooming practice suited to your dog:

• Long-haired dogs demand regular brushing; failure to do so can lead to matting and tangling of hair.
• For medium-haired dogs brushing should be done at least 2-3 times a week.
• Short-haired dogs can go for weeks without brushing but is recommended to do so at least once a week, especially if the animal is prone to getting dirty and is shedding a lot of its hair.

How to Bathe My Dog?

Bath time is not necessarily the favorite time of most dogs and owners. If you have had a dog, you would have succumbed to witnessing a wet dog running around your home. Bathing as a practice is something that dogs will only feel comfortable with when they are used to it. Most dogs only need to be bathed when they either get dirty or oily. As you would carefully choose for yourself, when it comes to shampoo or other cleaning products for your canine friend, be sure to go with products that are suited to your animal’s hair and skin conditions. If you are unsure of what is best for your animal, be sure to consult a veterinarian first.

How to Clip My Dog’s Nails?

Dogs’ nails are designed to wear down if it gets enough daily exercise. However, if the dog does develop long nails, then it can cause problems and discomfort to the animal. Nail trimming needs to be done at least once per month, and it is recommended that you seek the service of pet grooming salon for the same. If you are confident of doing it yourself, be sure not to cut it too short, as it may cause the blood vessels in the nails to bleed.

How to Clean My Dog’s Ears?

Many dogs can live out their entire lives without suffering from any ear problems. If your pet is not showing any visible signs of infection, then a quick wipe following a bath is all that is required. However, if the dog is suffering from any chronic ear conditions, then you should consult a veterinarian as the animal may require multiple cleaning and treatments each day.

How to Cut My Dog’s Hair?

The combination of a hyperactive dog and sharp razors are signs of trouble. If you are not comfortable nor confident of cutting your dog’s hair yourself, seek the assistance of a professional dog grooming service. For dogs with continuously growing hair, it is better to cut their hair every 4-6 weeks, based on their breed and the length of the cut.