Keeping up on dog grooming will help your dog’s skin and fur stay healthier and could even help you catch health issues early. This guide will tell you more about why it is so important and how to groom your dog. Plus, you’ll discover what tools you need to keep at home to make your job easier!
Benefits Of Dog Grooming And Why It’s Important
Dog grooming is about more than just keeping your dog pretty. It has to do with their hygiene, too. Whether you do it yourself or take your dog to a professional groomer, it’s important to keep a regular schedule for these reasons:
Good for Fur
Regular grooming will prevent painful mats in their fur and promote healthier skin! Mats are more common on long or curly-haired breeds like Maltese or Bichon. When dogs get them, they are really irritating and can cause them to bite or scratch at it.
Removing mats from your pup’s fur often requires shaving them off. But, if you brush them regularly and keep their fur trimmed-up nicely, you should be able to effectively prevent mats.
Healthy Skin
Not only is grooming on the regular helpful for dogs fur but it keeps their skin healthy, too! Bathing them removes dirt and bacteria, much as it does for humans. Plus, as you (or the groomer) bathe them, you can keep an eye out and catch skin problems early before they get too bad.
Reduce Ear Infections
Did you know dogs get ear infections too? It’s true!
Some dogs get a lot of gunk built up in the fur and outer opening of their ears which can lead to a serious ear infection. Consistent dog grooming can prevent or reduce ear infections in dogs. Also, I suggest keeping this area trimmed to avoid any infections developing.
Reduce the Risk of Bone Deformations
We all know that many dogs hate getting ‘puppy pedicures’ but, like humans, untrimmed nails can actually be painful for some dogs to walk on. This causes them to change how they normally walk, which causes bad posture and later on bone deformations!
Such a small thing but it makes a huge difference.
Less Shedding
Bonus benefit for you: dogs with healthy, shiny coats actually shed less! Less fur on your furniture, less fur to brush out. That alone is reason enough for me!
Early Flea Detection
If you can catch a flea infestation early, it’s easier to treat and combat. When you take your dog to the groomers, they will look for these pesky little bugs and let you know if your dog has them, as well as provide a course of treatment.
Dog Grooming 101: How to Groom a Dog
Now that you know why you need to keep your dog groomed, let’s take a look at how to do it!
Of course, the easiest way of all is to just take them to a local groomer. There are even mobile groomers that will drive up to your house and groom them in their van. It’s so convenient!
But I also understand it’s an added expense. If you want to do it yourself, do some research and make sure you have the right tools (which I will share with you in a little bit).
How you groom a dog really depends on the breed you have. Some dogs require special fur-clipping techniques after you bathe them but all dogs have essentially the same basic grooming steps.
1. Brush the Fur Out
Before you even turn on the bathwater, brush out your dog. Remove any sticks, clumps of dirt, or any mats in their fur. These things will be even more difficult to remove after they get wet because the dog will be more active.
Tip: If you get your dog accustomed to daily brushings, this step will be much easier. You will also have a lot less fur to brush out since it’s already combed through.
2. Wash Your Dog
Use a gentle shampoo on your dog when you go to bathe them. I do not recommend using human products on your dog because it might irritate their skin. Always use products like our Pawsitively Soothing shampoo to ensure you’re using a safer product.
After washing their entire body with the shampoo, rinse it all off completely.
3. Trim or Shave Your Dog
After your dog is completely clean, this is the time to trim their fur. This can be tricky because most dogs won’t sit still for that long; so, be very careful.
There are lots of YouTube videos and online tutorials that will show you how to trim your dog based on their breed. If you are nervous at all about this step, I would recommend you leave it to the professionals!
4. Trim Your Dog’s Nails
Nail trimming is also best done by a professional. It might seem like an easy task, but if you cut the nails too short, you might cause some bleeding as there is a vein running through each toenail. Use very sharp clippers and close them quickly before your dog has a chance to pull away!
If your dog has white nails, clip until just before you can see pink (normally called the quick). If your dog has black nails, clip a little at a time until you see a black dot in the middle of the nail.
Dog Grooming Tools To Have On Hand
It’s important to buy high-quality dog grooming tools to use on your pups. For example, the best brushes will remove more loose or tangled fur and the best shampoo is kinder to your dog’s skin. Your entire experience grooming your dog will be easier if you use the best tools!
Here’s everything you need to groom your dog at home:
- Clipper and blade coolant
- A comb, brush or shedding blade (depending on your dog’s coat)
- Grooming clippers (a No. 10 blade to avoid cutting the skin)
- Grooming shears
- Nail clippers or a grinder
- Dog Shampoo (Try some of our 50 Shades of Spay Dog Shampoo)
- Soothing Healing Lotion
While it isn’t required, a nice grooming table with a grooming arm to secure your dog will make your job trimming their fur and nails so much easier. Dogs are frisky and will try to run away. Believe me, this makes a huge difference!
How Often Do Dogs Need To Be Groomed?
This honestly depends on the dog breed. Long-haired or curly-haired breeds like Shitzus or Poodles should be groomed at least once a month but you should be brushing your dog at least once a day, or every other day.
Don’t skip the daily brushing if you have a dog with longer fur. It will mat up and make their grooming day very difficult.
Short-haired dogs might only need bathing when they get visibly dirty or once a season. Some dog groomers offer a service called carding, where they basically bathe and brush the dog thoroughly and trim their nails.
When In Doubt, Call a Professional
It’s ok to call take your dog to a professional dog groomer. In fact, it might be best depending on what type of dog you have. Professional groomers are experienced in helping anxious dogs calm down and they also already have all the professional-grade tools. Plus, it can save you a lot of time and mess!
MuttScrub Products Provide The Perfect Calming Blend for Dog Grooming
Add our calming MuttScrub products for a dog grooming routine that soothes and heals your dog’s skin naturally. There is no diluting or mixing required since we’ve done the hard work to develop the perfect blend of cleansers, moisturizers and essential oils for you!
Treat your dog’s skin only with pure ingredients that support overall well-being and aid the healing process. MuttScrub products are made of all-natural substances, including shea butter, to give your dog instant relief from ailments and anxiety.
All three of our products work best when used together in the Pawsitively Soothing Itch Relief Kit For Dogs. We have several great reviews of the product over on our Facebook page…check them out!
Tell us in the comments: how often do you bathe your dog?
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