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Though it may sound fancy, grooming is just another basic aspect of maintaining the health and happiness of your dog. A primary tip if you have a puppy, don't wait to groom, introduce your pup to the procedure early, so that there will be less chance of a restless dog when you groom them as grown-ups.
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Most dogs love to be brushed. It's like a full on petting session full of love and it feels like a nice massage, so it's no wonder the tail goes crazy when they see the brush. This should be the attitude your dog has to a grooming session, but it doesn't always work out that way. If you aren't generally gentle and particularly careful with knots, tangles or delicate areas, it can be an unpleasant experience overall, and this will cause you both frustration for years to come.
Your checklist for a good groom:
- Brushing and combing the coat
- Checking the skin for problems (itchiness, parasites, injuries)
- Cleaning the eyes and ears
- Trimming the nails if needed
For some breeds this checklist is simple and quick, and only takes a few minutes. Other breeds can have harder coats to maintain, or are simply much larger, and so a grooming session can be a bit more labor intensive.
Heavy shedders (shepherd, retriever, pug) may need to be brushed a few times a week to keep shedding hair manageable, depending on how clean you want things.
Tips for shorthaired dog brushing:
Try using a mitt or glove style brush for most of the body and a steel comb to remove tangles.
For your pets comfort, rub the glove in the direction of the hair growth.
Brush deeply to remove some dead skin and loose hair - your dog will likely enjoy some firmness of press.
Brush in a room or area that's easy to sweep up.
If with regular brushing your dog still has rather thick hair over their back, you may consider trying a shedding comb. These have sharp teeth to remove exess coat. You would use them occasionally after brushing to help thin out the coat. In the same manner as the glove, use the shedding comb in the direction that the hair lies down. Pressing down firmly is not a good idea in this instance however, as it could actually hurt your dog.
For tips on longhaired and no-hair dog grooming read on ->
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| Basic Dog Health |
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| Adult Dog Care |
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