\ In some cases, many people think that grooming dogs at home is difficult and requires a lot of skills. However, with some basic techniques and appropriate tools, you can successfully groom your pet. Furthermore, grooming your dog at home can be considered not only a beneficial activity, but also a good chance to improve your relationship with your dog. In addition, this is an opportunity to save money on visits to professionals since you do not need to pay any services for grooming. There are several things that should be mentioned when grooming dogs at home.
Grooming Tools
First of all, it is important to purchase appropriate tools. This list consists of brushes (which are selected based on the type of coat), nail clippers, combs, a grooming table and special mats. Brushes include slicker brushes and pin brushes. In case you deal with long-haired pets, you can buy a slicker brush. Pin brushes are suitable for grooming short-haired dogs. You need nail clippers which are specially designed for dogs. This device is quite helpful and ensures proper trimming of dogs’ nails.
Nail Trimming
Secondly, trimming your dog’s nails is an important part of grooming. If they are too long, this can bring a number of negative consequences, such as pain and infection or arthritis. First, collect all necessary materials for trimming your dog’s nails, including nail clippers, styptic powder, clotting gel for pets, and treats/toys as a reward. Hold your pet’s paw and press the nail cutter to the dog’s nail. If you accidentally cut your dog’s nail, use styptic powder to help the blood clotting process. You need to cut your dog’s nails regularly, at least once in four to six weeks.
Ear Cleaning
Thirdly, you should clean your dog’s ears. These should be done regularly to avoid infections or pain. To conduct cleaning activities, first, lift the ear flap. Next, put drops of ear-cleaning solution into the dog’s ear canal. Gently massage the base of the dog’s ear to work the drops deep into the ear canal. After this, use a soft piece of material and wipe the dirty parts of the dog’s ear with it. Try to avoid pushing the material deeply into the ear because of the risk of irritation or infection. Finally, make sure to dry the dog’s ears properly.
Brushing and Combing
Fourthly, brushing and combing should be done to prevent your dog’s hair from being tangled. The main purpose of brushing is to remove the tangles, and this is a perfect time to spend some time with your dog. While brushing, start from the head and finish with the tail, using soft long strokes to avoid the development of knots. When combing the dog’s hair, you can use either a wide-toothed comb or a slicker brush. In the case of long-haired dogs, use slicker brushes, and in case of shorter hair, you need to use combs.
Bathing Your Dog
Fifthly, bathing your dog should also be conducted regularly, but you should do it carefully and responsibly. The main requirement here is to prepare all necessary materials for bathing (a dog shampoo, a soft towel, and a grooming mat). Brush your dog before the bathing procedure because this will allow the shampoo to cover all areas. Put a small amount of shampoo into the dog’s coat, work it up into foam. Then rinse the coat with water and pat it dry with a towel. Be careful about ears and paws of your dog since they are the most susceptible sites for infections.
Health Checks
Last but not least, you should remember that regular grooming is very useful for checking your dog’s state. During the grooming process, you can pay attention to different aspects of your dog’s body, such as hair, skin, or nails. Thus, for instance, dull or brittle hair can be a symptom of nutritional problems. Overgrown nails can also indicate health problems or some other difficulties. Therefore, regular grooming allows discovering some problems in the early stages of their development.
Conclusion
