We are familiar with countless stories of dogs allowed to escape, killed, and injured while they were being groomed. For the profit of businesses, workers often handle animals carelessly and hurriedly. So, it is very important to know what to do and what not to do as a responsible guardian to fur babies. There is always the option to choose a reputable and local groomer.

But why do we not consider grooming our dogs at home where he feels the most comfortable and safe? Perhaps we often contemplate messing up. Therefore, the objective of this article is to enlighten the readers with important grooming do’s and don’ts. Get a clean health bill from your vet and learn the best at-home grooming practices. Pamper your canine friend.

Do’s

 

1. Groom regularly

Imagine putting off combing and washing your long hair for a few weeks or months at a stretch. It is problematic, right? It is the same for dogs. Your pooches may develop excruciating skin and mat problems, which may not be noticed by their guardian at once. Frequent brushing is essential for some breeds of dogs, for instance, Pomeranians and Shih Tzus. You should also trim the nails of your dog every day. While it can be unnecessarily uncomfortable and stressful for your dog, if you attempt to trim nails that have grown out, these overgrown nails will also be risky for the well-being of your dog in some cases. Dogs are more likely to willingly participate when they are comfortable.

2. Be patient

You are their guardian. So you must remain relaxed and calm, for your dog can very well sense the anxiety in you. Assign plenty of time for your dog’s grooming sessions. Do not rush your companion and be attentive to the things you are doing and how your dog is reacting to them. You must also lookout for signs that indicate stress in your dog, for instance, panting, whining, or trembling not caused by heat or cold. This is your cue to take breaks.

You must be extremely cautious when dealing with nail clippers and scissors. You need to schedule grooming sessions like one every time if you notice that your dog is refusing to stand at one place or is panicking very often. If required, clip a few nails at a time. Remember to bribe them with treats, petting, and a lot of praise to ensure that they perceive it as a positive and fun experience. Dogs get more comfortable and used to the process eventually if you are patient and show enough kindness.

3. Select a well-lit and safe place for grooming

You need to be aware of all that you are doing. On top of that, a non-slip and safe surface is mandatory to make sure your dog will not fall by slipping. You must avoid tying up your dog at all costs while grooming, for it, can very easily cause unfortunate accidents. If your dog enjoys a good brush, use it to your advantage and strengthen your bond with him with often brushes. When you notice unpleasant reactions from your dog in certain grooming methods, reward them with brushes afterward.

4. Use suitable equipment for dog grooming

Do you have the right brush for brushing your little friend? The dog brushes you need to use will entirely depend on the skin type and fur of your baby. To find the type of brush that will be most appropriate for the coat of your dog, you can either consult your vet or do your online research. At the same time, other dog grooming equipment, such as trimmers, scissors, nail clippers, and others should be suitable for your dog and of high quality. Never think twice to ask your vet when unsure, for recommendations.

5. Know that breeds with double coats or long hair need extensive maintenance

Not maintaining long hair in dogs is not an option. If you do not regularly brush their fur, dogs of certain breeds are prone to developing mats on multiple portions of the body – for example, in front of their hind legs, behind their front legs, and behind their ears. Checking the coat of the dog every day is a must. If your fur baby has long hair on the paw, they would benefit from them getting clipped before getting their nails trimmed.

6. Know the limits

Grooming your dog can be an exhausting process. You will often find them refusing to stand still and calm regardless of your best efforts and good intentions. When facing difficulties, seek help from reliable friends or have an appointment with your vet regarding natural supplements to calm your dog down. You may also seek help from the veterinarian for nail trimming in case you are not able to create a safe environment for it at home.

 

Don’ts

1. Do not rush

Have you ever been to a nail technician or hairstylist during busy hours? You may recall their hurried service as an unpleasant experience. And so would your dog if you rush them while grooming, for hasty sessions, will inevitably give rise to stress and terrible mistakes.

2. Do not grip your dog’s fur to restrain him

Like tying up, gripping your dog’s fur should most certainly be avoided at all costs.

3. Do not use perfumed shampoo

The sensitive nose and skin of your dog will undergo tremendous irritation if you use scented bath products. So, always opt for an unscented shampoo.

4. Do not make your dog bathe too frequently

When you see that your fur baby has gotten smelly or dirty upon rolling outside, it is necessary to bathe them. But frequent baths will strip off the natural oils in the coats of your dog, causing issues related to temperature regulation and skin problems. The setting of the bath must be warm, for cold weather will cause a fall in their body temperature. Never use a blow dryer on your dog. Use towels to dry them up instead.

5. Do not perform too much at once and overwhelm the dog

Grooming lists are long; including tooth brushing, nail trimming, fur trimming, bathing, and many more. But that does not mean you should carry out all the tasks at once in a single grooming session. An effective groomer will know how to divide the tasks into shorter and more frequent sessions and end them before the dog turns restless and stressed. You have to give an inviting and fun impression to your dog at the end of each session.

6. Do not cut the nails too short

It will agitate and cause pain to your dog. If you cut into the quick blood vessel of your dog, it will give rise to immense pain and bleeding. So make sure to frequently cut only the tip of the nails if you are unaware of the position of the blood vessel. Wait till your dog settles down to trim his nail. Playing around? Let him be. You must not attempt to cut all the nails together if you can sense stress in your baby. You can always first see the demonstration of the process from your vet if you are new to pet parenting.

7. Do not use nail clippers that come with a guard

The nail clippers for canines that have a guard aim to stop over-trimming. However, this guard tends to block the view. So it is better to guard with a finger instead. Otherwise, you can rest the dog’s paws on a table, the floor, or any hard surface while clipping. Only high-quality clippers should be welcomed.

8. Do not neglect cleaning the dog’s ears

Avoid using Q-tips if your vet has not suggested them. Periodically clean the ears with an ear cleaner whenever needed to avoid any kinds of painful ear infections. Be attentive about keeping his ears dry while bathing. Do not let shampoo and water enter his ears and save him from deadly infections.

Both you and your dog will need a long time to get accustomed to at-home grooming, but guess what? That is perfectly normal. Consider mobile grooming services or highly recommended local groomers if needed. But most importantly, never give up!