Groom your dog yourself at home

How to groom your dog at home?

Grooming and brushing your dog regularly will reduce the amount of hair on your furniture, floors, clothes and prevent the appearance of knots in the hair.
Grooming salons offer this service, but it is possible to groom your dog yourself. 10 Tips gives you some good tips and advice for grooming your dog yourself at home.

Tips for grooming a dog at home:

1. Before you start grooming your dog

Many dogs don’t like being groomed because they weren’t used to it at a young age or because they experienced trauma during a previous grooming. If you have a puppy, get him used to being handled from the start: play gently with his paws, ears, etc. Combine these manipulations with something pleasant for him, such as candy for dogs, or small pieces of dried liver.

Each time you touch a part of his body, offer him a candy. Follow the same principle to get him used to grooming tools. On the other hand, if your dog has suffered a trauma during grooming, it would be best to consult a groomer-behaviourist who will help you gently desensitize your dog.

Never entrust this type of therapy to someone who uses aversive methods that could amplify your dog’s problem with grooming.

2. Essential grooming accessories

To groom your dog at home, make sure you have some essential accessories on hand. Of course, you will need a good shampoo specifically designed for him and his type of hair, towels to sponge him well and a dryer. But grooming your dog isn’t just about giving him a bath! These grooming tools should be part of your complete grooming kit:

The grooming brush:

The grooming brush should be used at least once a week to remove dead hair and loosen tangles. In addition, it is advisable to brush your dog before bathing, this will prevent you from blocking the drain with tufts of hair. To make your job easier, get a quality brush that also removes undercoat hair.

The claw cutter:

It will be necessary to trim your dog’s claws at least once a month, maybe more if he’s an indoor dog who doesn’t get a chance to wear them down on rough surfaces. Arm yourself with a professional nail clipper which will be more effective and solid, especially if your dog is large. Also, prefer a model equipped with a detent, which will avoid a too short cut which could hurt and bleed the claw.

dog clipper:

Although shearing your dog is not recommended, leaving him without his insulating layer against the sun, the cold and the heat, there may be times when you need to do it. This is because you may need to clip certain areas of his body when untangleable knots form, if thistle balls cling to his coat, etc. Also, some breeds of dogs have long hairs between the pads of their paws that will need to be trimmed to prevent slipping and to avoid the accumulation of debris that could injure them. Buy a clipper designed for dogs and cats, preferably cordless to make your job easier.

dog dental kit:

It is certain that a good quality diet will help your dog to have healthy teeth and gums, but he will still need to have his teeth brushed regularly. This will prevent the accumulation of tartar and gum disease in addition to giving him good breath. Choose a brush and toothpaste specifically designed for dogs, and a model whose size is adapted to the size of its mouth. Never use toothpaste for humans, as most of them contain toxic products for animals.

Before you put your dog in the bath, make sure you have everything you need close at hand:

• shampoo
• napkins
• curry comb and brush
• dryer

To prevent your dog from slipping in the tub, lay down a large towel or blanket. Also remember to close the bathroom door so that your dog does not run away and splash the whole house!

• Once your dog is well brushed and installed in the bath:
• Wet his coat with lukewarm water, then apply the shampoo.
• Lather and rub well all over, avoiding ears and eyes.
• Then, rinse with plenty of water to remove all traces of soap.
• Wring his hair well with a towel.
• Then, be sure to blow dry it thoroughly to remove the moisture. Indeed, it can cause skin diseases.

4. Clean your dog’s ears

In order to avoid the proliferation of bacteria that can cause ear infections, you will need to clean your dog’s ears regularly. To do this,

• Use a pet otic fluid and arm yourself with cotton balls or soft tissues.
• Gently pick up your dog’s ear and inject a good squirt of the liquid into it.
• Still holding his ear, massage well to lower the product into the canal.
• Then, let your dog shake his head and when it’s done, wipe the ear flap with the swab or tissue.

Be careful not to poke your fingers into the canal, and if possible never use a cotton swab to clean a dog’s ears.

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5. Clean your dog’s eyes

Some dog breeds tend to have discharge from their eyes that stain the hair under them. You will find products specifically designed for this task at your veterinarian. In addition, these products can also be used to clean the folds of the face of dogs such as Pugs. Apply a small amount of cleanser to a soft pad, then rub gently around the eye or into the creases. Then, dry well to avoid the proliferation of bacteria caused by humidity.

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