Lifestyle,
Grooming your dog can look great – but there are important health and welfare benefits too. You can see a professional dog groomer, but many people choose to do it themselves (and it may be necessary in some areas due to the pandemic). If this is you, here are some tips to help you. Grooming will help keep your dog’s coat and nails clean, remove knots, and keep them looking well-groomed. But there are a few other, less obvious benefits – like removing old, damaged, and dead hair and skin cells; Prevention of matting; and spreading natural oils through the fur. Grooming can also remove unwanted items such as grass seeds from your dog’s fur. It’s also a great opportunity to socialize. Many dogs love to be brushed and (if they enjoy grooming) they can be a great time to spend time with. It’s important to start early – if your dog gets used to grooming early in their life, the process will generally be a lot easier. Start with short sessions and reward them with treats for their calm. You can start with the areas your dog likes to groom (usually the head, neck, and body) and slowly move to other areas (such as the stomach, feet, and tail). It’s good to have different brushes and combs depending on your dog’s coat. Find out which brush is right for your dog by reading our tips in the knowledge base. Gently brush the hair in the direction in which the hair grew. It is often helpful to start with a soft brush or wider tooth comb / brush to loosen any tangles in the fur and then move on to a finer tooth comb / brush if necessary to handle more stubborn things. In addition to brushing the main body, you should also check hard-to-see places, such as B. Between your dog’s toes and in and around the ears. If your dog is feeling uncomfortable at all, then stopping – and if you are unsure if you can safely trim something (e.g. you can ask your veterinarian to show you how to cut your dog’s nails and how to spot them) when to cut. As a guide, they should be trimmed just before they touch the ground when the dog is standing or walking. If they touch the ground, they are too long. Also check the dew claws that are on the inside of the dog’s leg – these are not worn out by movement and can cause problems if they get too long. How often you should bathe your dog depends on the individual dog and its activity (if it regularly swims in the sea or wallows in the mud, He may need to bathe more often.) This can be done in your bathtub or shower with warm water if it is safe to do so – hydro baths (including portable baths) are also an op tion. In warm weather, you can use a low pressure garden hose outside. You should also use a dog shampoo that is suitable for your dog. Whichever method you use, always reward your dog, especially if he is hesitant. Other things to think about include whether or not your dog’s fur needs to be trimmed or clipped, and how to groom your dog if he’s double-coated. This guide only scratches the surface, so we encourage you to read more in our knowledge base. Some dogs just don’t like being cared for. If your dog is anxious, using a professional dog groomer may be the best option. We encourage you to choose a reputable groomer who uses gentle treatment and rewards to keep your pet comfortable – you can also ask your veterinarian for recommendations. You may also be able to take classes on how to care for your dog safely and comfortably.
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Grooming your dog can look great – but there are important health and welfare benefits too. You can see a professional dog groomer, but many people choose to do it themselves (and it may be necessary in some areas due to the pandemic). So, if that is you, here are some tips to help you.
Grooming will help keep your dog’s coat and nails clean, remove knots, and keep them looking well-groomed.
But there are a few other, less obvious benefits – like removing old, damaged, and dead hair and skin cells; Prevention of matting; and spreading natural oils through the fur. Grooming can also remove unwanted items such as grass seeds from your dog’s fur.
It’s also a great opportunity to socialize. Many dogs love to be brushed and (if they enjoy grooming) they can be a great time to spend time with.
It’s important to start early – as your dog gets used to grooming early in their life, the process will generally become a lot easier. Start with short sessions and reward them with treats for their calm. You can start with the areas your dog likes to groom (usually the head, neck, and body) and slowly move to other areas (such as the stomach, feet, and tail).
It’s good to have different brushes and combs depending on your dog’s coat. Find out which brush is right for your dog by reading our tips in the knowledge base.
Gently brush the hair in the direction in which the hair grew. It is often helpful to start with a soft brush or wider tooth comb / brush to loosen any tangles in the fur and then move on to a finer tooth comb / brush if necessary to handle more stubborn things.
In addition to brushing the main body, you should also check hard-to-see places, such as B. Between your dog’s toes and in and around the ears.
If your dog is feeling uncomfortable at all, then stopping – and if you’re not sure if you can safely trim something (ex.
You can ask your veterinarian to show you how to cut your dog’s nails and how to tell when to cut them. As a guide, they should be trimmed just before they hit the ground when the dog is standing or walking. If they touch the ground, they are too long.
Also, check the dew claws that are on the inside of the dog’s leg – these won’t wear off with movement and can cause problems if they get too long.
How often you should bathe your dog depends on the individual dog and its activity (if it regularly swims in the sea or wallows in the mud, it will probably need to be bathed more often).
This can be done in your bathtub or shower with warm water if it is safe to do so – hydro baths (including portable baths) are also an option. In warm weather, you can use a low pressure garden hose outside.
You should also use a dog shampoo that is suitable for your dog. Whichever method you use, always reward your dog, especially if he is hesitant.
Other maintenance considerations
Other things to think about include whether or not your dog’s fur needs to be trimmed or clipped, and how to groom your dog if he’s double-coated.
This guide only scratches the surface, so we encourage you to read more in our knowledge base.
Some dogs just don’t like being cared for. If your dog is anxious, using a professional dog groomer may be the best option.
We encourage you to choose a reputable dog groomer who uses gentle treatment and rewards to keep your pet comfortable – you can also ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
You may also be able to take classes on how to care for your dog safely and comfortably.
