When it comes to your dog’s appearance and health, it’s vitally important you know how to groom a dog.
Dog grooming is one essential part of dog ownership.
If you’re a dog owner, you probably want to keep your canine friend happy and health.
Think of it this way: a well-groomed dog will avoid all kinds of diseases like yeast infection; diseases that can make your dog uncomfortable and constantly wanting to itch.
When your dog is well-groomed, he/she stays cleaner.
Bear in mind that dog grooming isn’t just about bathing your dog. It’s also brushing his/her teeth and trimming the hair.
You also need to ensure the ears are free of dirt and wax because these will lead to infections.
If you notice a bad smell emitting from the dog’s ears and/or see a discharge or swelling, you need to take your canine friend to the vet immediately.
Lastly, ensure the dog’s nails are part of dog grooming process.
You want them to be short and trimmed, as overgrown nails can bring discomfort to the dog.
Don’t forget your dog’s long nails can tear up the furniture.
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Preparing Your Dog To Be Groomed
Preparing your dog to be groomed is the very first step.
You want to figure out where you want to groom your dog.
I find the more comfortable the dog is with their surroundings, the better the grooming experience will be.
Also, the more often you groom your dog and get them used to it, the more comfortable they will be.
Sometimes, if you get a dog later on in their life, the grooming experience can be harder, (this can be the same if you don’t groom your dog often).
There are steps you can take if your dog is uncomfortable.
Don’t force grooming on them.
Ease them into it.
By this I mean get them used to the tools you are using on them and reward, reward, reward when they do good!
When you brush them, don’t approach them quickly.
Show them the brush, give them praise and a treat each time they allow you to brush them.
The same goes for nail clipping.
This can be one of the most stressful times for a dog.
If a dogs quick gets cut, it can lead to bleeding which is stressful for dogs.
To gain trust in a dog you can start by having them let you touch their paws.
Touch their paws often so they do not fear getting their nails clipped.
For myself, I like to gather everything I need during the whole grooming process.
Trust me it makes things go so much smoother!
Items you will want to gather include:
This is if you are doing a full groom.
I usually break up my grooming throughout the week:
- Appropriate Brushes or Combs
- Treats
- Scissors
- Cloth and Eye Drops
- Cleaning Solution and Cotton Pad
- Dog Tooth Brush and Dog Tooth Paste
- Nail clippers and Styptic Powder
- Shampoo
- Towels (and extras)
- Grooming Clippers
- MORE TREATS
When I initially taught my dog to give me her paw I wasn’t thinking initially that her long nails were a problem until she started walking funny.
On any normal day she would be hopping around barking at the television – but that day was different.
I noticed her mood changed, it seems as if something was holding her back.
When I decided to clip her nails myself using a traditional dog nail clipping tool, but I didn’t know where to begin.
A lot of owners feel this frustration day in and day out but my love and care is so great for my dog i decided to learn and overcome this common problem.
Recommended Product:
Sminiker Rechargeable Cordless Dog Grooming Clippers
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| The A shape edge design prevents from accidentally cutting your pet's skin. |
| Heavy-duty gear for proper powerful cut with stable control. |
| The titanium blade will keep shape and ensures high durability. |
| Precision motor, low vibration and ultra quiet design. |
| Cordless and rechargeable clipper design for easy use. |
Dog Nail Clipping – How to Basic
Many dog owners can agree, that their dogs paws are cute! for the most part, however the majority overlook this crucial grooming step throughout the course of their dogs life.
Avoiding the simple act of dog nail clipping can cause more pain to your dog in the long run associated with his/her long nails; allowing them to grow to the point where your dog shows discomfort in walking is way too long.
A common sign is clicking or tapping on surfaces or painful walking which could lead to joint problems later.
Step 1: Make sure your dog is in a comfortable and quiet place.
Step 2: Turn him / her over to their side and use a clipper to clip at a 45 degree angle.
Step 3: Every successful clip reward your dog with a treat.
This method of dog nail clipping is normally intended to be used with a traditional clipping tool specifically designed for dog nail clipping.
Many dogs may be apprehensive towards this and will not allow you to clip their nails because of fear or excitement.
One way of helping this is try taking your dog for a very long walk and ensure that he/she reaches fatigue, this will grant you a better chance for successful dog nail clipping with your companion.
Dog Nail Clipping – DON’TS!
Everyone who loves their dog will do anything to prevent injury or harm to their special companion.
Although we are human and can make a mistake here and there we would prefer not to when dealing with dog nail clipping.
However easy it may be it is important to follow some rules in order to ensure a good experience.
Relax : a nervous owner will project bad emotions to their dog which will lead to tension during dog nail clipping
Do not cut too deep: It is better to do small clips to avoid hitting the quick, the blood vessel of the dogs nail.
In case of this happening apply some antiseptic an gauze right away to stop the bleeding.
Choose your place wisely: if your dog is sensitive to sound or people try to avoid these stimuli in order to have a much more calm and responsive dog.
Do not clip a dog who is touch sensitive: If your dog retracts his or her paws every time you grab them he or she is touch sensitive.
Attempting dog nail clipping can lead to disastrous results of not properly desensitized to touch. So make sure your dog is nice and compliant!
Recommended Product:
Dremel Best Dog Nail Grinder
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| Gently grind away long nails quickly and painlessly. |
| Perfect alternative to using clippers on your dog or pet's nails. |
| Adjust between high or low speed to fit your pet’s comfort level. |
| Light duty performance to gently trim your pet’s nails. |
| The cordless rotary tool uses a rechargeable and removable battery pack. |
Dog Nail Clipping – Grinding
Now there are many products out there on the market for clipping your dog’s nails however only a handful that are reliable and safe!.
If you care for your dog it is important to make the right choice.
We all have many things to do and trimming your dog’s nails is probably not one of the top priorities in the world but, there are some tools that can make your life a whole lot easier!
I have been used to traditional dog nail clipping using a professional clipper which i would have to say is great; but a grinder may suit you better.
I definitely chose this over traditional clipping to the lower risk factor with this tool. Grinding down your dogs nails is much safer and quicker can clipping inside our own home.
The tool provides enough stimulation and is very powerful and can clip your dogs nail in seconds plus they come with a safety plastic covers to avoid grinding too deep.
Its really that simple!
Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears
Dogs ears are a very important part of a dog, they are used to lock onto very faint sounds with precision accuracy.
Very powerful yet also sensitive which means…
Cleaning dog ears is the next important step in grooming and requires sensitive care.
Most dogs hate their ears being cleaned if not desensitized properly earlier on in life.
Maintaining clean dog ears is vital to avoid infection.
Dogs normally suffer from three different types of infections the outer ear infection, the inner ear infection, and the middle ear infection.
Some breeds are more prone to infection such as the “floppy” ear breeds, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Bloodhounds, maintaining clean dog ears in these breeds are even more important as they do not have much free air circulation.
Outer ear infection is easily noticed as inflammation, excessive wax and/or a very foul smelling odor coming from the ear is a dead give away.
The other two middle and inner ear infection may be slightly difficult to spot and require immediate veterinary attention, if you notice excessive scratching and or ear sensitivity consult your veterinary professional immediately.
Recommended Product:
Pet MD Ear Wipes for Dogs
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| Safely cleans, deodorizes and dries ears. |
| Keeps ears free of wax, discharge, and debris. |
| Controls and inhibits yeast and mites. |
| Lessens painful itching and scratching. |
| Reduces foul ear odor. |
How to Clean Dog Ears at Home
Try using a small amount of ear cleaning solution over a cotton ball or perhaps a small cloth and wipe your dog’s ears one by one to remove any wax or dirt which could have accumulated in time.
Be very gentle when you clean your dogs ears so that you don’t irritate the particular sensitive areas of skin in the ear and avoid diving too deep into the ear to cause damage, it is very common for owners to push back the wax to the inner ear.
Then dab a few drops of solution either obtained by your vet or pet store on a cotton ball and give a clean wipe to reduce any ear mites or perhaps bacteria.
Finally wipe the particular ear one last time using a dry swab or cloth.
In the occasion you see anything strange along with your dog’s ears, such as irritation, inflammation, or perhaps an odd scent, you should speak to your veterinarian since this may be a sign of infection.
Clean dog ears should not have an odor and may only have a small amount of wax.
Remember before grooming your dog, ensure that the alcohol or any ear cleaning products have been kept at room temperature and are not HOT as it may damage the ear of your dog.
Remember to maintain clean dog ears try to check them regularly whenever socializing, touching them and inspecting them and smelling them to ensure that their beautiful ears remain healthy and looking good!
Dog Teeth Cleaning
You probably know that proper nutrition and exercise are important for your dog, but did you also know that dental hygiene should be a part of their lives to keep them healthy?
It’s true—it’s kind of a pain to get into the habit of brushing your dog’s teeth, but it is so good in the long run, you will thank yourself for getting into the habit.
Why cleaning your dog’s teeth is so important:
Cleaning your dog’s teeth can extend their life by 3 to 5 years.
Think about it—dog’s mouths have bacteria in them, just like yours.
Tooth decay is hard on their immune system because it subjects them to bacteria overgrowth.
Brushing your dog’s teeth saves you money.
Anyone who has owned a “senior citizen” dog can attest to the time, money, and pain involved with tooth extraction, which is basically when the dog’s teeth are so rotted, the vet has to put the dog under anesthesia and pull them out.
Once this happens, you’re on the road to specially-made, soft dog food that they can chew, more infections and extractions, and more pain for the dog.
You love your dog, so you don’t want to subject them to a life with painful and smelly teeth.
Two words: dog breath.
Veterinarians say that 85% of dogs over 5 years old have some form of periodontal diseases (which you would too if you had never, ever brushed your teeth), which causes that awful breath many dogs have.
Dog breath makes it harder to kiss and hug your dog, which can impact his/ her quality of life.
Yes, I am saying that if your dog has horrible breath, he or she is likely to be the outcast of the family.
Dogs live to be our companions and get love from us, so it’s up to us to make sure we can stand their breath (especially as they get older).
Recommended Product:
Vet’s+Best Dental Gel Toothpaste Formulated for Dogs
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| Enzymatic dental gel and triple headed toothbrush. |
| Vet formulated with carefully selected ingredients for dental hygiene. |
| Freshens breath with a great taste that dogs love. |
| Gently cleans away plaque and tartar. |
| Brightens and whitens teeth. |
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Yourself
This is by far the cheapest and simplest of all the solutions.
You’ll need to get a soft toothbrush/ toothpaste from your local pet store.
Do not use human toothpaste/ toothbrush on a dog!
Depending on the age and temperament of your dog, you’ll need to ease them into the tooth brushing process.
You probably don’t remember your parents doing this with you, but you most likely didn’t love it the first time, so be patient!
The results are worth it in the long term.
Think of it this way—at least you’re doing something to help your dog’s health, and it only takes a few minutes a day.
You will be so happy you started this when your senior citizen dog doesn’t have horrible breath and doesn’t need thousand-dollar surgery for infected teeth!
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