| GROOMING |
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| The right supplies Grooming consists of more than just brushing or combing out your dog�s coat. It also includes bathing, toenail trimming, and even ear care. Of course, different tools are needed for different breeds of dogs. A knowledgeable pet store clerk or your veterinarian should be able to help you pick the correct tools for your dog or puppy. Most groomers agree that you should never use people shampoo on your dogs. The pH balance in these shampoos is not correct for canines. They also feel that if bathing your dog in a bathtub, you should always use a rubber mat, as it helps keep your dog from slipping around and gives them a little more secure feeling. When it comes to tools, some of the right tools to use are a comb, nail trimmers, ear cleaners, the proper dog shampoo for your particular dog, and, depending on the type of coat it has, a good brush would be helpful. A slicker brush is most commonly used. Following the correct procedure Grooming at home should be done on a regular basis. Owners should learn the needs of their particular dog. Dogs are individuals, as people are, and each dog's needs are different. Longer hair breeds need more brushing for keeping mats out. Ears need to be cleaned and nails trimmed. Trimming your dog�s toenails might be a little tricky until you (and your dog) get the hang of it. You must be careful not to trim too deep or you will hit the tender vein and your dog will bleed and, most likely, howl out in pain. If you first get your dog used to having his paws handled by you, you can then start out by snipping off just a little of the nail at a time until you both know what you�re doing. However, be sure to have some blood-stopping powder nearby, just in case you do nick that blood vessel. How often should you groom your dog? The more often, the better in most cases. It only takes a minute or two to run a comb or brush through your dog�s coat each day. Imagine if you only brushed your hair once a week or once a month. You would have so many tangles and mats in it that you would be ashamed. The same is true of your dog. He can�t brush himself; you have to do it for him. And he won�t understand why he�s full of mats and tangles! Many professional groomers advise never try cutting mats out with scissors as you can very easily cut your dog, even though you think you are being very careful. Never use pointed scissors around a dog's eyes, always a blunt tip. Be careful in cutting hair away from the dog's pads, as a pad incision isn't very dangerous, but bleeds a lot. Grooming the ornery dog What if your dog resists your attempts at grooming him? Are there ways to subdue him and calm him down without anyone getting hurt? Jan Jarvis, professional groomer, comes to the rescue for tips on dealing with the ornery canine. �There are degrees of difficulty in �difficult dogs.� Some dogs jump around a lot, some bite, some cry and whine profusely,� she explains. �I always start out by being very nice and use a very soothing voice and talk to the pet a lot. It certainly does not always work. Next, comes a more stern voice and a tighter grip. Then what we call an 'alpha roll', which does not hurt the dog, it just shows them who's dominant. You simply put them on your table on their back, hold them down with a firm hand until they relax. If all these techniques fail, then use a muzzle.� Of course, one thing is certain�the earlier in life you begin grooming your dog, the more accustomed he will become to it and, hopefully, the more accepting and thankful he will be for it! Keeping your dog neat and clean isn�t just for his sake, but for yours and your family�s as well. Everyone will benefit from frequent dog grooming! Tip: Chamois leather is used to give the coat a shine during grooming. |
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| Bathing Your Dog |
| Grooming At Home |
| Getting wet behind the ears Bathing a pet dog has been known to be an extremely difficult situation for most Pet Parents. Getting him out of hiding and into the tub can be hard enough, but keeping him there can be one of the toughest battles of will you have ever experienced! Many Pet Parents have begun to question the necessity of frequent baths, but bathing your pooch is an important way to keep him healthy and happy�and clean! If you follow the correct procedure, giving your furry friend a proper cleaning can be an easy process. According to Jan Jarvis, owner and operator of Pampered Pups Mobile Grooming service in Greenville, South Carolina, �Bathing a dog is really simple. The first step is to choose the correct shampoo. The dog may need a flea bath, which will kill fleas instantly, a soothing oatmeal bath, medicated shampoo that is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, or just a good all around shampoo. I also use a skin and coat conditioner as well.� Even if your dog is a house dog (i.e., stays inside all the time) he must go outside several times a day to go to the bathroom. That�s where he can pick up a few fleas and bring them back inside where they multiply on him and in your home. There are always promising new flea control products coming out on the market, but nothing beats a good, old-fashioned flea bath, which is why most dogs get bathed as often as they do. Of course, another reason to bathe your pooch often is that mysterious odor that many people, especially those who do NOT have dogs of their own, call the �dog smell.� That �smell� is offensive to many people, even Pet Parents, and using a pleasant smelling shampoo and conditioner (as long as they are the right products for your dog) can help rid your pooch of that odor . . . at least for a while. Which leads to the question, �How often should I give my dog a bath?� Frequency of baths �Outside dogs should obviously be bathed more often than inside dogs due to outside conditions,� Jarvis, recommends. �I think that once every couple of weeks or once a month is great. As long as you brush the coat out thoroughly (before and afterwards), it will help to keep the tangling of the hair down. Drying is also a good idea with a warm or cool air hair dryer, never on high or hot heat, as it could burn your dog.� Frequency of baths is really up to you, however, and the recommendation from your veterinarian, of course. Dogs with extremely dry skin should not be bathed as often as normal-skinned canines because the bathing process dries the skin out somewhat. If you are having trouble with dry skin (or any skin conditions), seek the advice of your veterinarian who can tell you how often to bathe your pooch and what specific products to use on his sensitive skin. Keeping control of the situation Making sure both you and your dog don�t get injured during this process should be a main goal. Jan Jarvis uses the following techniques when bathing dogs and suggests similar techniques for Pet Parents bathing their dogs at home. �The dog should be restrained in the tub by a leash and a rubber mat should be used on the bottom of the tub to keep his feet firmly planted. I never let the pet jump up on the sides of the tub for fear of injury from sliding down.� �I'm very careful with the shampoo in their faces and I use a tearless so that it doesn't sting their eyes,� Jarvis continues. �The shampoo should always be rinsed very well to prevent any problems later, such as on oily residue left on the coat, which may not look clean and can sometimes cause scratching.� The important part of bathing your dog is to try to make it as peaceful and stress-free as possible for both of you. Remember, most dogs build their lives around pleasing their Pet Parents. If you look at bath time as a way to bond and become closer to your best friend, he might change his attitude. Let him know this is something you want to do and that it makes YOU happy. He�ll surely follow your lead if he knows he can make you, the love of his life, proud of his squeaky clean accomplishments! |
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| TIP OF THE PAGE |
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| You must take care not to cut blood vessels when trimming nails. |
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