Dog Grooming Basic Tips

Keeping up with your dog’s grooming is just another part of being a responsible pet parent. To your furry friend is looking and feeling their best, they need regular upkeep. If you’re someone who does all the grooming at home, these are tips that will be especially useful. And even if you’re someone who gets your pooch professionally groomed, these are still important tips to know to keep your canine companion looking their best in between appointments.

Brushing Your Furry Friend’s Hair

Brushing Fido will probably be one of the easiest grooming activities you can do, especially since most pups enjoy a gentle brushing. If you brush your pooch regularly, it can actually help strengthen the bond between the two of you while also keeping your pup’s coat clean and healthy. The type of brush, as well as the amount of brushing recommended, all depends on the length of your four-legged friend’s coat.

• Long-haired dogs: typically require daily brushing or combing to avoid matting and tangling.
• Medium-haired dogs: can be prone to matting and tangles, so brushing should be done at least once a week.
• Short-haired dogs: you can typically go a few weeks without brushing unless you notice their coat is getting dirty or they’re shedding a lot.

Trimming Your Pup’s Nails

Typically trimming Fido’s nails is an activity that you both dread. Most pups don’t enjoy their paws being handled, and if they’ve ever had a nail cut too short, they’re not likely to forget the painful feeling. When it comes to pet parents, there’s the constant fear of accidentally cutting too far, hitting the quick, and hurting your beloved pooch on accident. Before trying to cut your canine’s nails, it’s typically recommended to have a veterinary technician, vet, or professional groomer teach you how to safely and properly trim Fido’s nails. For most dogs, you’ll need to trim their nails about once a month to avoid the nail from curling up and stabbing them in the paw. If you’ve had a professional show you how to trim your furry friend’s nails, but need a refresher, here are some tips.

Dog’s Beloved Bath Time

Okay, so your canine companion probably doesn’t see bath time as their favorite activity, but you can help train them to get used to it – making it an easier experience for both of you. Most dogs, with the exception of some breeds, only need to be bathed when they look visibly dirty or oily – but many pet parents like to bathe their canines at least once a month to get rid of any dog odor that’s built up. When bathing your dog, you want to do so in a calm environment with a positive demeanor. Dog’s tend to mimic their environment as well as their owner’s emotions, so keep that in mind. When washing Fido, be sure to always you dog-friendly shampoo. If it isn’t made for canines, you shouldn’t be using it on your pooch as it could be potentially toxic for them.

Caring for your Canine’s Ears

Your furry friend’s ears can become home to bacteria and yeast if not properly cared for. Ear problems tend to be traced to genetics, and typically dogs with floppy ears or hair within their ear canals are more prone to ear problems. But regardless of your dog’s situation, you should still do proper upkeep of your canine’s ears just to be safe. All you need to do is take a clean cotton ball and some ear cleaner and wipe the inner surface of your pup’s ears. If you ever smell any foul odor coming from their ears or see any excess debris, you’ll want to contact your four-legged friend’s veterinarian.

Keeping up with regular basic grooming can make a huge difference in your canine’s physical appearance, health, and mental wellbeing. So, as a pet parent, it should definitely be seen as a priority.