Save money with our DIY dog grooming guide
Regularly grooming your dog is essential to ensure their optimal health and wellbeing. While some breeds may need more attention than others, whether your dog has short or long hair, gets dirty often or not, all dogs will require basic grooming. You can always pay a professional to do the "dirty" work, but doing it yourself is actually very easy (and cheap).
There are actually many benefits to grooming at home. It gives you complete control over how your dog is handled, you determine the schedule of grooming and it’s a new way to bond with your pooch. Additionally, dogs tend to be less stressed in a familiar environment which is important if your furry friend isn’t the biggest fan of baths.
Just follow our tips to guarantee your canine companion gets a thorough groom from top to paws.
Prepare your supplies
Have a grooming area for your dog as this helps them understand it is not play time. Get all the tools you need to clean eyes and ears, trims nails and hair, brush teeth, and wash and dry. You might need to invest in some professional-quality tools but it will still cost less than regular professional visits.
Brushing
Thoroughly brush your dog before washing as it is important to get rid of any tangles or matts. These will be impossible to get out after a wash. Brush out matts by holding the fur closest to the skin and brushing from the end of the hair to the tangle. Gently cut out any matts that cannot be combed out.
Check eyes, ears, nails and teeth
Eyes should be clear and should not show any signs of inflammation, redness or unusual discharge. Wipe any debris from the inner corner of your dog’s eye.
Clean ears may contain some wax but should not have any unusual odour. To clean ears simply wipe the ear with a cotton ball of ear cleaner or some ear wipes. Remember not to go too deep as it could hurt the ear drum.
Trimming your dog’s nails can be tricky. Make sure it is necessary first as some dogs are highly active on hard surfaces which keep nails naturally short. If your pooch needs a trimming though, make sure you look for the "quick". This is the vein that grows inside the dog’s nail and will bleed if cut. With clear nails, you can see the pink vein running through and with dark nails, just clip incrementally until you see a white dot in the centre. If your dog does bleed, use styptic powder over the bleed.
Dogs can suffer from gum and teeth diseases so it is important you brush teeth regularly to prevent decay. Always use a dog toothpaste as human toothpaste might contain chemicals that are harmful to canines.
Washing
Wet your dog all over with lukewarm water. Use a dog shampoo (you might need to find one suited to your breed) and evenly apply over the body. Another method is to prepare a bucket of diluted shampoo and water and pour over your pooch, washing as you go.
Make sure you are washing down to the skin. Bath time is also a good time check for any ticks, cuts or irritated skin.
Wash the face last and avoid getting shampoo in eyes and ears as it could seriously harm your dog. You can place cotton balls in ears to prevent water from getting in.
Rinse thoroughly to ensure all shampoo is washed out of the coat. If shampoo is not rinsed out, it can cause irritation and itchy red skin.
Let your dog drip dry for a few minutes and then towel dry. You can buy a doggie hairdryer or just use your hairdryer on a cool setting as well.
Trimming hair
The perfect time to trim your dog’s coat is after a good wash. How to cut the hair is really up to you whether you want to trim the whole coat or certain parts.
You can use scissors or clippers, although sometimes the sound of clippers can upset dogs.
Treats
Give your pooch plenty of treats throughout the grooming to reward them for standing still. If they squirm or seem stressed, shower them with love and praises. It will make the whole experience much more enjoyable for you and your furry friend.
Admire your work
After a good DIY grooming session, you will now have a soft, fluffy and fragrant pooch ready to show off. There’s no better way to celebrate than having a good play with your canine companion. If they happen to get dirty again, you now know the steps to give them a good groom at home!