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At Home Dog Grooming Tips That Will Save You Money In regards to grooming there are two types of dogs: dog with hair growth and dogs without hair growth. While dogs who do not have hair growth can easily be groomed at home, those with hair growth require the services of a professional groomer. You can imagine that if a Poodle, for example, does not get clipped regularly they will end up looking like a shaggy mess! Hair growing breeds should see a professional groomer about every 5 to 8 weeks depending on the length of the coat and on how much you maintain the coat between groomings. Even though the services of a professional groomer are very important for the health and well being of your dog, it can be expensive. If you maintain your dogs coat at home you will be able to go longer between groomings and therefore save money. Below are some at home grooming tips that you can utilize between groomings. 1. Brush AND comb your dog regularly. This is the most important tip and should be done at least a few times per week. Invest in a slicker dog brush and dog comb. The first thing you should do is brush the coat rigorously and in all directions to loosen any knots. After brushing, use a dog comb on any longer hair to make sure the coat is knot free. Combing is just as important as brushing as it identifies any tangles the brush has missed. By doing this you will prevent your dog from getting matted. A matted dog needs to be professionally groomed much more often than a tangle free dog! 2. Bathe your dog no more than once a week. Bathing your dog more than this can dry out their skin and possibly cause irritation. An important tip: make sure you brush and comb your dog BEFORE the bath to make sure there are no tangles. A bath will easily turn a slightly tangled coat into a matted coat. Also, make sure to use all natural dog shampoo and not people shampoo as this can irritate their skin. Use a damp cloth to clean around the eyes and gently remove any debris that has built up. 3. Clean your dog's ears on a regular basis. You can use ear cleaner specific to dogs, or you can use a gentle cleanser such as witch hazel. Wet a cotton ball and make sure to remove all dirt and debris. If there is a bad smell or puss coming from your dog's ear, contact your vet as this can be a sign of infection. 4. Clip your dog's nails as needed using dog nail clippers. If you walk your dog everyday on concrete, you should not have to clip their nails as often. Concrete acts as a natural nail file and keeps nails from becoming too long. But most dogs do indeed need a regular nail clipping. The key is to only clip the tip of the nail. There is a chance you could knick the "quick" or vein and cause some bleeding if you cut the nail too short. But don't be alarmed if this happens. Before you clip your dog's nails, make sure you have Styptic Powder on hand. This is a clotting agent you can use to quickly and easily stop any bleeding. You can find this powder at most dog supply stores. 5. Once your dog is dry, use the dog brush again to fluff up the coat and give your dog a nice finished look. Another quick combing will ensure the coat is knot free. An advantage of in home grooming is that your dog will become accustomed to being groomed and therefore behave better for the groomer. But if you utilize all of the above tips you will need to use a professional groomer less often and therefore save money. In addition, by grooming your dog at home regularly you will also help to ensure their health and well being. |
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