Tips for Keeping Your Dog Healthy and Good-looking by Grooming Them at Home

by Top Tail | Aug 29, 2022 | Dog Hygiene

Everyone knows that long-haired dogs need constant maintenance where grooming is concerned but even dogs with short coats need regular brushing, bathing, and nail trimming. Dogs with longer coats just need additional need clipping and hair trimming.

We’d like to share these seven tips to help you establish an at-home grooming routine with your dog because while dog groomers are trained for what they do, it also comes at a price especially if done regularly.

Step 1 – Hair Brushing (regardless of long or short hair)

The amount of brushing per week depends on your dog’s breed, i.e. coat length and texture. Golden retrievers and collies are known for their long, flowing hair therefore they will need more frequent brushing (at least once a week, if not every other day), while shorthaired breeds like great Danes, Dobermans, or Labradors may need a good brushing only every second week.

Badly matted hair can cause pain because dogs will lick or bite themselves at the source of irritation, resulting in skin infections and perhaps needing to shave that area of hair. Grass, seeds, and even small dry sticks can get entangled inside a matted coat, sometimes pushing into the skin and causing sores or abscesses. Routinely brushing your dogs prevents matting from becoming a problem.

For short-haired dogs brushing removes loose hair, dirt, and dander from their coat, extending the time between baths.

Step 2 – Hair Trimming

Most dog owners feel more comfortable taking their dog to a groomer to have a hair trim but if you are careful and your dog is relaxed with you using a scissor you can trim overgrown hair around your dog’s eyes or paws in between professional grooming sessions to make you dog more comfortable.

Trimming the hair around your dog’s eyes can prevent hair from rubbing against and damaging your pup’s eyes and long hair make it difficult to see clearly. When trimming hair always move slowly and calmly, using extra caution when scissor blades are near the skin or eyes.

Remember: It’s easy to accidentally cut your pet with scissors or clippers so if you or your dog are nervous or prone to anxiety rather leave the trimming to the professionals as you will feel terrible and your dog will be more nervous if you have an accident.

Step 3 – Nail Trimming

You will have to trim your dog’s nails if you hear them clicking on the hard floors in your home or the pavement outdoors. Dogs can get very uncomfortable with long nails but you need to be extra careful and make sure you used a dog nail clipper only. Always trim off the end of the nail only. Always cut from top to bottom and avoid cutting the nail at an angle.

If you accidentally cut the quick, it could bleed quite a bit. Try not to overreact or be dramatic as your dog respond more to your reaction than feeling any real pain. Reassure your dog and remain calm – the bleeding will stop and you can clean up afterward.

If you’re unsure about where to trim, it is always better to cut off too little than too much but again if you are very unsure about cutting your dog’s nails, take them to a professional groomer or a vet who can do it for you.

Step 4 – Skin Checking

Check your dog’s skin by running your fingers through your dog’s coat, feeling its skin for unusual lumps or bumps, this can also bring to light any internal problems like growths that can’t be seen easily.

Step 5 – Ear Checking

Infections in their ears can be very uncomfortable for dogs, so if you notice any of the following take your dog to your vet immediately:

The inside of the ears is swollen or red.
The ears smell sweet or stinky.
Your dog tilts or shakes its head more often than usual or tries to scratch its ears.
The ears are moist or have more discharge than usual (for example seeing discharge on their dog pillow).
Gets worked up or whines/yelps or even growls when you examine their ears.

Step 6 – Bathing

When talking about dog grooming most people think of bathing first but dogs should not be bathed too frequently because most dogs with healthy skin only need to be bathed every couple of months to prevent hygiene issues and smell.

Bathing your dog too often can strip the natural oils from its coat and dry out its skin causing skin conditions and irritation.

Never use baby or human shampoo and use comfortably warm water. Always make sure you avoid the dog’s eyes, mouth, and the insides of its ears. Rinse with warm water until all soap is removed and if the weather is nice and sunny let your dog air dry. When using a hair dryer make sure it’s on the coolest setting and be careful to not burn your pup’s skin.

If your dog stinks but hasn’t rolled in something horrible, discuss this with your vet.

Dogs usually need a lot of reassurance and encouragement when you first introduce them to a grooming routine. We have a few pointers to help you get started:

Get all your grooming tools ready before you get your pup.
Make sure you place a kid’s slip-proof mat in the tub to prevent your dog from sliding around and getting anxious or uneasy.
Ease into the grooming routine slowly, with lots of encouragement, cheering on and of course, rewards for your pup to look forward to the next session.
Spread a little Marmite or peanut butter on a washable surface and allow your dog or puppy to lick it off while you brush or wash them.
Always ensure that you reward your dog’s calmness with a treat after you’re finished.

Good pet grooming only helps keep your dog healthy, but also communicates your love for your pet and gives you a great opportunity for quality time together.