Grooming Your Dog
As needed, feed your dog a bath: Walk your dog a bath every three months if he or she has short hair. You may need to bathe your dog more frequently if he or she has long hair. To wash your dog, use a spray hose or a pitcher to soak all of his or her fur excluding the regions around his or her eyes, ears, and nose. Then, gently massage shampoo into your dog's coat. Rinse out all of the shampoos after it has been massaged into a lather. The water should be clean and suds-free. Then, using a towel, dry him/her off.
Human shampoo should not be used on your dog since some components in human goods can irritate them. When washing your dog, use a special dog shampoo.
Brush the body of your dog with a brush. You may only need to brush your dog once a
week if he has short hair. You'll need to brush your dog every day if he or she has long hair to avoid tangled and matted fur. Before moving on to a brush, use a wide comb to remove tangles. While brushing your dog, be sure to lavish praise on him/her and then reward him/her with a treat so that he/she will allow you to brush him/her on a frequent basis.
Trim your dog's nails if necessary: You'll need a special nail clipper for dogs to clip your dog's nails. A pet store will sell you dog nail clippers. Before you try to clip your dog's nails, you may need to get him comfortable to you handling them. If your dog is wary of you handling his or her feet and nails, start by patting and touching his or her toes to assist him or her growing used to it. When he/she lets you touch his/her toes, give him/her praise and a treat. You can attempt clipping his/her nails after he/she is more comfortable with you touching his/her feet.
Brush the teeth of your dog: Brushing your dog's teeth can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease as he or she gets older. If your dog has terrible breath, it could be a sign that there is too much germs in his mouth. Take your dog to a veterinarian to have his or her teeth cleaned, and then clean his or her teeth according to your veterinarian's instructions.
To clean your dog's teeth, you can use a child's toothbrush, a gauze pad, or even a piece of nylon stretched over your finger. Make sure you use a special dog toothpaste or make a paste with baking soda and a little water.
- During grooming periods, check your dog for any issues. Checking your dog for fleas, ticks, and other potential health issues around grooming time is a smart idea. Make sure to look for any strange growths, sores, or tender places on your dog's skin. Check your dog's ears for excessive wax buildup and bad odors as well. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away.
