Grooming your dog is an art, and you must be a Picasso of it. This post contains the smartest hacks to groom your dogs, so keep reading this post to find the best dog grooming tips.
If you’ve never seen a stubborn dog being groomed, you might wonder why grooming is often called one of the toughest pet care tasks. But anyone who’s handled an energetic breed like a Lycan Shepherd or Australian Kelpie knows how challenging it can be. Even the most experienced groomers can face accidents or minor injuries during the process.
So, how can you make grooming safer and easier, for both you and your dog? What precautions should you take, and what should you avoid to prevent mishaps?
According to Care of My Dog, regular grooming is essential for your dog’s overall health and well-being. Ideally, it’s best to have your dog groomed by a professional. However, if you don’t have access to an experienced groomer nearby, you can still do it yourself with the right tools, techniques, and a calm approach.
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How to groom your dog?
Every dog is different, not just in breed or size, but also in health and individual needs. Some dogs may have sensitive skin, joint issues, or other conditions that require extra care during grooming. It’s important to consider these factors, whether you’re grooming your dog at home or visiting a professional groomer.
6 Things to do while grooming your dog:
Before grooming the pup, make sure you have all the necessary tools at hand so you don’t need to roam here and there while the dog is on the grooming table. Secondly, don’t leave your dog unattended if you need to do something urgently, or your dog may try to explore the grooming tools, which is very dangerous.
1. Patience:
Patience is the key to successful dog grooming. Always treat your dog with the same love and care you’d give a child, perhaps even more because dogs are naturally curious and sensitive. To keep your dog calm during grooming, stay relaxed yourself. Dogs can easily sense your emotions, and if you’re anxious or rushed, they’ll feel it too.
Make each grooming session positive and rewarding. Offer gentle praise and small treats to build trust and comfort. If you start grooming your puppy from a young age, even with short weekly sessions, they’ll quickly become familiar with the process. Over time, grooming will feel natural instead of stressful, for both you and your dog.
2. Choose a safe and bright place:
Choose a non-slipping place for your dog with lots of lighting so you can have full control over what you are doing. If you have a budget, get a grooming table of the appropriate size that is fully equipped and helps you a lot during the grooming sessions.
3. Use the right equipment:
You need to use the appropriate brushes, clippers, trimmers, and scissors for your dog grooming. The best practice is to get recommendations from a groomer because every breed has a different coat and should be taken care of accordingly.
4. Groom regularly:
It is the most important thing to do. If you don’t groom your dogs regularly, they can develop skin problems or painful mats. Also, their nails should be clipped regularly, and their ears should be checked for any possible foreign objects.
5. Use distractive items:
You can also use helpful tools like a lick mat to keep your dog distracted during grooming. These small tricks make the process much smoother for both you and your pet. For instance, if you’re bathing your dog, place a wall-mounted lick mat with your dog’s favorite treat or peanut butter on it. While your furry friend stays happily occupied licking the treat, you can bathe and rinse them without stress or struggle. It’s a simple yet effective way to make grooming sessions calm, positive, and enjoyable for your dog.
6. Start it from Day 1:
Some grooming habits should start from the very first day your puppy comes home. For example, brushing your dog’s teeth is essential for maintaining good oral health. Begin by brushing your puppy’s teeth two to three times a week to help them get used to the process early on.
By starting these small routines early, you’ll make future grooming sessions much calmer and more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Consistency, patience, and gentle handling go a long way in helping your pup feel relaxed during every grooming experience.
Now, let’s move to the next important part: things to avoid while grooming your dogs.
7 Things Not to Do While Grooming Your Dog
1. Don’t do too much
If you’re planning to bathe, groom, and clip your dog’s nails all at once, it’s best not to. Trying to do too many grooming tasks in one session can overwhelm your dog and cause unnecessary stress or panic.
Instead, space out each activity: bathe your dog one day, trim nails another, and brush or groom on a separate day. Keeping sessions short and calm helps your pup stay relaxed and makes grooming a more positive experience.
2. Say NO to scented Shampoo
Many dogs have sensitive skin and noses that may lead to allergies if you use scented shampoos. In such a case, try to use unscented shampoos that you may find in your local pet store or online. You may also use waterless shampoo if your dog doesn’t like getting wet.
3. Avoid frequent bathing
Well, taking a daily bath may be refreshing for you, but not for your dog. Only bathe your dogs if they are smelly or dirty; otherwise, you don’t need to bathe them. Also, frequent bathing can reduce the natural oils in their fur, which can further lead to several skin issues. So, even if your dog loves bathing, stop doing it more often.
4. Don’t use a blow dryer
A blow dryer can easily terrify your puppy, especially if it’s not used to loud sounds or sudden bursts of air. The noise and vibration can make your furbaby anxious, turning grooming into a stressful experience. That’s why it’s always best to towel-dry your dog gently instead. Use a soft, absorbent towel to remove as much moisture as possible and let your pup air-dry naturally in a warm, comfortable spot. Over time, as your dog becomes more confident, you can slowly introduce a dryer on a low and quiet setting if needed, but patience is key.
5. Don’t DIY if you are new
Are you a new dog owner and planning to do it yourself? Think again because it may end up in a disaster. Although grooming your dog is not very difficult, still, for a first-timer, it may still be a tough job. If you are sure that you’ll be able to do it, take someone’s help for at least a couple of initial groomings.
6. Don’t cut nails too short
The best practice is to cut just the tip of your dog’s nail, especially if you are doing it for the first time. A blood vessel named Quick is also attached to your dog’s nails, and cutting into it can cause excessive bleeding. Also, if your dog is jumpy, don’t cut the nails and wait for him to settle down.
7. Don’t give up
It may be a hectic practice for you and your dog, and it will take some time for both of you to be comfortable with all this. If you are a new dog owner, you can try a professional groomer at least 2 to 3 times.
Wrapping it up
So, these were the six most important practices and seven key things to avoid when grooming your dog. Following these dog grooming tips can make grooming sessions safer, calmer, and more enjoyable for both you and your furry friend. Ignoring them, however, can lead to unnecessary stress or even serious injuries for your dog.
If you ever feel unsure or uncomfortable handling grooming tasks on your own, don’t take chances with your dog’s safety; it’s always better to hire a professional dog groomer. You can easily find experienced groomers or mobile grooming services online. Just make sure to read customer reviews and check credentials before making your final choice.
