Your lovely pet dog does not require too much to stay happy, healthy, and loyal. Feeding the canine, playing with it, going to the vet, teaching new tricks and making sure it gets enough rest and sleep are basic responsibilities of dog owners. Regular Grooming is also included in your duties because you do not want to own a furry friend that always look shabby and sick. You do not have to keep visiting a professional groomer to get the job done because you can also do it well at home.

Below you will get a comprehensive list of the practical things that you should do while grooming and the ones to totally avoid.

Do’s

Brush the Coat Regularly

It is especially important if you have a breed that has a Coat which requires regular brushing. Spend some time doing this with a proper brush. Failure to this will not only give your adorable pet a bad look, but it will also make them very uncomfortable.

Matts and knots can also develop when you do not brush the hair well. This means that the poor animal will have to endure pain as you struggle to fix the mess.

Trim the Coat with Professional Dog Tools

You must use professional dog clippers for grooming when trimming the fur off your pup or adult dog. It is the only way you will both end up loving the results of the hair trimming process.

When shopping for the grooming tools, make sure you buy the most expensive pair you can afford. With such, you will not have to worry about wasting money because you will be getting your hands on top-grade tools that will serve you for many years without any complications.

Trim the Nails

Take care of your pets’ nails during the grooming process. Leaving them out to grow is a recipe for disaster. Nails that are not trimmed can end up tearing, breaking or spitting. This will definitely cause a lot of pain to your four-legged best friend and can also leave it at a risk of infection.

Be very careful when working on the nails. Do not do it too short because you can hit a nerve or even cause bleeding. It is recommended that you clip the nails just above the quick. Keep checking on the nails when spending time with the canine to know the ideal time to do the clipping.

Check and Clean Anal Glands and Ears

For some reason, many pet owners normally neglect these areas when grooming their mutts. Do not repeat the mistake as it is a crucial aspect of the overall maintenance of your pet.

Clean the ears as often as possible. It helps to prevent infections that may demand treatment and in some cases surgery. Cleaning the anal glands is something that you should never overlook. Doing this ensures you practice preventive health care for the overall health of your canine buddy.

Use the Correct Shampoo and Conditioner

When bathing your pet, it is imperative that you only use shampoo and conditioner that has been particularly made for the specific breed. Some people think that it is okay to use human products but it is not. Depending on what your furry friend likes, you can also use warm water to bathe the dog.

Don’ts

Leave Shampoo or other Products on the Coat

Remember to always rinse off the pet well after bathing. Leaving shampoo or any other products on the skin can cause irritation making your furry pal to feel very uncomfortable. Be methodical and study all the areas, especially the ones that are not easy to reach. Common places that many people forget include around the ears, tail, and armpits.

Waiting Too Long

When taking care of a puppy, do not wait until it grows up to introduce it to grooming. It may come to resist the entire idea, giving you a very difficult time. It is advisable to start as early as possible, so that it can get used to the process and even learn to enjoy and look forward to the grooming sessions.

This will also help you as a groomer because you will be able to learn about your pet more to know the type of coat you are working with. This will help you understand what it loves and what it loathes. The groomer will also have an idea of the tools to work with to get the best results.

Create a Noisy Environment for Grooming

Depending on the breed that you are working with, it is usually best to select quiet and serene places to carry out the task. Sudden loud noises can distress your pet making the entire process very uncomfortable and futile.

Try and keep all the distractions to a minimum allowing you to enjoy the process as you bond more with the adorable animal.

Bathe the Dog with Knots and Matts

Never start the bathing process before taking out all the mats, knots, and tangles. This is why brushing should be done first before you start using water on the fur. Bathing the mutt with all the knots will make the job of untangling them almost impossible. In most cases, you may even be forced to cut them out which will end up being a hassle for you and the pet as well.

As a side note, it is also essential to cover eyes, nose, and ears while wetting, shampooing, and rinsing so that the water and products do not get into the body parts and start causing problems.

Pull Hair

You must be very gentle while handling clippers to cut off your dog’s coat. Always use sharp clippers, so that you do not end up tugging the hair causing great discomfort to your precious companion. Avoid pushing the clippers too fast because they will end up leaving lines.

Abiding by the simple rules of grooming your dog will go a long way into making sure that you end with the perfect results you will both love.