Dog Grooming is Key to Dog Care
Dog grooming is an essential factor of dog care. Dog grooming involves a number of different jobs. Routine brushing and combing to take out dead hair, skin and general rubbish. Bathing and nail trimming, as well as caring for your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.
Whilst regular dog grooming is key to your dogs health, in addition it gives quality bonding time with your dog. This is a great time to fuss your pooch. Dog grooming must be commenced early in the puppies life, build a regular routine, time of the day, same location and do in the same way. When starting dog grooming, be soft, but decisive, that way he will not be anxious, but knows that he has to do it.
The brushing and combing will care for your dog’s coat, taking out all sorts of potential skin irritant and pests, giving a shinier and healthier coat. The exact type of grooming required depends on the type of dog, the below is non-specific and ideal for most dogs, but either verify with the dog breeder, or research it on the net, or your dog sitter should be able to help.
Bathing
Bathing is an important part of dog grooming. You will be given many different views on how often a specific dog or breed must be bathed. The different aspects turn around natural self grooming maintains natural body oils. However bathing, even with specific dog shampoos will bathe the natural essential oils away. So often people wait until the dog becomes dirty prior to washing. There could be a female / male bias, with women generally preferring to wash regularly and more often. Normally bathing about every couple of months or so should be allowed for.
It is easier to introduce a dog to bathing at an early age, so they are at ease, and even enjoy it. So prior to a planned bathing of the dog it is a good idea to brush the dog well.
It is a good idea to plan the dog bath well, collect and place everything ready and at hand prior to getting the pooch. Bathing is especially stressful for those in large cities, with lack of space and without the delights of shower rooms and utility rooms by the garden. For us town dwellers, we must take the dog up to the bathroom.
Avoid you and the dog loosing footing, so place the rubber mat in your shower. To avoid ear problems, protect the ears by using cotton wool in the dog’s ears to stop water ingress into the ears. Some breeds with large ears such as collies can be particularly susceptible to ear diseases.
You do not want to shock your dog so use warmish water to bath your dog. It is easier to use a shower or spray hose. Keep the nozzle head close to the fur and do not spray onto the dog’s face, as this could scare him.
There are specially formulated dog shampoos which are specially formulated to meet their special needs. Only use a little and start from the head and top and wash downward and in the direction of the tail. Obviously avoid and be careful around the eyes. Crucial parts to spend time on washing well are under the chin, particularly if the dog is messy with food, behind the ears, around the toes and the rectum.
At the end rinse with warm water, removing all the shampoo.
Do not forget the natural way for a dog to remove water is to shake, so let him and stand clear, after this you can rub him down. Some people like also to use a hair dryer, mainly women again! This is not really needed unless you must take him out. It is better to finish drying off naturally inside.
The other jobs of dog grooming and dog care will be dealt with later, including coat care, nail trimming, ear and teeth care