Grooming At Home
Brushing Your Dog’s Hair Is A Must
Whilst we have previously covered Dog Grooming, for those who prefer to do it yourself, we wanted to cover some details about dog grooming at home. Proceed with caution as there is a reason why Dog Grooming Professionals exist and that’s because they have years of experience and are well trained to handle any and all situations that may arise. Who knows? With enough time and experience, this might be another career for you too.
Brushing Your Dog
Of course, at a very basic level, grooming your dog requires a good brush and there are many different kinds of brushes for various purposes. You should be doing this regularly, on a weekly basis despite sending your dog to the groomers. We’ve distilled brushes down to the following. A glove brush is good if your dog can’t keep still and doesn’t like brushes. a grooming comb allows you to pick up loose hairs along the way as well. A Deshedding Brush allows you to remove shedding fur more easily. Brushing regularly prevents your dog’s fur from getting matted and can keep their fur clean and more hygienic.
Pedicure for the Paws
Cutting your dog nails is important. You have to make sure you do this regularly, and this is one thing that is sheer torture for your dog and for you. You have to take note of how deep you should go. The general rule of thumb is, when your dog is standing up on all fours, the nails should barely touch the floor. That is to avoid clipping into the quick, which can cause your dog to bleed and be in pain (you may require clippers with light to see the quick more easily, particularly if your dog has black or darker colored nails). If you’re too afraid to cut your dog’s nails, you can either file or grind them down (sometimes this takes a while if you don’t do it weekly) or send them to a professional like Wagging Tails where they do have options where you just send your dog there for the nails (this should be done monthly). Nonetheless, these are good tools to consider.
Getting the Hair Did
Not all dogs can or should be shaven down. In fact, it’s not advisable. Scissors are for the ultimate professional cut without shaving or the accidental shave. Clippers are fast but pair it with a good comb so that you can ensure no accidental shaves. Clippers are also good to trim the fur around the paws or the hygiene areas. For dogs that like to fidget, get a table arm to secure your dog in position. With the right tools, you can cut your dog’s fur the way you want to. If you find this a chore, you can also send your dog to Wagging Tails for basic or full grooming, but make sure you do so every 1.5 to 2 months.
Snappy Dogs
Some dogs are snappy, so whether it’s cutting their nails, fur or even cleaning their ears (which should all be done regularly), some of them absolutely hate it. They can get aggressive and may want to bite. A good grooming table (or the grooming table arm above) can be useful to keep them at bay. You may want to consider getting your dog a muzzle. This helps them remain calm and also avoids unnecessary bites.
Dental Care
No grooming is complete without brushing their teeth. Now, this should be done on a regular basis. We recommend doing it daily, especially if your dog eats wet food with the possibility of food getting stuck in between the teeth and gums. There are various types, including the finger brush which is less invasive, the regular dog toothbrush and then there are the toy versions that let them do it themselves (although we don’t think this is sufficient).
Shower Time
Now, many different articles will suggest different frequencies in bathing your dog. This heavily depends on so many conditions If you’re in a cooler, drier climate, it is said that your dog doesn’t need very frequent bathing, from a month to 6 months even. However, in Asia, because of the humidity, it is likely your dog will need a shower from every ten days or bi-monthly. If your dog suffers from allergens from being outdoors, then you should do it at least weekly. Some vets will advise you to bathe your dog twice a week if they have more serious skin issues and with medicated shampoo. Here are some tools to make shower time more thorough for your dog.
Blow Dry
Towel drying is never enough. Especially if your dog has thicker undercoats or fur. It is important to ensure that they are dried properly and thoroughly to avoid unnecessary fungal infections in harder to towel dry areas. A good hairdryer for them would be more effective. Make sure it’s not too hot for them though.
Celebratory Snack
And lastly, don’t forget to give your dog some Kuro Snacks when it’s all done, especially to reward good behavior! As the home groomer, you deserve a treat yourself.
We hope that has been helpful to you. For us, if it isn't obvious yet, we do recommend Wagging Tails. We’ve been a loyal customer of theirs for 2 years and would vouch for them for sure. Plus, your dog can indulge in some post-grooming Kuro Snacks. Don’t forget to ask! Check out their website or get in touch with Wagging Tails today or learn a little more about them via our Community page.
