Dog Grooming Basics

You need to become an expert! You need to master dog-brushing for the sake of your dog's health, and for your own pride as a dog owner. Not only does brushing make your dog's coat super-shiny, there are associated health benefits that many people don't know about. Get started today and you're dog with thank you.

There are a number of reasons for regularly brushing your dog's coat, and you really should understand the reasons for making this a priority in your dog care.

Eliminate uncomfortable tangles.
Get rid of skin problems.
Prevent parasite infestation.
Prevent smells.
Save money at the vet.
Eliminate loose pet hair around your home.

When you're brushing your dog, you need to be sure that you're brushing and checking every part of her body. Be sure that you're checking her ears, eyes, coat, skin, and anal area. You'll find that this all becomes almost automatic as you do it each time you brush her. Regularly scheduled times for grooming will get both you and your dog accustomed to the process. And you'll bond together each time you engage in grooming time.

If grooming is something you haven't done before, you may feel somewhat intimidated by the process. But once you've gotten into it, it becomes easy to do and easy to repeat. Here are some things you should know before you get started:

Make sure you have a surface with good traction, so your dog isn't sliding around while you groom her. Many folks like to put a rubber mat down on a firm table as their grooming area.
Train your dog that grooming time as sit-still time. Whenever your dog is in your grooming location, she must sit still. If you're working with a puppy -- or if you've not yet trained your dog to sit still on command -- do your grooming (and training) in short sessions until the sit-still instinct is fully honed in your dog.
This should be a fun, exciting, bonding time for you and your dog. But don't allow it to get boisterous, as this will interfere with the grooming and with your careful inspection of all parts of your dog's body.
Your dog will to be obedient, sitting still throughout the grooming process if you'll consistently repeat yourself, correct mistakes, and praise her when she gets it right. Maintain a smooth, even tone and don't hit her for her mistakes.
Be sure, when you've completed the grooming session, to give your dog a treat or effusive verbal praise. She should be rewarded somehow for good behavior.
Bathroom breaks before and after the grooming session will make it easier for her to sit still while you're grooming her.

OK, you've got your location, and you know -- and your dog knows -- that she has to sit still for the grooming. Time to learn the rules of grooming -- they vary depending on the type of coat your dog has. If you're unsure what your dog needs, you can ask an experienced breeder or groomer. Any dog should be groomed at least weekly, and some of them need grooming three or more times per week.

Keep these points in mind:

Brush your dog's hair well before you bathe her. It's much more difficult to get knots out when the hair is wet. And those knots can also interfere with your rinsing out all the shampoo from her coat.
To help prevent skin irritation, start brushing at the back and work your way forward.
Develop a habit -- a system, a routine -- of the manner in which you groom. With a system in place, you'll be more likely to groom and inspect every part of your dog's body.
When you brush around your dog's limbs, hold them at a natural angle.
Remember that there is an undercoat of hair which must also be addressed. In short, the hair that you see on the surface is not all the hair there is.
Be firm with your dog. Keep her under control. Praise her when she's being obedient. Never hit her.

You can also learn more advanced techniques as you go along. If your dog has long, dense, or curly hair, you should keep in mind that brushing her surface hair doesn't get out all the knots -- you need to be sure you're not missing the hair that is closest to her skin.

Begin at the bottom of the back leg to lift the hair up. Brush each part of the leg, then do the body and belly. Keep an eye on your comb as you work, making sure you don't miss any hidden knots.

Work carefully around the eyes, as you wouldn't want to do any damage. The stomach areas and hock are also particularly sensitive.

Be sure you have the right tools to do the job properly. If your dog has a smooth coat, use a rubber brush to loosen the hairs. A bristle brush works well for getting red of dead skin and improving circulation. For added shine, you can even use a chamois cloth.

Dogs who have shorter coats will need a slicker brush and a bristle brush. And dogs with longer hair may well require a comb to deal with stubborn knots. A pin brush and comb will be needed for curly haired.

Dog Grooming Basics

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