How to groom your dog at home: A complete guide for pet owners

Grooming your dog at home is not only an opportunity to make him look nice, it is very much the beginning of ensuring your dog's health, hygiene and happiness! Regular grooming is a great way to help prevent skin conditions, catch problems before they become a problem, and bond with your dog! Of course it is nice to have the convenience of using services at a groom shop, but really many things can be accomplished at home, safely and effectively, if you are willing to take the time (and have proper techniques).

This article looks at the complete grooming process horizon to horizon, and provides practical tips and tricks for you feel comfortable grooming your dog at home - no matter the breed, coat and history of your dog.

Why is Home Grooming Important

Home grooming will utilize the same procedures and principles as salon grooming - after all, it is more than pwyting! By grooming your dog at home on a regular basis will do this:

• Actively prevents matting and tangles (which can irritate or be painful for your dog).
• Lessens shedding on your dog, less hair and dirt in your house.
• Maintains your dog's coat and skin health by distributing your dog's natural oils.
• Provides an excellent opportunity to check for lumps! ticks! fleas! skin infections!
• Trust and bonding by regular handling.
• The regular home grooming will maintain your dog's hygiene in between professional groomer appointments, reduce your grooming expenses, and HELP YOU DOG HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WHEN HE GETS GROOMED.

The Basic Grooming Kit

Before you start grooming you will have to find some BASIC TOOLS. Having the right tools will help you the most effective and safe grooming procedure!

Your basic grooming kit should include:

1. a brush or a comb (to each breed and coat type) - slicker brush/bristle bush / de-shedder tool.
2. dog shampoo (specifically for dogs to not have adverse affect to skin),
3. towels for drying your dog (after bath).
4. a set of dog nail clippers (either scissor type or guillotine type made for pets).
5. styptics powder (for when you had nail to short, to help bleeding stop).
6. ear cleaner specially formulated for dogs. 
7. cotton balls/pads (for cleaning dog's ears).
8. dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste (do not use human toothpaste).
9. dog clippers or scissors (mainly for trimming purposes on long-haired dogs)

Step 1: Brushing

- Why It is Important: It removes dirt, loose hair from the dog, and tangle. It stimulates the dog's skin, and allows (to help distribute) natural oils to maintain shiny, healthy coats.

- How Often to Brush: For short-haired dogs, once per week. For long haired dogs once a day or every couple of days. Double-coated dogs should be brushed several times per week, especially during shedding time.

- How to Brush: Remember - go slow, let him sniff the brush/pick up the brush! Brush in the direction of the hair with slow, relaxed slow strokes. Patience is a MUST with tangles; however, for matted areas you will try to use either a de-matting comb, or your fingers and try and work through them as gently as you can. Be mindful of sensitive spots; that may include the areas behind ear/s, if your dog has droopy ears, and make sure you are aware of skin or (for tail/tail) care.

Step 2: Bathing

- How Often to Bathe: Rule of thumb about once very 4-6 weeks unless dog gets dirty!!! Bathing too much is bad; too few bath, not much of a deal. Bathing too often dehydrates the dog's skin, too.

- Washing Tips:

• Brush before washing. This is not only a good grooming tip, but it also helps to decrease the amount of hair that ends up in your bath and will help with rinsing during the washing portion.
• Use lukewarm water. You can test the water with your wrist.
• Wet your dog down thoroughly. Make sure to not spray water into their ears, eyes, or nose.
• Put dog shampoo on your dog. Lather and work the shampoo onto the dog starting at their neck and working your way down.
• Rinse thoroughly. Make sure you rinse them completely, shampoo left over can irritate their skin.
• Dry your dog off. Use a towel or a dog-friendly blow dryer on cool, low setting.
• Pro Tip: Keep treats handy for your dog. This will help to reward them for calm behaviour during and after the wash.

Step 3: Nail Trimming

- Why It is Important: Dogs with longer nails can suffer pain, posture issues, and/or infection.

- How Often: Every 3 to 4 weeks depending on your dog's activity level.

- How to Trim: Make sure you have the proper dog nail clippers. The clipping edges should be sharp. Hold the dog's paw gently, and apply direct downward pressure to the dog's paw to extend the nail. Clip small amounts at once. When trimming, be sure to avoid cutting the quick, which is the pink area of the nail. The quick contains nerves and blood vessels. If you do cut the quick, styptic powder can be applied to stop bleeding. Pro Tip: If your dog is yippy or nervous, trim one nail or two nails at a time. Work up to all of the nails; you do not have to trim all of the nails in a single session.

Step 4: Ear Cleaning

- Why It is Important: Dogs with floppy ears, or a lot of hair, can be prone to ear infections.

- How Often: Check weekly and clean as bond or appropriate.

- How to Clean:

• Use a dog-friendly ear cleaner.
• Apply the ear cleaner to a cotton ball or pad to use for wiping.
• Clean around the ear canal and avoid inserting anything too deep into the ear.
• Wet the inside of the ear flap and the ear canal.
• Watch for redness, odour and/or scratching which can indicate that an infection exists.