How to Groom Your Dog Between Trips to the Dog Groomer
Grooming your dog at home between trips to the groomer can seem like a scary task but doing regular grooming at home can not only make life easier for your dog groomer, but it can also ease your pet’s grooming anxiety, getting them accommodated with bathing and brushing.
Why should I do home dog grooming?
It may seem unnecessary to groom your dog after paying for a professional to do it, but the best comparison is that you wash and brush your hair between trips to the hairdresser, so why should this be any different with your dog? Regular grooming between trips to the salon will not only improve your dog’s health, but it will also aid in their grooming sessions.
If your pooch has a longer or curlier coat, it is likely that their coat becomes knotted and tangled through things like walks, wind, and friction between surfaces such as your sofa or floors, not to mention the dirt that their hair picks up from the ground or floor.
If these knots are left for too long, they can become unmanageable, and your groomer will more than likely have to shave these off. If not shaved, these knots will pull on your dog’s skin, causing them discomfort. Even if the groomer doesn’t shave these knots away, your dog will feel uncomfortable having to get these massive knots brushed out.
To add, regular bathing to remove dirt and grime will aid with your dog’s skin health, preventing dry, itchy skin that will leave your pooch feeling poorly.
We’d recommend home grooming your dog as early as possible, starting with brushing. With very young puppies, you can use a toothbrush to get them used to the feeling of brushing without damaging their skin or coat and running an electric toothbrush along their body can get them used to the vibrations of a clipper.
There are 4 areas of grooming that you can do at home:
- Bathing
- Brushing
- Oral Care
- Paw Care
How do I bathe my dog at home?
When you bathe your dog at home, always make sure that you are using dog shampoo. Dog shampoo and human shampoo contain different pH balances, with dogs needing a more neutral pH balance. Using a human shampoo can disrupt this balance, making a dog’s skin pH more acidic, giving them skin issues.
It’s also beneficial to get a shampoo that’s specific to your dog’s coat type to avoid damaging their coat between regular grooming sessions.
If they have:
- A curly/wool coat: get them a moisturising shampoo that’ll nourish their dry coat.
We recommend the
or the- A long coat: get them a smoothing or detangling shampoo to remove knots and tangles, leaving their coat silky and shiny.
We recommend the
- A short coat: get them a deep cleaning or de-shedding shampoo to remove grime and prevent shedding.
We recommend the
- A wire coat: get them a shampoo that does not soften the coat. This coat type is very specific and often groomers will hand strip them, by softening their coat, this process will be harder. Always consult your groomer on shampoos for this coat type.
We recommend the
- A smooth coat: get them a deshedding shampoo or a shiny coat shampoo to remove loose hair and create a gloss on this coat.
We recommend the
- A double coat: get them a deshedding shampoo. This breed sheds A LOT, so removing trapped, loose hairs is a must.
We recommended the
- A combination coat: get them a shampoo designed for long haired dogs, something detangling that’ll make their coat silky.
We recommend the
- A puppy coat: get them a gentle shampoo, that’s designed for puppies to aid with sensitive skin.
We recommend the
When you bathe your dog, make sure you read the instructions on the shampoo label to ensure you are diluting the product correctly. We’d recommend applying the shampoo using something like a sponge, massaging the shampoo in gently and then ensuring that the shampoo is completely rinsed out of the coat as any remaining shampoo can cause itching and flaking in the coat.
How do I brush my dog at home?
Often brushing your dog is one of the hardest parts of grooming at home but brushing your dog regularly is essential as it helps them get used to the feeling of being brushed, making your groomer’s life easier. Practice makes perfect and with time, your dog should feel more at ease around brushes.
One of the best methods for calming them when they’re brushed is positive reinforcement and giving treats. When the dog sits and allows you to brush them, reward them with kind words and a treat. They will then associate brushing with treats over time.
Getting the right brushes to suit your dog is key. For most dogs, slicker brushes are a great option for brushing. A
is perfect for longer coats and a will help with curlier coated breeds. A is great for smooth coats, short coats, and double coated breeds to remove loose hairs and finally, use a on puppies or dogs with sensitive skin.Canine Oral Care at home
Does your dog have smelly breath? This could be due to a lack of oral hygiene, and it is the first signs of gum disease in dogs. Cleaning your dog’s teeth is especially important if they are eating human food. We’d recommend brushing your dog’s teeth around once a week to maintain healthy gums and remove any build-up of plaque.
Using tooth gel is a great option for the dogs that don’t like a toothbrush.
requires no brushing, simply squeeze a few drops on to your dog’s teeth to remove plaque. The is also great, simply add some of the solution to your dog’s water bowl and watch their smelly breath fade away.If your dog is okay with tooth brushing, getting a toothbrush for dogs such as the or a is a quick and easy way to clean their teeth. Simply use with some tooth gel to remove stains and dirt from their teeth.
Paw Care at home
The final step to grooming your dog at home is paw care. The paws are one of the most sensitive areas of the dog, and often your pups won’t be happy with them being touched.
If you’re dog doesn’t get regular grooming, you may need to cut their nails at home. If a dog’s nails become too long, they can break causing splinters and other painful conditions. To add, they can also cause arthritis and walking issues as the dog’s foot is not positioned correctly.
When trimming a dog’s nail, the key thing to note is that you mustn’t “cut the quick”. The quick is the part of the nails that supply the blood vessels and nerves to the claw. The best gauge for where to trim the nail is to cut at the bottom of the curve, where the nail is lighter.
You can do this using nail clippers, such as the
or a nail grinder, such as theAnother easy way to look after your dog’s paws, is by using paw balm. This is used to soften the paw pad, stopping them for becoming dry and cracking, The
is a fantastic option. Simply massage small amount into the paw pad. This can also be used on the nose!The next time you bring your dog home from the groomer’s, check in with them to see if they have any suggestions for your home grooming routine as they will know your dog’s coat better than anyone else!
Happy grooming!