Where to begin when grooming your dog
Grooming your dog is an important part of their overall health, no matter what breed they are. While they might not look like they need a bath or brush, you’ll be surprised to find out they really do. If you know nothing about it, the thought of grooming can be overwhelming. Lucky for you, I’ve gathered some great pointers on how to groom your dog!
Get to know the needs of their breed
Some dogs, like poodles and shitzus, need frequent trims and brushing all over. This is to keep their fur clean and free of tangles and mats. Other dogs like our Siberian Husky, Harley, need only a good brushing and trim of their nails and paws. For mixed breeds or mutts, you can look up similar dog breeds and find out how they need to be groomed. If your dog needs frequent grooming, make sure that they receive it either by doing it yourself or bringing them to a groomer.
Start early
If you have a puppy at home, it’s good to start grooming as early as possible. When Isla was young, I would brush her and check her nails every week. With plenty of experience being handled and groomed, Isla is now calm when I do it. Getting your puppy used to being groomed will be very helpful when they grow up to be too big to handle easily.
Make it a positive experience!
We make bath time fun for kids with things like toys and games, so why not do the same for dogs? When grooming your dog, give them plenty of treats and praise when they’re cooperating. If there is a part of the experience where they are least comfortable, be prepared to feed them many treats to make up for it!
Be mindful of their needs
As you work to create a positive grooming experience, watch your pup for signs of distress. Give yourself plenty of time for grooming and make sure your pup gets breaks in between. This will help them remain calm throughout the process. If they absolutely refuse to be groomed, don’t despair. You can always try again tomorrow when they’re in a better mood.
Catch them when they’re calm
I find that after a good long walk at one of their favourite parks, my dogs are exhausted. This is a perfect time for me to sneak by and clip their nails without protest. To help keep your dog calm during the grooming process, try exercising them first to tire them out.
Get the right tools
Circling back to my first point about the needs of different breeds, make sure you have the right tools for grooming your dog. Dogs like huskies need a brush that reaches their undercoat, to keep it from forming mats. For Australian Shepherds, like Isla, you need a long toothed comb to brush out her outer coat. If you use the wrong brush, you’ll be scratching your head wondering why your dog still has mats in their fur or is still leaving trails of fluff around the house.
We groom ourselves every day, and our pups need to be groomed too. The more often you can give your dog a good brush, the nicer they’ll look and the healthier they’ll be! Looking for more tips on doggie hygiene? Check out these tips for how to make bathing your dog easier for both of you!