Dog Grooming Tips (dog care tips)

Whether you like it or not, and you should, you need to groom your pet.  Grooming is more than just cleaning your dog; it’s a bonding moment between pet and owner!  While you can pay someone to do it, you can save yourself some money and spend time grooming your friend, yourself.  It isn’t that difficult, unless you have a 100+ pound dog.  Even then, where there is a will, there is a way!(dog care tips)
Grooming your dog is a great habit to get into.  Begin the ritual when you first get your dog and you will both learn to enjoy it.  Introducing anything new will be scary for him which will result in anxiety and problems for you.  However, once you both get into the swing of it and stick to it, grooming your dog regularly will be easy and fun.(dog care tips)

Brushing Your Dog’s Hair(dog care tips)
Brushing your dog’s coat is a way to keep it healthy and shiny.  It stimulates hair follicles and massages his skin.  Brushing helps to control dander, prevents shedding, and feels great!  You can brush your dog anytime and you can never brush him “too much.”  Brush your long-haired dog every day to prevent tangles.(dog care tips)

• Brush your medium-haired dog every week to prevent matting.
• Brush your short-haired dog every month.

These are minimum guidelines for brushing your dog.  Most dogs love being brushed so brush them as often as you like.  Brushing more during shedding season will really help to control the amount of hair you find all over your house.(dog care tips)

Clipping  Your Dog’s Nails
Clipping your dog’s nails can be a stressful event for both of you.  If your dog isn’t accustom to having his feet touched and his nails clipped, he may resist it; resulting in a dangerous situation for you both.  The best way to approach nail clipping is to take your dog to the vet when you first get him and have him show you the proper way to clip his nails.  If you have the proper tools on hand and the know-how, you can clip them regularly.  Each time you do it, it will become easier for you both.(dog care tips)

• Sharp nail clippers made for claws
• Talc or baking powder to stop bleeds

If you still feel uncomfortable using a nail clipper, you can try a rotary tool that grinds the nail down to a blunt point.  Nail clipping is important and necessary!(dog care tips)

Bathing Your Dog
Bathing your dog can be fun for both of you!  If you begin bathing your dog as a puppy and set strict rules for him, bathing can be easy.  If there are no ground rules and your dog is scared of getting into the tub, it can be quite chaotic!  Dogs should (ideally) be bathed anywhere from once a week to once a month.  I know lots of little “designer” dogs that get frequent baths with perfumed shampoos and rinses.  I also, know lots of farm dogs that might jump into the pond a couple of times per year.  Unless your dog gets into something terrible or has a skin condition, not bathing isn’t the end of the world.(dog care tips)

Ear Care
Dog’s ears can be really clean or really disgusting.  Dogs with perky ears like German Shepherds aren’t as prone to as many infections as floppy-eared dogs, like labs and bloodhounds.  Bacteria and yeast thrive in warm, moist environments.  Floppy ears provide plenty of darkness and hat for growing these pesky intruders.(dog care tips)

If your dog doesn’t have many ear problems, cleaning them out at bath time will suffice.  Sadly, some dogs suffer with chronic ear infections which call for daily cleanings.  It is important to remember to carefully dry your dog’s ears out each time they become wet.  Whether he was swimming, running through puddles, out in the rain, or taking a bath; dry those ears!(dog care tips)