Dog Grooming Grooming can be a special bonding time between you and your dog. You can also use this time to check your dog’s health. Look carefully for signs of fleas, ticks, skin irritations, lumps or painful spots. Check your dog's eyes, ears and teeth regularly. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything unusual or concerning. Dog Grooming basics • Longhaired dogs generally need to be groomed daily while shorthaired breeds may only need to be groomed weekly. • Selecting a time when your dog is calm and you have adequate time will help make grooming a pleasurable experience for both you and your dog. • Get your puppy accustomed to grooming early in life by handling your puppy often and touching its ears and paws. Be gentle and reassure your puppy constantly. • Some areas of your dog’s body may be more sensitive to combing and brushing than others. Be aware of these areas and be gentle. Brushing and Combing • Regular brushing and combing will remove loose and matted hair and help keep the skin free of disease and parasite. Natural oils will be more evenly distributed to give your dog a nice shiny coat. Comb in the direction of hair growth to remove tangles. • Fine-toothed dog combs are used for soft, thin or silky coats. Medium-toothed combs are used for normal coats. Wide-toothed combs are best for heavy and thick coats. • Flea combs are very fine and are used for removing parasites and flea dirt from the coat. They may also be used to comb the hair around the eyes. • Rakes are ideal for removing dead undercoat hair in larger dogs with coarser, thicker coats. • Brush in the direction of hair growth, beginning at the head, and work towards the tail and down the legs. Brushing removes loose hair and daily brushing of longhaired and double-coated dogs removes dead hair from the undercoat to help prevent matting. Slicker brushes are ideal for this purpose but are also a good general brush for all breeds if used lightly. • Pin brushes, with rounded tips to prevent damage to the skin, are good for dogs with long, fine hair such as Silky Terriers. They can also be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth • Bristle brushes are good for dogs with very long coats, such as the Afghan, and help add shine to the short coat. • Grooming mitts are also good for shorthaired breeds to add polish and shine once the loose hairs are removed. Nail Trimming Keep your dog’s nails regularly trimmed by using nail clippers specially designed for dogs. Only clip the tip of each nail, being careful to stop short of the quick where the blood vessels are. Ask your vet to show you the correct technique the first time, especially if your dog has dark nails. Human toenail clippers are ideal for puppy nails. (More Dog Grooming Products) Bathing Bath your dog as necessary with dog shampoos formulated for dogs. Frequency depends on the breed of your dog, the characteristics of its coat and its environment. Frequency of bathing should also take into consideration whether you are using a general shampoo, a medicated shampoo for specific skin conditions or a flea shampoo. There are also crème rinses available for dogs some of which may be medicated. (More Dog Grooming Products)

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