Best Unknown Products for You and Your Dog

Two hounds will educate you pretty fast about what works when it comes to fast, effective grooming. I have found some wonderful, relatively unknown products that are affordable and create a grooming regiment that covers all major bases.

On a weekly basis, I try to target the following: skin, teeth, ears. In addition to these products described below, I brush my dogs' coats and also use a massage brush with little rubber fingers on its pad. They love it and it seems to relax them much like a massage relaxes me. Sometimes, they'll just go off and take a nap when we're done. I can relate to that,too!

I love "Pet Kiss Plaque and Tartar Control." It comes in various sizes, all affordable. The 8 oz. size runs $8.99, the 16 oz. one is 14.99. It lasts a long time and all you do is squirt one tablespoon in the dog's water bowl. It's completely natural, has no alcohol, chemicals or preservatives. It's also odor-free. It breaks down any tartar or plaque buildup and leaves dogs with fresh-smelling breath.

My next recommendation is "Ear-Clens". This is a small jar containing 90 thin pads soaked in an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal solution. It runs $5.59. I use one pad for each ear and gently wipe the reachable parts of each ear. It breaks down any waxy build-up and I have found it to be really effective in warding off ear mites. The coating it provides seems to be like an invisible barrier that makes it too slippery for mites,etc. to get a grip on anything.

Finally, I love waterless shampoos. I've got two hounds and though you may cringe when I tell you this, in eight years they've had only one bath. That was after a run in with a raccoon that they subsequently, shall we say, disposed of in a particularly odorous way. They are short-coated dogs, shed very little, and are intent on self-grooming. That along with the waterless shampoo is all they've ever needed . Friends who visit often remark that they're amazed there is no doggie smell around the dogs or in my home. The product is called "Quickshine Waterless Shampoo" and it leaves coats shiny and fresh smelling. I usually spray it on and then gently brush their coats. For 8 oz. of this product, you can expect to pay $4.99

For just about $25.00 you can treat your dogs to some canine luxury . You'll take such pride when your grooming is done in knowing you've done something great for them that makes them look swell,too!