How to Groom Your Dog

No one likes to go out with excessive amounts of dog hair on them. It is now spring and frankly, your dog is going to shed quite a bit. It is important that you groom your dog at least three times a week. Many dogs have a winter coat that they are shedding. The upshot is that you can groom your dog outside so that a minimal amount of hair is inside the house or on you. Even if your dog is an outside dog, it is still favorable to groom him/her at least once a week. Not only does this keep your dog looking nice, but it serves another more healthy purpose. Certainly, you can forego all of these steps and buy a furminator or similar dog vacuum. This is helpful in extracting the largest amount of dog hair in the least amount of time. However, When you groom your dog, you are touching your dog's fur and skin. The drawbacks of a vacuum for fur removal are that you will not be able to quickly detect any changes in your dog's skin and fur. Additionally, your dog may not enjoy such a contraption and it will not be as positive for the dog. , When you hand groom your dog, There are many things that you can ascertain about your dog's health. You will be able to identify cysts and any growths that might be on your dog's skin. You will be able to locate any sores, rashes and even ticks that are on your dog. This will ensure that you alleviate the problem immediately. Here are some simple steps for grooming your dog.

First, your dog needs to loosen his/her fur. This is much like exfoliating our skin. A rubber or plastic large toothed brush is the most effective. Massage your dog in large circles. This will loosen the dead fur. If you don't have one of these handy tools, you can form your hand into a claw shape and massage the dog in a circular motion. This is not as good as a rubber tool such as a "zoom groom," but it is better than nothing.

A curry comb is best for the next step. The curry comb is a thin (usually metal) comb which has small fine teeth. Gently comb your dog from the shoulders to the tail. Be gentle on the legs. Do not comb against the fur. The stomach area is also quite sensitive. If you must extract burs or untangle fur from the ears, be especially gentle. The fur is quite light there and their skin is delicate.

The next step is to be done with a hard bristled brush. This brush's bristles are quite close together. This will help slick down the dog's fur. This brush is excellent at getting more fur off of your dog. You can also use this brush on carpet or other fibrous materials.

To clean the ears, get a baby wipe or cotton ball. There is a special kind of low-grade alcohol for the cotton ball. Alternatively, you can use a baby wipe or even just water. The secret is to reach as far down your dog's ear canal as possible. This will not hurt your dog and will flush out any possible infection. Your dog might not like this very much. You can use your finger to reach down into your dog's ear canal. Many dogs with floppy ears are prone to infections, so ear cleaning once a week is a very good idea. You may also want to wipe off the dog's paws. Clean in between their toes, just in case there is something stuck there. You can do this with the same thing that you clean his/her ears with.

When you are finished grooming your dog, run your hands slowly over your dog. Feel his/her fur. Gently massage his/her muscles. This will let you detect any unusual lumps or defects. This is also quite relaxing for the dog.

Most of those dog perfumes are not healthy for the dog. They have silicone in them which is not good for the dog to ingest. If you must use a spray, EarthBath has some natural fragrances which are not harmful for your dog. And, your dog will, invariably lick him/herself. Be forewarned, though, after you put such a smell on your dog, he/she might want to roll all over the floor. If the dog cologne has an oil or water base, you might have to brush your dog all over again.

When you are finished, you can use the curry comb to clean out your other grooming tools. The long thin comb is ideal for this.

I hope that these tips help you keep your dog clean. It will not stop your dog from shedding. But, it will help you manage it and make him/her a better looking dog.