Keeping Your Dog Looking Good

Dogs are not only man's best friend, they are part of the family. Professional grooming can be expensive, but most basic grooming can be done at home with little or no trouble. With a few inexpensive items, you can save money and keep your dog looking nice and feeling good between trips to the groomer.Bathing

If you find yourself with a squirming, whining pooch at bathtime, it's likely because your pet feels insecure in the tub. Avoid difficulty down the road by beginning a bathing routine with your dog at an early age. How often to bathe depends on your dog's lifestyle. Dogs that spend more time outdoors will be dirtier and may pick up more parasites, prompting more frequent baths. Those that spend time in the house won't deal with these issues as often and therefore should be bathed less frequently. But in either case, don't bathe your dog too often. Dogs need the natural oils in their fur to remain healthy, and over-bathing or using the wrong type of shampoo may strip out these oils.

When determining how often to bath a dog a good rule of thumb is to bath dogs with a thick coat no more than once every eight to 10 weeks. With their easily matted hair, for instance, poodles should be bathed as often as six weeks. Dogs with course hair should be bathed every four to six weeks. These guidelines will vary from one dog to the next.Trimming the Nails

Even if you aren't giving your pooch the full grooming regimen, his claws may need clipped frequently. Dogs that live indoors will not wear down their claws naturally and may require clippings more often than outdoor pets. Claw trimming should begin during the first few months of the animal's life to accustom your pet to the routine. Specialty cutters such as the scissor cutter should be purchased from a pet supply store to make the task easier. Most of these cutters have a guard on them to help the groomer avoid cutting into the quick. Hold the cutters at an angle and cut small pieces of the nail off little by little to avoid cutting too much.

Dogs with extremely hard nails, such as Siberian Huskies, may require additional tools to aid the process. One popular tool used by owners is the Pedi Paws system that works by grinding the nails down a bit at a time. A similar nail-grooming tool is sold by Dremel.Brushing

Just as with other grooming methods, brushing your dog should begin at a young age. You can find specialized brushes for different types of fur at pet stores or in the pet supply aisle of your local supermarkets. Brush with the direction of the hair instead of against it. Brushing against the grain could hurt the animal or cause too much hair to be removed.

Another good investment for the at home groomer is a flea comb. Flea combs have short, closely spaced teeth that aid in the removal of fleas and their eggs. Even if your pet has been placed on a treatment for fleas, he may still get an occasional parasite on his coat.

You may not be an expert groomer but having these tools will save money and keep your pet looking great between visits.