Dog Grooming Basics

Grooming does not necessarily mean you have to spend a lot of money and take your dog to a dog groomer.  In fact, you can save a lot of money by learning to do a few grooming techniques on your dog on a regular basis.  A large majority of dog grooming can be done at home and the supplies are rather inexpensive.  All you need is a brush, a fine-toothed comb and a washcloth.  If you feel brave your vet or groomer can also show you how to properly trim toenails. 

The first step in grooming your dog is teaching the dog to accept this kind of attention.  It is best to start young with a puppy.  Teach them that it is okay for you to handle all parts of the dog’s body including legs, feet and nails.  Use your hands, a soft brush or a washcloth to groom a puppy.  If the puppy has a hard time standing still, you can put them on a placemat on your kitchen table.

Even if a dog has grown up ungroomed you can still teach them to accept this type of attention. Some older dogs love the attention and will be very happy to site and be brushed.  Many dogs are not very keen about having their nails clipped so this may be something you have to work on with the older dog. 

When grooming a long coated dog, you will need to be sure to brush their coats several times a week.  A dog that is double-coated will need to have dead hair combed from the coat to prevent chunks of hair from falling out around the house.  This also helps to speed up the normal shedding process.  A short-coated dog should be brushed or rubbed down a couple of times per week to keep the skin and coat healthy.

Dogs that have tangled long coats may require gentle work that is done in small bits of time.  This helps to prevent the skin from becoming irritated.  It also helps to keep the dog from becoming bored and frustrated through this long process.  In some instances you may have to have the dog clipped by a professional and start over on the coat. 

Dogs will shed almost year round.  Some breeds and coat types will shed more than others.  Just because the dog has a short coat doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t shed badly either.  Double-coated dogs will shed massively twice a year.  The shedding will begin at the haunches and work its way up until the whole body has shed.  You will notice tufts of hair that fall of the dog.  Full shedding can take over a month for some heavy coated breeds.

All dogs need grooming, but the level of grooming that a dog needs will depend on the breed and type of coat that the dog has.  Medium coated and short-coated dogs need periodic grooming to keep their coats and skin healthy.  Long coated dogs will need regular grooming to prevent mats and tangles.

If you need  more detailed information on dog grooming, take a look at Daniel Stevens' Dog Training Course. Your first call should be at Daniel's 6 Day Mini Course, that's FREE! This Course is Normally Worth $29, BUT You'll Receive it for FREE! This 6-Day Course will Teach YOU Secrets to Correcting Dog Behavior Problems Using REAL-LIFE scenarios, such as...

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Daniel Stevens has lots of Free extra bonuses with his full course and one of these is "Dog Grooming Made Easy". In this bonus book, he covers:

• Handling your dog and preparation for grooming.
• How to bathe your dog.
• Clipping your dog's nails.
• The best way to clean your dog's face, eyes & ears.
• Using clippers to maintain your dog's coat.
• Dental hygiene
• The best approach to take depending on your dog's coat type.
• The essential grooming equipment

Take a look, you won't be disappointed!  Learn More about Sit Stay Fetch Dog Training   Daniel has over 61,000 happy customers.