Grooming – Benefits to Your Dog
Dog grooming – when you first think about it you’d be forgiven for believing that it’s just a matter of brushing your dog’s coat, but the truth is there are almost as many ways of grooming a dog as there are breeds of dog! While some need brushing, others need combing, and others again may need hand stripping, a slow dog grooming task that some find tedious while others find relaxing.
One thing that’s true of all dogs, though, is that no matter what kind of grooming your dog’s coat needs, it’s important that you do give him a regular grooming session.
Grooming leads to happy pets!
Please don’t fall into the trap of believing that dogs with short, smooth coats don’t need grooming – they do. The work isn’t as extensive as for those dogs that have long or curly coats, but dog grooming consists of so much more than just brushing and combing. The weekly grooming session should cover nail clipping, eye and ear checks for potential problems and, maybe one of the most important aspects of dog grooming, it helps create a close bond between you and your pet.
Before starting your grooming session, make sure you have your dog grooming equipment easily accessible. This includes shampoo and conditioner if you intend to bath your dog, brushes, combs, nail clippers, flea combs and any other specialist dog grooming equipment that your particular breed may need.
If you have a small dog, grooming is easiest if you teach your dog to stand on a table while being brushed and cared for. Large dogs can stand on a towel or mat.
Of course, dog owners like to see their canine companion looking his best but there are also some very important advantages to the dog that’s regularly groomed. Brushing helps promote healthy skin, his nails are kept neat making it not only easier and more comfortable for him to walk, but long nails can lead to dogs walking on their “heels”, a problem that can cause pain in later years. Checking his ears for mites and his coat for fleas and ticks also has its obvious advantages, as does checking his teeth. Some dogs also develop callused elbows through lying down, a problem that’s easily discovered while grooming and that can be helped by administering aloe cream.
When brushing a dog’s coat it’s important that you brush with the grain and not against it. If your dog has short, smooth hair, a shine conditioner added after his bath and the polished up with a chamois cloth can give him that extra touch that sets him apart from others of his breed.
It’s important to remember that you should avoid getting water and/or soap into a dog’s ear so in breeds where this is likely, cotton wool balls in the ears can be very helpful. These can later be used to clean the ears.
Remember, dog grooming is a task to be enjoyed rather than to be seen as a chore and, should you want to make the best job possible, learn which type of dog grooming equipment is needed for your particular breed or type of dog.
Tags: dog grooming, dogs
