Dog Grooming

When you own a dog it is important to keep the dog groomed to make sure it remains healthy. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to incur the added expense of bringing the dog to a grooming salon all the time. You can easily do most, if not all, of the grooming at home. If your dog has a long-haired coat, you should brush it on a regular basis – at least several times a week. A dog with a double coat needs to have the coat combed to prevent tumbleweeds from forming and to hasten the shedding process. Even dogs with short hair do need to be brushed and combed regularly.

You do have to choose the right brush for your dog. For a fine, silky coat, use a soft brush. It is best to start grooming the dog when it is a puppy so that it will get accustomed to the routine. If the dog’s hair is long and has tangles in it, you have to be careful so that you don’t pull on the tangled hair too much and irritate the skin. Start with the outside of the tangle first and then gradually comb it out, working inwards.

You can buy all the grooming tools you need at a pet supply store. Before you buy any of the products, though, consult with your vet or do some research on the dog breed you have to find out what products are best for that breed. There are shampoos and gels that are breed specific, but there are some general ones you can choose as well.

A basic dog grooming kit for a long-haired dog would contain a soft wire brush and a comb that has both fine and coarse teeth. You should also have an oil-based conditioner that you apply to the dog’s coat before brushing or combing. A mat comb is essential in this kit so that you have the right tool for combing out tangles because you use a sawing motion to clear the areas where the fur has matted together.

For a short-haired dog, such a grooming kit would contain a slicker or flexible-pin brush. If the dog is bony, you should use a brush with soft bristles and comb any feathery hairs on the legs. You need a coarse rag or a glove with nubs init for cleaning the face.