Contrary to what many pet owners believe, grooming your dog properly is actually fairly important for your dog’s overall health. Proper grooming can prevent some serious health problems, most of which involve irritation of the skin. It’s imperative that you learn how to groom your dog properly, which can be accomplished by following a few simple steps.
The first step in grooming your dog is to select your grooming tools. If your dog is a short-haired breed, you may be better off with a short-bristled, coarse grooming brush. This will allow you to make smooth, fast strokes, which are best for removing excess fur from your short-haired dog’s coat. If you have a long-haired breed of dog, you will most likely want to use a long-bristled, softer grooming brush. This will allow you to remove excess long hair from your dog’s coat, without many issues with tangled fur. Depending on your breed of dog, you will have several different brush options available.
After you have selected the type of brush you wish to use to groom your dog, it’s then time to begin the grooming process. The best way to ensure that grooming your dog goes smoothly, is to designate a significant amount of time to grooming your dog (especially the first time). Though most dogs are very succeptible to being groomed, there are some dogs that may be nervous the first time you groom them. To help prevent this, try to initiate a grooming session with your dog when they are relaxed (such as after a long walk). If your dog still seems nervous, try introducing a treat or a toy in order to maintain their attention.
When grooming your dog, try to move from “head to tail” when brushing with a grooming tool. Start with your dog’s face, brushing behind the ears, and carefully around the front of your dog’s muzzle. Work downward on your dog’s neck, keeping short, even strokes with the brush. After you are done with the front part of your dog, begin working over your dog’s back. Start with the top of your dog’s back, working slowly downward. It’s very important to keep brushing in the direction of your dog’s fur, unless you encounter a significant tangle. When you begin to reach the underside of your dog, it’s recommended that you exercise a certain level of caution. Some dogs might become startled when their underside is groomed. To prevent this, be sure to speak to your dog in a low, reassuring tone of voice.
Once you reach your dog’s tail, try to be as gentle as possible. If you have a long-haired dog, there is a good chance that the fur on their tail could be tangled. If you encounter a tangle, use slow, even strokes to remove it. If this is unsuccessful, you may try using a pet conditioning product in order to detangle your dog’s fur. Once you are done brushing your dog from head to tail, don’t forget to give your dog a significant amount of praise. Grooming your dog can be an important process that is not only good for your dog’s health, it will help you to bond with your dog as well.
2 Responses to “How to groom your dog”
I observed this AM that there were little white worms in my dog’s stool. He is a 4 year Maltease. Can I treat this or do we need to see a vet for treating this and a proper diagnosis?
Hey if I were you, I would call your vet, and they may want to do a stool sample, which means you need to take the dogs recent stool and put it in a bag and bring it to them the same day, or if you are seeing them tomorrow, put the stool in the fridge. They will test it, and tell you if you need to give your dog medicine. Hope That Helps!!!!!