Are you looking for ways to keep your pup looking and feeling their best? Grooming is an important part of taking care of your pup, but it can be expensive to have the grooming done professionally. Luckily, there are several ways to provide your pup with quality grooming at home. Here are 5 tips for at-home dog grooming from your friend at Ina J Photography, your go-to source for pet photography in Canberra.
Every dog has different grooming needs. My dogs James, Pippa and Rosie require brushing and also trimming around the face when their hair grows long. They also require nail clippings regularly and also checking and cleaning of the teeth and ears.
Almost all dogs will need to be bathed, brushed, and have their nails trimmed. So here are my top 5 tips for keeping your pooch happy, healthy, and well-groomed!
1. Treats, treats and more treats!
Grooming should be a fun time for you and your pet. It’s a pawsome time to bond which each other. By infusing a little fun and using treats before, during, and after grooming, you will help your pet see that being spiffed up can be enjoyable!
When you’re starting out, focus on one task at a time to keep grooming sessions short. Stay calm, give lots of positive reinforcement, and keep your dog as unrestrained as, safely, possible. Two out of three of my pups don't like getting brush but with some use of treats one of them gets used to it.
2. Know your dog’s coat type and the right grooming approach to use.
Did you know not all dogs should have their hair or fur cut? It’s true. Huskies, Labradors, border collies and malamutes have coats that don’t need to be cut as regular dog grooming maintenance.
Long-haired dogs like Havanese, Maltese, Shih-tzu and Cavoodles (or any of the oodles breeds) tend to need more brushing.
No matter the breed of dog, you’ll want to stay on top of brushing, especially during the shedding season.
If you have questions about your dog’s coat, consult a groomer to chat about how to best take care of your pup’s fur.
3. Get the appropriate tools you need
Think of everything you personally use for basic hygiene and grooming. I use brushes, shampoo, nail clippers etc.
You will need hygiene products and dog-friendly tools like pet shampoo & conditioner, ear cleaner, doggy wipes etc.
Remember, keep it simple and fun! No need to stress yourself and Fido out with things like nail clipping and more advanced stuff like shearing and cutting. Might be best to leave that to the pros.
4. Brush your dog regularly.
Even if you aren’t bathing Fido, it’s important to keep their fur or hair maintained.
Brushing regularly has many benefits such as detangling, preventing matting and keeping the coat and skin healthy. Brushing can make less work for you too. You’ll spend less time vacuuming, lint rolling and swiffering and less visits to the groomer.
5. Use a shampoo that's specifically designed for pets
Your pet’s skin has a different pH than yours. That’s why it’s wise to use dog-safe products only, including shampoo, conditioner and any other product. Dog skin can become irritated if you use human shampoo.
There are plenty of dog-approved products on the market. Talk to your vet or groomer for suggestions, especially if you need to deal with anything like itchiness or skin allergies
When to hire a professional…
Not every dog is great with at-home grooming and not every dog parent is great (or has the time) to groom their pet. For me, my little Rosie just hates being touched around the face so I have to take her to a groomer to get professionally groomed.
Here are some reasons you’ll want to seek out professional grooming services:
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When your pup is matted and needs professional help
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If your dog is super-stressed getting their nails trimmed, ears cleaned, etc.
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Your dog has hair that needs special upkeep
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You’ve fallen behind on at-home brushing and need professional help
Looking for a groomer? My go-to is the Dawg Studio or Hooves and Hounds in Queanbeyan.
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