One of the most important, and neglected, elements of dog ownership is grooming. Although dogs need to be bathed and groomed less frequently than humans, this does not give you the excuse to ignore the issue altogether! Not everyone can afford the sometimes exorbitant costs of a dog grooming service so we thought we’d give you some tips that can be used at home.
Bathing
While dogs aren’t quite as bad as cats when it comes to avoiding water, they don’t enjoy bath time and neither do their owners! You need to get him used to the bath in order to stop him running away and soaking the house. Dogs need to be bathed at least once a month and you should always use a soap-free shampoo. If your dog has a skin condition, he may need a special shampoo that will be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Hair
Unlike bathing, dogs like having their hair brushed. Long haired dogs should ideally have their hair brushed daily to prevent tangling. Dogs with medium hair should be brushed a couple of times a week while you can wait several weeks between brushing sessions with short-haired dogs. It is a good idea to brush your dog’s hair regularly during shedding season as this prevents excess shedding of hair which may preserve your carpet and furniture!
Dogs such as poodles need a bi-weekly or monthly hair cut while other breeds require less frequent attention. While you can attend a dog grooming class, we recommend that you allow a professional to handle this particular task.
Nails
This is another form of dog grooming that pets loathe because of the pain they feel during the procedure. The paw of a dog is a very sensitive area and most dogs gain an aversion to nail trimming because their first experience is a negative one. Contact a veterinary technician and find out the correct nail trimming procedure to avoid this issue. Once you do it correctly, no pain will be caused and your dog will not dread it any longer. Aim to trim your dog’s nails once a month.
Ears
Allow a dog’s ears to become dirty and they will become filled with nasty bacteria. Most owners will get away with a general ear cleaning routine during bathing but if your dog has a chronic ear disease, he may need daily attention. Dogs with long or floppy ears are more likely to have issues so if any problems arise, contact a veterinarian and get medication and special ear cleaners.
While dog grooming seems to be a chore, it is an essential element of responsible ownership. If nothing else, think of it as a way to spend more quality time with your beloved dog!
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My name is Allison, and I love writing and my wonderful dogs. In this article I gave some great tips on how to take good care of your dog at home, but if you are unable to do this for any reason, you can always schedule an appointment for some cheap dog grooming in Scottsdale, AZ at the Scottsdale Pet Hotel.