You may be one of the many who prefer to groom their own dog, rather than taking it to a groomer. Cost may be a concern. Or, you may feel that your dog would just be more comfortable if you did the grooming yourself. Whatever the case may be, you should make sure you do a thorough job. All dogs, especially long haired dogs, should be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. The mistake many people make is waiting until their dog looks like it needs to be a groomed, but by then it is usually a mess. A maintenance schedule is very important.
Tools You Will Need
- slicker brush
- metal comb
- undercoat rake (for dogs with a thick coat)
- grooming scissors
- nail clippers
- styptic powder (to stop bleeding when nails are cut too short- flour will work in a pinch)
- nail grinder (optional)
- rubber brush for bathing
- quality pet grooming clippers (@$100-150)
- hemostats
- ear powder (optional)
- shampoo, conditioner, conditioning spray or doggie perfume
- tub
- towel
- hair dryer
- grooming table (optional)
A Word About Temperament
Many people find it difficult to groom their own dog because they try to pamper their pet or sympathize with them when grooming. Your dog may cry, scream, growl, etc. when being groomed. Simply ignore the behavior and continue what you are doing in a matter-of-fact way. Do not do anything to harm your pet, and of course do not bend its body in an unnatural way, etc. You will be able to tell the difference between a yelp of pain and a cry for attention. Save the treats and attention for after the groom. If you find it too difficult to groom your own dog, don't feel like a failure. There are plenty of good groomers out there. Read about how to find one.
The Basics
If you have a grooming table, go ahead and put your dog on the table at this point. It is important to never leave your dog unattended on a grooming table, even for a second, to avoid injury. Every dog will need its nails trimmed. To avoid cutting down to the quick, do not cut the pink part of the nail- and if the nails are black, don't cut where the nails become dull (toward the back). If you do cut a nail too short, pack it with styptic powder or flour. If you prefer, you can grind your pet's nails with a nail grinder instead of using nail trimmers, or you can grind a bit to smooth them after you cut them.
Medium and long hair dogs need the hair trimmed from the pads of their feet, around their rectum, the corners of their eyes, and from their underarms (mats form here easily) and groin area. This is for sanitary reasons. These same dogs often have hair growing from their ear canal that needs to be removed to avoid infection. Lightly dust ear hair with ear powder and pull out with hemostats. Be sure to pull only the hair that is growing in the ear, and not around the ear. Your dog may or may not find this unpleasant, but as I stated earlier, it is necessary to avoid infection.
Brushing Your Dog and Giving the Haircut
Your dog should be brushed thoroughly. This means that you should be able to run the fine tooth end of the comb through your dog's hair from the skin outward, not just brush some spots or just the outer layer of hair. All mats must be cut out with the clippers. Brushing a medium and long haired dog at least once a week will prevent future mats from forming. It is extremely uncomfortable to a dog to have a mat brushed out, and it can cause bruising of the skin to allow it to remain. Therefore, removal and prevention are the only two methods I recommend for dealing with mats.
An undercoat rake should be used on dogs with thick coats, such as Chow Chows. Short haired dogs often shed excessively, so a shedding blade (not sharp, despite the name) would be a good tool to invest in and use for them. This special tool removes loose hair before it is shed, making your home and clothes less likely to be adorned with your dog's hair.
If you want or need to cut your dog's hair, purchase some guide combs (attachment combs) for your clippers. Each comb leaves the hair a different length. Trim excess hair that the guide comb doesn't reach. Be sure to always only cut hair away from the body to avoid cutting the skin. And when using clippers, hold them like a pencil and keep the blade flat against the skin, never letting the skin go in between the blades. Also, pay attention to the temperature of the clipper blade. When it starts to get hot, you will need to change it, spray it with cooler, or give it a break and let it cool down on its own before continuing. Since you are grooming your own dog, you can experiment with haircuts, or you can buy a book that teaches your pet's breed specific haircut, or go to the national breed page online for breed specific detailed grooming information.
Bathing and Drying
Now it is time to bathe your dog with your dog shampoo of choice. I recommend natural, non-toxic products. It is a good idea to shampoo your pet twice. If you choose to condition your pet, follow the labeling instructions.
After the bath you will need to thoroughly comb your pet again, using the spray conditioner if necessary. Once all tangles are removed, you are ready to blow dry your pet. Be sure not to burn your dog during this part of the grooming process. Soon your dog will be fluffy, pretty, smelling great, and ready for that treat and play time!
Angel Chavis - Angel Chavis lives in NC with her husband, daughter, and various pets. She is a Christian, wife, homeschool mom, writer, student, and ...
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