Grooming tips for dogsJust as humans require good grooming habits, so do our dogs. Besides being a healthy habit for our dogs, grooming is an important part of the relationship we have with them. Regular grooming sessions are beneficial because they:
allow you and your dog to have quiet time together.
promote your dog’s good health in terms of his coat, skin, feet, ears, teeth, etc.
allow you to become very familiar with all parts of your dog’s body and you’ll notice early on anything unusual that may require veterinary attention.
promote good health for both humans and puppies – this type of interaction can actually lower stress levels and reduce blood pressure for both you and puppy.
When you and your puppy are learning how to groom, come armed with a great attitude, lots of patience, and in the beginning, lots of treats. Always start slowly and add more as your puppy accepts what you’re doing. If you start getting frustrated, stop and come back to it later. Remember to keep it positive and fun.
Consulting a professional groomer is important for owners of dogs needing to be clipped or trimmed on a regular basis.
BathingHow often?
Unless your dog has gotten into something smelly or dirty, she will need to be bathed only every two to four months. Bathing her too frequently will dry out her skin and strip the natural oils from her coat.
Brushing
Regular brushing is great, regardless of the length of your dog’s coat, because it removes dead hair, distributes the natural oils for a clean and healthy coat, stimulates the surface of the skin, sloughs off dead and dry skin, and helps you become very familiar with your dog’s body.
Feet
Keeping your dog’s feet trimmed up nice and neat is beneficial, not only because it looks nice, but because it will help reduce the amount of tar, stickers, rocks, iceballs, salt, etc. that will get caught in the feet, all of which can be uncomfortable for your dog.