Tips for Home Dog Grooming
For all of us, it has been several months of isolation, social alienation, and quarantining, and for several months, you have been required to refrain from even taking your pets to the groomer. Your favorite four-legged, furry pet is beginning to show some signs of wear and tear. What steps can you take to fix the problem at home?
Even though having professional dog grooming services performed by a trained groomer is the most effective approach to maintain the cleanliness of your pet, there are still a number of things you can do to keep your dog clean at home in the interim while you are waiting to visit a groomer. But what if you’ve never groomed your dog at home before, and you have no idea how to go about doing it in the most effective way possible?
The following is a list of helpful hints for bathing and grooming your dog at home:
Drop the Scissors
When it comes to the home grooming of your dog, the first and most crucial thing to remember is to NEVER use scissors. Put away the scissors unless you are a properly trained groomer who has a lengthy history of successful grooming sessions without any incidents of injury.
Large cuts caused by improper use of scissors during home grooming are the most common type of injury treated by veterinarians. These cuts typically occur when owners attempt to cut a knot or remove a mat using scissors. Grooming using scissors calls for a level of dexterity and attention to detail that is only possessed by the most skilled of groomers. It is in your best interest not to attempt to imitate what they are doing.
Make Use of the Finest and Most Straightforward Tools That You Have Access To At Home
Get a basic set of dog grooming tools:
-Excellent shampoo
-A tub that is easy to access
-Combs and brushes etc.
-Nail clippers and filer
Optionally: A pair of electric clippers that have a guard attached to them.
These are all secure and relatively easy to use grooming products that can assist you in getting your pet back into shape and ready to be viewed in public.
A bottle of shampoo and a bath
Bathing your dog is the least technical aspect of grooming your dog at home, yet it is not necessarily the easiest portion. You only need a standard shampoo designed for dogs that comes in a fragrance that you want to use on them. You have a wide variety of choices to select from on the market, giving you the ability to find an answer that satisfies any requirements specific to your pet.
It is essential to keep taking a shower from becoming a stressful experience. If your dog is afraid of the shampoo, the bathtub, or the sound of running water, you should think about choosing a shampoo solution that does not require water. If they really do require a thorough bath, then you should try to make the process as pleasant as you possibly can for them. Give the dog a lot of treats, make lots of pleasant noises, persuade the dog into the bathtub slowly and gently, etc.
Don’t try to force things if they aren’t going to work out; you and your dog will both end up miserable if you do. Instead, you might want to consider cleaning them with a damp washcloth.
Combs or Brushes (or Both)
You may make your pet’s coat seem glossy and shining again with the help of a simple brush or comb, which will help you remove shedding hair, detangle knots, and remove loose hair. A simple brush or comb of any kind will do the job.
If you can, steer clear of bristly brushes because they have the potential to irritate or scratch your pet’s skin. Choose an option that has bristles that are either more densely packed or that have plastic covers on the tips of the bristles. You should never brush too roughly. Make sure to apply the same kind of smooth, delicate strokes that you would use on your own hair.
Clippers for the nails
Even when done at home, clipping a dog’s nails is usually the most despised and stressful portion of the grooming process for both the dog and the person doing the grooming. If it is already known that your dog is terrified of the trimmers, it is vital to begin from the very beginning of the training process. However, you shouldn’t immediately start using the trimmers until you’ve shown them that they don’t need to be afraid of them.
How to Make Your Dog Feel Comfortable Around the Nail Clippers
Maintain their presence outside the building and make sure they are visible in the area. Turn those scary nail clippers into a cool and interesting thing by giving your dog a treat and giving them praise every time they look at them or look in their direction while you are using them. Don’t attempt to rush it; just give it some time. Hold off on moving on to the following phase until your dog is calm and relaxed when the trimmers are in the room.
The following step is to pick them up, but you shouldn’t utilize them at this point. Just keep going in the same direction as before. When you pick them up, make sure to offer your dog some treats, use a happy voice, and act enthusiastically. Maintain the status quo by waiting until your dog is calm before proceeding further. The next few steps should then be added, continuing with the identical methods that were used previously.
Bring the clippers close to your dog and make personal contact with him, but avoid his feet for the time being. As soon as they indicate that they are not bothered by the trimmers touching them, you can begin to handle their feet while holding the trimmers, but you should wait to clip their nails for now. When your dog is finally comfortable with you holding their feet while the trimmers are in your hand, then you can try trimming (but continue to use goodies and a happy voice during the process).
Keep in mind that this procedure will move quite slowly. It could take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Have some patience.
Power-Assisted Scissors
To restate, you should avoid using scissors on your dog if he or she has longer hair that has to be trimmed. Instead, you might think about purchasing a handheld trimmer that comes equipped with a depth guard. It is important to gradually introduce your dog to the clippers at first. Make certain that they are not bothered by the noise and the vibration, and that they are able to remain still while you use them.
Treats, Treats, Treats!
In a similar vein to the nail clippers, pleasant voices and tasty goodies can go a very long way.
Make sure you don’t get the trimmers too close to the skin by using the guard that comes with them. It is really simple to give yourself a big razor burn or even skin lacerations if you are not accustomed to working with trimmers. It is important to pay attention to trouble areas and carefully remove any knots and matting that you find.
We hope that these tips for home dog grooming help you out!