Bonding Over Grooming
To your dog, the process of grooming means much more than a quick cleaning. Find time to groom your dog yourself and use this time to strengthen your relationship with your companion for life.
While professional groomers may offer the expertise and convenience, your dog will love you more from some DIY grooming. Here’s how to cement that beautiful friendship in four easy ways:
1. A Hundred Strokes
Brushing your dog keeps its coat healthy and luscious, stimulates its circulation, gets rid of dead hair, and keeps mats at bay. There will be periods of time when dogs start shedding more than usual, so brushing more often on those days will be a good idea. Otherwise, once every week or two is quite sufficient.
2. Rub-a-dub-dub
After a good brushing, it is always enjoyable to have a bath. Bathe your dog every four weeks or so, and it’s always a good idea to get rid of the loose hairs first. If you’re afraid of getting water into your dog’s ears, you can put large pieces of cotton wool into his ears before bathing him. Also, some dogs are not too fond of cold water, so always try to hose them down in warm water.
3. Quick Trim
Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors may not need regular nail trimming, but the less active ones should have their nails clipped about once a month to avoid overgrowth and infection. Always buy special dog nail clippers, since the ones we use are not sharp enough for the canine’s nails.
Find a time when you dog tends to be relaxed so that he will be easier to handle. When using the clipper, make sure you trim only the nail tips to avoid cutting into the quick, which is the vein that runs into your dog’s nails. If you do accidentally hit the quick, baking powder should stop the bleeding.
4. Now say “aahh…”
All dogs need to have their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year to prevent bacterial infection. In between these professional cleanings, you should try to brush their teeth at home at least once a week using a dog toothbrush and toothpaste formulated for pooches.
Put your dog on a stable, elevated surface, hold its head firmly and open his mouth with one hand. Move the toothbrush in circular motions, starting at the back, making sure to brush at the gum line. When you’re done, give your dog a yummy treat to reward him as well as to get that toothpaste taste out of his mouth.
After a few professional sessions, try asking your groomer for tips on taking care of your pooch at home. You and your best canine bud can then enjoy the togetherness of grooming time for years to come.
