Dog Grooming – Brushing and Bathing

Dog grooming is the basis for preventive health care for your
dog and puppy. It gives you a chance to see small changes in and
on your dog’s body that could lead to health concerns such as a
lump or problems in his ears or with his teeth.

Dog grooming can be a time of further bonding with your dog.
This is some serious one on one time when he gets loads of your
attention.

So what do you do and when do you start grooming your dog and
puppy? As with most things with your puppy, you need to
introduce him to dog grooming slowly and help him be comfortable
with it. Start with short sessions of about five minutes and
work up to the whole routine as he adjusts.

Begin with brushing and combing. There are several different
grooming tools used for brushing and which you use depends upon
the breed of your dog and the type of coat he has. Ask the
breeder you got your puppy from for the proper techniques.

Brushing should be done before you bathe your dog or puppy.
Bathing your puppy should begin when he is about 14 weeks old or
sooner if he is a very dirty dog. Most dogs should need bathing
only once a month unless he gets dirty. Wherever you decide to
bathe your dog, bathtub, sink or some type of tub, place a
rubber mat within to give him something secure to stand on so he
won’t slip around.

Soak down his body but not his face. Keep water out of his ears.
You may wish to block his ear canals with cotton balls to
prevent the water from getting into his ears. Lather up your wet
dog with a dog shampoo. Rinse well. Any leftover shampoo in his
coat is likely to cause dryness or skin irritation. Wipe his
face off with a damp cloth. Squeeze off the excess water and
then towel dry your dog. Complete the drying process with either
a hair dryer set on warm, not hot, or by leaving him in a warm
room until dry.

Be aware that a dog will shake just as soon as you release him.
This is why some people want to run their dog outside quickly
after a bath on a leash to prevent him from rolling and getting
dirty again. If this is not an option, such as in winter, you
may wish to consider a professional groomer.

A professional groomer may be a consideration for some of the
more difficult haircuts and dog grooming considerations such as
the stripping required by some wire-haired breeds. This depends
upon your ability to do the required tasks and your desire to do
them as well.

copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson