Grooming your dog can be a rewarding and at the same time a rather trying experience. If you have the right approach and proper tool set for approaching the process, you can make your mangy best friend into a beautiful canine, as well as keeping him clean and well kempt. It's a necessary part of pet ownership.
Brushing
Brushing your pet's coat is an integral part of keeping them clean and healthy. Daily brushing will not only help to remove the dirt and grime that builds in those tufts of hair but spread the natural oils in their coat and keep their body generally clean and irritation free.
Brushing can be a fun process that your dog enjoys, but make sure they get a taste for it at an early age. For adopted dogs, it is possible to train them to enjoy it with the proper attention and treats.
Nails
Nails should be clipped on a monthly basis. It helps to avoid in grown nails as well as the unsavory scratching of yourself or your furniture.
Keep on hand clippers that match to the kind of dog you have. Plier style clippers are heavy duty and perfect for dogs with thick, tough nails. Simple scissor style clippers though will work just as well for smaller dogs with easier to cut nails.
Also keep on hand blood clotting formula. Often, nail clipping will cause bleeding in your dog's nails. It's not serious, but you want to make sure it stops immediately.
Ears
Check your dog's ears on a constant basis, every two weeks or so. With such large and open spaces, it is common for them to get infections, such that they can become quite ill
Check for any discoloration or redness. When cleaning your dog's ears, use a moist cotton ball with warm water to probe the outer areas. However, refrain from going to deep into the ear canal.
Teeth
To keep your dog's teeth fresh and free of disease, offer them teeth cleaning treats regularly and brush them once or twice a week. Veterinarians can also perform this during check ups.
Bathing
While generally clean animals, dogs do need the occasional bath to clean what brushing does not. Every month or two should be sufficient
Make sure to purchase special, dog shampoo to make sure the coat does not become tangled and retains its shine.
Brush your dog before and after bathing to keep tangles and hidden dirt free.
Grooming your dog is a constant process, but an important one to maintain health and well-being. Plus, they will look beautiful instead of muddy and tangled.
