My groomer, Alex, from Likeable Pets comes over to my home every month to give me a full grooming session. Mama and papa are definitely grateful to have him because they no longer have to drop me at a grooming salon, and wait there for hours. If that’s not good enough, he gives me the best fur cuts! The humans are always full of praises after each session, which didn’t happen very often, if at all, in the past. As for me, I’m happy too because being groomed at home makes me feel much more at ease!
Even though I get groomed regularly by Alex, mama and papa still have to bathe me every week, clean my ears every few days, and brush my teeth daily. So, to make sure that they are doing everything right, they asked Alex to teach them some basic grooming techniques!
I, for one, wasn’t very happy with this idea. I’ve always enjoyed watching the humans fumble while grooming me. So, if I no longer have this privilege, I shall make sure other furkids do not as well!
Here are some tips on how to do basic dog grooming that Alex has shared to help struggling mamas and papas out there 🙂
Blow Dry
- Start blowing the coat from tail to head, as some dogs prefer to sit down during the blowing process. By drying the butt area first, your dog can sit down for the rest of the session
- When blow-drying, use a brush to speed up the drying process. Brushing also helps to remove mats
- To fluff up the coat, blow and brush the fur in an upward motion (or against the growth of the fur)
- A slicker brush with soft pins is recommended for dog owners. But if you are using a normal slicker brush, just tap it lightly onto the coat in an upward motion to avoid hurting your dog
Ears
- Flip open your dog’s ear flap, and hold it down gently but securely
- Spray ear cleaner onto a cotton bud, and in an outward motion, use it to clean between the ear ridges of the outer ear. Do not push the cotton bud inwards or into the inner ear
- Do not “over clean” the ears, as that may cause irritation. If your dog shakes its head too much due to ear irritation, blood may rush to the ear tips, causing Hematoma
- Some sites advise stuffing a cotton ball into the ear, close the ear flap, and rub gently before removing the cotton ball. However, this may cause dirt to be pushed farther into the inner ear instead
Teeth
- Put some dog toothpaste onto a dog toothbrush
- Using a firm grip, hold your dog’s head gently and peel the lips open. To get your dog accustomed to having your fingers in its mouth, you may need to focus on this stage for the first few sessions
- To get your dog interested in toothbrushing, show it the toothbrush and let it lick off a little toothpaste
- Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth and gums in a back and forth motion
- Put more toothpaste if required
- There’s no need to brush the inner surfaces of the teeth, as your dog’s tongue and saliva will take care of the cleaning naturally
- Take it slow. If your dog is not comfortable with toothbrushing, keep the session just a few seconds long, gradually increasing the duration every session
- Brush daily, but if that’s not possible, aim for at least 2-3 times a week
And that’s it! Hope you have learnt a few things about grooming your pup at home!
