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Advantages of grooming your pup at home
Part of being a responsible pet owner includes grooming and hygiene. Here are several benefits of grooming your dog at home:
- Identify potential health issues early: Regularly grooming your dog allows you to inspect him more thoroughly for external parasites (e.g. fleas, ticks), wounds, or lumps. The sooner you observe any changes, the sooner you can seek treatment from your veterinarian.
- Better ear and dental health: Making ear cleaning and tooth brushing a part of your routine is important for preventing ear infections and minimizing plaque and tartar accumulation.
- Reduced shedding: Brushing your dog regularly will reduce the amount of fur they shed on the furniture or carpet.
- Bond with your dog: By regularly connecting physically with your dog through gentle grooming, you can help strengthen your relationship.
- Save money: Grooming your dog at home can better maintain your dog’s coat and reduce the frequency of professional grooming appointments.
Identify your dog’s coat type
Although all dogs originate from the wolf, they have evolved to have a wide array of coat types depending on their breed. Knowing your dog’s coat type is important because it determines the amount and type of grooming she needs.
Dog coat variations:
- Short, medium, or long
- Single or double
- Curly
- Silky
- Smooth
- Rough
- Wire
- Hairless
Grooming equipment
Depending on your dog’s coat type, you will need different grooming equipment. For example, if your dog has a short coat, you probably won’t need hair clippers or scissors.
A basic dog grooming kit typically includes:
- Electric hair clippers: Hair clippers are the most efficient way to cut fur shorter. You may have to sharpen the blades periodically since dull blades will pull on your pet’s fur. It’s recommended to use a blade-cooling spray to lubricate and clean the blades; this will also prevent the blade from overheating and burning your dog.
- Scissors: Sharp professional-grade scissors are ideal to achieve an even cut. But be careful when using these and take care not to cut yourself or your dog accidentally.
- Nail clippers and/or nail dremel/grinder: Make sure you use nail clippers specifically designed for dogs. Choosing nail clippers with a safety stop and non-slip grip helps prevent injury. Alternatively, you may opt for a nail dremel or grinder, which smooths down the nail gradually.
- Brushes and combs: You’ll need to choose the best brush based on your dog’s coat type. A comb may be sufficient for short-haired dogs whereas a slicker brush or a pin brush may be more appropriate for long-haired dogs. Double-coated dogs may also require a de-shedding brush. Be sure to clean your grooming equipment between uses. This is especially important if you will be using the same tools on multiple dogs in your household.
Low-stress handling and classical conditioning
Since you will be grooming your dog regularly for the rest of her life, we want to ensure it is a positive experience for both you and your dog.
An important concept is low-stress handling which is outlined by the following:
- Find a comfortable environment
- Prevent your dog from pacing, squirming, or trying to escape
- Appropriately position your body to support your dog
- Move slowly and deliberately to avoid resistance behavior or escape
- Be familiar with where to place your hands and body to control your dog’s movement in any direction
- Wait until your dog is relaxed before starting any grooming procedure
- Use the minimum restraint necessary
- Avoid struggling that is repeated or longer than 2 seconds
- Utilize distractions and rewards (e.g. treats)
- Adjust your handling based on your dog’s response to restraint
Ideally, if you adopt your dog as a puppy, you should handle his paws and mouth regularly to get him accustomed to the sensation of nail trims and tooth brushing. An effective way to get your dog used to grooming procedures is to use classical conditioning. This may consist of using treats while slowly working your way up to grooming procedures in a step-wise manner.
Bathing your dog
Bathing your dog is important to remove things like dead skin cells, excess skin excretions, bacteria, and pollen. In general, dogs should be bathed about once a month but this may need to be done more often if you live in a humid climate or if your dog is particularly active outdoors. Additionally, dogs with skin issues often require more frequent bathing.
Read more on how often you should bathe your dog >
When choosing a shampoo, it’s best to select one specifically formulated for dogs because their skin has a different pH than that of humans. Coat and skin type will dictate what type of shampoo is best for your dog. For example, some dogs will need a moisturizing shampoo whereas dogs with skin issues may require a medicated shampoo from your veterinarian.
When bathing your dog, contact time is crucial, especially with medicated products. This means letting the shampoo sit for at least 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
In between baths, your dog may benefit from having his face and paws cleaned with unscented baby wipes. This may be especially helpful for dogs with pronounced facial or tail folds.
Brush your dog regularly
Regardless of your dog’s coat, he should be brushed regularly and ideally, daily. Brushing removes debris and dander while preventing mats from forming.
Before brushing your dog, it’s a good idea to do a quick scan for any breaks in the skin which should be avoided. Apply gentle pressure and brush in the direction of your dog’s hair growth.
You can easily incorporate this into your daily routine while you’re sitting on the couch or watching TV. Many dogs even find brushing relaxing and may come to enjoy it quite a bit.
Trimming your dog’s fur
It’s easiest to cut your dog’s fur following a bath. Blow dry or towel dry his fur, and then brush it out before you start. Make sure you are in a well-lit area.
Depending on your dog’s coat type, you may use scissors, clippers, or both. If you’re using clippers, move the clippers in the direction of hair growth. Take care not to cut too close to the skin to avoid razor burn or cutting the skin. Use different guide combs to achieve the length you desire.
When cutting with scissors, use your fingers as the guide. The most common areas that need to be trimmed regularly are the paws, around the nose, and the beard.
Nail trims
We’re all familiar with the clicking and clacking of a dog’s nails on the floor. But this is usually a sign that your dog’s nails are too long. It’s uncomfortable for your pup to walk with long nails. To prevent this, you’ll typically need to trim or grind down your dog’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks.
Learn how to cut dog’s nails at home >
For dogs with clear or white nails, it’s fairly easy to visualize and avoid the quick (aka blood supply to the nail). If your dog has black nails, you may need to trim or grind each nail gradually so you don’t cut the quickly. It’s recommended to use styptic powder, cornstarch, or flour on hand in case you cut the quickly; this will help stop the bleeding.
Ear cleaning
Keeping your dog’s ears clean is important to prevent inflammation and infection. When choosing an ear-cleaning solution, consult your veterinarian since there are many solutions to choose from and they contain a variety of ingredients with different purposes.
Check out a comprehensive guide for cleaning dog’s ears >
To clean your dog’s ears, saturate a large cotton ball with a cleaning solution. Place the wet cotton ball inside your dog’s ear and massage it at the base. This method is much less traumatic than squirting the solution directly into your dog’s ear. Use dry cotton balls to wipe out any debris. Never use cotton-tipped applicators (aka Q-tips) since these can damage the eardrum.
Most dogs should have their ears cleaned about once a month. But if your dog has floppy, waxy ears, or is otherwise more prone to ear infections, he may need more frequent cleaning.
Brush your dog’s teeth daily
Dental disease is extremely common in dogs and can lead to other health problems. That’s why it’s so important for owners to take steps to reduce dental tartar and plaque formation. While dental diets and chew toys can help, the most effective way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is by brushing his teeth regularly.
Choose a toothpaste specifically formulated for dogs so that it’s safe for them to swallow. Using a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush held at a 45 to 60-degree angle, brush the outward-facing surfaces of the teeth in circular motions. For best results, this should be done every day or every other day.
Professional grooming
Not all dogs will require professional grooming. But for fluffy and long-haired breeds, you may need to schedule an appointment with a professional groomer every six weeks or so.
A professional groomer can help if your dog has severe matting or if you want a specific hairstyle. They can also express your dog’s anal glands, which can be difficult for you to do at home.
Dr. Amanda Takiguchi received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University. After that, she completed additional training at Texas A&M through a small animal rotating internship. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Takiguchi studied dance and business management at Columbia University in New York City. She primarily works with dogs and cats but also loves exotic species like rabbits. Her favorite animal that has worked with is the native Hawaiian owl. When she is not promoting animal welfare, Dr. Takiguchi still loves to dance, with training in multiple styles including hip hop, ballet, and tap.
