How to Groom Your Dog at Home in 10 Steps
You may feel more comfortable keeping your dog at home than taking him to the groomer. You may find it easier and more cost-effective to provide basic grooming services for your dog in your own home. Many things have changed in the past 2020. We don’t see as many people, we don’t high-five everyone, and we are expected to be professional dog groomers.
If your dog’s hair is so long it looks like it’s wearing an old wig, and their fur is beginning to look more like a worn, dirty rag, it’s time for you to brush your dog’s teeth !
Your pup’s health could be at risk if you allow too many time between grooming sessions.
You can do many tasks in your own home, so you don’t have to worry about them. For simple tasks such as trimming nails or brushing hair, you don’t necessarily need expensive equipment. You are blessed to have enough room when you have a mountain of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, flour and other items strewn about your home. !
We love the DIY groomer home grooming kit. Use code PUPWAX10 to save 10% on your first order. Puppington has a 2-in-1 grooming dog brush that can be used to de-shedding or Brooklyn Pet Spa.
First, Clean Your Dog’s Face:
- Eyes
Wipe your dog’s eyes with a soft, damp cloth. This is where dirt and crust can build up from tears. Infections can result from too much accumulation. You should also check your eyes for reddening and swelling.
Your dog’s eyes must be kept moist. Dry eyes can cause irritation and decrease your dog’s vision. If your dog has dry eyes, make sure it is well ventilated.
TIP: Artificial tear drops can be used for moistening your dog’s eyes. Before you give eye drops, consult your veterinarian.
- Ears
Your dog’s ears can also become clogged with wax and dirt. Use a damp cloth to clean the ears. You can also use cotton balls or gauze to clean your ears.
Your dog’s ears should be cleaned every four weeks. You should clean your dog’s ears every two weeks if they produce a lot of wax, or get their ears wet from swimming.
- Nose
A healthy dog’s nose is moist all the time. Dry air, sunburn, dry air or any other reason could cause dryness. A dog’s nose can become dry from time to time. A high-quality balm like Pup Waxe can help keep your dog’s nose moisturized. Check out our mini-guide on caring for your dog’s nose.
- Next, brush your dog’s teeth
Bad breath can be caused by bad dental hygiene. Without regular care, plaque and tartar can build up on the teeth of your dog. Ever notice how your dog loves to cuddle even on days with the most unusual breath? Let’s get that fixed!
Your dog should be brushed at least once a week. You should not use toothpaste made from human hair on your dog’s teeth. You can also research online for the best brands of canine toothpaste, or ask your vet to recommend one.
Your dog can also clean its teeth by letting them chew on antlers and certain types of bones. Your vet will determine which types of bones are best for your dog, depending on your pet’s size, diet restrictions, and their teeth.
- Make sure to brush your dog’s coat
Your furry friend will get really furry if quarantine keeps them in. To ensure your dog feels and looks their best, you must trim and brush their coat. It turns out that “their best” doesn’t come after three months of fur growth that makes them look as if they have legs made of barbershop hair.
If you notice matted hair, it should be treated immediately. Matting can reduce air circulation, which can cause severe medical problems in puppies of all ages. This includes skin irritations and infection as well as insufficient blood supply and strangulating injuries.
Regular brushing of your dog’s hair helps to remove dirt and dead hair, eliminate tangles, make the coat shiny and smooth, and keep it from matting. A metal brush comb will be a great choice for long-haired dogs. For short-haired dogs, a grooming mitt or glovebrush is ideal.
To keep your dog’s hair neat, brush it a few times per week. Brushing your dog’s hair daily is a good idea if they have curly hair.
- Cut the coat of your dog
You will need to be patient and have a keen eye when trimming your dog’s hair. Make trimming fun by giving your dog lots of treats. Keep these simple tools close at hand:
- Hair clippers
- Curved/straight scissors
When trimming your dog’s hair, it is a good rule of thumb to begin at the neck and work your way down to the tail. A pair of straight or curved scissors will suffice for short-haired dogs. You can use scissors to trim long-haired dogs.
TIP: Before you begin your barbering session, let your dog sit or stand on an elevated table. This will allow you to inspect their coat better.
Your pup’s hair should be trimmed in the same direction as their natural flow. Lines can form on your pup’s coat if you go against their natural hair flow. Different guards can be used to trim hair at different lengths. Start with the largest guard, then move on to the smallest.
When shaving, ensure that the clipper is flat on the dog’s coat. This will prevent you from slicing too deeply or cutting the skin of your dog.
Move to the abdomen and back after you have reached the neck. Pay attention to sensitive areas such as the underbelly, underarm and hock. Switch to scissors if your dog is allergic to the clipper. Keep your dog’s nose away from the scissors and use the scissors to trim the hair.
Finally, trim the tail, legs, and head. These should be your last trim as they are likely to show the most movement. As you trim your dog’s hair, it is a good idea to have someone else hold them.
While dog Grooming Park Slope, keep their head still. To expose any long hairs, brush their faces and then trim them with the scissors. As you gently follow the lines of your dog’s face with the clippers, be gentle. Thinning scissors may be a better option if you don’t want to leave any straight lines. The result is more natural.
Trim the ear flaps and the sides of your face as well as the area below the jaws. Particularly for dogs with a lot facial hair, trim the eyebrows.
Start by trimming one leg and then moving on to the next. To remove any excess hair, use a pair scissors to trim between the pawpads. The paw pad hair can harbor many germs.
Before trimming the tail with scissors or a clipper, brush it first. Keep the tail straight and trim the tip.
How to Keep Your Dog’s Paws and Nails Clean
Dogs with overgrown nails may have difficulty walking. Long paw nails can cause problems with walking in dogs. They can also break off or curl inwards, and even puncture the paw pads. They can cause injury and may even be dangerous.
Dogs can become very sensitive to the touch of their nails and paws. Start trimming your puppy’s nails at home as a young pup to help them get used to it. Pawdicures are a great way to reward your dog with frequent treats!
- Take care of your dog’s nails
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- This is a great opportunity to get your dog comfortable, whether he’s on your lap or on the table.
- Before you begin, determine where the nail quick begins. The quick is the area of the nail that contains blood capillaries. This is the part that can cause bleeding in your dog. It can take several weeks for it to heal.
- The quick will appear pinkish if your dog has white nails. The quick will appear as a black spot for dogs with dark nails.
- You can cut the nail just before the pinkish-blackish spot.
- Take care of your dog’s feet by cleaning, moisturizing, and protecting them
- Clean the pads between your paws with a damp, clean cloth
- Keep your dog’s paws moisturized and protected to prevent cracked paws. Keep your dog’s feet dry and protected by applying a good paw oil like Pup wax daily to his paws, especially in dry, hot or cold climates.
- Pup wax moisturizes the paws of your dog and treats paw cracking or irritations. The non-toxic, humectant barrier that Pup Wax. This seals out irritants and prevents the paws losing moisture.
- A good way to finish the paw-dicure part of your doggie spa day is if your pup loves a good paw massage!
- Your Dog’s Bathe, Dry and Style! Fur coat
Dogs usually only need to be bathed one or two times per month. Dogs that shed a lot will need to be bathed once per week.
After a relaxing shower using a spray nozzle, dry the coat with a towel. A blow dryer is a good option if your dog has long hair.
- Pup Massage
A certified groomer will know all the major muscle groups and acupressure points of your dog.