Puppy Care

Grooming Tips - Helpful Hints

Recommended

It is always recommended to consult your groomer for the best tips with your particular breed of dog. There are also many books available for grooming, a grooming service can also help you find what you need. One of the most popular grooming books recommended for all breeds is "The All Breed Dog Grooming Guide" Written by Sam Kohl and Catherine Goldstein. It is a step by step illustrated book with instructions for bathing, trimming, scissoring and grooming for over 125 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. You may also be able to find breed specific books that have helpful tips for grooming your pet. Grooming should always be part of a dog's life, it can be an enjoyable experience by all, however taking the first steps early on is key.

Grooming can also be flexible according to breed and environment. Consult a groomer for the best ideas in keeping your pet healthy and happy.

WHEN TO GROOM

Of course one of the most important things when having any dog as a pet is grooming. Most people ask when the best time to start grooming their pet and as a tip recommended directly from our groomer, the best time is now. Starting a puppy out young with good grooming habits is always a plus. This is not only a needed practice but a very important one in the first stages of a dogs life. Not only will your puppy become accustomed to being groomed routinely but your choice groomer will love you for the effort.

WHAT TO DO

Some young puppies might not like the idea at first, they may even fuss or wiggle or put up a fight, it is always recommended that you the pet owner begin positive reinforcement at home whether you decide you will be grooming your pet by yourself, or you establish yourself with a grooming service.

Often times pet owners prefer to spoil their puppies early on and this can become a problem in the first stages of grooming. When you use good grooming practices, the process becomes a welcome one and before you know it, your pet will be begging to be groomed and might even make it a game.

With most young puppies the only grooming needed at first is brushing and bathing and perhaps a nail trim. Set aside a time that you will do this, and try to be consistent. This will help your puppy get used to brushing and being handled, and everyone in the family may even participate as long as it is part of your routine.

If your pet will be groomed routinely throughout his/her life, it is best to have your puppy stand on a table or flat surface. You can begin training your puppy to stand and use plenty of praise when you accomplish a nice stance. While he/she is standing then take the time to brush even if you must hold one hand under for support, key is making him or her stand.

It is recommended to use a "pin" brush rather than "bristle" brush. Pin brushes will help remove tangles and or mats easier with less pull to the hair. The pin brushes when used lightly over the skin will also help loosen dirt and or any dried sloughing skin. Be sure to go lightly over pale skinned dogs and do not spend too much time in one area as these particular brushes can create irritation if overused improperly. A good daily gentle brushing is always the best and make sure to always give praise!

HAIR CARE AND TRIMMING

While most young puppies do not need an actual "Hair cut", it would be a good practice to trim excess hair in various places. You may at this point decide to establish yourself with a groomer, or if you choose to do this yourself, consult your groomer for the best tools and tips possible. Longer haired breeds of dogs will need trimming around the pads and under their tail to help prevent fecal matter from gathering and potentially becoming a health risk. You may even use a regular pair of scissors to round the puppy's feet up trimming excess hair and if you trim the underside of their pads, be very careful and trim slowly. It is very easy to poke or cut a pad if a puppy is wiggling, one more reason to begin early on getting him or her used to the sound and feel of scissors being used. Trimming under the tail can also be problematic if your puppy is not accustomed to the discipline of groom time. Be very careful while trimming hair in this area, you can seriously injure your puppy if you are not cautious.

Another place that can be trimmed lightly is around the eyes if your puppy has excessive weeping. It is recommended if you trim in this area to comb the hair away from the eyes first then very carefully trim a small portion at a time making sure to never point the tips of your scissors towards the eyes. Also, do not lay your scissors flat against the dog as you can easily cut skin as well. Use a "light hand" and if you feel you are possibly trimming away anything more than hair, stop immediately and recheck your position.

It is recommended to brush your puppy daily to remove debris and keep the hair from tangling. Sometimes dogs pick up foxtails between the toes, and if you do not brush or check their feet, they can embed into the skin and cause infections and or some severe problems. If you find your pet constantly licking at his feet, check them, check between the toes, mats can also accumulate here if not brushed. Terrier type breeds with wirey hair may not appear to need brushing however it is still a good practice and gives you quality time with your pet.

Nail trimming is also essential and can be done when necessary. One of the problems with some dogs is most people do not know how far back they can trim when the dog has black nails. The best thing to do would be trim small amounts at a time. Generally puppies have quick growing nails and they can sometimes snag on carpets or clothing and create problems. Trimming back a small amount at a time when necessary will help. If you will examine your puppy's nails, you might even see where the nail has grown beyond the quik. It is usually safe to trim the excess off beyond this. You may even use a nail file to help round or soften the tips. Dogs generally do not like having their nails trimmed, but if you practice early on, he or she will be come accustomed to it. Plenty of praise while a dog behaves also helps incredibly. If for any reason you trim too short and cause bleeding, you may stop the bleeding quickly by using a grooming aide called "Quick Stop" and if you don't have the product, you can use finely ground table pepper.

BATH TIME

Bathing is also another essential part of a dogs life. While some veterinarians do not recommend frequent bathing, groomers often recommend the opposite. Our groomer recommends timely bathing for even dogs that develop allergies. Veterinarians argue that frequent bathing causes dry skin while an observation made by groomers find that more frequent bathing helps relieve itching from dirt or weeping that dogs with allergies sometimes have. If your dog has dandruff or dry skin, check the food ingredients to see if there is a high percentage of grain. Increasing the protein level may help in relieving the skin of excess dryness.

Bathing can be a nuisance or a pleasure depending on how you train your pet. When praised after bathing or making it a fun "game" a dog will usually not run and hide under the nearest bed but rather welcome the idea. Starting a dog out young with bathing is also a good grooming practice.

Using a mild shampoo at first is recommended, baby shampoo is excellent or you can purchase puppy shampoos at your local dealer. Cream rinse is usually a wonderful plus, it makes the hair softer and easy to brush.

Always brush before bathing. If you bath your dog with tangles, the tangles will become tighter when dried. Good prevention against tangles is daily brushing.

If you have noticed any fleas on your puppy you can easily increase the soak time while lathered up in shampoo and rinse these off. You may also follow up by washing or changing your pets bedding to help prevent any re-infestation. Sometimes other pets may bring in fleas or ticks, good grooming habits will help prevent and control these issues.

If you decide to use flea shampoos or drops always make sure they are recommended for puppies.

Even if you decide to establish yourself with a grooming service, it is still recommended that the family participate in healthy grooming habits at home. Frequent brushing and bathing as necessary will help keep your pet and family happy!

06/02/2010