How Should You Groom Your Dog?

Anyone who owns a long-haired dog knows well that they need to groom their dog regularly to get rid of knots and dirt. Short-haired dogs also need grooming, though less often. In this article, we’ll tell you how to groom your dog so they look beautiful and healthy.

Why Should You Groom Your Dog?

The main reason to groom your dog is to get rid of loose hair and dead skin cells that build up on the skin. We advise taking 5 minutes every day for brushing. Then, once a week or two, be more thorough and give it 20 minutes.

The second reason to groom your dog is for appearances: so they look good. But the good news is that you can do both in same session. By grooming your dog, you’ll be keeping them clean, untangled, and looking great.

It’s very important to choose the right brush for your dog and how long their fur is. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. The best choice is a brush made of plastic spikes with balled ends. This way you won’t damage your dog’s skin. Brush your dog slowly. Remember: massage is good, scratching is bad.

Steps for Grooming Your Dog

Dogs especially need grooming in the summer to manage the dirt and heat. It will also activate their circulation (with the massage of the brush) and will strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Read on to see the steps for grooming your dog.

1. Brush Them Before a Bath

When their fur is dry, it’s less likely to get tangled and it will hurt less. If it hurts, your dog might run away whenever they see the hairbrush, bare their teeth, and even bite. Plus, if you groom your dog before a bath, you’ll rinse away all the dead skin cells that you’ve lifted from the skin.

2. How Much Time It Takes Depends on Their Hair

Grooming a Dalmatian (short hair) versus a Cocker Spaniel (medium-length hair) or an Afghan Hound (long hair) is not at all the same. Each breed takes a certain amount of time, and it depends how long their fur is. 

But this isn’t the only thing you need to bear in mind. You also need to think about their hair type. Is it curly or straight? In all cases, we recommend you groom your dog for a minimum of 5 minutes per day.

3. Start When They’re a Puppy

The best way to make sure that your dog enjoys being groomed is to treat the routine like a game. Of course, this is a lot easier when they’re younger and they think everything is fun. That’s when you want to start.

As time goes on, they’ll realize that this is a regular activity and just part of their routine. They’ll even love it. Don’t forget that dogs, just like people, are creatures of habit.

4. Choose the Right Brush

Your vet or pet store will be able to give you advice on the best brush for your dog and his fur. The important thing is that the design should be comfortable for you and not ruin your dog’s coat. You should be able to brush without jerking.

Brushes for short-haired dogs are not the same as for long-haired dogs. Make sure the spikes don’t get tangled in your dog’s hair. A general rule is: the longer the hair, the longer the bristles.

5. Lay a Towel on the Floor

Although a lot of hair will get wrapped up in the bristles of the brush, a lot will also fall onto the floor. If you don’t have a yard or balcony, and you have to do this inside, we recommend doing it in the bathroom or the kitchen. Lay a towel underneath them so that it’s easier to clean up afterwards.

Source of Main Image: Cati Mayol