Dog Grooming

Your dogs need some grooming upkeep if they're going to look their best. They need grooming if they're going to stay healthy. And they need grooming if they're going to keep your house clean. All in all, you better keep those pooches pristine if you know what's good for you and your whole human/canine hybrid family.

Unless you plan on taking them to the groomers multiple times a month (It has been done) you're going to have to brush hair and teeth, bathe, and clip the hair and nails of your doggies. Read on to learn what to buy and a bit of what to do.

Make sure to get grooming equipment compatible with your breeds of dogs. A short-haired toy poodle has entirely different needs than a rottweiler or a newfoundland.

Brushing Hair

You should brush your dogs at least once a week. This keeps their coats beautiful and is a great bonding activity. The type of brushing you do is not dependent on the size of your dog, but rather on its coat. Short hair, long hair, curly hair, fluffy hair all get different treatments. Not sure how to go about brushing your dog? Ask your vet or groomer.

Pin Brushes  Straight, metal pins on a cushioned back. For thin coats and initial brushings of thin coats.	Slicker Brushes  Many short, bent, metal pins. For full coats and thorough brushing.	Comb  Fine-toothed,  Coarse-toothed,  and 50/50 mixes.  The finer the coat, the finer the comb. Start coarse on big jobs.	Mat Combs  Long, powerful teeth to unclot matted hair. Stick the comb into the matt and jostle it until the tangle is unsnared.	Shedding Blades  Dogs with thick coats will need mats extracted with these sometimes. Thin coats just need to be rubbed down with nubby gloves.

Scissors  Good ones will help shape your dogs' coats easily and consistently. Some breeds may not ever need their hair cut. If it overgrows their feet, cut it.	Thinning Shears  Between 42 and 46 teeth serve as an intermediary between scissored and clipped portions of fur. Use if you use the other two.	Electric Clippers  Only breeds with constantly growing hair need to be clippered. Check with your vet or groomer first and then buy the version suggested.

According to Canis Major, "A basic home grooming kit for a long-coated dog should include a soft wire slicker brush, a comb that has both fine and coarse teeth, a Universal brush and mat comb for dealing with the tangles that do form, and an oil-based conditioner that is applied before brushing or combing the coat. The mat comb has long teeth that are inserted into the mat, and then rocked in a sawing motion to loosen the hairs.
"A kit for medium-coated or short-coated dogs should include a slicker brush or flexible-pin brush. Bony dogs should be brushed with a soft brush or one with blunt bristles. Feathery hairs on the legs, ears, and tail should be combed. A nubby glove or coarse rag is suitable for grooming faces and for stimulating the skin and conditioning the coat on short-coated dogs."

Bathing Body

Unless your dogs get super messy, you needn't bathe them more than once a month. Brush them first, block their ears with cotton balls, keep their eyes free of suds, and have fun. Once you've managed to calm them and get them safely in a tub of their sizing, wash them down with warm water (garden or sink hose, depending on the size) lather them up, and wash them off. If you're calm and safe, they'll learn to like this activity as much as anything else. Remember, praise them immediately after doing something great and try not to react too strongly to negative behavior.

One thing you should keep in mind, is that some dogs are afraid of enclosed spaces. For example, if your tub has shower doors rather than curtains, it's likely your pooch will feel trapped and panic. If it's warm out, try using a gardenhose  - if you're playful, your dog might be tricked into enjoying his bath. You many find that using a kiddie pool  is the easiest method, if you have one around.

If you're bathing them often, use an aloe-based formula  in order to not dry out their skin.

Shampoos  and Conditioners  Get something that coordinates with your dogs hair and skin needs. Allergies?  Puppy?  Want water-free shampoo?	Cotton Balls  and Mineral Oil  After bathing, swab the inside of the ear flap and the entry of the canal to keep the ears free of foreign bodies.	Bathtime Restraints  If your dogs are too big or rowdy to stand still during bathtime, these could keep them from jumping.	Washcloth  To fully lather up your pooches, you might need to work washcloths over their bodies.	Bath Tub  Unless your dogs are small enough to fit in a sink, these tubs are necessary. Want a hose attachment  too?

Alternately, you can just wipe your doggy down. You can get eye wipes,  shampoo wipes,  ear wipes,  and general wipes.  These can put off the need to bathe your dog, but not replace it. Eventually, you'll need to give your doggie a good scrub down.

Nails

Nails should be cut once a month, and gently. If your dogs resist, try cutting one nail per day until they're all finished. But if you're calm and gentle, you could get along perfectly well during this process. The only exception for nail-trimming are dogs that spend the majority of their time outside. If they're out there enough, the pavement may wear down their nails naturally. Next time you bring your pet to the vet, ask the doctor if your pets nails need some additional trimming.

Guillotine  and Scissor Clippers  Cutting the nails is a tricky venture, but the Pet Center will help you. The scissor style  allows you to see precisely where on the nail you'll be cutting, works best on thick nails, and only needs to be sharpened, not replaced, when the blade goes dull. The guillotine clippers,  also popular, require the entire blade to be replaced when dull. Doggy nail scissors  can be used on small and toy dogs.

Styptic Powder  Everyone cuts nails too short occasionally, and the dogs will bleed. For these times, use powders, quickstop,  cornstarch,  flour,  or other remedies to stop the bleeding. Cut the nail until the dark part. And learn how first. You need to build up a relationship with your dog, perhaps by cutting one nail per day and making the entire clipping time a calm, bonding experience.

Teeth

Your dogs will need their teeth brushed at least twice a week. Try to brush more often if they eat a lot of wet food. They might need a vet to brush their teeth too, especially if you're not so good at it.

Toothpaste  As long as your dog tolerates it, it's good.	Toothbrush  Soft bristles are best, unless directed otherwise.	Freshening Chew Toys  Some chew toys help cleanse teeth. These may make your job easier, but they won't work as a substitute for brushing.

External Links

• American Miniature Schnauzer Club -- How to groom a mini schnauzer, with pictures.
• Canis Major -- A grooming primer. Lots of helpful advice.
• Community Animal Welfare Society -- How to clean your dog.
• Digital Dog -- Grooming for health and happiness.
• Groomers -- Professional pet groomers across the US and Canada.
• Louisiana SPCA -- Grooming skillfully and humanely.
• the Pet Center -- Grooming tips for novices.
• Petsyclopedia -- FAQs about nail clipping.
• Suite 101 -- How to de-stress a dog at the groomer's.