Grooming Your Dog at Home: The Right Method and Tools

Regular grooming can keep your dog clean, healthy and comfortable. And although some prefer booking at professional groomers, if you don't have one available in your area or just want to save some money, you can give your dog a basic grooming session at home. In light of that, let's go through some basics on how to do it and the tools you will need.

Brush or Comb

A thorough regular combing should always be the first step of the grooming process. You want to brush your dog every other day to remove dirt and debris, prevent matting, control shedding and create a shiny coat (brushing distributes oils from the skin throughout the coat). That is why you will definitely need high quality brush or comb – metal pinned is a good choice for dogs with long coats while one with rubber teeth can work well for breeds with short hair. 

Nail Clippers

Dogs also need their nails kept at a proper length with nail clippers for dogs. If left untrimmed, the dog's nails can curl under into the paw pads or twist in a way that causes joint damage. This part of the grooming may make you feel a bit anxious since cutting too short can result in bleeding and infection and cause pain and discomfort for the dog. If your dog has clear nails, you should cut only the clear hard nail and avoid to cut the pink part since it's where the blood vessels are located. With dark-nailed dogs you also want to go slowly and take a little bit off at a time. Since nail clippers for dogs are safer and easier to use than clippers made for humans, you would need a pair to do the job right and in the the appropriate size according to your dog size. In order to be better prepared, always have an access to a product like a styptic powder that can stop the nail from bleeding if cut too short.

Scissors

Grooming your dog with scissors is a great way for touching up and trimming hair around your dog's legs, ears, and face. Sharp, professional-grade scissors are the best choice for grooming your dog as they can cut hair easily without snagging or pulling. To minimise the risk of accidents you want to use only the tips of the scissors to trim these areas so that you can pull them away quickly if your dog makes any sudden movements. Having someone to help hold your dog at this moment is always a good idea.