Dog Grooming Tips
Dog
Grooming & Bathing Basics
Grooming your dog isn’t as difficult as you might think;
rather, it’s an important part of caring for your pet. Grass, dirt, and loose
hair can get trapped in your dog’s coat and can contribute to matting and skin
infections as well as provide safe harbor for parasites and other pests. To
keep your dog in tip-top shape, commit to a regular grooming schedule that fits
your dog’s needs.
How
often should you groom?
This depends upon your dog’s coat. A short-haired dog won’t
require brushing as often as a curly-haired pooch or those with longer,
"drop-down” coats. Grooming also includes bathing and nail clipping, which
should be done as needed. Obviously, a dog that spends a great amount of time
outdoors will likely need to bathe more often than the dog that remains inside.
Before you bathe, spend a few minutes brushing your dog to unsettle any dirt.
If your dog has any matted areas, remove those before the
bath – they’ll be harder to remove once they are wet. Our Dematting Knife is a
handy little tool that allows you to remove unsightly matts in a snap. We also
recommend a Grooming Comb to help remove loose hair, dead undercoat, and excess
fluffing.
It’s a good idea to introduce your dog to grooming
immediately and slowly increase the amount of time you spend per session. As
your dog becomes accustomed to the routine, he’ll learn to enjoy the experience
and look forward to the event. Using the right tools can make the process more
pleasurable so take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with different
brushes and combs available today.
Dog
Grooming Accessories
The Long Pin Brush, for example, is perfect for dogs with
long or drop coats. The extra-long pins are made of nickel-plated steel and
embedded in a rubber base. Dogs with sensitive skin will do better with the
Ball-tipped Brushes. These brushes also feature the nickel-plated steel pins
but with a smooth ball tip for reduced irritation.
Get the most out of bath time with our Rubber Bathing
Brushes. These softer brushes are perfect for short, smooth coat dogs and also
work great as a skin massager on long haired breeds. The rubber bathing brush
stimulates the natural oils in your dog’s coat and helps remove loose hair and
dead skin.
Undercoat Rakes are another great way to remove dead undercoating.
These lightweight tools feature a soft rubber grip and come in both long and
short pin styles. The effective T-handle design allows the undercoat rake to
remove dead undercoating without touching your dog’s topcoat. Our Slicker
Brushes feature steel pins with coated tips for effective loose hair removal
without irritating or scratching the skin.
Nail
Trimming Tips
Think you can’t trim your dog’s nails? Think again. Your
dog’s regular grooming schedule should include nail trimming if necessary to ensure
they remain at a safe and comfortable length. Many dogs don’t need regular
pedicures as their nails wear down naturally. Use bath time to give your dog’s
nails a quick makeover. If you notice long nails that have begun to curl
downward, it’s time to take out your clippers.
Clipping your dog’s nails isn’t as difficult as you might
think. The nails are narrow and round, making them relatively easy to clip.
Just above the nail is the quick - the portion of the nail that is "alive”
with circulatory blood vessels. Cut too high and you risk cutting into the
quick. To prevent this, choose a time when you aren’t rushed and can leisurely
clip your dog’s nails. Start out slow. Trying to cut the entire nail in one
clip is a no-no; instead, make smaller cuts until you reach the desired length.
There are several sizes and styles of Nail Clippers
available. Choosing the right one will depend largely on personal preference
and the size of your dog’s nails. We carry a wide selection of nail clippers so
that you can find the perfect pair for you and your dog.
To start with, sit in a position where you can comfortably
hold your dog’s paw. For smaller dogs, you may want to simply place your pet in
your lap. Hold your dog’s paw gently but firmly and use your fingers to isolate
a single nail. Dogs with lighter colored nails are easiest, as you can clearly
spot the pink quick area you want to avoid. Dogs with darker nails don’t have
the visible pink quick, but if you begin cutting, you’ll notice that the end of
the nail begins to get darker as you go. The dark area represents the quick and
you want to make sure you leave that intact. As a guide, your dog’s nails
should just touch the floor. Anything longer is too much. Anything shorter and
you risk cutting into the quick.
To position the clippers, you’ll want to cut from the
bottom up so that you can clearly see the blade against the nail. Once you have
the clippers positioned, squeeze firmly to cut the nail. When you’ve reached
the desired length, you can let your dog file down the rough edges naturally or
use one of our Double Sided Nail Files to smoothen out the nail.
Should you accidentally cut too much, simply apply some
Cut2Close, our styptic powder aide with antiseptic to stop the bleeding.
Dog Grooming
Tools Basics
Bristle Brushes
Our bristle brushes are perfect for removing loose hair and
small mats. Regular brushing helps minimize shedding and improves the overall
look and health of your dog’s coat by stimulating the natural oils in the skin.
Maximize your grooming sessions by using this time to bond with your pet.
Grooming
Combs
Dogs that require more than just a good brushing are an ideal match for our grooming combs. Available in a range of sizes to meet the needs of your dog’s individual coat type, these combs add additional control to your grooming sessions.
Rubber Brushes
Dogs with short-haired coats are relatively easy to groom and our rubber brush is the perfect tool. The soft bristles help to remove loose hair and stimulate the natural oils in the coat and skin for a healthy sheen.
Shedding Blades
Our shedding blades are a great way to remove extreme amounts of shedding that can’t be controlled by regular brushing. Dogs that shed excessively and those that are losing their winter coat can benefit from the shedding blade. Removing loose hair can also help minimize the amount of hair left on your floors and furniture.
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes are a great tool for general grooming and detangling. These are useful in removing mats and loose hair to minimize shedding. Regular grooming with a slicker brush will help keep your dog’s coat looking healthier and smoother.
Pin Brushes
Our steel pin brushes are the perfect solution for your general grooming needs. Steel pin brushes remove dirt and debris as well as loose hair. This helps minimize shedding and also improves the overall look and feel of your dog’s coat.
Undercoat Rakes & Dematting Tools
Our undercoat rake helps control matting and tangles on the dog’s short undercoat. It’s non-irritating yet effective in detangling your dog’s coat. Larger mats can be removed easily with our dematting knife. A sharper alternative to the undercoat rake, our dematting knife cuts through the most stubborn of tangles.
Flea Comb
A fine tooth comb designed to be used on pets for removing fleas, flea eggs and flea pupae. Once pets have been bathed, fleas and flea eggs will be sufficiently loose so they can be combed out of fur.
Double Sided Nail File
Double sided nail file. Soft, non-slip/durable handles provide cushion and control while absorbing pressure and reducing fatigue.
Nail Clipper
Stainless steel blades and safety guard are chemically-treated to prevent rust. Their soft, non-slip/durable handles provide cushion and control while absorbing pressure and reducing fatigue. They can be sharpened.
Styptic Powder
A safe, quick styptic powder aid, with antiseptic to stop
bleeding caused by nail clipping.
Wire-haired
Coats
Most Terriers and Schnauzers fit this category of coat.
Short and coarse, wire-haired dogs are prone to matting and trapping debris in
their coats. To prevent this, regular grooming is necessary to keep the coats
clean and healthy.
Our Steel Pin Brushes work great on this type of coat, as
does a general Bristle Brush. Use a Slicker brush to remove any loose hair and
dirt. You can maximize your grooming sessions with one of our Combination
Brushes that combine the slicker or steel pin brush with our general bristle
brush. We also recommend using a Flea Comb to keep your dog pest free.
Short-haired
Coats
Rottweilers and Dobermans are two good examples of a
short-haired breed. This type of coat is generally easy to groom and shedding
is typically minimal.
Our Rubber Grooming Brushes are a great general tool to
brush the coat and help stimulate the natural oils in the skin. Also on the
list are our Bristle Brushes and Combo Brushes. To control parasites and pests,
use one of our Flea Combs on a regular basis. Shedding Blades would only be
needed during peak shedding season.
Curly-haired
Coats
Curly-haired dogs include breeds, such as the Poodle, that present
some serious grooming challenges. This type of coat is coarse and curly, making
regular grooming sessions a must. In addition to brushing, you’ll want to
consider regular clipping as well to keep the coat under control. We recommend
one of our Steel Pin Brushes as well as a Slicker Brush to remove debris and
loose hair while keeping the coat groomed and healthy. Another option is our
Combination Brushes that give you the benefits of the steel pin or slicker
brush plus our general use bristle brush. Shedding can often be a concern with
curly haired coats, so a good Shedding Comb is a must. We also recommend our
Dematting Tools to keep the coat free from mats and serious tangles.
Double
Coats
Breeds, such as the Labrador Retriever and the Yorkshire
Terrier, have what is known as a double coat; a short, smooth inner coat that
helps protect against the elements and then an outer coat, which can come in a
variety of textures. Dogs with shorter outer coats can be groomed effectively
with a Slicker Brush or one of our Combination Brushes. Dogs with longer,
"drop-down” outer coats also need the benefits of regular grooming with a
Grooming Comb. Our Shedding Comb and Undercoat Rake are suitable tools for both
varieties to help keep the inner and outer coats free from debris and loose
hair. A Flea Comb is a must-have, regardless of your particular breed and our
Dematting Tools are perfect for removing tangles and mats.