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Dog Grooming Guide for Healthy, Happy Dogs
When you regularly groom your dog, you're investing in your pup's happiness and health. Regular dog grooming, whether at home or professionally done, is great for all dogs, no matter their age or size. Regular grooming helps keep their skin and coat healthy, prevents matting, and helps you pick up on health issues sooner.
While we're known for our dog training, here at Guard Dog Training, we also offer professional grooming services for your pet. To help you pamper your pooch, we've put together a dog grooming guide, filled with our top dog grooming tips and techniques. If you've been wondering how to groom a dog, follow along to learn how you can keep your four-legged friend looking—and feeling—their best.
Why Is Regular Grooming for Dogs Important?
Regular grooming is one of the best ways to keep your furry friend healthy, happy, and full of tail ways—and isn't that what we all want? Dogs are natural adventurers, and it doesn't take much for grass seeds, prickles and other nasty nuisances to easily get tangled in their coat. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous if left unnoticed. Whether you're heading to a professional or following some home grooming tips for dogs (like ours), regular check-ins help you spot issues before they become a problem.
Unfortunately, our pets can't tell us when they're experiencing health issues (though we wish they could), so by learning how to groom a dog properly, you'll be better equipped to pick up on potential concerns like overgrown nails, fleas and ticks, cysts, ear infections, and skin conditions.
Besides keeping an eye out for potential health issues, having a regular dog grooming routine helps to maintain their skin and coat. Depending on the breed,
frequently brushing out knots and removing loose hair prevents matting and removes old, damaged and dead skin cells that can lead to irritation.
Heading down to the local groomers isn't always easily accessible and there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to grooming, anyway. Different coats call for different care, and some need a LOT more brushing than others.
Understanding Your Dog's Grooming Needs Based on Coat Type
Looking for dog grooming tips for your pooch's coat? Their coat type can affect how much grooming they need, and the way they need to be groomed. Here's what we've found works best for each type of coat!
Grooming a short-haired dog
Think staffies, dachshunds, or beagles. Short-haired pups are fairly low-maintenance, but still benefit from a brush once or twice a week to remove dead hair and distribute natural oils. To freshen them up, a bath every month or two will do; just be sure to use dog-friendly products to avoid drying out their skin and help maintain their shiny coat.
Grooming a long-haired dog
Long-haired dogs like golden retrievers, bored collies and shih tzus are high-maintenance cuties. They're prone to knots, tangles and matting, especially around the ears, legs and tail. Daily brushing is your best friend here and a bath every 4 – 6 weeks helps keep things smooth and manageable. Use a detangling conditioner and a wide-toothed comb post-bath to help prevent future matts from forming and always ensure they're properly dried!
Grooming a curly-haired dog
Curly-coated dogs—think poodles, bichons and oodles of doodles—have hair that grows continuously and matts easily. Daily brushing and professional clipping every 4 – 6 weeks is necessary. When it comes to bathing, use a moisturising dog shampoo every 4 – 6 weeks (nothing too harsh!) and always brush before you wash.
Grooming a double-coated hair dog
Breeds like huskies, German Shepherds and spitz-types have a soft, insulating undercoat beneath their top layer. They shed a lot—especially during seasonal changes—so brushing 2 – 3 times a week (daily during heavy shedding) is perfect. Use an undercoat rake to get right into the fluff and avoid shaving them at all costs. Bathing every 6 – 8 weeks is usually sufficient, but avoid overbathing, as it can disrupt the natural oil balance of their skin.
Creating a Grooming Routine for Your Dog
Looking for advice on creating a dog grooming routine? We've put together an all breed dog grooming guide, which can be adjusted based on the needs of your beloved pooch!
Bathing Your Dog
Let's talk bath time—otherwise known as the splash zone.
- Brush first. It helps remove loose hair and also detangles so the shampoo can do its job,
- Use lukewarm water. You can test it with your elbow/wrist. Too hot or too cold can irritate their skin.
- Dog friendly shampoo and conditioner only. Anything other than these can throw off your dog's pH levels and dry out their coat.
- Lather gently. Avoid eyes and ears. Work through their coat from neck to tail.
- Rise thoroughly. Shampoo residue = itchy skin. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.
- Dry completely. Use a towel or hairdryer (on low setting) to dry them off completely. If the fur doesn't dry properly, it can lead to hot spots and other
irritations.
Bath Frequency:
Bathing needs depend on your dog's lifestyle, coat and tendency to find mud puddles irresistible:
- Active outdoor dogs: Every 4 – 6 weeks.
- Couch potatoes with short coats? Every 8+ weeks
- High-maintenance fluffballs? Every 3 – 4 weeks, depending on their cut and curls.
Tips:
- If your dog doesn't love bathtime, a lick mat with peanut butter (or other dog-friendly spread) can help them stay engaged!
- Don't bathe too often! Too many baths can strip their coat of natural oils.
Nail Care
If you hear little "click-clicks" across your floors, you know it's time. Overgrown nails can hurt your dog when they're walking, shifting how they walk, and also lead to mobility issues. Most dogs will need a trim every 3 – 4 weeks, but if they're strolling on pavement often, nature might be doing most of the work for you.
Start with a little desensitisation. Especially if you've got a puppy or nervous dog. Let them sniff the clippers, hear the sound, and get used to the feeling of you touching their paws. Once they're comfortable, you can start:
- To safely clip their nails, hold their paw in your hand.
- Start trimming tiny bits of nail at a time, regularly offering praise and treats to your pup.
- Clip the tip off each nail, making sure you don't clip the quick (which holds the blood vessels). You can avoid this by not clipping past the nail's curve.
- Make sure to remind them of how good they're being! Nail clipping is a great chance to build trust with your pup.
Tips:
When trimming your dog's nails, you'll want to give them something to focus on, like a treat or lick mat with peanut butter—especially if they're an anxious dog.
Ear Care
While it can feel like our dogs are ignoring us sometimes, their ears are very important to their well-being—which is why they need to be cleaned regularly. Giving your dog's ears a wipe with a dog-friendly ear cleaning solution and a wipe or cotton ball can help prevent ear infections (though we can't promise it'll mean they listen to you more).
- 1.Grab your ear cleaning solution and apply it to a cotton pad (or follow the bottle instructions if applying directly into the ear).
- 2.Wipe the outer ear and the folds—no digging into the canal.
- 3.Give the base of the ear a gentle massage if needed, it helps loosen up any gunk.
Tips:
Dogs with upright ears require monthly cleans, while those with floppy ears, or who have previously had ear infections, will need their ears cleaned weekly.
Ear cleaning also helps you monitor for signs of ear infections, like redness, an unpleasant odour, or even discharge. If you do spot signs of ear infections, you'll want to speak to a vet, who may prescribe ear drops, as well as topical and/or oral medication.
Dental Care
Regularly brushing your pooch's teeth helps prevent a range of issues, including bad breath, tartar build-up, and in severe cases, gum disease. Like with the nail clippers, you'll want to introduce your dog to the brushing motion gradually, starting with a finger or soft microfibre cloth, and using treats to make it a positive experience. Once they're cool with that, switch to a soft-bristled dog toothbrush and some dog friendly toothpaste—never use human toothpaste. It can make them sick.
- 1.Lift their upper lip so you've got a clear view and start brushing back and forth, taking short breaks if needed.
- 2.Make sure you brush all the teeth, especially the back teeth. That's where the gunk hides.
- 3.Gently brush around the gum line, too.
How often?
It's recommended you brush your dog's teeth at least three times a week, though daily is ideal.
Tips:
There are also plenty of other ways to support their dental health, like dental chews, water additives, tooth-friendly toys and also raw bones, turkey necks and chicken necks. These can help naturally scrape away the plaque and keep those chompers in check.
Grooming Tips for Specific Dog Breeds
Some dog breeds require specific grooming schedules in order to keep them happy and healthy. Dogs with short, smooth coats (think Beagles and Boxers) only require a brush every other day, helping to remove loose hair and debris.
Longer-haired or hypoallergenic dogs, like a Collie or a Shih Tzu, require a bit more care. You'll want to brush them daily with a slicker or pin brush, as well as some detangling spray. We also recommend a haircut every 4-6 weeks, to keep them looking their best. You should take a similar approach with dogs with thick coats, while also an undercoat rake to ensure you're taking care of their entire coat.
Have a working dog? Things can get muddy, messy, while dirt and debris is part of the job description! Giving your working pal a daily brush, and bathing them more frequently, can help keep them feeling their best. You may want to set up an outdoor wash station on your property, though, so they're not tracking mud all through the house.
Handling Grooming Challenges for Anxious or Difficult Dogs
Grooming a nervous dog can feel a lot like defusing a tiny, fluffy bomb. With patience, the right approach and a few dog grooming tips, you can ease the tension and create a routine that works for even the wiggliest of dogs.
If your dog has had bad experiences with grooming in the past, or they're naturally nervous or fearful, then it's important to allow extra time during any grooming. Regular positive reinforcement using their favourite treats can help them relax. Slow, gentle movements, meanwhile, show they're not going to receive any nasty shocks. You're simply trying to take care of them.
Desensitising them to the tools is crucial, too. If they've never seen a comb or nail clippers before, then they might be suspicious. However, if you start by showing them the tools, but not using them, then you can win even the most anxious of dogs over. It just takes time, and a lot of love!
When to Seek Professional Grooming Services
Whether your dog's a little anxious when getting groomed, they're a high-maintenance breed, or they have a medical condition, professional grooming can help your dog stay happy and healthy. Here at Guard Dog Training, we're experts in handling all sorts of breeds. Our specialist groomers use industry-leading tools and techniques, providing a more thorough grooming experience. If you're looking to have your dog pampered, then get in touch with us today!
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