Do It Yourself Dog Grooming
Do It Yourself Dog Grooming: Saving Money On Pet Care
Keeping your furry companion healthy and happy involves more than simply feeding him great dog food and giving him fresh water. It’s also important for him to have yearly checkups at the vet’s, keep his vaccines up to date, make sure he has shelter for all types of weather, and grooming is also included in this list of ways to care for your dog. Do It Yourself Dog Grooming has become more common over the years, especially among the frugal crowd.
Do It Yourself Dog Grooming Photo by Sebastián-Dario via Flickr
Having animals can be expensive and grooming your own canine can be an excellent way to avoid high dog grooming prices and save tons of money. It will also give you some one-on-one time with your dog. Depending on the breed of dog you own, grooming can take anywhere from a half an hour to multiple hours. Larger dogs and those with long hair will take more time and effort.
There are some basics you will need before you can begin grooming your dog. Before you give him a bath, it’s helpful to brush him well and get all the loose hair out of his coat. This will not only make it easier to wash him, but it will keep a lot of the fur out of the drain. Long-haired dogs benefit from a metal currycomb type tool. This has large metal teeth and really gets the big chunks of loose fur out.
A variety of dog shampoos and conditioners are available at most department stores or pet supply places. Be sure to find one that has what you need in it, such as extra conditioner for dry skin, medicated for keeping bugs off, or specialty shampoo for sensitive skin. There are some that even have a floral scent to them.
Just as with humans, it’s best to shampoo your dog at least twice, especially if he is an outside dog. There is often too much grime to get out with a single shampooing. Conditioner should be applied after the double shampooing to keep his skin from drying out and itching. If you’re going to trim is fur, then it’s best to do this while it is clean and damp.
Be sure to have clippers that are made for dogs. The kind that is used to shave or trim human hair often cannot withstand the thick, coarse hair dogs have. They tend to break easily or clog up quickly. Trimming toenails is also easier right after bath time.
You will need actual dog nail clippers. Even if you have a small dog, it’s better to use canine nail clippers and not ones meant for human nails. Dog toenails have a more triangular shape to them, so human nail trimmers don’t work that well.
After he’s all bathed and trimmed, then it’s time to blow dry his fur. You want to make sure that he is completely dry before turning him loose. This is extremely important during cold weather, so he doesn’t end up catching a cold. Sometimes Do It Yourself Dog Grooming turns into quite the ordeal. Most people find it to be a great bonding experience with their dog, while others would much rather leave grooming to the professionals.
Tags: do it yourself dog grooming, dog grooming tips, how to groom a dog, pet grooming, yorkie grooming
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