Quick Dog Grooming Tips and Tricks—Give Your Puppy Some Love

Quick Summary

• Dog grooming is a vital aspect of pet care, involving hygienic care, cleaning, washing, haircuts, and nail clipping to ensure the well-being of your furry companion.
• Regular nail trimming is crucial to prevent discomfort and paw pad injuries in dogs. If you notice your dog’s nails tapping on the floor, it’s a clear sign that they need a trim.
• Ensuring clean ears and a fresh face is essential to prevent infections and maintain proper hygiene for your dog. Give special attention to long-eared breeds and those with facial wrinkles to guarantee healthy skin.

As a responsible dog owner, I understand the importance of maintaining my dog’s grooming routine. I regularly brush their coat to prevent matting and keep their fur healthy. During grooming sessions, I check my dog’s skin for any signs of irritation or infection. I create a positive experience to reduce stress and strengthen our bond. Regular ear cleaning and a suitable bathing schedule contribute to their overall health and by following these grooming practices, I ensure that my dog remains happy, healthy, and well-groomed.

What Does Dog Grooming Include?

Pet grooming includes both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog and washing, haircutting, nail clipping, cleaning the teeth, and making sure my dog’s skin is clear of any wounds or blemishes.

Clip Your Dogs Nails

A well-walked puppy likely will wear his own nails down on pavement or concrete, but country and older dogs need to have nail trimming every 6-8 weeks. Long nails can hinder dogs when they walk and can tear the pads on their paws. As a rule, if I hear my dog’s nails tapping on the floor when they walk, that’s usually a good indicator that they are too long. Here are my tips for trimming dog nails.

It’s also possible to take dogs to a vet or groomer to have their nails cut; this usually takes about 10 minutes and costs about $15-25. There is always the option of purchasing the best dog nail grinder and doing it personally, just like what I did. Most dogs really do not like having their nails cut and this will likely make it an enormous challenge. Desensitizing them early definitely helps. Dog nails will bleed profusely if one cuts too close to the quick so I’m always mindful to cut small amounts rather than a large chunk.

Clean the Dog’s Ears

It is common for dogs to develop yeast infections in their ears that lead to wax build-up [1]. Depending on how serious it is, I often purchase an ear cleaner solution or pet wipes at a pet store and gently swab the inner portion of my dog’s ear to remove the wax. If the dog’s ear condition is more serious, I typically bring mine to the vet for some antibiotics.

However, to prevent infections and wax buildup, especially if the dog often suffers from such, it is a good idea to use a wipe every few days to keep the ears clean. Long-eared dogs like the Bassett Hounds or Cocker Spaniels require special attention as well.

Clean the Dogs Face

For white dogs (breeds such as Bichon Frise, Maltese, and American Eskimo Dog), I use an eye wipe to prevent red/brown marks under the eye from tear secretion that causes stains. Pet stores sell eye wipes for this specific purpose and ensure that they are safe to go near the eyes. Do not use regular soap and water because the soap can irritate dogs’ eyes.

The facial wrinkles in short-faced dogs like Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs must be cleaned daily to thwart skin disorders. In these breeds, many dogs with scruff underneath their mouth require cleaning as well to keep fur free of matted dog hair and prevent food buildup in their beard.

Brush the Dogs Teeth

Taking care of the dog’s teeth is vital to keep his breath fresh and clean as he matures, and to ensure he will have healthy teeth to eat his food. One dog grooming trick I can swear by is to make sure the dog’s diet includes both hard and soft food, with the hard keeping the teeth strong. I also give my dog an edible chew toy, or even the best indestructible dog toys, as these will sharpen his teeth and keep them sturdy.

I also purchased a dog toothbrush and meat-flavored toothpaste at my local pet store and attempt to brush my dog’s teeth every week or so. The toothbrush can be a regular canine brush or a rubber brush made to fit on my finger. In addition to brushing, dogs should receive a professional dental cleaning at least once a year at the vet. This normally requires sedation but is crucial to keep our pet’s teeth clean.

Brush the Dog’s Coat

For Poodles or Schnauzers that require a special haircut, it is best to take your dog to a professional groomer. However, it is also possible for pet owners to learn how to trim dog hair to save on costs. Grooming costs depend on whether the dog is being bathed or if it is being bathed and cut, as well as the size and needs of the dog. The best way to find a reputable groomer is to ask a vet or research the dog groomer online. Professional grooming can be a traumatic situation for dogs so I make a point of asking other owners before making my decision.

The healthier the coat, the less it smells and the shinier it looks, while it also is more comfortable for the puppy. Depending on the breed, daily or weekly brushing with a brush or comb appropriate for the dog’s coat is suggested. Short-haired dogs (such as Pit Bulls, Vizslas, and Rottweilers) require minimal brushing except during shedding months. Long-haired dogs (such as German Shepherds, Collies, and Samoyeds) need daily brushing with a bristle brush to stop matting and prevent hair from shedding all over the house.

Breeds like Bichon Frises or Havanese have more involved brushing needs. They must be groomed daily with a wire brush to prevent matting and tangles. During bi-annual molting, dogs like the rough-coated Brussels Griffon require hand-stripping [2]. All dogs require some weekly brushing to spread out the natural oils.

Bathe the Dog

It can be an arduous task if a dog doesn’t like the bathing process, or it can be a matter of turning on the water and calling the dog. If a dog has relatively short hair it is easy to pop him in a tub with lukewarm water running and use dog shampoo and a dog mitt (a rubber sponge that fits over the hand) to scrub and clean your dog. Following this, a thorough towel drying should be enough. For long-haired breeds like a German Shepherd or Golden Retriever, outdoor bathing is the way to go. There is simply too much dead hair to do this in a bathtub. You can do the same bathing process using an outdoor sink or hose with lukewarm water.

Above are dog grooming tips and tricks that all dog owners should be aware of. If dog owners follow this dog grooming style guide, this definitely leads to a happy, healthy puppy.