Grooming Your Dog at Home

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With so many people needing to find ways to cut back on expenses these days, affording a dog groomer can be expensive.  But, it doesn’t have to be.  With some dog training and a little experience, you can get your pooch clean and spiffy all in the comfort of your own home.

posted by daisyd on 12/22/2009

Get salon treatment for your pooch in the comfort of your own home.

How to Prepare Your Dog

Prior training will be very helpful if you are trying to groom your pet at home by yourself.  They should be able to do basic commands like sit, lay and stay.  It’s also helpful to get your pet used to having someone touch his feet and ears so that he doesn’t flinch so much during the grooming process.  Have plenty of treats available to reinforce good behavior, like listening to commands and tolerating having his hands held.

Equipment You Need

Brush: This depends on the type of fur your dog has.  Long, flowing fur needs a steel pin brush.  Short, silky hair needs a rubber brush mitt.  Curly hair needs a fine wire brush.  Medium length, wavy hair needs a steel comb.

Shampoo: So many to choose from!  Try some with oatmeal if your dog has itchy skin.  Or try some specifically made to get rid of fleas if bugs are a problem where you live.

Clippers: If you’re just trimming around the feet and doing minor touch ups, you can probably just use inexpensive clippers.  Go ahead and invest in some sturdier clippers though if you’ll be doing some serious fur clipping.  Make sure you have lubricating oil to keep the clippers working well.  And use plastic guide combs to determine how short the hair should be.

Pet ear wash and cotton balls.

Nail scissors or electric trimmers: Depending on how antsy your dog is, the electric trimmers are better for squirmy dogs.

Toothbrush and pet toothpaste: Dog toothpaste is flavored like meat instead of mint.

Read the rest of daisyd’s article about grooming your dog at home.

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One response to “Grooming Your Dog at Home”

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