Tips for Grooming Your Dog at Home

By Caitlyn Gose

Dog groomers can get expensive, especially if your dog needs their fur trimmed regularly. Though dog groomers are the experts, some people prefer grooming their dogs at home!

If you’re not sure where to start with grooming your dog at home, or are just here for some grooming tips, keep reading along!

Develop a Routine

The best thing you can do for your dog (and you), is develop a grooming routine. The younger you start the routine with your dog, the better.

• Do the grooming in the same place
• Use the same shampoo (your dog will recognize the scent)
• Go through the same steps, in the same order

Developing a grooming routine lets your dog know what to expect, so they won’t feel as anxious.

Choose a Specific Shampoo

Based on the needs of your dog, you will have to pick out a certain shampoo. There are many to choose from, ranging from:

• Flea
• Sensitive Skin
• Puppy

Oatmeal based shampoos are usually a good option as they are good for dry and sensitive skin, which makes them safe for most dogs.

DeShedding/Dematting

If you notice any matting of the fur or excess shedding, take a brush or comb and run it through the area while rinsing. This will get rid of any loose hair and detangle any mats.

Choose the Right Equipment

If you plan on doing the whole grooming process at home, do yourself a favor and don’t buy the cheap tools! Cheap tools break faster and don’t work as well as the more high dollar ones. Whether you buy the cheap or expensive tools, always make sure to clean them after every use.

Investing in a nice grooming tub is something that you might want if you are grooming dogs at home. Our Dakota 283 Groom-Pro Pet Washing Tub (shown in picture above) is a portable grooming station. It is perfect for grooming all dogs right at home, and it doesn’t take up much room!

The link to the tub is here: https://www.adeopets.com/collections/grooming-tubs/products/dakota-283-groom-pro-pet-washing-tub

Ask for a Helping Hand

If you have ever trimmed a dog, you know that many of them do not like to sit still for it. Having a friend or partner as a helping hand will make grooming your dog 10x easier. Especially if your dog is anxious and doesn't like to sit still.

Dry Before Grooming

In order to get an even trim on your dog’s fur, make sure they are dry before trimming! If you don’t have a blowdryer, just wait a couple hours and then do the trimming. If you don’t wait until their fur is dry, you will not be able to get all the fur in the clippers, causing an uneven trim.

Choosing Clippers/Blades

If you have a dog that needs their fur trimmed regularly, you will need a pair of clippers! If you didn’t know, the blades for dog clippers are numbered differently than human ones. The higher the blade number, the shorter the cut.

Also, make sure you are going with the lay of the hair, never against it!

Trimming Nails

Always start with the back paws when trimming your dog’s nails, as their back paws are less sensitive than the front ones. You want to make sure to cut below the quick in the dog’s nail, don’t cut too deep. If you cut too deep it can cause painful bleeding, if the bleeding lasts over 20 minutes get in touch with your veterinarian.

To help stop bleeding in case of a nail trimming accident, styptic pencils and clotting powder can be purchased at most pet stores.

Conclusion

If you are planning on grooming your dog at home, make sure to follow these tips to make sure you and your dog have a relaxing grooming experience.
Make grooming a fun and relaxing time for your dog, they may have less anxiety if their parent(s) are the ones taking care of them rather than strangers anyway!

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About the Author

Caitlyn is a painter, bookworm, and freelance writer from Southwest Michigan. She comes to Adeo Pets with the desire to teach others about pet safety and health. She has a deep love for animals and wants pet parents to have all the answers they are looking for! Check out her work at www.cgosecopywrite.com.