FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY No matter the breed or coat length of your puppy, grooming is a very important part of ownership. Caring for their nails and coat and making sure they have good hygiene is key to their overall health and wellbeing. – Royal Canin HOW TO BATHE A PUPPY The frequency of baths will vary according to the coat texture. Close-cropped hair should only be washed if dirty, short-haired puppies need to be bathed twice a year on average and long-haired puppies need to be bathed approximately every three months. If your dog likes swimming, its coat should be rinsed afterwards. Particles from river and seawater remaining on the coat may cause irritation, and careful rinsing will prevent this. Start the bathing process by brushing the coat thoroughly to get rid of any knots and mats. After this wet the coat all over and apply the shampoo, working it into a lather, while taking care that it doesn’t get in the dog’s eyes or ears. Shampoo should only be used if your puppy requires it, either for sanitary reasons or as part of hair and skin treatment. Make sure the shampoo used is suitable for dogs in order to maintain a healthy coat. Lukewarm water should be used, along
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with a special shampoo for puppies to avoid irritation or an imbalance to their skin’s natural pH. Allow this to act for a few minutes, then rinse with plenty of water. It’s a good idea to rinse the head last, as the dog will likely want to shake its head dry.
DRYING YOUR PUPPY AFTER A BATH After the bath, wipe your puppy down vigorously and keep it in a warm room until it’s properly dry. In the summer, the alternative is patting a puppy down in the garden or taking it for a walk, as long as it does’t like rolling around in mud. A hairdryer can be used if the dog is happy with that, but care should be taken not to burn the dog and the hair should be brushed at the same time.
HOW TO CLEAN TAR FROM YOUR PUPPY’S COAT It’s important to note that if the dog gets tar on its coat, oil-based cleaning products shouldn’t be used as they are highly toxic. Apply vegetable oil to affected
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GROOMING AND HYGIENE TIPS
