Home grooming 101

TEXT: RHIANNON CECIL

Everything you need to know about grooming your dog at home

There are many benefits to grooming your dog — it's a great way to make him look and feel good, and spending quality time together builds a solid bond and trust between you. It's also necessary to keep his skin and coat healthy, and his eyes, ears, teeth and nails will need attention too!

Perhaps your dog is frightened of the parlour, or he decided to take a delicious mud bath at an inconvenient time… No matter the reason, there will always be that odd occasion when you must bathe or groom him yourself. Not sure how to go about it? Read on to get some great tips on grooming your dog at home.

BRUSHING YOUR DOG

Depending on the type of coat your dog has, you should brush your dog at least once a week to remove tangles, knots and debris. Brushing is also great for stimulating blood flow in the skin. Even if you've never brushed a dog before, it's not too late to start!

When you're starting off, keep sessions gentle and limit them to once or twice a week until your dog is used to the idea. Treat him for good behaviour, like standing still while you brush. It's essential that he forms a positive association with grooming, or he'll run for the hills every time he gets a whiff of a brush.

Use a metal pin brush for long-haired dogs, as long as it goes through their hair easily. The metal pin brush will loosen and remove the majority of the dirt build-up and loose hair, as well as detangle knotted and matted sections. If the matts are stubborn or have been in his coat for an extended period, you may need to remove them. Ideally, use clippers instead of scissors. For short-haired dogs, you can use a curry comb or soft bristle brush.

Always be gentle, and treat and praise obedience. Most dogs adore a good brush, provided the experience is a pleasant one. If your dog is not enjoying the experience, give him a break, have a play, and carry on a bit later.

NOTE: Be especially gentle on his stomach, as this area is very sensitive.

TOP TIP! Remember to brush him before bathtime to remove excess dirt and debris in his coat.

BATHING YOUR DOG

Unless your dog revels in getting unexpectedly filthy, bathing is a lot less frequent than brushing. In most cases, four times a year with a specially formulated dog shampoo should be sufficient. If this is your first time bathing a dog, have plenty of towels handy. It could get messy.

The process can be tricky, as some dogs find it rather scary. If you're using a bath, ensure you put a rubberised mat inside to make your dog feel more secure and prevent him from slipping. If your dog is one of those challenging customers who thinks leaping out of the bath and spraying everything in his vicinity is fantastic fun, use a leash to secure him and help prevent any accidents.

Stick to a good quality dog shampoo, and avoid contact with his eyes and ears. A detachable shower head is ideal for baths, but a plastic cup will do the trick if you don't have one.

Start the process with a good brush, then wet your dog thoroughly, avoiding his face and ears. Once he's properly soaked through, apply the dog shampoo, starting at his neck, and working your way down to his tail. Massage the shampoo into his coat, and don't forget to wash his feet and tail. Once you are satisfied that most of him is clean, rinse him off with clean water, again being careful of his ears and eyes. Getting all the shampoo out is important, as shampoo residue can cause skin irritations. Rinse him a few more times than you think you need to just to be safe.

You can then use a damp cloth to clean his face. Wipe his nose, eyes, forehead and outer ear gently with warm water.

Now for the drying part… Have a towel ready (seriously!) Once your dog realises bath time is over, he will want to shake all that water out of his coat. Ideally, throw the towel over his back and let him shake into the towel. Rub him down until you get most of the water out. You're going to need a second dry towel to finish the job. If the weather is nice, you can take him outside and let him dry off in the sun, but have your wits about you. He might just head for the nearest sand patch and ruin all your efforts!

EARS, EYES, TEETH AND NAILS

It's essential to check your dog's eyes and ears regularly, and grooming is the perfect time to get it done.

FOR EARS To check your dog's ears, look inside and give them a smell. Yes, we know it sounds odd, but if you smell anything unusual, it could be a sign of infection. Other common signs of ear infections include loss of balance, head shaking, droopy ears, painful ears, scratching the ears or walking in circles. If you find his ears are dirty, grab some ear-cleaning solution and a cotton ball to wipe them over. Never use earbuds, and don't clean too deep into the ear canal. It could be painful or, worse, cause serious damage.

FOR EYES To clean your dog's eyes, simply wipe them with a damp cloth. Some breeds are prone to watering eyes, so use a special eye-cleaning solution to remove tear stains. While you're wiping, check if your dog's eyes are healthy. A healthy eye should be clear and free from irritation. Take the time to carefully trim the excess hair away from the eyes to prevent irritation! FOR TEETH Tartar and bacteria build-up can cause serious problems if left unattended. For this, clean your dog's teeth on a weekly basis. Start when he's a puppy, so he has plenty of time to get used to having your fingers in his mouth. If your dog's mouth is a no-go for you, turn to a canine tooth cleaning professional.

FOR NAILS As a general rule, if you can hear your dog's nails tapping on the ground as he walks, he needs a pedicure. Use a canine nail clipper only to keep your dog's nails neat and trimmed. Unkempt nails may curl under his feet or twist his toes, causing joint damage and other complications. Be careful not to clip too short, as you might cut the quick, which will be painful, to say the least.

If you do accidentally clip the quick, calm him down as rapidly as you can and use styptic powder corn starch to stop the bleeding. If your dog has long nails, clip them in stages. Don't try to clip the whole nail at once, as the quick can extend over time and you risk hitting it.

CUTTING, SHAVING AND CLIPPING YOUR DOG

Home trimming isn't recommended, especially if you're a first-timer. Aside from giving your dog the worst haircut of all time, a lot can go wrong, and this is best left to the professionals. One slip can land you explaining yourself at the vet's clinic.

If you're brave enough to try and trim your dog at home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

· Ensure your pooch is completely dry before trimming.

· Secure your dog to a grooming table in a quiet place, and don't leave him unattended.

· Only use specialised grooming scissors. They have rounded tips to prevent stabbing and accidental cutting.

· Trim the hair around the face, neck, hocks, toes and tail with scissors, and use clippers for his body (not your husband's beard trimmer).

· Ensure the clippers are sharp.

· Keep the clippers close to the body and away from skin folds.

· Check the clipping blade for heat regularly.

· Know where the edges of the ears are when trimming them.

· If you feel unsure about the process, it is best to leave it up to the professionals.

NOTE: Short-haired dogs do not need to be clipped

GET STARTED!

Keep this guide handy, and you will have a wellmaintained handsome and happy pup who sheds very little and smells great. It may seem like a daunting task, but it becomes more manageable if you break it up into bite-sized chunks. Plus, the extra bonding time will make him love and trust you just that little bit more. Now, go grab that brush and happy grooming!