Looking After Pets

Dog grooming is a critical factor of dog care. Dog grooming consists of a number of different tasks. Routine brushing and combing to eliminate dead hair, skin and general flotsam and jetsam. Bathing and nail trimming, as well as maintaining your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.
For good dog health you should groom daily, in addition it gives quality bonding time with your pooch. Your dog will see it as another form of petting. Dog grooming should be commenced early in the puppies life, build a regular routine, time of the day, place and do in the same way. When starting dog grooming, be soft, but decisive, that way he will not be anxious, but knows where he stands.
The brushing and combing will look after your dog’s coat, removing all sorts of skin irritant and pests, giving a healthier and shinier coat. The exact type of grooming required depends on the dog breed, the below is non-specific and ideal for most dogs, but either verify with the dog breeder, or research it on the net, or your dog sitter should be able to help.
Bathing
Bathing is an important part of dog grooming. You will hear many different views on how often a specific dog or breed should be bathed. The different aspects turn around mother natures self grooming preserves natural body oils. Whilst bathing, even with special dog shampoos will bathe the natural essential oils away. So often people wait until the dog is dirty before washing. There could be a man / woman thing, with the ladies generally wanting to wash regularly and more frequently. Normally a bath around every two months or so should be allowed for.
It is important in bring up a dog to introduce them to bathing at an early age, so it comes naturally, and even look forward to it. Before a planned bathing of the dog it is best to brush the dog well.
For a stress free bath, plan the dog bath well, get everything you need at hand prior to getting the pooch. Bathing is especially stressful for those in large cities, with lack of space and without the delights of shower rooms and utility rooms by the garden. For us town dwellers, we must take the dog up to the shower room.
Keeping a secure footing is important, so place the rubber mat in your bath. To evade ear problems, shield the ears by using cotton wool in the dog’s ears to stop water ingress into the ears. Some breeds with large ears such as Retrievers can be particularly susceptible to ear problems.
To avoid shocking your pooch use warm water to rinse your dog. It is easier to use a shower or spray hose. Keep the nozzle head close to the fur and do not spray onto the dog’s face, as this could upset him.
Choosing the right dog shampoo is important, do not use human shampoos. Do not use too much and start from the head and top and work downward and in the direction of the tail. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Important areas to spend time on washing well are around the chin, particularly if the dog is messy with food, behind the ears, around the toes and the rectum.
Finish by rinsing with warm water, ensuring all the shampoo is washed out.
Do not forget the natural way for a dog to remove water is to shake, so let him and stand clear, after this you can rub him down. Some people like also to use a hair dryer, especially women again! This is not normally needed unless you are needing to take him out. It is better to finish drying off naturally inside.

The other jobs of dog grooming and dog care will be covered later, including coat care, ear and teeth care and nail trimming

Dog grooming is an essential factor of dog care.  Dog grooming involves a number of different tasks. Routine combing and brushing to remove dead hair, skin and general flotsam and jetsam. Bathing and nail trimming, as well as caring for your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.
For good dog health you should groom regularly, it is also a great moment for quality time and bonding with your pooch. Your pooch will see it as another form of attention. Dog grooming should be commenced early in the dogs life, build a daily routine, do at the same time, same location and do in the same way. When starting dog grooming, be soft, but firm, that way he will not be anxious, but knows that he has to do it.
The combing and brushing will look after your dog’s coat, removing all sorts of potential skin irritant and pests, giving a more brilliant and better coat. The detailed type of grooming needed depends on the dog breed, the below is general and ideal for most dogs, but either verify with the breeder who supplied the dog, or research it on the net, or your dog sitter should be able to help.
Bathing
Bathing is an important job in dog grooming. You will see many different views on how often a specific dog or breed must be bathed. The trade off discussion revolve around mother natures self grooming maintains natural body oils. Whilst bathing, even with special dog shampoos will wash the natural essential oils away. So some people wait until the dog becomes dirty before washing. There may be a female / male bias, with the ladies normally wanting to wash routinely and more frequently. Generally a bath about every two months or so should be allowed for.
It is easier to introduce a dog to bathing at an early age, so it comes naturally, and even look forward to it. Before a planned bathing of the dog it is a good idea to brush the dog well.
For a stress free bath, plan the dog bath well, collect and place everything ready and at hand prior to getting the dog. Bathing is particularly stressful for those in large cities, with insufficient space and without the delights of shower rooms and utility rooms by the back door. For us town dwellers, we often have to carry the dog up to the shower room.
Avoid you and the dog loosing footing, so place the rubber mat in your shower. To evade ear problems, protect the ears with the use of cotton wool in the dog’s ears to stop water entering into the ears. Some breeds with open ears such as Retrievers can be especially susceptible to ear problems.
To avoid shocking your dog use warm water to bath your dog. It is great to use a shower or spray hose. Keep the nozzle head close to the fur and do not spray onto the dog’s face, as this could scare him.
Choosing the right dog shampoo is important, do not use human shampoos. Do not use too much and start from the head and top and work downward and in the direction of the tail. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Key parts to spend time on washing well are under the chin, especially if he is a messy eater, behind the ears, around the toes and the rectum.
Finish by rinsing with warm water, removing all the shampoo.
The dog will remove a lot of the water by shaking, so watch out!, then you can towel him down. Some people like also to use a hair dryer, especially women again! This is not normally needed unless you must take him out. Let him finish drying off naturally inside.

The other tasks of dog grooming and dog care will be covered later, including coat care, nail trimming, ear and teeth care