Dog grooming is one of your dog's basic needs and an important part of dog ownership. Just like people, dogs need physical maintenance to look and feel their best. Fortunately, dogs do not need to bathe as often as people, but you do need to learn how much grooming your dog actually needs and keep it on a schedule. Generally, a dog’s grooming needs depend on the breed and hair type. If your dog has a skin, ear or nail condition, follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding grooming your dog. It is also important to use the appropriate grooming tools. Here are some dog grooming basics to remember.

Hair Brushing

Most dogs enjoy being brushed, and sessions will strengthen the bond with your dog while maintaining a healthy coat. A dog’s minimum brushing needs depend on hair type. Choose the right tools and follow these guidelines.

Long-haired dogs usually require daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling of hair.

Medium-haired dogs may be prone to matting and tangles and should be brushed at least weekly.

Short-haired dogs can typically go up to a month in-between brushing.

Regardless of hair type, you can brush your dog daily - especially if he enjoys it. More frequent brushing during shedding season can help prevent hair build-up and excess shedding. Consider products like the FURminator deShedding tool or the Bamboo Shedding Blade.

Nail Trimming

Nail trims are often detested by dogs and owners alike. Most dogs dislike even having their paws handled and know how much it hurts when nails are cut too short. Dog owners are often uncomfortable with the process for fear of hurting their dogs.

Dogs will develop an aversion to nail trimming once they experience pain from it. The best way to avoid this is to learn how to trim nails correctly and exercise caution. Ideally, a veterinary technician, vet, or groomer should teach you how to trim your dog’s nails. Most dogs need monthly nail trims, but your dog may need more or less depending on the rate of growth.

An alternative to nail trimming is the use of a rotary tool to file down nails. Consider the Peticure Grooming Tool for this task.

Bathing

Bath time does not mean fun to most dogs and owners. It may bring forth an image of a wet dog running from the tub, dripping all over the house. Bathing does not have to be this way if your dog can get used to it. He may not like the bath, but he’ll be easier to manage. Learn how to bathe your dog properly and make the experience as positive as you can for you and your dog.

Most dogs should be bathed monthly, but bathing as often as once a week is not considered harmful. Always use a soap-free shampoo that is intended for dogs. Depending on the condition of your dog’s skin and coat, your veterinarian may recommend a specific shampoo. In this case, be sure to follow your veterinarian’s instructions about bathing.

Ear Care

Your dog’s ears can be a haven for bacteria and yeast if not kept clean. Some dogs can go their whole lives without ear problems, and the only routine ear cleaning needed is during the monthly bath. Other dogs have chronic ear disease and require multiple cleanings a day.

Ear problems can often be traced back to genetics. Dogs with floppy ears or long hair tend to be predisposed to ear problems because the ear canal simply does not have as much air exposure. Many ear problems are a sign of allergies. If your dog has excess debris or foul odor in his ears, your veterinarian will likely prescribe special ear cleaners and medications. If your dog’s ears are relatively healthy, you can help keep them that way with proper ear care.

Haircuts

Dogs with continuously growing hair, such as the Poodle or Shih Tzu, typically need their hair cut every 2-4 weeks depending on the breed of the dog and the style of the cut. This task is often best left to professional groomers, though many dog owners are able to learn some basic maintenance haircuts. If you are interested in learning professional dog grooming skills, consider dog grooming school.

By Jenna Stregowski, RVT, About.com

Good info to know! i remember reading all of this stuff wondering how much i could do on my own to save some money..but yeah...not really great especially because with schnauzers you need to style their hair

One thing to remember also, is to be sure to clean around the eyes of the dog. If you have long haired dogs like my shitzu they get a gunk under their eyes and it can smell bad and can lead to eye infection. There are ointments you can get plus, many eye cleaning solutions. I just use a mild solution of boric acid and water. It does a great job and is cheap. My mom use to use it on me when I was little and the vet said it will work fine on my dogs. Some of the fancy stuff can be costly.

I really need to learn how to personally groom my dog. It's more practical than always going to the dog groomer.

AnnSmith wrote:

I really need to learn how to personally groom my dog. It's more practical than always going to the dog groomer.

In more ways than one.

Thanks for providing the basic steps of dog grooming. Dog grooming is important to clean the dog in well proper manner.

Thank you

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question but does anyone have suggestions for good grooming products for my dogs? I've tried the "grocery store" brands as well as a few from Pet Smart but i'm still not completely happy with them. Any suggestions?