Many dog owners view dog grooming in one of two ways. Either they see it as an essential aspect of dog ownership, and are willing to pay a professional pet grooming service to make sure it is done properly, or they see it as something non-essential that they can handle themselves–but only when absolutely necessary.
As with many absolute views, the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes. While it’s true that some dog breeds absolutely must have regular grooming to keep them healthy, it’s also true that some breeds are much lower maintenance and can be groomed on an as-needed basis. On the other hand, those who try to avoid grooming altogether may find that their dog develops conditions that could have been prevented by regular grooming–and also that their dog, unaccustomed to having his whole body handled, makes any grooming at all virtually impossible and even dangerous.
So what should you do if you have a dog that has grooming needs, but not enough money to pay for it every couple of months? What should you do if your dog’s toenails are a constant struggle, or his glands need to be expressed, or he’s getting mats in his coat on the parts of his body that he doesn’t want you to touch?
The right tools can make any task much more manageable, and dog grooming is no exception. From equipment for gently distracting and restraining your furry friend, to equipment for removing mats, clipping, trimming, and detangling, professional grade equipment is available for your purchase. And considering the cost of booking a grooming appointment online, these purchases will pay for themselves quickly. Dog grooming is about to become something that you can add to your list of DIY accomplishments.
Clean and Tidy: Bathing and Detangling Your Fur Baby
Many people choose short-haired dog breeds because they are lower maintenance, and they truly don’t need as much hair care as a longer haired breed. But that does not mean that your short-haired dog is maintenance free.
For the sake of good health–not to mention good smell–your dog needs to be bathed at least occasionally–even when they didn’t roll in anything. Just like a person, their skin oils build up on their fur over time, and these oils become sticky and attract dirt. Not only does this make the dog smell bad and look dingy, but it can cause health issues. Prevent infections by bathing at least every few months. A good dog shampoo will break down coat oils and kill any opportunistic bacteria that are looking for an opportunity to cause trouble.
Another reason to bathe regularly is behavioral. A dog that is bathed frequently becomes accustomed to the process and doesn’t struggle against it as much as a dog that feels like bathing is not a thing. An occasional shampoo and scrub, even if not strictly necessary, will help your dog adjust their expectations and include baths on their list of accepted activities.
After the bath, a good conditioner is also important–especially for long haired dogs. It will make detangling much easier and faster–not to mention more pleasant. Use a quality conditioning rinse to make your dog’s coat silky smooth.
Clipper Options: Different Choices for Different Dogs
Clippers come in a variety of price ranges, shapes and sizes. How do you decide what kind of clippers your dog needs?
Your goals will determine what clippers will best serve your dog. A curly hair type looks best with an even cut, creating clean lines; a dog with a long, flat coat might just need its hair layered and trimmed. Even short haired dogs look better with an occasional trim to streamline their faces and tidy their legs, and all dogs benefit from nice neat hair around the tail to keep anything from sticking to the fur.
Whatever your breed, there are functional clippers perfectly suited for your grooming needs.
Adjustable Blade
A high quality electric clipper will have an adjustable blade, letting you trim your dog’s chin and around the tail with great precision, but cut a wider swath on the larger, flat areas where it’s preferable to work fast.
Five Speed Motor
You want your clippers to be able to handle all parts of your dog’s body. If your dog’s coat is short and not too thick, a two speed motor should do the job very nicely. But if your dog has very thick fur in some areas, and very thin on the belly and face, you will want to be able to fully adjust the blade speed based on the thickness of the hair where you are working.
A five speed motor would let you use a high motor speed for the thinner haired regions of the dog’s coat, and a low speed to clip the thickest parts.
Corded vs. Cordless
At first blush, cordless clippers might seem like the obvious best bet… especially if you don’t necessarily put your clippers away right away and your dog likes to chew.
But corded clippers are frequently used by professional groomers because they use clippers for many hours a day and don’t want to wait for them to charge. In addition, corded options don’t need a battery and therefore are significantly less expensive–something to take into account while shopping.
Dryers: Treat Your Dog to a Fully Body Blowout
One of the biggest problems with bathing your dog is that afterward you have a wet dog. This can be very disruptive and messy, not to mention chilly for your poor pooch. A forced air dryer will fluff the fur, allowing the undercoat to dry quickly–especially important in the winter.
Forced Air Pet Dryers
Grooming services always keep a pet dryer, as they understand that a big part of the experience of taking home a freshly groomed dog is that beautifully dry, fluffy coat. You can get that same experience with your own pet dryer.
Can’t I Just get a Blow Dryer From the Beauty Section?
Blow dryers serve about the same function as a forced air pet dryer, so what’s the deal? Why pay extra?
Pet dryers have a hose because that way instead of waving a loud machine at your dog, you can both sit a little apart from the motor unit. It makes for a more pleasant drying experience for your pet.
It’s also easier on your wrists to dry with a hose rather than a blow dryer. Most dogs have a lot more hair than a human, so drying them thoroughly with a blow dryer is pretty tiring; having to only hold the weight of the hose is easier on the joints.
Also, when is the last time you found a blow dryer that also functions as a vacuum to clean up stray hair and debris from pet cleaning?
The right pet dryer is a more appropriate drying method than a blow dryer. So maybe you should rather ask yourself if you should also use a pet dryer for your own hair.
How Does the Professional Groomer Do It?
Have you ever spent three days and sustained multiple injuries trying to trim your dog’s nails, only to drop him off at the dog groomer and realize that they succeeded in about five minutes? How do they do that?
The workers at a grooming salon have often cultivated a personality that both reassures dogs and makes them realize that they might as well give in because the groomer is going to groom. Learning to project calm confidence is one of the most important parts of teaching your dog to cooperate. However, grooming salons also have certain pieces of equipment that make handling large or aggressive dogs perfectly safe. And believe it or not, this equipment is also available for home use.
Grooming Tables
A steady, sturdy grooming table makes grooming safe and ergonomic. Bringing the dog up to working height rather than stooping down to fiddle with mats or trim toenails makes the process much easier on your dog and your back. Hanging loops provide options for gentle but firm restraint. A good grooming table is a must for any professional groomer and it will be a big help for you and your pooch, too.
Tie-Off Points
If your dog gives you a hard time for grooming, nail trimming and express services, having more places to securely tie him may be the safest and best option. Heavy-duty suction cup tie-off pointslet you tie your pup to any flat surface. Place a couple and you can keep your dog from trying to bite when you do something that makes him a bit uncomfortable, like giving him a necessary nail trim.
Nail Aggression: Cutting Your Dog’s Nails
If your dog strongly resists nail trims he is in danger of injury. Long nails have a hard time getting purchase on a smooth floor, which can lead to skidding and crashing. Working with a professional trainer can pay off in this area, as a few sessions can teach you and your dog that nail trimming is part of their new routine and that he doesn’t need to fight it.
The right equipment is also important for nail trimming. In addition to good clippers, the right table and tie-off points makes the situation as calm and painless as possible for both of you, which keeps tensions from rising.
Your At Home Dog Grooming Salon: A Chance to Bond
If you have always left your grooming to the professional groomers, your dog may seem defensive the first time you try to groom him yourself. But if you can be calm and firm you will soon overcome the resistance, and the dog will find that you are actually helping him by improving his coat condition, taking care of his long nails, and even, if you’re really brave, brushing his teeth.
