Dog Grooming Tips
Dog grooming is an essential part of dog's health and should be made into a pleasant and regular ritual. Find a suitable environment to which you and your dog are problem free and in a safe facility. Using a chair, table or bench will be satisfactory, just reassuring him that all is well. Reassure him that he's loved and a treat, not a punishment. Let him smell and get familiar with the tools being used; the comb, brush, nails clippers and scissors. It's very important that he learn to associate these products with a pleasant benefit.
Regular grooming your dog helps you to create a healthy bond of trust and love with your dog, so that he will look forward to it. Be patient with him so the next time you bring out the grooming tools, he’ll learn to meet you naturally. Gently brush your dog's fur while you're helping conditioning his coat. This will especially help to loosen dead hair and stimulate the skin. Use a specialist brush that contain the correct bristle length; short for medium and short-haired dogs, long bristles for long-haired dogs.
Brushing helps prevent disease and is important both before and after trimming. If possible brush the coat regular, which benefits the coat and removes dirt. It also prevents tangles from occurring and keeps the skin clean and free from irritation. This will help removes clumps of hair and untangles areas that may be difficult to trim. Pet grooming gloves are also helpful to scrub your dog and will bring out the shiny in your dog's coat by polishing with a flannel cloth or one of the commercial grooming gloves, which are available in pet shops or pet supply stores.
Matted or tangle fur? If your dog has short or smooth-haired dog, you will not have to worry about matted hair. But medium and longhaired dogs do get tangled or matted fur. Mats are amalgams of tightly tangled hair usually pressed close to the dog’s skin. When ignored, they can cause severe discomfort and skin irritation. Dried food will also contribute to matted fur, and this is common in puppies and very old dogs.
If the hair is not too snarled, try combing out the mats, doing this gently. Hold the matted hair in one hand and gently comb it. If it is too tightly matted, you can trim out mats with scissors, but be careful you don't end up at the vet's for stitches; it happens more often than you'd think. Gently pull the mat away from the dog's body, and then carefully cut the hair between the skin and the mat or tuft.
