  Doggy beauty school - grooming tips  Grooming your dog accomplishes much more than just making his coat look nice and shiny. It provides you with the opportunity to spend "quality time" with your dog, combing, brushing, bathing and generally bonding with him. You will be able to check your dog closely for any problems while grooming.
Regular grooming makes a pet look better and there is scientific proof that grooming improves the pet’s health as well. For aged and convalescing animals, grooming stimulates the circulation. With any pet, grooming causes deep relaxation with a dramatic slowing of heart rate, thus helping the animal cope better with physical and emotional stresses.
Animals should find brushing pleasurable. Some people find it is difficult to get their pets to submit to regular grooming. Perhaps they don’t know how their pets like to be brushed. The following guidelines will help to make weekly grooming a fuss-free occasion.
Get dogs used to grooming early in life. Long-haired breeds especially should be groomed from the time they are puppies. Do not use tranquilizers on a routine basis, which can lead to liver damage.
Be sensitive to your dog’s likes and dislikes. Dogs often like to flop over onto one side for brushing, so don’t insist that they sit up or stand. Just brush on that side first; then gently grab hold of their front and hind legs to roll them over to brush the other side.
Use appropriate combs and brushes. Use a brush with stiff bristles on one side and wire on the other. If the atmosphere is very dry and full of static, as it often is in winter, I moisten both my fingers and the brush to reduce the chances of giving the dog electric shocks. For the same reason, it is good to place the dog on a wool rug or cotton towel.
Be gentle and reassuring. Before you begin grooming, stroke your dog reassuringly around the head to make the dog feel safe and secure and know that nothing unusual is going to happen. Any time you accidentally knock a knee or shoulder with the edge of the brush, stroke your dog.
Learn to use the brush and your fingers properly. First, run your fingers down the dog’s back quite firmly several times to loosen up any dead fur. Then use the wire brush, working down from the head to the tip of the tail, then under the chin, along and around the chest and abdomen, and finally brushing down each leg. Finish up with the bristle side of the brush, using it around the dog’s face and then briskly brushing down the back to give the dog’s coat a final sheen. Don’t use the wire side of the brush on your dog’s face, as you could easily poke him in the eye or otherwise hurt him.
Also when dogs are shedding the thick under-fur that insulates them during the winter, don’t keep raking hard with the wire side of the brush. You will only make your dog’s skin hypersensitive. Don’t brush hard on patches of fur that haven’t loosened up yet either.
You may find that your dog has a very definite molting pattern, with the fur first loosening up around the legs and thighs. Work on these areas first, and wait for the shedding to spread. Tangled long fur on the legs, or "feathers," are best loosened with your fingers and a stainless-steel comb. As the under-fur begins to lift, either pluck or twist it out with a steel comb. Some dogs have long guard hairs over the under-fur that tangle very easily with the fur beneath it. Such tangles are best loosened with your fingers or a steel comb. If tangles are very matted, you will need scissors to trim them out. Even though soaking a dog’s coat will help to loosen the under-fur, the coat is more likely to tangle when it is wet. If your dog’s coat is in the process of shedding, do not bathe the dog before grooming with a brush.
Move the hair aside and examine the skin closely for signs of fleas, ticks or skin irritations. Look for any unusual problems with the coat such as mats, tangles, dandruff, etc. Mats and tangles can be carefully removed while grooming.
Learn where he likes to be combed and brushed and where he doesn't. All dogs have sensitive areas that need to be groomed a little more gently and carefully than others. By paying special attention to these areas, you will help make your dog more comfortable while being groomed, and he will not resist future grooming sessions. You will also become familiar with areas that he enjoys having groomed. This is helpful if you need to calm him during stressful times such as veterinary visits. Let Fido sniff the brush and comb before you begin grooming, and talk to him in a reassuring tone while grooming. If the procedure is comfortable for your dog, he will begin to look forward to regular sessions.
Health
Regular grooming is essential to your dog's health and well being. Regular combing and brushing will keep the coat clean and healthy. It will stimulate the skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate to the coat. Check for hair loss, inflammation, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin. Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Check with your veterinarian about any unusual problems found.
Combing
Comb in the direction of hair growth, small sections at a time, until the coat is tangle free. If the coat has a particularly stubborn knot or tangle, you may have to trim it with scissors. A dematting comb, slicker or rake can be used to remove mats. When using a combination comb, begin with the widely spaced teeth, and follow with the finer teeth.
Brushing
Begin brushing at the head, working toward the tail and down the legs. Always brush in the direction of hair growth. Pay particular attention to the legs and flanks, and areas that easily mat. A pin brush can be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth. Brushing several times a week is recommended for most dogs.
Puppies
Like children, puppies have short attention spans. They require special attention. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic. Begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so. Constantly talk in a gentle, reassuring tone while grooming to make him feel comfortable. Be sure to check his ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure. This will, in time, make him accustomed to being handled and examined. Eventually, he will be quite comfortable being groomed, and will look forward to these sessions.
Frequency
It is important to establish and adhere to a regular schedule of grooming sessions. Schedule these at a convenient time for both you and your dog. A good time is after Fido has been walked, while he is relieved and calm. Longhaired dogs should be groomed daily, while shorthaired breeds may require grooming only twice a week.
Nail Trimming
Regular nail trimming is important to your dog's health and well being. Never use ordinary scissors to trim your dog's nails. Use trimmers that are specially designed for dogs. Hold the dog's paw firmly, and cut off the tip of the nail with a single stroke. Be very careful to stop short of the quick, the blood vessel inside the nail. Cutting the nails right after bathing will make the quick more visible; applying baby oil will serve the same purpose. Follow up by filing your dog's nails smooth.
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