Dog Grooming 101 Basics

When you bring your new dog home, you will want to be sure to have what you need to take care of him properly.  Part of taking care of your dog is grooming him.  He will need to have regular baths and flea dips to help keep him clean, happy and flea free.  Below is a breakdown of what you will need to do where grooming needs are concerned.

The first thing you need to do before bathing your dog is to get him used to the feeling of bathing.  You can do this by running your fingers all through his fur. This is something he will love and you get to see what areas need the most cleaning.  Sometimes your dog's hair can become matted and this gives you the perfect way to see where the knots are.

Next, you will want to trim up any matted hair and take time to trim away long hair growth around the eyes, muzzle, genital area and behind the ears.  These are the most common areas to get matted so by keeping them properly trimmed, you will avoid having matted issues later on down the road.  You can also use a dog grooming comb to help get out difficult knots, making things go much smother when you do the bath.  You will also help top stimulate his skins natural production of oil, making his coat that much shiner.

Next, you will want to bathe him.  You should not do this on a daily basis but as your dog needs it.  You can strip the oils from the skin, leaving him with dry flaky skin that will cause him a great deal of discomfort.  If your dog has any skin irritations then you will want to use a mild soap as to not irritate the skin more than necessary.

When you are done with the detailed grooming, apply warm water to your dog, using caution around the head and apply the shampoo.  Fleas migrate to their head so try to treat the head first but be very careful with the eyes and ears.  Move your way down the back of the dog and do not forget to get the stomach and each leg.   Read the instructions on the shampoo bottle as some say they need to be left to sit on the dog for at least 5 minutes if it is a dog flea shampoo.

Once you are done with the shampooing the dog it is time to rinse.  Start with the head and work your way down the shoulders, legs and stomach.  Use only warm water and again be careful not o get the water directly in the eyes or ears.  Once you are done with the shampooing and rinsing, you may want to use a flea dip.  Again read instructions thoroughly as the amount you use will depend on the size and age of your dog.  Once you are done with all of this, you can then brush your dog once he is complexly dry to avoid any knots in the fur.  You and your pooch will be very happy and flea free and able to wear small dog clothes.