22 Jun Easy to follow guide to groom your dog at home
A lot has changed in the last year; can’t see your friends or family, can’t travel, and can’t take your dog to the groomer let alone go to the hairdresser yourself! This can seem like quite daunting task but fear not, we have come up with an easy to follow guide to turn you into a professional groomer at home to stay safe and save money!
1. First step is to clean your dog’s eyes
Use a soft damp cloth to wipe around your dog’s eyes. Dirt and crust (from tears) tend to collect here, and too much build-up can lead to an infection. While you’re at it, check the eyes for any signs of reddening or swelling.Your pup’s eyes need to remain moist. Dry eyes can affect your dog’s ability to see or lead to irritation.
Tip: We recommend using our eye contour lotion, Optisan. It is a soothing eye lotion made from aloe vera, witch hazel and cornflower water leaving your dog’s eyes moist and clean.
2. Next clear your dog’s ears
A dog’s ears should be cleaned at least every 4 weeks. ith a clean damp cloth, wipe the folds and flaps of the ears. Alternatively, you can use cotton balls (but never a q-tip as it could damage the ear drum) and gauze to clean the ears.
Tip: We recommend using our ear cleanser, Autisan. It is an all-natural, nonirritant lotion made from rosemary, thyme, alae vera and sweet almond oil.
3. Brush your dog’s teeth
Plaque, tartar or bad breath are not good for your dog. Use a dog friendly tooth paste to clean their teeth.
4. Brush your dog’s coat
Always brush your dog’s coat before bathing as it will remove dirt and the loose, dead, tangled and matted hair. Brush your dog from their head down to their body (but be careful when brushing the sensitive areas like the belly and abdomen area). A metal pinned brush is good for long haired dogs and a rubber short pinned brush for short haired dogs. This can take some time of you have a long haired breed so we recommend giving them a treat or two whilst brushing to keep them sweet 😉
5. Trim your dog’s coat
If you want to trim your dog’s coat, it is easier to put them on a leash and up on a table. You’ll need a brush or comb, scissors and an electric trimmer. You’ll want to start with the body using the trimmer. When using a trimmer start with the neck and work your way down the body. Always go slow and move down in the direction of the hair growth. Put the clipper flat on the skin and be careful of the delicate areas where the skin is thin like the underarms. You can then use the scissors to trim the legs. You will need to trim the paws by separating the pads firmly from each other and trim the hairs growing between their paw pads. This is important as they are more prone to infection and fleas. Then onto the ears and face. Comb the hair/ear and grab the hair in between your fingers up to the desired length and cut them. For the face, you want to hold your dog’s nose so to hold them still and prevent an accident.
6. Give your dog a pawdicure
People are often scared to cut their dog’s paws but if your dog is seated in a comfortable position, it shouldn’t be a problem! Using your choice of nail clippers (scissor type will work better for larger breeds), start with one front paw and trim all nails, including the dew claw. It is essential to remain patient, your dog will eventually get used to this and do cut into the quick or it will cause pain and bleeding.
Tip: Dogs are sensitive to having their nails cut. If you have a puppy we suggest to start trimming their nails from home at a young age to they get used to the process.
7. Clean your dog’s paws
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean between the paw pads. Your dog’s paws should be moist, protected to prevent cracked paws. You can also apply a paw balm.
8. Wash your dog’s coat
Depending on your dog’s breed, most dogs only been to be bathed once or twice a month (more if they shed a lot). Wet coat thoroughly with clean water. Apply shampoo to different points of the body and massage into the coat. Ensure to also massage into the sensitive areas, for example, around the lips, under the tail and between the toes. Always rinse throughly with clean lukewarm water. Dry with a sponge towel or leave your dog to dry in a warm place sheltered from draughts. For long haired breeds a blow dryer would work as well.
Tip: we suggest our gentle 3-in-1 organic all-natural shampoo for dogs and puppies, HerbiCoat. It a is dermo protective, hypo-allergenic and flea resistant shampoo that leaves your dog with a luminous glossy coat.
9. Massage time!
The best groomers will give your dog a soothing pet massage at the end of the groom session however they would know all the main muscle groups and acupressure points. There are many informational articles online on proper and effective dog massage techniques. We suggest you check them out.
Happy grooming!
