Grooming for dogs

From the smooth-coated Boxer to the magnificent Collie, all dogs need some help from us to look their best. Grooming sessions can be a relaxing time for you to bond with your dog, and your reward is a cleaner house and a healthier dog.

Grooming basics

Regular brushing gives you a chance to examine your dog for flea infestation, lumps, and foxtails. Dogs with smooth or short coats are low-maintenance, but should be brushed weekly. For a smooth-coated dog, such as a Boxer, remove loose hair, dead skin and dirt with a bristle brush. Polish your dog's coat with a grooming glove or washcloth. Dogs with hair one to three inches long, like Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds, shed heavily several times a year. In addition to brushing, a rubber curry or shedding blade will help you remove all that loose fur.

If your dog has a short or medium-length coat that's prone to matting, such as that of a Golden Retriever, use a slicker brush to remove tangles. Don't forget to comb his tail, behind his ears, and where body meets his legs underneath.

Dogs with long, luxurious coats, like the Yorkshire Terrier, need a lot of attention. Remove tangles and gently comb out mats with a slicker brush daily. Clip excess hair from his hocks and feet, and carefully cut hair around his rectum and penis to keep him clean. Consider clipping your dog's coat short or taking your pet to a professional groomer on a regular basis.

Ears, eyes & teeth

Check your dog's ears, eyes and teeth weekly. Remove wax and dirt from his ears with a cotton ball moistened with water or a little mineral oil. Dogs with hanging ears need cleaning sessions more often to prevent moisture and dirt from causing ear infections. If you have a longhaired dog, you may need to remove the excess hair leading into the ear canal. This can be done with a special hair remover, available from pet stores or your veterinarian, and carefully pull one strand at a time. Do not insert any instrument in the ear canal. This can damage delicate tissues.

Brush your dog's teeth as part of his grooming routine. Use specially formulated canine toothpaste. Toothpaste for humans can make him sick. A doggie toothbrush or fingertip massager cleans his teeth and gums and prevents gum disease.

Nails

Clip his nails once a month. Use a guillotine-type clipper to trim off the tip of each nail at the point. Be careful not to cut the sensitive pink area (called the quick) that can be seen through the nail. For dogs with black toenails, clip just the tip off, and gradually work the nails back to a good length over several sessions. If you accidentally cut the quick, styptic powder (Kwik Stop) will stop the bleeding. Don't forget to trim the dewclaws, further up the leg. These don't wear down naturally, and can circle around and grow into your dog's skin, or snag on something and get torn.

Baths

Keep your pet's coat in top condition with a regular bath. Start with a good brushing. Next, put a bland ophthalmic ointment in his eyes and cotton in his ears. Place a rubber mat in the bathtub and help your dog get in without slipping. Use a spray hose to wet him thoroughly with warm, not hot, water. Apply shampoo starting at the head and moving toward his tail. Always use a shampoo formulated for dogs. Human shampoo can irritate canine skin. Avoid the eyes, ears and nose and rinse thoroughly.

Dogs with loose facial skin, such as a Shar-Pei or Bulldog, need special attention. Clean the folds with damp cotton to prevent dirt, moisture and bacteria from causing irritation and infection. Thoroughly dry the skin in the folds.

Dry him with a fluffy towel or blow dryer. Be sure to monitor the level of heat. If your dog gets excited during bath time and is hard to handle, wear him out with a good exercise session beforehand. Put a floating toy in the tub with him so he can focus on the toy.