Dog's Help

Just taking care of your dog's health alone is not sufficient. You need to groom your dog too to ensure that he looks and feels his best. Here are some important dog grooming basics that you must stick to.

Hair brushing
This is one of the most important grooming requirements for your dog. You need to brush your dog's hair on a regular basis in order to prevent any kind of tangling and maintain a healthy coat. The frequency of hair brushing for a dog depends upon the length and type of dog hair.

For instance, if your dog has long hair, you need to brush the hair on a regular basis to prevent matting. Dogs with medium length hair may be brushed weekly or twice a week to keep the coat healthy. Hair brushing needs are minimal in dogs with small hair. Such dogs can survive without hair brushing for a month.

Nail trimming
Now this is some thing that most dogs hate. Dogs are typically averse to having their paws handled so they do not appreciate their nails being cut. When trimming your dog's nails, you need to be extremely careful. This is because if you cut the nails even slightly shorter than required, it is going to be painful for your pet.

Once your dog experiences pain due to nail trimming, he is going to hate the practice even more. Thus, it is important for pet owners to learn the proper method of trimming nails.

Bathing
Bathing your dog can give a tough time to any pet owner. This is because most dogs resist being bathed. But with a little care and caution, you can make the process of bathing your dog manageable. Most dogs need a monthly bath. However, make sure that you give your dog a nice warm bath if he has soiled himself. When bathing a dog, make sure that the water is at optimal temperature and neither too hot nor too cold. Also, use a soap free shampoo for your pet.

Ear care
Ears are one of the most vulnerable body parts of your pet. If not cleaned on a regular basis, these ears can serve as the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Thus, it is important that you clean your dog's ears on a monthly basis using an ear bud. However, make sure that you are gentle enough else you could end up harming your pet. If your dog's ears smell bad, then make sure you consult a vet.

Haircut
There are certain dog breeds such as the poodle or the Shih Tzu that have constantly grown hair. It is important that you get your dog's hair cut on a regular basis and maintain optimal length. These days, there are numerous professional dog salons that can give your pert a proper haircut.