5 BASIC TIPS FOR DOG GROOMING AT HOME
5 Basic Tips for Dog Grooming at Home
Of course, you don’t have a fur coat or paws of your own, but it’s just as important to keep up with your dog’s hygiene as it is to keep up with yours. At times it may be easier for your schedule (or your budget) to groom your pup from the comfort of your home. Here are a few of our top tips to maintain a regular grooming routine for your dog:
#1: Trim and Brush as Needed
Every dog breed’s coat is different and has specific grooming needs. Generally, keep areas around your dog’s eyes, ears, and paws trimmed if they have longer coats. Dogs with shorter coats just need an occasional brushing, likely once a week or month, depending on the amount of shedding.
#2: Bathe Occasionally, Not Too Often
You’ll likely know when it’s time to give your dog a bath - especially if your pup loves playing in the mud. When you’ve noticed your dog may be needing some tub time, give them a good scrub down! However, it’s important not to wash your dog too often. Their coats provide natural oils that protect them in certain temperatures or environments, so you don’t want to deprive them of this extra protection.
When your dog’s coat needs a touch up between washes, a great option is waterless bath dry shampoo. Just like you might need to freshen up your hair on those days you don’t want to fully wash your hair, your dog can do the same. Using waterless shampoo like the one from the Trisha Yearwood Pet Collection can keep your dog’s coat smelling fresh and clean without worry of overbathing.
Want to make sure your dog doesn’t leave an odor behind? Try out a pet-friendly cologne! Just a quick spritz can cover up that dreaded dirty dog smell. The Trisha Yearwood Pet Collection has multiple scents to try for your furry friend: lavender, midnight, rainforest, or fresh.
#3: Take Care of Paws Regularly
It’s important to slowly introduce the idea of paw care to your dog so that they’re comfortable with it in the long run. Positive reinforcement may be a great solution to keep them occupied while you trim their nails or wipe their paws. Try peanut butter or their favorite treats to distract them from what you’re doing. When trimming their nails, don’t clip so much that you’ll clip the quick of their nail. Clipping too far can cause pain or bleeding for your pet, and that certainly won’t help when they see the trimmers coming toward them in the future.
It’s easy to overlook the pads of your dog’s paws when it comes to paw care. It’s not just about their nails! Temperature and the surface they walk on can make their pads hard, cracked, or dry. Using a preventative treatment like paw balm can help protect your dog’s paw pads and keep them moisturized through all seasons. Trisha Yearwood Pet Collection has a paw balm stick that makes it easy to wipe right onto their pads without a mess. Take extra care of your dog’s paw pads so that they’re always comfortable.
#4: Clean Their Ears
The ears are commonly forgotten in a dog’s grooming routine - maybe even in your own! To help prevent ear infections, make sure you’re not getting their ears wet during a bath. It might also be a worthy investment to buy an ear cleaner that’s specifically made for dogs. Swap out the cotton swabs for some gauze or cotton balls so you don’t deposit any extra debris in their ears while you’re in there. You don’t need an extra trip to the vet just because of a grooming mishap!
#5: Brush Their Teeth
Chew toys and dental treats are certainly a great way to help with overall tooth health, but brushing their teeth is also very important. Using an angled dog toothbrush and a dog-safe toothpaste, brushing their teeth helps to prevent gum disease, gingivitis, plaque buildup, and even tooth loss in their older years.