By: Song E.
Your dog needs a haircut, or maybe it’s a nail trim, but you don’t want to spend money on bringing your pet in for a “spa day.” Or perhaps you’re in-between visits, or you don’t have access to a professional groomer. Whatever the reason, your dog can still look fresh and clean without leaving the house. Here are some tips on how to keep them looking great.
Have the Right Tools
This is probably the most important part of at-home dog grooming, considering that you’ll need certain tools to cut their hair and trim their nails. You should at least have a brush and clippers ready when giving them a haircut. Also make sure you have a nail trimmer. These are fairly easy to find at most pet stores.
Choose a Time When They’re Calm
It might be easier on both you and your pet if you choose to groom them after they’ve gone on a walk or played a fair amount. This way they won’t be jittery or anxious. Also keep in mind that you should make sure that your dog doesn’t react negatively to the sound of clippers or grow anxious and jump when you touch sensitive places such as their paws.
Have Treats Handy
This can make it a better experience for your dog if they don’t typically enjoy bathing and so forth. Consistently giving them treats throughout the process which will keep them from trying to run away or give them a long lasting bone to keep them occupied.
Brush, Brush, Brush
Brushing their hair before giving them a bath can save you a lot of hassle. Make sure you get all of the knots and matts out of their fur so that you can properly clean them. Dogs with longer hair might need daily grooming since their hair can matt easily, so keep this in mind before you have to figure out how you’re going to get rid of those knots!
Give them a Warm Bath
Start off by giving your pooch a good scrubbing in the tub. Make sure you get all the dirt from their fur, especially from underneath their collar since dirt tends to collect there. It’s also important to rinse them well so their skin doesn’t dry out. Massaging them gently during this process might help if your dog tends to get anxious.
Get Your Clippers Ready
Make sure you brush again after bathing your dog to make sure their hair is smooth and free of knots. When cutting, be aware of how close you’re getting to their skin, and be especially careful around the paws since this is a sensitive area. It might also be helpful to have someone hold your pet while you cut to avoid any accidents––especially if your dog is squirmy.
Cutting Nails
This is a tough task with my dog––he absolutely hates getting his nails cut. This is where I also have someone hold him so he can’t pull his paws away. It’s extremely important to be careful of how close you’re cutting their nails. If you cut them too short, they may bleed. Even if you don’t, it might be painful to your dog if they’re cut too short.
