4 Do’s and Don’t for Home Grooming

Many grooming salons have shut their doors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This has forced a lot of dog parents to do their own grooming at home.

As you spend more time at home, you're snuggling and playing with your dogs a lot more. Regular at-home grooming will make your dog smell better, feel soft, and shedding less.

Here are the top 4 tips on how to best take care for you pet, while all grooming salons remain closed.

1. Brushing Your Dog at Home

To reduce shedding and keeping your dogs soft, you have to brush and comb them. Especially before and after bathing. Depending on your dog’s hair type you may need different brushes and combs.

Slicker Brush: Used for detangling curly-coated and long-haired wavy or straight-coated dogs. Brush the coat with the grain, by applying adequate pressure to get through the coat. But not so firm that you brush all the way down to the skin.

Greyhound Comb: Use after a slicker brush to get through the topcoat. Since this style of comb gets to the undercoat, angle the comb, get it down to the root, and comb through.

Shedding Brush: Used for dogs who shed continue to shed after you've used the slicker brush and the comb.

2. Bathing Your Dog at Home

Many dog parents have been relying on professional groomers for years. Now with the Pandemic these dog owners have to bathe their dog for the first time in years. Here're some good ways to make this experience as fun for you and for your dog:

Before you wash your dog, use a brush or a comb. Make sure your pet is tangle-free before bath. If your dog has any mats do not bathe them or very gently brush them out. Water will only make it worse and if you pull it too hard, it can hurt your dog’s skin.

When you wash your dog do it in the tub, shower, or outside, but make sure the water from your hose is warm enough.

Buy your dog a shampoo that smells good. Since you're cuddling a lot more, you want your best friend to smell nice.

The final step is to dry your dog completely. Every dog owner knows of the distinct wet dog odor and how it can affect the smell of your home.

3. DON'T Clip your Dog’s Nails at home

Do not cut your dog's nails

If you have never cut your dog’s nails before, don't do it right now. It's harder than it looks. Wait until your professional groomer re-opens their doors and have them do it instead. Don't forget these people have lot more technical experienced than you do.

If you do it yourself you might hurt your dog without even knowing it. If you trim the nail too much, you might cut the embedded vein, which can cause bleeding.

4. DON'T Trim Your Dog’s Fur

As fluffy as your best friend looks, now isn't the time to learn a new skill especially if you have never done it before. You need the right clippers and your groomer has them. Clippers come in different forms depending on the dog breed, length and type of fur. Specialists say it takes years of experience and a lot of trimming to even get certified. You could hurt your dog if you are not careful enough and cut dog’s tuck ups, pads, ears, or necks.