Properly grooming your pet goes beyond mere aesthetics and good looks; routine grooming care also affects your dog’s health and personal behavior. Ongoing health issues can stem from dirt or matted hair tangles, while general grooming makes your dog feel better and healthier and helps to develop a bond with you, its owner.

When to Start Grooming

It’s best to start grooming your dog at an early age. You want him to become accustomed to the routine and all the activity that goes along with grooming. The younger you start, the more accepting he will be of the brush, comb, bath, and nail clippers. If you plan to use a professional, try to find one whom you like, and stick with him or her as long as is practical. You want your dog to know, trust, and be comfortable with the grooming professional you choose.

Daily Grooming

There’s usually no need to groom your dog on a daily basis, but it is a good idea to at least give him a daily inspection. Give your dog a “once over” every day, checking for bumps, sores, irritation, and nasty fleas or ticks. Ticks can be squeezed off with tweezers and fleas can be scraped out using a fine-toothed comb.

Check your dog’s ears for any potential infections or dirt that can cause infection. Also, examine their paws for dirt, pebbles, splinters, or chemicals that can cause irritations or sores. Finally, clean out their eyes tenderly and gently with a soft, warm washcloth. Your dog may initially resist you washing around his eyes and face, so you will need to hold him steady until there is a general comfort with the process.

Weekly Grooming

It’s a good idea to brush your dog at least once a week. Brushing will not only work out tangles and mats, but also remove dead hair and reduce shedding around the house. If you’re sick of seeing dog hair everywhere, try brushing your dog on a regular basis with a wet brush. When you encounter a difficult tangle or mat, be gentle with your dog and try to be as soothing as possible. Just like in humans, tangled hair pulled with a brush can be painful.

Don’t forget to also brush your dog’s teeth. Dog toothpaste and special toothbrushes are available at most pet stores. Though this step may seem trivial for a dog, dental health is very important and dental issues are one of the most common veterinarian procedures, so keep your dog’s teeth healthy.

Monthly Grooming

Your dog’s nails should be trimmed roughly every month or every other month. If you’re not comfortable doing this, consider bringing your dog to a professional. Avoid cutting the nails too low as dogs have blood vessels in their nails; cutting them too close to the paw can hurt the dog and cause it to bleed.

When it comes to overall cleanliness, the basic formula for bathing your dog is to do so as the need arises. Use a gentle soap or special dog shampoo and bathe your furry friend on an as-needed basis. If you dog smells bad, don’t blame him - he’s only being a dog. Give him a bath.

Dogs are man’s best friends. In turn, they rely on us to take care of them and to keep them healthy. Owning a dog is a big responsibility. They cannot take care of themselves and we must nurture them similarly as we would a baby. By following daily and weekly procedures, we can make this task less daunting and eliminate serious problems before they arise, as well as, preventing complications.

There are certain things we need to do on a daily basis to provide appropriate care for our animal friends. Just a few minutes out of your day would be enough to satisfy these duties and will give you and your dog a chance to establish a bond. Feeding, of course, is one of them. A dog should be fed twice a day and also should be provided with plenty of drinking water.

In addition, your dog requires playtime with you. This is very important because dogs are by nature social animals that need companionship. So, get down on the floor and let your dog know he is special to you. You will have a fun experience, and in turn, the dog will show his appreciation through his love, loyalty and eagerness to please you. This playtime will possibly eliminate behavior problems that result from enormous amounts of alone time for dogs. A daily, or twice daily, walk will satisfy your dog’s exercise needs and get him some fresh air. Exerting energy is important and will result in a calmer dog. On your walk, he will see other animals and people and this will also satisfy his socialization needs.

Another important daily task would be to examine your dog. This will allow you the opportunity to stumble upon problems before they get serious. Get to know your pet by running your hands over his body. Start with his head and ears, down the front of his body, down his back and sides of his body, and then, his legs chest and abdomen. By getting to know the feel of your pet, you will be able to spot abnormalities early on. This is also a good time to look for skin problems, aches, pains, eye problems, ear infections or tooth and gum problems.

Dental care is also important in dogs. Ideally this should be done on a daily basis, but if you can fit it in twice a week that would also suffice. Food particles on a dog’s teeth will combine with bacteria to form plaque, which if not removed will turn into tartar. This can cause tooth and gum problems. By using a dog toothpaste and soft bristled toothbrush and concentrating on the two upper canine teeth or fangs and two upper fourth premolars or the large teeth in the back of the mouth, you can keep your dog’s teeth healthy, problem free, and his breath fresher smelling.

Remember also that a longhaired dog will do well with a daily brushing. Shorthaired dogs also need brushing. This will spread the natural oils from their skin, prevent tangles and matted hair, remove loose and dead hair and keep him looking well.

On a weekly basis, you should check your dog’s ears for possible infections and clean them, trim his nails, and inspect and clean his eyes.

Dogs need our loving care and attention to keep healthy and clean. We are responsible for this. Although it may seem like an endless chore, if we combine it with some playtime and fun, both you and your dog will enjoy this time together. You will develop a bond that will last a lifetime and your dog will be your loyal companion. In the end, you will see that you will get as much out of these care procedures as your dog does.