If you’ve ever taken your dog to professional groomers, you’ll know how fantastic your dog looks after a professional grooming session; this is because professional groomers have a few tricks up their sleeves. If you’re not faint hearted and you like doing things yourself, you can do these little things to ensure your dog looks and feels his best while saving yourself some money at the same time. Achieving that fresh from the groomers look is not as complicated as it sounds.
Eyes: Many dogs, especially light colored dogs, suffer from stains at the corners of their eyes. While this can be an indication of a serious medical problem, it is usually nothing to worry about as some breeds are prone to tearing. To remove these stains on white dogs use a bit of hydrogen peroxide diluted in warm water. Dip a soft washcloth in the solution and carefully wipe the stained area in the direction of hair growth. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Done on a regular basis this will minimize and eliminate staining. Dark colored dogs simply need to have their eye area wiped with a clean, soft washcloth dipped in clean water.
Ears: Wax can accumulate in your dog’s ears and result in dirt being trapped. This is especially so with dogs who have long hairs in their ears. If this is the case with your pooch you can eliminate this problem by pulling the long hairs found on the outside of the dog’s ear canal. Grasp the hair firmly at the base and give a quick tug outwards. You can also use “stripping fingers” found at most pet stores to help you get a firm grip on the hairs. You should never try to use scissors anywhere near your dog’s ears and never put your fingers or any object into the ear canal.
Nails: Overgrown nails can be very painful for your dog and your furniture as well. Long nails can cause painful welts, blisters and infections in your dog so you should try to trim your pet’s nails regularly.
You will need a good quality trimmer made for use on dogs – never use human nail clippers or scissors to trim your dog’s nails; you can seriously injure your pet by doing so. There are two types you can choose from: the guillotine type and the slotted scissor type. Most people find the guillotine type clippers easier to use.
Hold your dog’s paw gently but firmly and look for the quick – this is the pink area that can be seen in light colored nails. The quick contains lots of sensitive blood vessels and nerves and you should avoid cutting into it at all costs. If the dog has dark colored nails and you can’t see the quick, trim only the tips of the nail and stop if the dog begins to act agitated or in pain when you apply pressure.
Once you’ve mastered these easy steps, you can give your dog a professional grooming yourself; it’s easy once you know how!