To bathe or not to bathe your dog. Some people may say that dogs in the wild and wolves don’t bathe, so why should I bathe my dogs? Simply put: Because we care!
There are some important aspects to remember when grooming your dog; it’s not just about shampooing, there are other things to consider. Grooming should be done by a professional or at least by someone who has a good understanding of the process, or else you could do more harm than good.
If you decide to groom your dog on your own I suggest picking a good quality pet shampoo depending on your dog’s coat. Rarely if ever do I suggest using human shampoo on your dog. Be careful to break down (dilute) the shampoo before applying it to your dog. Because your dog’s coat is so dense it can be almost impossible to rinse all of the soap out of a thick-coated dog.
See: online dog training
Protect your dog’s eyes and ears. Shampoo can burn a dog’s eyes and ear infections are common if a dog’s ears get wet and don’t dry properly. This is common in dogs with narrow ear canals and floppy ears.
After rinsing your dog, you’ll need to towel dry him and preferably blow-dry him. I use a commercial dryer, but a high velocity blow dryer can suffice. Be careful not to make it too hot.
One of the most important aspects of grooming is a toenail trimming. Long toenails can affect a dogs overall walk. Always be sure to keep your dog’s nails short. If they are long, start by trimming them a little each week and once they’re short, keep them short. I use a Dremmel tool, but many groomers opt for clippers. Both are good, but be careful if you trim your dog’s nails not to cut into the quick.
Your dog’s ears should be cleaned regularly, in particular dogs with floppy ears. Keeping your dog’s ears clean is vital to good health. If your dog has a bad smell coming from his ears, get him to your vet right away.
Remember, if your dog swims in the ocean, that doesn’t count as a bath, nor does a dip in your pool. Salt water, Bromine and Chlorine can all dry out your dogs skin. If your dog likes to swim, be sure he gets groomed afterwards to protect his coat.
Dogs should be groomed regularly that can be once a week if it’s in your budget, but at least a couple of times a month if they are inside and outside dogs. Be sure that your new dog gets used to being groomed early on to prevent him from having an eversion to being handled. Grooming is a great way to get a dog acclimated to strangers and different environments. It also gets a second set of eyes on your dog in the event that something might be wrong.
Be careful who you pick to groom your dog. You want someone who is qualified and cares about your dog as much as you do. Here in Malibu we have two great grooming options, Malibu Grooming Company at Carbon Beach and Sherman’s Place at Busch and PCH.
