Introduction
Dogs need to have good hygienic care. The dog owner can learn how to groom his or her dog (Miller, n.d.). There are professional groomers whose sole responsibility in life is to groom dogs at a fee.
Some of the tools that one needs for grooming are the curry or curry brush, scissors and clippers, and a sticker brush. Others include rakes, stand dryers, and the rubber grooming gloves.
Pre-grooming Inspection
The process enables the groomer to know how to conduct the grooming. It also helps to discover any conditions that require medical attention. When doing an inspection, one needs to wear disposable gloves. Never leave the gloves in the room or on the table unattended. It is good to dispose of properly. Swellings on the body can affect the grooming (Inman, 2013).
Brushing and Combing
The first steps in grooming involve assembling tools together. Long, short, and or smooth coated breeds all need brushing. Clean and rinse the dog, but remove all the mats. If one does not take good care of them, they expand due to wetness. Taking care of such a mess becomes unbearable (Nolan, 2012).
A proper inspection enables one to notice any mat on the pet. It can result in bacterial infection. If one sees it, then it is advisable to cut it out. One needs to do the matting gently to avoid causing injury to the dog. For short-haired dogs, one can use the curry brush. Dogs with a long coat may need an undercoat rake.
When brushing, one needs to do it carefully to enable the brush to take down any loose hair. The process also helps to spread the animal’s oils from the skin. Profession brushing allows one to take good care of the pet. It is good to start from the neck and finish with the tail before going to the head.
Nail Clipping and Filing
Nail clipping is the process of cutting away excess nails. Every three to four weeks, one must clip and file the dog’s nails. Overgrown nails can cause health problems. Long nails are not good for the dog.
It can lead to sore feet because the dog finds it painful to stand on its feet and even to walk. Most dog owners avoid nail clipping and prefer the professionals to do it because it is not an easy task.
The pet owner needs to clip and file the dog’s nails frequently. The process helps to prevent some of the nail problems the dog may have. It also helps to deal with certain health hazards.
Human nail polish is not applicable here. There is a good dog’s nail polish in the shops. Grooming suppliers can provide excellent finishes. One can ask for the best to provide a good finish.
Eyes and Ears Cleaning and Deodorizing
Warm any cleaner or medication in a container to body temperature then put it into the ear (Kerns, 2012). It is good to use some small drops of warm alcohol in the ear. It helps to dry down water and kill any infectious objects.
One can also get the dog’s ear cleaning solution from the groomers’ supplies. Dogs need to keep their teeth clean. One can brush them on a regular basis. One can find a groomer who knows all the grooming procedures. At other times, one may find a groomer who specializes in particular areas.
Bathing
It is now time to get the dog into the tub for washing. Some dogs get scared when they hear the sound of running water. It is good to prepare the dog first. A water pipe with real pressure can help clean all the parts.
It is advisable to dilute two shampoos and rinse thoroughly. One can use the hand to spread the shampoo from the neck first and the rest of the body. The head typically comes last. Never apply soap near the eyes and ears. Don’t allow it to enter the dog’s openings.
After the shampoo process is over, it is now time to rinse the dog. One needs to spray off any dirt or shampoo left in any spot. Any shampoo left in the coat causes irritation.
One can make the dog get used to a particular procedure of drying. If it has long hair, then blow drying, it will help a lot. Dry the feet thoroughly to prevent the fungal infection. Set the blow dryer on the cool mode (Kerns, 2012).
It is not good to dry the dog’s skin thoroughly. In a groomer’s place, one may find different kinds of dryers. There could be stand dryers, cage dryers, and hand dryers.
The groomer can do finishing touches by spraying with perfume, giving a ribbon, coloring the dog’s fur, and or painting the dog’s nails.
Conclusion
All pets need some cleaning. People rear dogs for different reasons. Pet dogs need special care. One can only appreciate the dog as a pet if he or she takes good care of it. Dogs are friendly. Grooming them may not be a serious problem.
References
Inman, M. (2013). My dog: the paradox, a lovable discourse about man’s best friend. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing.
Kerns, N. (2012). How to properly care for your dog’s teeth. The whole dog journal, 1(2), 6-11.
Miller, D. Know how to groom your dog. New York: Pet Library.
Nolan, A. (2012). I’d rather be a cat: the official “better than dogs” cat book. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.