Dog grooming is an art that goes from basic pet care to almost spa-like pampering. The essential grooming requirements depend on the dog’s breed and its characteristics. The first thing a pet owner deals with is dog hair.

Long hair dogs that shed need more frequent grooming than short hair dogs or those who only shed seasonally. Dogs with curly or frizzy hair need daily care to de-tangle the hair and remove debris or foliage that gets caught in the coat while the dog is outdoors.

Sending your dog to a groomer each week gets expensive. But if you want the best for your dog, you can even hire mobile dog groomers who have a full grooming station in their vans.

The groomer parks in your driveway and does the complete grooming onsite. This is a great convenience and avoids the “wet dog” smell lingering in your bathroom. To save money, you can also learn to do many of the basic grooming techniques yourself.

Dog grooming isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. A dog that doesn’t get proper grooming in a timely manner is at risk for illness, gingivitis, parasites and damage to both fur and skin.

Your dog may not be thrilled about getting a bath, but you can’t let that stop you. Bathing is a health issue for dogs just as it is for people. You wouldn’t stop bathing your toddler just because she screams at bath time, would you?

If you aren’t sure about the right techniques for bathing, brushing and de-tangling your dog’s fur, find a good online resource or ask if you can watch the dog groomer work. You may also take a class from a pet store or vet’s office to learn the correct procedures – as well as get some expert tips on how to deal with your dog’s anxiety or fears during grooming.

The skin under the dog’s fur can be highly sensitive. Avoid aggressive scrubbing while bathing your dog or you can remove too much of the natural oils that protect both skin and hair follicles.

Adding powder or scents that aren’t formulated for use with dogs adds the potential for skin irritation or infection. If a product isn’t made for dogs or the type of fur on your dog breed, then make it a rule never to use it.

Be patient when grooming. Take time to talk gently to your pet, rub his head or tummy and lend a playful quality to the grooming session. If you’re rushed or impatient, then don’t even start the grooming. Your dog will pick up on your attitude and be fearful or difficult to manage.

Even if your dog spends most of his time outdoors, you still need to do basic grooming. Without regular bathing, your dog is at the mercy of fleas and parasites that thrive on his lack of cleanliness.

Use the right tools. Don’t use your old hairbrush on your dog. Get special brushes and combs that are made for your dog’s fur. You don’t save money using your castoffs if you damage the dog’s skin and create a big vet bill.

You might save some money by bringing the dog to a groomer monthly or alternate weeks, while you handle the bath and simple hair brushing on the other weeks. Dog grooming is an essential part of maintaining your dog’s health – as well as his good looks.

If you are looking for a pet sitter in the north Phoenix area please contact Rebecca at 623-377-7735.

The post Dog Grooming appeared first on Pet Sitting North Phoenix.

You will be absolutely thrilled to learn that there are also home solutions that are available for you for dog grooming.

You do not need a professional service

If you own a dog and you are looking at saving money on grooming of your dog, then like most pet owners, you too have the option of grooming your dog, at your home. The biggest advantage over here is that you will definitely be saving a great deal of money.
But, on the other hand, you would also be required to invest a lot of effort and time, in this kind of grooming activity. According to research studies, dogs that are short-haired and are of a small breed, are most easily groomed at home. But, dogs that require intensive hair cutting, special maintenance and complex grooming are better off left in the care of professionals, as it has been found that it would be near to impossible to breed these dogs at home.

Dog grooming calls for the right kind of equipment

If you plan on grooming your dog at home, then you should at least have the minimum amount of equipment that is required to do the task. Without this equipment, it would just not be possible for you to groom your dog.
In order for you to groom your dog at home, you would need to have the following basic equipment: grooming table, clippers and brushes. Though it is always good if you also had scissors and combs, it is not absolutely essential for you to have them. Plus, you would also need stuff such as special cleaning solutions and special shampoos.

Dog grooming calls for a lot of patience

If you think that it is very easy to groom your dog at home, well then you are very wrong. This grooming calls for a great deal of patience. For instance, you need to trim the nails of your dog, at least one time in a month. When you do this, you have to be extremely careful because if you cut the nails of your dog too short, it could lead to you injuring the veins of your dog. Also, you have to be very gentle when you are cutting their nails as there are hardly any pets who really like their nails being touched.

You also need to give an equal amount of attention to the eyes, ears and teeth when you are brushing or bathing your dog. Also, if you happen to come across an injury or some kind of a lump under the coat of the dog, make sure that you immediately take your dog to the veterinarian. This is because you really do not know what this may lead to, if it is unattended. Thus, though you can do dog grooming at home, you must be ready to devote a great deal of time and patience.

The post Dog Grooming at Home appeared first on Pet Sitting North Phoenix.