Dog grooming: our advice and tips

You can instantly tell more about a dog’s health by the look of its coat. If it’s shiny, your canine friend is probably in great shape. But if it becomes dull, it is often a sign of illness or a poor diet. Regularly checking your dog’s coat means you can detect any problems, such as the presence of parasites, and prevent infestation. What’s more, massaging your dog while they are being groomed is something they should really enjoy! To stop your furball reacting negatively to the sight of a brush, it’s important that you get them used to it from a young age. Use a very soft dog brush which won’t irritate its skin and feel free to combine grooming with play to make it as pleasant as possible. Start by stroking your dog in their favourite place, then continue the same movements with the brush. If your dog has long fur, you should get some scissors to regularly cut their fur, particularly around sensitive areas such as the genitals.

Clipping your dog’s nails is not just a cosmetic procedure. It’s also important for their health. In fact, when a dog’s nails are too long, they will have difficulty moving and walking may hurt them at times. Clipping your dog’s nails every three weeks is generally enough. To carry out the procedure smoothly, first make sure your dog is perfectly relaxed. Hold their paw firmly and make sure you have enough light to avoid making any clumsy mistakes. It is important not to cut the quick part of the claw, where the blood vessels are located. This would cause severe bleeding and pain to your pet, who would outright refuse to repeat the process. Locate the quick, which should be white or pink, and place the nail clippers about a millimetre from it. Gently cut and detach the nail without crushing it. Finish the job by filing the cut nail. Don’t forget to reward your faithful friend who bravely endured the manicure with a treat and a stroke.

Although often forgotten during dog grooming, teeth are vitally important: they are a means of expression, a weapon and, of course, the instrument that feeds it. Therefore, you need to provide your pet with top-quality dental care. This begins when your dog eats. It’s important for your puppy to be able to chew, as this will clean the teeth and reduce the formation of tartar. There are many chewing toys and accessories on the market. When it comes to brushing your dog’s teeth, you need to get them used to it from an early age, as with grooming. You can use a toothbrush designed for dogs, as well as a meat-flavoured toothpaste. Take a good look at your pet’s teeth: if the gums are brownish-yellow in colour and surrounded by a brownish border, this is a sign of plaque and bacterial growth. If nothing is done, plaque turns into tartar when it comes into contact with the minerals deposited by saliva. A visit to the vet will then be needed. So it’s best to remove plaque regularly before it turns into tartar. As for bacteria, it will attack the gums, which can lead to serious tooth loss. Finally, dogs that get plenty of exercise are much less likely to develop tooth-related disease. In fact, moving around encourages the production of saliva, which has a cleaning effect on the teeth.

A dog’s ears differ both externally and internally from human ears. Dogs’ ear canals are longer and L-shaped like cats’. This makes it easier for earwax and parasites to accumulate and cause inflammation. To avoid this, you should keep an eye on your dog’s ears and clean them. How often you do this will depend on the breed of your dog and its anatomy. Dogs with floppy ears such as Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds and Setter Spaniels are more prone to dirty ears. It is recommended that you clean their ears once a week. For other dogs, cleaning them once a month should be fine. You can use a cleaning tool specially designed for dog hygiene to clean them. Never use cotton buds! They could injure your pet and push the earwax deeper into the canal. It’s best to clean their ears outside. Pour a little cleaning product into your faithful companion’s ear while holding their head and massage the base of the ear. Then release your dog, who will shake their head to get the liquid and dirt out. And it’s done – your furball definitely deserves a little treat!

You may have noticed crusts around the corner of your dog’s eyes or in the fur around their eyes. Cleaning is necessary for hygienic and cosmetic reasons. Soak a compress in saline solution and gently wash around your canine friend’s eyes. Don’t use cotton wool as it can leave fibres on the edge of the eye and eyelashes. Most of the time, dogs will let you do it and it will only take a few minutes.

Choosing the right dog grooming brush depends on your faithful companion’s coat. The most common dog brushes and combs are:

• The currycomb: ideal for dogs with long fur, it removes a large number of dead hairs.
• The double-sided grooming brush: this 2-in-1 brush is suitable for all types of fur. One side removes dirt and dead hairs, the other improves the shine of your dog’s coat.
• The natural bristle brush: very soft, ideal for brushing puppies and sensitive dogs.
• The massage brush: cleans the dog’s coat with its soft spikes and improves your pet’s well-being.
• The dematting comb: removes matting in dogs with medium-length or long hair.

An essential tool for professional dog groomers, a grooming table can also make life easier for some dog owners. This may be this case if, for example, you have back problems and can’t bend over for long lengths of time. This type of table makes grooming dogs much more comfortable. Most are height-adjustable to suit your needs. Foldable tables are easy to store and transport. If you take part in dog shows, a grooming table will be a great help.

There are different types of dog grooming scissors: straight scissors, curved scissors, thinning scissors, sculpting scissors, etc. Not surprising that many dog owners feel a little lost when faced with such a wide choice! If your dog has long fur that tends to get tangled, thinning scissors or shears help to make your four-legged friend’s coat lighter. With this type of scissor, you’re unlikely to make a mess of the cut. The same cannot be said for trimming with scissors to make your dog more beautiful. Don’t hesitate to ask a groomer for advice to find out which type of cut is right for your furball. If you’re unsure, let the professionals take care of you canine friend’s grooming.

The length of a dog grooming session depends on its size, breed, type of fur and the work required. A full groom by a professional lasts from one to three hours. If you groom your dog yourself, you don’t have to do everything in the same day. It’s often easier for you and your dog. Do it in a calm atmosphere, perhaps with some relaxing dog music.

Some breeds of dog are know for shedding lots of fur. These include the German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Chow Chow and Labrador Retriever, to name but a few. As the owner of one of these breeds of dog, you should vacuum your home at least once a day, and you will certainly need a lint brush for your clothes. You can also considerably reduce the amount of hair your dog sheds with a Furminator brush. Different sizes are available depending on your needs.

Some groomers will travel to the dog’s home and carry out the necessary treatments. If your faithful friend is nervous, a grooming session carried out in an environment they know will reassure them. However, the price for at-home dog grooming is often higher than grooming in a salon.

Apart from dental treatment to remove tartar from your dog’s teeth, other grooming treatments are not covered by your dog’s health insurance. If you groom your pet yourself, you will only have to pay for the equipment you need. You’ll be able to use the equipment for many years to come, even for the rest of your dog’s life. Products like dog shampoo or combing spray generally do not cost a great deal of money in terms of your dog’s annual budget.

It’s not recommended to wash your dog too often. This risks drying out their skin and causing irritation. A bath every three months is more than enough in most cases. There are, of course, exceptions, for example if your dog has rolled in faeces or on carrion. Never wash your dog with your own shampoo and certainly never use washing-up liquid. Specific dog shampoos are gentle on your dog’s skin and help prevent skin problems. If your dog is muddy, wait for the mud to dry and brush it.

Once your new family member has settled in well, start grooming them. Puppies and dogs generally don’t like having their nails cut. Get your puppy used to it from the start, everything will run more smoothly from then on. Be careful not to cut too close to the flesh. If your puppy has a bad experience when you trim their nails, they won’t let you do it so easily again.