How to groom your dogs properly

The Boksburg SPCA is encouraging pet owners to take their puppies to reputable grooming parlours so that they get used to being groomed from a young age.

Yorkshire terrier getting his hair cut at the groomer

Below are some tips that can be used to help:

1. Start grooming the puppy as soon as possible to get him or her used to being handled, the sensation of being washed, the sound of the hairdryer and the feel of the brush through the coat.

2. The amount of time spent on grooming the animal will largely depend on the animal’s breed and the coat type. Breeds such as Labradors or Basset Hounds, for example, have oily coats and will need more regular bathing than dogs with non-oily coats.

Dogs who enjoy swimming can also require more regular baths.

3. If the pup or adult dog has a skin condition frequent bathing can worsen the condition and bathing too often can also strip the animal’s coat of its natural oils, so getting the balance right is very important.

Also, ensure that you only use a good quality dog shampoo – and do not use human shampoo as this is not suited to the pH of the animal’s skin and can cause problems.

4. Before actually bathing an animal it is important to give him or her a brush to help remove any possible tangles or knots in the coat – these can become quite problematic when wet.

If there are big knots in the coat it can be better to cut them off rather than possibly hurting the dog when trying to brush them out.

5. Bathing dogs in the family bath can be easier than washing in an outside tin bath, but it is important to place a rubber mat in the bottom of the bath to help prevent the dog from slipping which can make it a scary experience.

6. Water should not be able to get into the animal’s ear canals and to help prevent this you can place cotton wool in each ear.

This can be removed once the bath is finished.

7. Have a towel available for when the animal is ready to take him or her out of the water and give the animal a good rub down to remove excess water.

If the weather is warm then allowing the dog to dry off inside the house is fine – it is not advisable to allow them outside when still damp as they may go and role in soil and become dirty all over again.

8. In cooler weather (and with long-haired breeds) it is preferable to use a hairdryer to dry off the animal. Obviously, it is vital that the animal is not burnt with the hot air and the coolest setting on the dryer should be used to ensure that this does not happen.

It is also important to keep the hair dryer moving over the body of the dog so that the air does not concentrate on just one spot of the animal’s body.

9. Breeds such as Maltese can need to have their eyes cleaned and it is suggested that a saline solution is used to dampen some cotton wool and then gently wipe from the corner of the eye.

Sometimes the eyes can become quite crusted with mucus and this can become dried onto the skin and hair – if this happens then it is advisable to keep the cotton ball (with the saline solution) in place for a little longer to help loosen the dried mucus and then gently remove it.

10. The ears of breeds with long ears (such as Basset Hounds) or long ears (such as German Shepherd Dogs) should be inspected weekly to help prevent infections.

It is not advisable to use cotton buds in dog’s ears as it can damage the sensitive lining of the ear and even push any debris deeper into the ear canal.

If owners think that their dog has an ear infection (constant shaking the head or a bad smell coming from the ear itself) then it is important that the animal is taken to a veterinarian for treatment.

11. It is important that puppies get used to the sensation of having their paws and toes inspected and this can be achieved by the owner frequently playing with the pup’s paws during the first few months of his or her life as this will assist when it comes to the clipping of nails.

If the animal’s nails are clicking on a hard floor then it is probably time to have the nails clipped.

This is best to do after a bath as the nails are softer but … it is very important that owners only clip their animal’s nail if they know what they are doing. Clipping too short will result in them bleeding and will be painful to the animal and make them scared to have their nails clipped in the future.

The ‘quick’ is the pink area seen on a white nail (black nails are much harder to gauge as it is not possible to see the quick) and it is vital that the nail is never cut below the quick. If in doubt, rather take your pet to a veterinarian to have their nails clipped.

12. It is possible to brush your dog’s teeth but, like nail clipping, it is important to get a puppy used to having his or her teeth brushed as early in their life as possible.

This can be achieved by placing one of your fingers in the mouth from an early age to get the pup used to the sensation.

Veterinary toothpaste (made specially or dogs) can be introduced once the pup is used to fingers being in the mouth and causing no pain, and then a soft toothbrush can be used to help keep teeth free from bacteria.