4 Dog Grooming Tips

Dog grooming is not just something you should do to make your dog look good, it is also an important part of keeping your dog healthy and happy, as well as forging a much closer bond between the two of you. I know it takes time to do it, but having a dog is a big responsibility and if you get one then you need to be prepared to groom them (or take them out to be groomed) as part of their weekly care.

Below are 4 grooming tips to help you take the best care of your dog:

Brush their fur regularly: You can get all sorts of dog brushes now, and one of the best is the FURminator, the name is corny, but it does work! Brushing your dog is mainly to remove old fur and to stop any snags and tangles forming, but it can also be really useful to help you check over your dog's skin. As you are brushing your dog then you are exposing the skin underneath and you can check for rashes, ticks and cuts etc that could turn out to be nasty later on.

Brush their teeth regularly: Dogs cannot look after themselves as well as they used to when they lived out in the wild, and with our processed dog foods and treats then their teeth can start to decay unless we take care of them. Brushing your dog's teeth twice a week will help to stop any damage before it starts, but make sure you use special dog toothpaste instead of human toothpaste as that could make them ill!

Check their ears: A dog's ears are one of its most sensitive parts, they are thin and hard for your dog to get to if they get anything on or in them. So take some time when you are brushing their coat to inspect their ears for ticks, fleas or any signs of problems.

Keep an eye on their claws: Usually taking your dog out for a walk on pavements and roads will help to wear down your dogs claws, but if you don't take them out enough, or the area near you is not hard enough to wear them down, then you might need to take action. You can trim them yourself, but you should look up online or seek professional advice about how short or long to make them, then as you cut them you should inspect their feet for any thorns or glass or anything else which might be stuck in their pads or in-between them, and could cause problems.

Those tips should help you to take great care of your dog!