7 DIY Dog Grooming Tips You Need To Know (And Why)

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Most of us choose to send our dogs out for grooming. If you must resort to doing it yourself, don’t fret! We have the tips and directions to keep your pooch healthy and clean. Learning DIY dog grooming tips is always a good idea and will save you lots of money.

In this article, you’ll discover the easiest ways to keep your pooch in good shape and looking and feeling great. Who knows, you might decide never to bring your dog to the groomer ever again!

Dog Grooming Tips To Keep Your Pooch Healthy & Happy

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Regardless of the size of your dog, you can groom your pet without going mad! It takes some patience and cleaning your bathroom afterward, but you can do it! Grooming is essential because we want our pets to look and feel good.

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1 – Have The Items You Need On Hand Before Grooming

It’s a good idea to ensure you have everything on hand before you begin. Below is a list of dog grooming products you should have handy.

🐩 Click on the links below to learn more about these products.

1. Tearless Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
2. Nail Clippers with Safety Guard
3. Ear Plugs For Dogs or Cotton Balls
4. Kwik Stop Styptic Solution (in case of a nail bleed)
5. Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse Liquid for Dogs
6. Dog Grooming Wire Brush and/or Dual-Sided Natural Bristle Brush
7. Blow Dryer
8. Shaving Clipper Set
9. Pet Grooming Scissors
10. Old Clean Towels
11. Oral Care For Plaque, Tartar & Fresh Breath

More importantly, before you begin dog grooming, you always want to ensure you have all the necessary items. Without them, you might not have the level of success you strive for.

In fact, having the right tools is essential for proper dog grooming. Consider it an investment and a great way to save money on repeated professional dog services.

🐩 Always make sure you have everything you need ready to go before you groom your dog. Pick a safe and comfortable place. This way, your dog will become familiar with the area and can feel protected.

2 – Bathing Your Dog

We own a Miniature Poodle named Oliver (Ollie for short!). Needless to say, he is the love of our lives. We rescued him from a very bad situation, and therefore, we treat him like the prince he is!

In the past, we bathed him between grooming. According to CanineJournal, you should bathe your dog every three months. My groomer also told me the same thing.

First, always bathe your dog with a shampoo specifically designed for them. We like to use an All-Natural Organic Oatmeal Pet Shampoo Plus Conditioner in one. It is also specially formulated for pets with allergies to food, grass, and flea bites.

Currently, I’m using Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour and Honey as I switch off occasionally. Ollie’s coat feels and smells so good after his bath. This shampoo cleans, soothes, softens, and conditions your dog’s dry skin and coat. We love it!

Moreover, if your pet is a nervous wreck in the tub, you can try this Calming Pet Shampoo that Cleans, Conditions, Detangles, & Moisturizes with Lavender Chamomile. This shampoo really helps your pet relax while bathing.

Above all, this lavender-scented pet shampoo is great for cleaning dirty coats. It is perfect for coat conditioning, detangling, and skin moisturizing. You can use it on both short and long coats. The thick lather rinses off clean and keeps your pet looking and smelling clean.

Always Bath Your Pooch In Lukewarm Water

🐩 Importantly, you should always regulate the water temperature. Use lukewarm to slightly warm water only, and please don’t scald your pooch. Their skin is sensitive like yours. Think about how you feel in scalding hot bathwater!

It’s also a good idea to clean your dog’s coat from the bottom to the top and rinse from head to tail. For best results, you can easily follow the directions on the shampoo bottle.

To limit your dog’s shaking water all over, I try to keep my hands on Ollie until I’m done scrubbing. Once you let go, they will shake. I also use a circular motion and ensure I cover every inch of his body, including the private parts. You must not forget to clean them, too!

🐩 Remember, never leave your pet alone in the bathtub. Just like a child, you should always have someone there to monitor them. If you bathe them outside, always have them on a sturdy leash.

3 – Always Protect Their Ears While Bathing

Before you bathe your dog, be sure to gently place cotton balls in its ears to prevent ear infections and irritation. Please make sure you use a large enough cotton ball to prevent any issues. This will help block any water from entering their sensitive ears. You can also use this Disposable Pet Shower Cap when dog grooming, as it works great!

Additionally, only use Dog Ear Cleaner Wipes when cleaning your dog’s ears. They clean gently, deodorize, and dry your pet’s ears. They also help stop itching and are good for yeast and mites.

While bathing, try to be quick but thorough. Make sure you clean their underbelly and private parts as well. We use a handheld showerhead, and I must say, it works great! It’s so easy to clean your pet quickly and effectively with the handheld. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend you get one!

🐩 Above all, always follow professional advice when cleaning your dog’s ears. If you can’t clean them yourself, always bring them to your vet.

4 – Drying Your Dog

After bathing, I always towel dry Ollie off really well. Then, I set my blow dryer to medium-warm heat and complete the drying process. If your dog freaks out at the sight or sound of a dryer, just continue towel drying until dry. It’s a lot more work, but it’s worth it to keep your pooch happy and calm.

When I towel dry Ollie, I ensure he is fully dry before I walk him, especially in the colder months. If you use a blow dryer, always make sure you dry your dog on low to medium heat.

🐩 More importantly, you don’t want to burn or cause your dog any discomfort while grooming. You want them to have fun and not associate negative feelings about dog grooming if you can.

5 – Brushing Your Pooch

First, brushing your pet a few times a week is always a good idea. Typically, I brush Ollie for about 10 minutes several times a week. This helps keep his hair from matting and keeps him clean as well.

After bathing and drying, use a good metal pin wire brush and start with the back end first. This will allow your dog to feel comfortable with the brushing motion and not freak out. Plus, the conditioner in the shampoo will help with knots and unruly hair. You want your pet to feel comfortable and relaxed when you brush them. Brushing regularly will ensure they do.

Like most dogs, Ollie does not like his face brushed. To help distract him, I place one of his favorite Whimzees Natural Grain-Free Dental Dog Treats in front of him. This excites and distracts him, allowing me to brush his face successfully. Try it! It might work out well for your pet, too.

6 – Clipping And Shaving Your Dog’s Hair & Nails

Trusting yourself enough, you can successfully clip or shave your dog’s hair. You can always trim their face and paws with Pet Grooming Scissors if you don’t. Typically, that’s what I do with Ollie. I personally prefer to wait for the dog groomer to tackle his curly and abundant hair.

That said, you can purchase a good and highly rated Dog Shaver Clippers Set. They’re typically safe to use and work excellently on most pets’ fur and hair.

🐩 It’s also important to note the following: If your pet has long and thick hair, you need to use scissors to cut it shorter before you use clippers. Otherwise, the clippers may jam up with long hair and not work properly.

If you decide to give your pooch a haircut, always start with clean and dry fur. And most of all, always be careful around your dog’s face, eyes, and ears. I trim Ollie’s face, feet, private parts, and ears. Since I’m a former hairstylist, it’s pretty easy for me to do. I don’t recommend shaving your dog unless you are trained in dog grooming or a professional.

Your Dog’s Nails – Always Be Careful!

When it comes to your dog’s nails, you must be very careful. Again, best done by professionals. But if you decide to cut them, always use the best Pet Nail Clippers and Trimmer with a safety guard.

In addition, make sure it has a safety stop blade to prevent cutting the nails under the quick (which contains nerves and blood vessels). This greatly reduces the risk of cutting nails too short. You want to avoid the “quick,” which is typically easy to see from the side of the nail. Trim a little of the nail at a time. Make sure you look at both the nail’s sides and the trim surface.

🐩 If you cut the nails too short, always have Kwik Stop Styptic Solution on hand in case of a nail bleed. This solution will quickly help stop bleeding.

7 – Finishing Off Dog Grooming With Eye, Teeth, And Maintenance

Now that bath time is over, I always follow up with cleaning his eyes and oral health care. It might seem like a lot of work, but these things are essential when dog grooming.

Above all, eye care is very important. While bathing Ollie, I try to avoid his eye area in the tub. Typically, I clean his eyes with a product like Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse Liquid for Dogs.

You can also use a saline solution to clean them. This product helps reduce eye irritation, removes debris, and keeps Ollie’s eyes clean all week long. I also use it in between bathing.

Lastly, we give Ollie Petlab Co. Dental Formula Water Additive for Dogs to keep their teeth and oral health at their best. Petlab is formulated to support teeth and gums, keeping them healthy and clean. It also keeps his breath fresh and clean. It has no added sugar, alcohol, detergents, or additives. Just one teaspoon daily can promote healthy gums and maintain overall oral health.

To keep my boy fresh between dog grooming sessions, I use Pogi’s Grooming Wipes. I love these wipes and use them daily. You can use them any place your pooch requires freshening up!  

All things considered, it might seem like a lot of work and product, but it helps save us money on dog grooming expenses.

Finishing Up With Some Final Points

All things considered, it might seem like a lot of work and product, but it helps save us money on dog grooming expenses. It’s well worth it with groomers currently closed (due to our current pandemic) and who knows when they will reopen.

I hope you gleaned some great tips on dog grooming after reading this article. I know following these steps allows us to give Ollie a salon grooming at home!

Don’t forget to read 8 Things I Do To Reduce Stress And Anxiety, too!

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