Patz Dogs

Dog Grooming Made Simple at Home

Grooming your dog is far more than a beauty routine — it is a chance to check their health, spot problems early, and build trust. Starting while your dog is still a puppy makes the whole process easier, because young dogs quickly become comfortable with being handled all over. If you have adopted an older dog, ease in slowly; he may need time before he is happy being touched everywhere. How often and how thoroughly you groom depends largely on your dog's breed, but the key is consistency — regular sessions help you catch issues such as flea infestations much sooner.

Know Your Breed's Needs

Every breed has its own grooming requirements, so learn what yours specifically needs. If you are unsure, ask your breeder, check with your vet, or look for reliable information at the library. My American Eskimo, for example, has a dense double coat that needs frequent brushing to stay free of tangles and healthy. We keep a steady grooming schedule, and she genuinely enjoys the attention — it is relaxing for me too.

Free Dog Grooming Course

A new free course on dog grooming reveals the step-by-step techniques used by the country's top dog groomers. At last, you can groom your Chihuahua at home yourself — no need to pay for an expensive professional groomer. Claim your copy of this free dog grooming course today.

Grooming Is Bonding Time

Grooming does not have to cost a fortune or eat up your day. With good planning and the right tools, a session can take as little as fifteen minutes once you have a routine in place. But why rush it? This is precious time to bond and show affection. Dogs love being rubbed and talked to, and people relax while petting and chatting with their dog.

Tools You Will Need

A proper dog grooming comb and brush are essential. For my American Eskimo I use a double rake; if your dog has a heavy or double coat, I highly recommend buying one, since a quality double rake makes the job quick and easy. Regular cleaning improves coat health, keeps the coat shiny and free of snarls and knots, and lets you check for parasites such as ticks.

• Conditioner for your dog's skin
• Deshedding blades
• Nubby gloves
• Eye wipes
• Ear cleaner
• Animal clippers
• Shampoo, wet or dry

Learn more about keeping the coat healthy in our coat health guide, and see how to spot ticks on dogs and deal with fleas.

Clipping Nails Safely

A good pair of nail clippers is a must, especially for indoor dogs whose nails do not wear down naturally. Before you try it, make sure your vet has shown you how to clip your dog's nails correctly. Holding down a large breed dog to trim nails is not easy and often takes two people. If your dog is very fearful of nail clipping, consider letting your vet handle it — otherwise the experience only becomes harder over time.

Make Ear Care a Routine

Checking your dog's ears takes only a few minutes, so work it into your regular grooming routine. When the ears need cleaning, do not postpone it — routine cleanings prevent many common ear problems. Read more about dog ear infections, and if you suspect a problem is developing, take your dog to the vet right away. An untreated infection can be very painful and may even damage your dog's hearing.

Begin by swabbing the outer ear, cleaning the earflaps on the inside and around the ridged area at the entrance to the ear canal. A cotton-tipped swab can work, but choose a long one — a dog's ear canal is much deeper than ours. Swab the inside of the canal gently and carefully. A safer approach is to fill the canal with a pet ear cleaning solution and massage the outer ear gently, then let your dog shake his head after a few minutes to help clear the canal. If you use a commercial ear care product, follow the instructions closely.

Check the Mouth and Brush Teeth

Grooming time is also a good moment to inspect your dog's teeth. Lift the lips and look at the teeth and gums. If the teeth look more yellow than white and the gums are swollen or red, these are signs of plaque and tartar buildup. Brushing regularly at home improves your dog's teeth and breath — dogs do not naturally have bad breath. If you need guidance, ask your vet for a hands-on lesson in the best home dental care. See our pages on your dog's teeth and dog bad breath.

Take a Break and Play

After all this important grooming information, take a break and play with my virtual puppy, Ruffy — unless you have a live puppy, in which case go play with him or her! Feed Ruffy a snack and play fetch with the ball. To feed him, click the dog snack bag. To play with the ball, click the more tab and watch how excited Ruffy gets. And be sure to pet him too — just click the puppy to pet it.

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