Our furry friends are extremely important parts of our lives and we need to know what dog Grooming practices to avoid. We need to make sure they are always safe, secure, clean, healthy, and happy. Some things they do on their own but other things such as keeping them groomed and regularly taking them to their vet appointments are our responsibilities.
Grooming your dog is as essential as feeding them. If you overlook proper grooming habits, this can directly result in your dog falling sick and getting exposed to various diseases. Since our furry friends depend on us for many things, we must also make sure they are groomed regularly.
However, there are times when we might be doing certain things wrong. These practices might end up doing a lot worse than good for your dog. Some of these things are practices that we might not even know are bad for the dog. Read on further to see what the ‘don’ts’ are when it comes to grooming your dog.
While it may look like your dogs need to be cleaned from the inside, you need to be extremely careful when doing so. While the flaps and folds need to be kept clean, you must never under any circumstance wash the inside of your dog’s ears.
Washing the insides of your dog’s ears can directly result in an infection. When moisture enters the dog’s ear canal, it could combine with humidity and warm temperature to create a birthing ground for bacteria. If left unattended, the bacteria can result in an infection that will cause the dog a lot of pain.
As opposed to using water to clean the inside of your dog’s ears, try using a pet ear cleaner instead. Very gently massage the inside of your dog’s ear canal with the cleaner before wiping it clean with a soft, damp cloth.
As a dog owner, you might think that brushing your dog’s hair when it is wet or damp makes it easier to brush. This is not the case.
If your dog has areas of its fur that are matted or in knots, the chances are that it is only going to get worse when it is wet. If you try to brush your dog’s hair when it’s wet, chances are you’re going to make it worse than before, and it can also hurt them.
Instead of doing this, brush your dog’s hair before you give them a bath. This clears any knots or tangles as well as removes the matted parts of their coat. Any excess dirt or hair in their coat will also be removed, making it a lot easier for you to groom them.
When the dog comes out of the bath, it will shake off all the water. Once that is done, use a towel to gently pat the dog dry. If they have a long coat like an Afghan hound or Poodle, try using a blow dryer to dry the hair before you run a wide-tooth comb or brush through its hair.
Brush their coat in the direction the hair grows, and you’re good to go.
Some of us shower by routine, others by habit. We like to stay clean, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The thing is, dogs are not the same as us. Their hair, diets, and levels of activity are different.
When you decide to bathe your dog regularly, you’re actually doing more harm than good. At the cost of keeping your dog cleaner than others, you’re actually damaging its skin and coats. Using shampoo on the dog’s hair and skin can suck out all of the moisture in it, leaving it dry and susceptible to cracking or infection.
Bar any veterinary advice, your dog only needs one bath a month. Unless your dog decides to splash through a mud puddle, there is no immediate need to bathe them more than once a month.
Just like many people advise you not to wash your hair every day, the same logic applies to dogs whose entire bodies are covered in it.
Your dog needs to be trained to know exactly how to behave when they are being groomed. If your dog isn’t trained properly, it might be too fidgety during its grooming sessions.
For instance, if you are trying to clip your dog’s nails and it is moving around too much, there is a high chance that you might make a mistake. In this case, you might end up cutting off too much of the nail and rupturing their capillaries. This could result in a lot of pain, bleeding, and a long recovery time.
You need to start by training your puppy to get used to brushing and bathing. Dogs must be trained to sit absolutely still. It might take some time getting used to this, but it is important to make sure that they are. Once they learn that they need to be absolutely still when being groomed, it should become a lot easier for you to groom them.
Never rush into the process, or you risk frightening the animal. Instead, ease into it. Get them used to the sounds and feel of the grooming procedure. Furthermore, make sure you introduce them to this early on when it is easiest to train them.
Make sure the dog is in an environment where they are comfortable. Try doing this on your own so they can be around someone that they are familiar with.
Dog grooming is a rather simple procedure. There are a few steps that need to be followed before, during, and after the dog is groomed. Some of these things are general knowledge, while others need to be learned through some trial and error here and there.
Make sure your dog develops a habit of being groomed, and you must also make it a point to make sure the dog is groomed when needed. This way, your dog will be clean, healthy, and happy, while you will be at peace knowing that your furry friend is doing well.