An Adventure with Scissors: Do it Yourself Tips for Grooming Your Pooch

Authored by:  JoAnn Lutmer-Paulson

Having a dog can be expensive – between the food, the treats, the training, the medications, and vet bills, it’s astonishing how we can afford them.  So if you get the chance to save some dough while still giving your furry friend everything he deserves, do it!  Dog grooming tips can save you money and help you keep your pups healthy, happy, and adorable as ever.

There are a lot of great home grooming kits, especially ones to help keep a pooch’s coat and nails trimmed and healthy.  Some of these may require an upfront cost but will obviously save you money in the long run.  Other tools for grooming your pet at home are inexpensive for starting out, as well as providing ongoing maintenance.  Let’s explore a few ways to make grooming time as painless as possible for everyone included:

First, make your dog comfortable. 

A lot of this process involves simply getting your dog in the habit of being groomed.  Before you ever approach them with scissors or razor, get them used to you touching them.  While your pup may be used to pets and cuddles, they are likely not used to your touch on their paws, ears, and more.  Gentle massages can help a dog become acclimated to your handling their whole body.  If your puppy gets nervous when you touch her paws, gently massage the pads of her feet until she gets used to your touch there. If you plan on using a razor to trim your dog, get your pooch used to the noise before you ever put the razor up to their body.

Keep their nails short.

For good nail health, clip your dog’s nails frequently.  Walking your dog regularly on cement will help to wear down the nails in a natural way, requiring less clipping.  If nails don’t receive regular trimming, the quick of the nail grows longer and increases the likelihood of bleeding when you do cut them.  Remember that practice will make a perfect when it comes to this habit and soon you’ll be able to clip the nails faster than you would have imagined.

Wash their troubles away.

Dogs need frequent baths; unfortunately few dogs really like baths.  Monthly baths should suffice for most dogs.  Obviously, dogs that spend a lot of time outside may require more frequent bathing.  Since dogs usually try desperately to escape the bath, prepare everything you can ahead of time.  If you bathe your dog inside, put non-slip mats in the bathtub and, when possible, use a handheld a shower head rather than the faucet.  Make sure whatever shampoo you use is appropriate for the age and species you’re bathing.  It’s also helpful to remember that putting cotton balls in your dog’s years can help absorb water and protect the ear canal.  Lastly, be sure to never use human shampoo on your dog.