Take care of your dog

Dog grooming is the basis for preventive health care for your dog and puppy. It gives you a chance to see small changes in and on your dog’s body that could lead to health concerns such as a lump or problems in his ears or with his teeth.

Dog grooming can be a time of further bonding with your dog. This is some serious one on one time when he gets loads of your attention.

So what do you do and when do you start grooming your dog and puppy? As with most things with your puppy, you need to introduce him to dog grooming slowly and help him be comfortable with it. Start with short sessions of about five minutes and work up to the whole routine as he adjusts.

Begin with brushing and combing. There are several different grooming tools used for brushing and which you use depends upon the breed of your dog and the type of coat he has. Ask the breeder you got your puppy from for the proper techniques.

Brushing should be done before you bathe your dog or puppy. Bathing your puppy should begin when he is about 14 weeks old or sooner if he is a very dirty dog. Most dogs should need bathing only once a month unless he gets dirty. Wherever you decide to bathe your dog, bathtub, sink or some type of tub, place a rubber mat within to give him something secure to stand on so he won’t slip around.

Soak down his body but not his face. Keep water out of his ears. You may wish to block his ear canals with cotton balls to prevent the water from getting into his ears. Lather up your wet dog with a dog shampoo. Rinse well. Any leftover shampoo in his coat is likely to cause dryness or skin irritation. Wipe his face off with a damp cloth. Squeeze off the excess water and then towel dry your dog. Complete the drying process with either a hair dryer set on warm, not hot, or by leaving him in a warm room until dry.

Be aware that a dog will shake just as soon as you release him. This is why some people want to run their dog outside quickly after a bath on a leash to prevent him from rolling and getting dirty again. If this is not an option, such as in winter, you may wish to consider a professional groomer.

A professional groomer may be a consideration for some of the more difficult haircuts and dog grooming considerations such as the stripping required by some wire-haired breeds. This depends upon your ability to do the required tasks and your desire to do them as well.

The Pomeranian dog is a very small little dog that is largely composed of a very thick and doubled coat of hair. There are actually several layers to the Pomeranian hair, which gives some people the impression that Pomeranian grooming would be extremely difficult due to the amount of hair they have however, Pomeranian grooming is not that, terribly difficult at all. The only notable difference is that some short haired dogs don’t need to be combed every single day however the Pomeranian is one that does require daily brushings due to the thickness and constant shedding.

In order to understand how to properly perform Pomeranian grooming on your puppy, it is really important that you realize that this breed of dog can knot and form tangles very easily. It is also an imperative issue to understand because of the double coat that the Pomeranian dogs have and they tend to shed those undercoats a couple of times a year. The Pomeranian grooming on a regular basis also immensely helps the coat grow and form on these little spunky dogs.

The Pomeranian Touch

There is likely no other dog that is more frequently seen in the dog shows as the Pomeranian. These little things are extremely popular and unlike a lot of breeds that can be disqualified by certain markings, it is widely accepted that most if not all Pomeranians are show dogs. It is for this very reason that there is so much focus and concentration paid to Pomeranian grooming as well as the fact that the Pomeranian coat is very coarse and thick. If it isn’t regularly maintained, groomed, washed and brushed the coat of the Pomeranian will suffer and turn very ratty, matted and full of knots and this doesn’t look very attractive on the little critters.

There are many owners that take part in regular Pomeranian grooming and are highly rewarded by happy little dogs, as they generally adore the attention and doting of being groomed. There are many tips and tricks you can learn to help you with your own Pomeranian grooming needs and can even help you with purchasing products that are necessary to maintain a nice coat for you dog. There are many sprays and products that can remove urine stains and grass stains as well as many other stains that your Pomeranian may have gotten into. Before you begin a Pomeranian grooming regime for you dog, be sure to find out all the helpful useful information from your local Pomeranian breeder.

Using dog nail clippers and a file to keep its nails healthy is important in order to avoid splitting or snagging. Make sure you have the needed nail grooming supplies. You will need dog nail clippers, a pet nail file and of course treats! The dog nail clippers involve working with a delicate area of your dog (paw and nail), so make sure the dog nail clippers are sharp and the correct size for your pet. Ask a groomer or your veterinarian for advice about what types of dog nail clippers are best.

Tips on Using Dog Nail Clippers and Nail Files

First, gather all of your supplies (the dog nail clippers, treats, and nail file) and place them in a comfortable area for you and your dog. Place your dog on his/her tummy. This will ensure safety and comfort for both you and your dog as you trim the nails. Give him/her something to occupy his attention like a bone or a chew toy. Or get someone to help you distract the dog with love, scratches and attention while you clip.

Make sure the dog nail clippers are sharp and begin at the tip of the nail. Snip small pieces a little at a time. If you begin to see a little bit of moisture, it’s time to stop clipping. You don’t want to cut into the quick. Its an area of the nail which is very sensitive and will bleed easily. On dark nails its hard to see, but on white nails, the quick is the pink area.

An important area not to forget is the dewclaw nail on the inside of the leg. This nail is notorious (at least in my household) for getting snagged. This nail doesn’t wear down like the other nails so may need to be trimmed more often.

Use dog nail clippers when those nails start to click on the floor or snag on the carpet (once or twice a month). With neglect, the quick will lengthen and can cause poor nail health. Then use a nail file to smooth down any rough areas.

Practice makes perfect. As you continue you will become more comfortable in the grooming process. Grooming your dog is just as important as grooming yourself. Just as your nails need attention, so do your pets.

If you have ever owned a dog, then you have smelled it - dog breath. It can knock you over, bring strong-stomached men to their knees, and even overpower small children, and it’s nothing to laugh about. Right along with “dog breath” comes that other great smell - “dog”. There is no need to explain it any further, everyone knows what “dog” smells like. Getting rid of that “dog” smell or dog breath is no small feat either, as every pet owner knows. There are many great dog grooming tips and techniques that have been tried over the centuries, and few have stood the test of smell. There are so many products to choose from, dog deodorizers and colognes, dog dryers, dog toothbrushes, but they all seem so odd. So, how do you get rid of dog odors for good? Well, here are a couple of tips to help you find the cure.

That “dog” smell - If you have a dog that just smells terrible, and you feel like you have tried all the old wives tales out there, then you need to head down to the local dog groomer and learn some dog grooming tips that you can use at home after a bath or brushing. Your local dog groomer can suggest some great dog grooming accessories that you can purchase to help keep your pet smelling less like a dog when you get home. And, they can tell you the best shampoos to use on your pet to keep them smelling, looking, and feeling their best.

That “dog breath” - There are many products out there that advertise that they help to cure “dog breath” and then don’t cut the mustard. So, once you have tried them all, where do you turn? Well, your local vet can help you here. The vet can suggest some great dog grooming tips for “dog breath” that will help to knock it out. If these fail, then your vet can suggest and prescribe some medications that you give your pet daily that will help to knock out the dog breath before it knocks you over. Some dog grooming supply shops will have these medications in stock in an over-the-counter dose, so you can also check there before purchasing expensive medications.

If your pet has “dog breath” or smells like a dog, don’t fret. Just remember that there are plenty of dog grooming techniques and tips that you can learn from local groomers and vets that will help you to keep your dog on the sweet smelling side of life. You can also purchase some great dog grooming accessories that will help you accomplish this as well. Knowing how to treat and prevent these less than wonderful smells will help you, and your pet, to have a more loving relationship!

It is important for anyone planning to groom Shih Tzu to know the correct way to groom. With Shih Tzu show dogs there is absolutely no room for mistakes. Grooming a Shih Tzu show dog could represent the difference between winning and losing. Correct Shih Tzu grooming, however, is also important for pet Shih Tzu. Some Shih Tzu owners want their Shih Tzu do look the way a dog of the Shih Tzu breed should look.

A Shih Tzu owner, whether pet or show dog, should know how to care for the Shih Tzu properly at home. Any Shih Tzu grooming done at home should be done by using the correct procedures. There is correct and incorrect way to bathe your Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu has different types of coats that need different types of care.

To groom your Shih Tzu successfully at home you need to have a basic knowledge of how to groom, how to correctly scissor or clip your Shih Tzu. This will help you take care of your Shih Tzu at home or, at least, to keep the Shih Tzu looking presentable between professional grooming.

Beginner Shih Tzu Groomer Qualifications:

1. A sincere love for the Shih Tzu.
2. The ability to handle scissors with a steady hand.

If there is no problem in handling the scissors, handling the remaining equipment can be learned easily.

Everyone who owns a Shih Tzu should have some grooming knowledge and be able to have pride owning a well-groomed Shih Tzu. Grooming your Shih Tzu can fun and satisfying as well as safe and sure.

There are several categories of Shih Tzu owner groomers:

1. The single-Shih Tzu owner who doesn’t have time to do the main grooming but wants to keep the Shih Tzu looking well groomed.

2. There is the person who enjoys Shih Tzu grooming once in awhile to prove he can do it.

Correct grooming knowledge is valuable to both categories of Shih Tzu owners. If you are a Shih Tzu owner who wants to do all your grooming at home, you must know the grooming requirements of the Shih Tzu as well as the professional does to get the desired results.

Most Shih Tzu show dog owners groom their own Shih Tzu even if they hire professional handlers. A Shih Tzu owner must know accurately every step of grooming for his particular breed.