While getting your dog professionally groomed can be an easy way to get it done, as you just need to drop and get your dog picked up after the grooming session is done. The tough part here is to bear the grooming expenses. Though there are places that might be cheaper than others, you do not end up with a place where your pooch is rushed and gets injured in the process. On the other hand, a reputable groomer might be heavy on your pockets. Hence, sometimes you may consider grooming your dog at home for free.
If you have decided to groom your dog at home, here are a few handy tips to help you.
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Choose High-Quality Products:
The entire reason for grooming the dog is to clean it thoroughly, which is impossible with substandard products. You are saving a tonne on grooming the dog at home; hence, ensure spending a decent amount on buying good quality best shampoo for goldendoodles
This will ensure you do not have to struggle with getting your pooch clean, as good grooming products will make the entire process much easier.
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Groom Regularly:
Getting busy and postponing grooming at home for weeks together is easier. This can be an issue, especially for long-coated dogs, as the mats can be painful and cause skin problems that you may not notice immediately. Certain breeds need to be groomed regularly to avoid matting.
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Trim Nails:
It may not be necessary to bathe your dog as frequently as you need to trim its nails. If it gets longer, your furniture pieces may get some scratches. Also, long nails can cause discomfort to the dog, and they may break a nail while playing, which could cause an injury. Even if you are not bathing your dog frequently, do not forget to trim the nails timely. Nail grinders are a better option than clippers as it is easier to use and make the nails even. Stay cautious while cutting their nails as you should stay away from the quick, which, if accidentally cut, may cause bleeding.
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Restrain Your Dog While grooming:
Free access to the entire bathroom is not a great idea while grooming the dog, as it may want to escape the process. If you have a bathtub, put the dog inside or use a leash to restrain the dog so that it becomes easier to groom the dog. Even when professionals work on grooming the dog, they do the same hence, follow the same principle so that your dog does not bother you much through the session.
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Choose a Well-Lit Place for Grooming:
Use a place to groom them, which is well-lit. You do not want to injure the dog in the process. A well-lit place will ensure clear visibility and reduce the chances of making mistakes. If you use the bathroom to groom the dog, arrange for some extra lighting as it is important, especially when you are cutting their nails to avoid any injury.
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Brush your Dog Regularly:
Especially long coated dogs have a higher chance of forming mats in the coat that can be avoided when you brush them regularly. This can also reduce the number of grooming sessions your dog needs as their coat is kept detangled most of the time. Also, loose hair on the dog’s skin can cause irritation, which can be avoided by brushing the hair regularly that get rid of such loose hair. It is also good for their coat and skin to brush them frequently.
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Use a Dryer:
If you think washing your dog is tedious, wait until you reach the drying state. Towel drying might not work great with dogs as they have fur throughout their body. Hence, you have to keep a hair dryer handy to dry the coat as much as possible. Use a low heat setting, as high heat can damage the dog’s skin. After the grooming session, leave the dog under the sun for air drying completely.
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Be Patient:
Grooming a dog is nothing like bathing a baby, as it takes a lot of time to bathe the dog. Mainly because of fur all over the skin. Also, it depends on how your dog reacts to the grooming session. A few older dogs used to getting groomed regularly may stand still, whereas young dogs will try to get away. If you have a small dog breed, then the session can be much easier as you can restrain the pet, but you cannot control larger dogs easily, which can make the situation stressful the first few times. Do not give up easily. It may take a few sessions for the dog to get comfortable. You need to be patient while grooming the dog.
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Don’t Forget to Clean Your Dog’s Ears:
Cleaning the dog’s ear is important, as they produce wax as much as we humans do. You cannot use regular Q-Tips on them but instead, as your vet recommend an ear-cleaning solution. Cleaning the ears regularly can prevent ear infections. While bathing the dog, do not wet its ears as water and shampoo in the ears can cause infection and is painful t them.
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Don’t Neglect Your Grooming Tools:
The tools you use to groom the dog should be washed regularly and replaced if needed. If you use toenail clippers, they should be sharpened regularly or replaced, as dull blades won’t cut well. Clean the brush you use on the dog and probably wash it once in a while.
In Conclusion:
Grooming at home can be a great way to save a lot of money, but a good practice is leaving your dog with the groomers occasionally. You may be good at grooming the dog, but groomers use special types of equipment that give the best results. A smart way is to reduce the number of grooming sessions with the groomers but not stop it completely.
