Grooming sessions can cost you anywhere between INR 500-2000 depending on the breed, and size of your dog. Let's consider an average of 1250/ month. You save about 15000/year if you choose to do the grooming yourself! Maybe you can give your dog additional treats from the savings, or get your dog insured (Interested? Read about Pet insurance here). “Wulf”. Look, she agrees!
So we understand you’ve decided on handling your dog’s grooming responsibility by yourself. If you are a new dog parent, or if this is your first time doing this task, it might seem a little difficult. Don't worry, we have got you covered.
In this blog, we will inform you about the necessary tasks involved in grooming a dog, and how you can DIY. You will also be getting an additional bonus at the end of the blog that will help you manage and schedule your dog’s grooming sessions. So stick along!
First things first: you will be needing some tools to get these tasks started. We have a few tools in-store, you can find them here. At a minimum, you will need a brush, a pair of scissors, a shampoo/conditioner, and lastly, toenail clippers. This might sound expensive, but in the long run, you are investing in your dog’s grooming, and saving a ton by going DIY.
All prepared.
Now, off to the actual task.
Mentioned below are steps involved in grooming a dog, along with instructions on- i) how you can do this by yourself, ii) how many times you’ll have to do this a week, iii) and what you will be needing in each process:
Perform bi-weekly visual checks and inspect your dog’s eyes for redness, swelling, or unusual discharge. If you notice any of these, it's time to take your dog to the vet. Its eyes should be bright, clear, and the lining should appear healthy pink. For routine maintenance, use wipes and eye drops after consulting your vet, to clean your dog’s eyes and to avoid dryness, respectively. The frequency of usage and administration of these should be according to the vet’s recommendation.
Administer an ear cleaning solution into your dog’s ears to expel dirt and ear wax from its ear. If unattended, these materials can lead to ear infections. Consult your vet to help you decide which ear cleaning solution is the best for your pet. Cleaning your dog’s ears requires only a good-quality ear cleaning solution and some cotton balls or gauze. Do not use earbuds to clean your dog's ears as they can damage the eardrum, causing trauma to the ear canal, and further push the debris deep inside the ear canal. The frequency of cleaning your dog’s ear should be determined with the help of the vet. Use your discretion if you notice a discharge or an odor when examining the ear. Consult the vet at the earliest if your dog’s ears are painful, red, or inflamed.
TIP: If your dog is reluctant to cooperate with you on this, you might like reading ‘Fussy Dog? The following tips might help”. Just scroll down a bit, and get back here after reading.
ORAL CARE
Dogs can develop tartar, plaque build-up, and gingivitis. More than how yellow the teeth appear, it’s about the life-threatening heart, liver, and kidney diseases and infections that canine dental problems can lead to. Regular oral care for your dog can prevent a deep dig in your pocket by saving you INR 700-70,000 for tooth extraction or root canal treatments.
It’s simple.
Brush its teeth 3X a week. Consult your vet before buying a toothbrush or oral wash for your dog. If the tooth brushing ends in blood or tears, you can opt for other ways in which your dog’s oral care is taken care of. One of these is giving it dry dog food. Crunchy kibble helps remove tartar deposits from your dog’s teeth (ok, teeth). Wet food is likely to stick to its teeth and increase the chances of decay. Other options are chew bones and chew toys. Synthetic bones and chew toys are specially designed to strengthen your dog’s gums and teeth. Despite one’s best efforts, the vet’s way of cleaning a dog’s mouth can't be replicated. Schedule a routine check-up and clean-up once in six months.
Regular brushing helps remove excess hair from your dog’s coat and cuts down significantly on hair shedding, besides helping distribute the natural oils in your dog’s fur and skin. Having said this, one must also remember to not over brush. The steps in brushing are simple: Brush down and out in the direction the coat grows. Be gentle and avoid damaging your dog’s coat by pulling hair until they break. If you notice tangled hair, take the time and patience to untangle them before brushing. If you encounter mats, use a mat spray or conditioner to tease the hair before brushing. Cut out mats with scissors if you think you can do so without ending up your dog’s skin with stitches. If not, visit a professional groomer and get that area shaved.
Things you’ll be needing for this task are shampoos, conditioners, a bowl of water, and a towel. Place your dog at the bath station, or in a tub. Wet your dog using lukewarm water. Dilute the shampoo with water and gently spread it on your dog’s coat. Wash it off. Shampoo the dog twice to make sure it’s clean and tidy. Be sure to clean the paws, armpits, and bellies. Use a dog conditioner by leaving it on the coat for a few minutes and then rinsing it away. Rinse well, and make sure the coat is free of any product residue. You don’t want to get soap or water in sensitive areas like your dog’s ears, nose, and eyes. As far as its face is considered, clean it with a wet towel. Towel-dry your dog to your best capacity. Use a hairdryer carefully, if needed. Be gentle with the dog throughout. Do not force it against its will. Wait till it's comfortable.
HAIR CUT
What you’ll require for trimming your dog’s coat are hair clippers, curved scissors, straight scissors, and extra doses of patience. In simple words, start from the neck and finish by moving down to the tail. The aforementioned scissors should suffice for short-haired dogs. For long-haired dogs, you will need to start with hair clippers and then work with scissors. Let your dog stand on an elevated platform, a table, or a counter preferably. Start trimming the coat in the direction of the hair flow. Don't go against the normal flow of hair. Be very careful near sensitive areas like the underbelly, and underarm. If required, visit a professional groomer. This will help you see how your pet reacts to the techniques the groomer uses, and you can accordingly plan your next trimming session at home.
When your dog’s nails reach close to the ground, or just a bit higher, that’s the time your dog needs a clip-clip on its nails. Always use dog nail clippers designed specifically for a dog’s curved nails. The ‘quick in dog anatomy is the end of the toe’s blood vessel. Be careful to hold each paw and spread the toes so you don't cut into your dog’s Quick. If you do, the toe will bleed. Be gentle and assuring to the dog throughout the process, and finish off with a reward.
Fussy Dog? The following tips often help:
1) Give your dog occasional treats while in the middle of a grooming session to not let them bail on you. Before too long, your dog should start looking forward to grooming sessions.
2) Show them your appreciation and approval of their good behavior by petting them when they cooperate. Just another positive reinforcement technique.
3) If you are a new dog-parent, or if it's the pet’s first time getting groomed, let the pooch take a break if it doesn't feel like getting groomed. Be patient.
Now that we have reached the end of this blog, here’s the bonus we promised. I’ll be sharing the customized calendar me and my friends use to schedule our dog’s grooming sessions. You can do the scheduling by preparing a 3-month grooming schedule for your dog, or by adding the aforementioned tasks as reminders in the digital calendar; you choose. We prefer to chart a monthly grooming schedule well in advance before the new month begins. It simply helps us gain clarity, and schedule our own tasks accurately. Save this image and create your own dog calendar!