Guide to Dog Grooming in Tri-Cities Washington

Before you consider home grooming, however, it’s best to get acquainted with some of the basics. Having the right tools and technique will help make the grooming experience as pleasant as possible for your pooch, and make it easier for you as well. It’s important to stress that every dog is an individual, with its own unique personality and temperament. Therefore, while these expert tips from Lucky Puppy Grooming are tried-and-tested to work well with most dogs, your individual results and success with your pet may vary.

There are also lots of guides and additional tips on dog grooming in the Tri-Cities that are available for free on Lucky Puppy Grooming’s website, in the “Resources” section (in the navigation menu at the bottom of the page). These guides help address both some specific and more common dog grooming questions and issues that have often come up in the Tri-Cities area, provide expert tips and advice, and more.

With that said, let’s cover some important basics and tips for home dog grooming, courtesy of the experts in dog grooming in the Tri-Cities at Lucky Puppy Grooming!

Bathing

It’s damaging to your dog’s coat if you bathe them too frequently – it will wash out the oils that are essential for conditioning their coat hairs and keeping their coat shiny and healthy. Most experts recommend bathing no more frequently than once per month. Spot cleaning is certainly advisable is your dog rolls in something or gets into a mess. You should always use a shampoo and conditioner that is designed for dogs – don’t use human shampoo, even if it’s meant for babies. Try to introduce your pup when they are young to a bathing routine, and stick to it. This will make them more likely to become use to it and tolerate it, if not outright enjoy it. Wash your dog with water, shampoo, and conditioner, and rinse out per the instructions. Avoid getting shampoo or water in your dog’s eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. Dry your dog with a towel, hair dryer, or dog dryer. If you use a hair dryer, be sure it is only on the lowest setting, and not too warm, to avoid overheating your pet or burning their skin.

Brushing and Combing

Every few days, and certainly after bathing, you should consider brushing or combing your dog’s hair. Comb –style brushes are ideal for most breeds. Always brush from the base of the hair outward, not the other way around. However, you should avoid using a comb on matted hair or undercoats. Instead, for these situations and breeds, use a shedding blade or slicker brush for the best results. It’s often easiest to try to brush some of your dog in one session, then another area in other. If your dog is afraid or reacts poorly to brushing, you’re not alone. To make it more tolerable, allow them to smell, see, and investigate the brush before you use it. Some treats nearby as a reward for good behavior also can help reinforce the need for your pet to sit still and accept brushing – they may even come to like it.

Foot and Nail Care

A dog’s feet must be properly maintained to enable your pet to feel good and be active. Their paw pads, nails, and the rest of their feet have unique grooming and maintenance needs, and if not handled correctly, can make it difficult for your pet to walk, run, and play safely or comfortably. You should never trim the hair between your dog’s toes – just on the outside, roughly until it is level with the paw pads. Grooming scissors usually work best for this task. If there is substantial dirt between their toes, rinsing with water, or shampoo and water, is recommended to remove the dirt. Don’t poke around with sharp instruments between their toes unless you know what you are doing – it’s very easy to injure them!

When it comes to the nails, this is one area where many pet owners prefer to leave things to their vet or dog groomer in the Tri-Cities. It’s easy to cut too much and end up with your dog bleeding and you feeling guilty. If you are going to attempt to trim their nails yourself, always use a clipper that’s designed for dogs, feels sturdy in your hand, and that you understand how to use. Err on the side of cutting too little in one go, rather than too much – you can’t put it back on after you cut it off. If you do cut too far, it’s best to have some styptic powder available to stop the bleeding.

Ear Care

It’s not advisable to ever insert cotton swabs or anything small, sharp, or pointed into your dog’s ear canal, just as with humans – it can cause injury and even damage their hearing, sometimes permanently. Dog’s inner ears are largely self-cleaning, and introducing excess moisture or provoking inflammation and injury is counter-productive. Instead, try to avoid getting moisture in your dog’s ears during bathing and other activities. To clean them, use cotton gauze or a cotton ball wrapped around your finger. Gently clean the inside surface of the ears only – not the ear canal. Excessively itchy or smelly ears may be a sign of an ear infection, which requires a trip to the vet and usually antibiotics to clear up.

Oral Care

While parts of your dog’s mouth are easily cared for by regular chewing of bones or other similar toys, not all of their teeth areas are covered by this behavior. The outer surface (the “front” of the teeth) and the sides are often missed. However, you shouldn’t brush your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush or human toothpaste, either – that’s not proper oral care. Instead, you can buy dog-specific toothbrushes at a pet store or online. You can also use a piece of an old t-shirt or other soft cloth cut small into a strip, and wrapped around your finger. With a little water, or water and baking soda, you can gently brush your dog’s front and sides of their teeth. Be sure to start slow and let your dog know what you are doing – let them get used to it, see and sniff the cloth and your finger, and so on. They may be resistant, so don’t force it – treats are your friend here, too.