GROOMING

Grooming is essential for your dog's well being. By periodically grooming your dog the following can be achieved:

• Your dog will be receiving quality time from you. Again you are asserting your control and leader dog status.
• Your dog will look better and therefore you will feel better about him.
• There will be less hair around the house, you've groomed some of it away. If you have a longhaired or fringed breed dog, you are preventing mats from forming.
• Each time you groom, you will check your dog's total health and become aware of changes if he's ill. You'll have the upper hand on fleas, mites, growths, skin, eye and ear problems that may be developing.
• By cutting your dog's nails you get rid of that annoying "click" on the floors.

Choose a container to keep your dog grooming supplies in. They'll be there when you need them.

BRUSHING

Choose the brush best suited to your dog's coat. If you haven't groomed your dog before, start slowly and brush firmly and gently for only a few seconds on his sides and back. Don't try for the sensitive areas in the beginning. These areas are feet, ears, anal, and tail. These areas are important to groom but the dog needs to be settled before you do them.

HANDLING

Start handling his feet, check under his tail, check his teeth, his ears and examine his eyes firmly but gently to get him desensitized to these ticklish areas.

NAILS

Clip only the hook like projection. If there are white nails the quick is easier to see. Always have "Quick Stop" or something similar to help stop any bleeding if you do cut into the quick.

FEET

The hair between your dog's toes should be removed occasionally. This hair traps snow and ice, burrs, mud, tar, sap, you name it! If left between the pads, this matted mess can become infected causing your dog difficulty in walking.

BATHING

You can have your dog professionally groomed or bathe him yourself in your bathtub or backyard. Use only a shampoo made for dogs. If it is warm, towel dry him thoroughly and let him air dry outside. Brush him during this drying out time to remove any loosened hair. If it is too chilly, towel dry him thoroughly and dry the damp coat with a hand-held dryer. Dry out his ears, making sure not to go too deep. If you notice a smelly brownish discharge, have the vet examine your dog for any ear problems.