In truth, grooming is an experience that dogs don't really like: they don't care about being clean and don't understand the need for a bath, hairdryer, brush, eye and ear cleaning, nail cutting, etc. For this reason, it is necessary to accustom our furry friend from a young age, making him live this experience as a pleasant game and exploiting it to strengthen your harm
If you do not feel able to do these activities, you can take your faithful friend to a center specializing in grooming dogs, but you must keep in mind that the dog always perceives it as a place full of smells and noises very annoying. Also, in this case, the idea is to start bringing him to us as a puppy, making him live the hostile environment as a "moment of socialization".
The various operations of grooming a dog - and their frequency - depend on several factors:
the breed and type of coat;
the type of dog (companionship, work or exposure);
the needs of the owner.
It starts with the most common operation, i.e. washing, and then goes on to drying, shearing and more specific treatments for the hair. Sometimes after washing, anti-parasite products are applied to eliminate any unwanted guests.
But let's look specifically at the various operations to be carried out to bathe your friend and some tips to carry them out in the best possible way:
1- First of all, get everything you need to bathe your dog, dry his hair, clean his eyes and ears, cut his nails and/or hair, brush his teeth, etc..
2- Before starting with the bath, brush the hair well to handle it better when wet. Be careful not to neglect any knots, otherwise, you will have to cut the tufts not untangled to prevent bacteria from growing under the skin, causing infections. For short-haired dogs, only one brush is needed, while for medium or long-haired dogs you need special tools such as a pin brush, metal brush, and rake comb. These are used to remove the hairs that are about to fall and distribute the sebum. Start by brushing the hair of the neck and then pass the brush over the whole body, under the belly, and on the tail. When you're done, reward your furry friend with a cookie.
3- To make shampooing and drying easier and faster, cut the stubborn knots and trim the hairs that can bother your eyes.
EYES Some breeds are more delicate than others; if for some dogs it is enough to remove the mucus, for others special attention is needed, as in the case of long-haired or white-haired dogs. The latter may have so-called "tear stains" which must be removed with specific products. It is very important to keep your dog's eyes healthy and clean.
ROCKS An ear can be cleaned even in the presence of wax, but it does not have a bad smell. Apply a specific ear cleaning product to a cotton ball and gently rub dirt and wax into the ear without getting into the ear too much. After cleaning, dry your ears with a clean cotton ball. If your ears are red, swollen and irritated or have a bad smell, call your vet because there may be an infection.
Teeth Dental plaque can cause problems with the kidneys and liver of our furry friends. You should brush their teeth two or three times a week or use a specific product for cleaning dogs' teeth. If your dog has tartar and plaque, it is best to show it to your vet.
Make sure your dog's nails are not too long or may cause damage to the skeleton or pain in the fleshy footpad. Cut your dog's legs regularly with a cutting tool. Be careful not to cut them too much to avoid touching blood vessels.
4- At this point, you are ready to put your faithful 4-legged friend in the tank. Get one that prevents him from leaving or use a special one. Some dogs are afraid of the sound of water, but you will have to get used to them because if the water does not flow means washing the dog in its own dirt.
5- Wet your dog completely. If you have a medium or large one, use a hose or a showerhead. If necessary, plug his ears to make him hear the sound of water.
6- Spray the shampoo on the neck and move downwards. Use your hands to spread it carefully. If your dog has a lot of hair, use a massage brush to avoid knots. Wash your head at the end, being careful not too soapy the areas near your eyes, ears, and nose.
7- Rinse it evenly: with water, you will have to clean it. Remove any residue of shampoo that could irritate the eyes, ears, and nose.
8- Dry your dog now. If your dog has short hair, you can let him air dry, while if he has a lot of hair, use a hairdryer, but without drying it completely. If your dog has long hair, brush it very carefully during drying to prevent knots from forming. Your feet also require care, as fungi may appear. Set your hairdryer to the lowest temperature; even if you take longer to dry, you will not run the risk of drying your dog's skin.
9 - At the end of the wash, anti-parasite products can be applied to eliminate any unwanted guests.
It is useful to know that there are "dry" shampoos, increasingly effective and easy to apply, which allow you to wash your dog when you can not use a classic shampoo. For example, when it's too cold if your dog has undergone surgery.
Remember that all dog grooming operations must be carried out with gentleness and patience to achieve a collaborative attitude on the part of your dog. In fact, if he gets scared, the risk is to turn an important moment of hygiene and sharing into a real fight.