Dog Grooming Technique

Grooming Your Dog's Coat

• First, you should brush out the tangles in your dog's coat using a comb. Brush in fast and soft movements until all the tangles are gone. Next you will need to bathe your dog.

  If your dog doesn't like baths, you might need to incorporate a strategy to make them more prone to liking a bath. You can try bribing them with treats or their favorite toy. You can also try to roll up your pants and hopping in the bath with them. Finally, if it is warm outside, it might be easier to bathe your dog in a kiddy pool. However you get them into the bath, be sure that the water is a warm temperature.

  After bathing your dog, dry her thoroughly with a towel and run a brush over her once again. For a short-haired dog that is all you need to do. For long-haired dogs, you may need to trim her hair as well.

  To trim a dog's hair, use clippers. Starting at the ears, move the clippers lightly down the length of the hair in the direction that the hair grows. Once you have trimmed your dog to your satisfaction, use scissors to get around the ears and eyes.

Nail Trimming

• There are special nail trimmers for dogs and it is important that you use these. Most dogs will resist getting their nails trimmed. Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine recommends that you lay your dog on their side on a table. Stand behind them and place your right arm over their body and your left arm over their neck to hold them still. Hold the trimmer in your right hand and make small cuts, less than two millimeters. Check the cut nail after each cut. Once you see a grayish, pink area stop cutting, you are near the quick. If you do accidently cut the quick, hold the black end of a styptic pencil to the area to stop the bleeding.

Ear and Teeth Cleaning

• Clean your dog's ears using a cleaning solution that your vet recommends or supplies you with. Squirt the solution into her ear and gentle rub it keeping the solution in the pocket of the ear for a few seconds.

  To brush your dog's teeth, PetPlace.com recommends that you approach the procedure slowly until your dog is used to it. Using toothpaste specifically for dogs let your dog taste the toothpaste. The next day, gently rub the toothpaste along her gums. The next day put the toothpaste on a soft toothbrush and move the toothbrush along the front teeth angling the toothbrush up into her gums. As she gets used to this, move further back until you are able to brush all of her teeth. Use gentle circular motions.