Things You'll Need
- Slicker Brush
- Dog Comb
- Washing Station, Table or Tub
- Hand-Held Shower Head
- Dog Shampoo
- Finishing Dog Scissors
- Dog Clippers
- Nail Clippers or Dremel
Instructions
Brush first with a slicker to remove tangles before shampooing. Follow up with the comb to make sure all knots are out. Line brush long-coated dogs by lifting fur and brushing down a little at a time. Check for knots under the belly and around the inside of joints.
Tether your dog in a washing station or elevated tub. Wet the dog’s neck and back first with a hand-held hose, equipped with a shower attachment. Keep the temperature warm but not hot. Wet the head last by protecting the dog’s eyes with your hand while spraying the rest of his face gently.
Apply shampoo to the dog’s body, leaving his face for last. When shampooing his face, avoid getting the shampoo into his eyes. Pay special attention to the underside of a floppy dog's ears. Work the shampoo into his entire coat and make sure you get between his toes and his rear end where debris accumulates.
Rinse your dog after a thorough shampooing with the hand-held sprayer. Start with the dog’s face and the top of his back and work your way down. Be careful not to spray water into your dog’s ears. As you rinse your dog, keep the spray directed at a downward angle to encourage the soapsuds to run off. Rinse until all the soap is gone. Residual soap can irritate a dog’s skin and result in a rash.
Remove most of the excess water in your dog's fur with a synthetic chamois cloth by pressing and rubbing the dogs fur. Wring the chamois cloth out as you go. The more water you remove now, the less time you will spend drying your dog.
Move your dog to a table designed for grooming. These tables allow you to groom the dog at a comfortable height while restricting his movement. An attachable arm holds a grooming loop that slips around your dog’s head for more control. Use a dryer specially made for a dog. Human hair dryers do not provide enough air pressure and their hot temperature can be painful.
Clip off the ends of your dog's nails with dog nail clippers, making sure to clip only the area without the pink center. This is more difficult on dogs with dark nails so use caution. A dremel with a hollow bit will quickly smooth your dog's nails.
Use only approved fur clippers when grooming a dog’s fur. Some pet owners have their dog’s coat shaved off in the hot summer but grooming a dog for show requires only a trim or a thinning of his coat in order to make him adhere to the breed standard. Shave in the direction of the hair. Hold the dog’s ears with your hand when using the clippers on his ear fur.
Buy a good pair of dog scissors to remove the long spots in your dog’s fur. Thinning scissors work well when cutting the fur between a dog’s toes for a finished look. Consult the breed standard for specific angled cuts. (See Resources.)
Trim whiskers on show dogs by using a pair of precision-point scissors and cutting the whiskers at its base. Use extreme caution when using clipping scissors if the dog is not standing perfectly still. Spritz on leave-in conditioner, if desired, to condition the dog’s coat and add a pleasing scent and shine.