Toy Puppies Presents: 'Puppy-Dog Tales'

 

 

Grooming

 

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe it is already March. The summer will be here before you know it. As the weather gets warmer, we think of how we will look in a bathing suit and vow to take action on our appearance. Your dog will also soon be shedding out its thicker winter coat to be more comfortable in the summer months. Even the non-shedding breeds (Bichons, Poodles) seem to have thinner coats in the summer. Many people seem to think they would be doing their dog a favor by cutting the coat short in the summer and leaving it long in the winter. This theory is FALSE! An animal has its own body thermostat and is used to the amount of coat it has. Cutting off its entire coat can be a real shock to your dog, and he could even get sick from being cold. What you dog really needs is for you to help it with some serious grooming!

So you don't lose you dog's attention, make sure you gather all your grooming supplies before you begin a session: Good quality dog shampoo (NOT Johnson's baby shampoo), hair dryer, Slicker brush (preferably curved), metal comb, de-matting tool, proper size nail trimmers, sharp hair scissors with safety blunt ends, a good grooming spray & eye cream for stains. Now we are ready to start.

It is extremely important to brush out all the knots and tangles BEFORE the bath. If you don't, the warm water and soap will set in all the knots making it almost impossible in some cases to get them out.

Begin a grooming session by putting your dog up on a grooming table. Yes the kitchen table will do, as will washers and dryers or any other area of control. Make sure the entire time your dog is up on the table, you have a hand on him making sure he doesn't fall.

Start with your slicker brush and brush and brush and brush!!! Start on one shoulder and brush down toward the leg. What if your dog struggles or whines and twists and turns trying to get away? You must take control! The dog has got to realize this is going to happen. With your left hand grab him by the scruff of the neck. Grab a big hand full of fur and neck. Hold his front feet off the table if need be. Say in a firm voice "NOOOO, STAY". Keep brushing! If you stop as soon as he gives you a hard time you will never be able to groom him. Brush the coat all over, mostly the direction the hair grows. Hold on to him any way you can, don't let him win. Keep saying "NOOOO, Stay".

When you find a mat, take your de-matting tool, get under the mat and work the tool up and down, up and down, until you cut through the mat. Now use the slicker over the same area until it slides smoothly through the coat. All of the dead winter hair should come out in the brush. I use a curved Slicker brush on all Bichons, Poodles Yorkies and Maltese. It does a fine job on all long and full-coated breeds.

We are now ready for a good scrub bath. Remember to do the face carefully with your fingertips, making sure not to get any shampoo in the eyes. Rub well with a towel to get off all excess water and while the coat is still damp, start brushing. Brush than blow, brush than blow, brush than blow. Do every part of the dog; feet, face, behind the ears, chest, tail, and hind legs… brush, brush, brush. Most of how lovely a well-groomed dog looks comes from brushing.

Now take your blunt end scissors and carefully clip the hair in the corners of the eyes. Apply your white eye cream at this time if needed. Trim any hair that falls over the eyes. Dogs with hair in front of their eyes get nervous because they can't see well. No, it is not natural for a dog to have hair in front of its eyes. Can you think of any wild animal that has hair in front of its eyes. Also trim around the feet and under the pads.

A professional groomer will have to do a full scissors cut on the Bichons and Poodles. With good home upkeep your dog will look freshly groomed all the time and you will have to go to the groomer less often.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SAY "I can't brush my dog; he doesn't like to be brushed." It is time you took the upper hand and set down some rules for grooming. 

If the dog tries to bite you or tries to bite the brush go to the pet store and fit him for a soft nylon muzzle. Dogs do not have hands to push you away if you do something he doesn't like he must use his mouth. Unfortunately if he bites you, it hurts. If you stop brushing, HE WINS. Brushing does not hurt it should be a pleasant experience. In most cases, it was a hassle between you and the dog. Up until now, he always won, so now he thinks he doesn't have to be brushed. Oh but Par done, Fuzzy Face! Only a well-groomed dog will live in my house. Hence the muzzle. It is not mean. It accomplishes two things: It keeps the dog from biting you (I'm all for that) and he becomes preoccupied with this thing on this head and the brushing becomes secondary. While you are brushing use lots of verbal praise and take out a moment to rub his belly or scratch behind his ears. Keep talking to him and telling how wonderful he is.

Do not make each session very long. Ten minutes at first is plenty, but do it often. Every day for a while, than every other day, until he gets used to being brushed. When you take the muzzle off, DON'T immediately put him on the floor and be done. Rub him and praise him and love on him and give him a cookie for a reward. You will be surprised how soon will look forward to the grooming session and getting all the attention.

Cutting nails. Most people shutter when they think of cutting nails. It is the most difficult of all grooming tasks, but one of the most important. Make sure to use the proper size nail clipper for your dog. Most people get one that is too big. Have stop bleeding powder and Q-tips handy also. Now you are ready.

Put the dog on the table. Start with front paws and cut only 1/4 in. at end of nail to start. On white nails you can see the pink where the quick begins, but black nails are harder. If it bleeds don't panic. Dip a Q-tip in stop bleed powder and hold tip to end of nail for 60 seconds; the bleeding will stop. If any of the nails bleed, do NOT let him go out in the grass for several hours so that no dirt will get into the newly cut nail. While you are holding the foot, carefully cut hair out from between the pads. Make sure you use a sharp grooming scissors with blunt ends. If the dog fights or cries, be patient, but persistent. I find just holding their foot makes most dogs that haven't been handled a lot cry and struggle. Be in control. Gently hold that paw until the struggling stops. In some cased you may only be able to cut a few nails before you think he needs to rest. That's OK. Tomorrow you will do another foot, and the next day you will do another. If the struggling becomes intense, leave his feet after doing only one and go back to brushing his back or chest or head for 5 minutes before you end the grooming session. And always remember the hugs and cookie. Then put him down on the floor. Now he is done.

Also, remember to try to keep your grooming tools clean. Wipe everything off thoroughly after you use it. Be careful not to drop your good scissors. Hitting the floor may through them out of whack, then they won't cut properly.

You should be able to find all the proper grooming supplies you need at your local pet shop or a pet super-store like PetSmart.

Happy Grooming!

Until next time, remember:
Try to be as wonderful as your dog thinks you are.

 

Warmest Regards,
Myra

 

 

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