Dog grooming is extremely important for keeping your dogs looking clean and feeling healthy. With most dog grooming services temporarily closed due to the circuit breaker measures, you might be stuck at home wondering how to keep your dogs from looking too shaggy. Why not take things into your own hands — literally — and try grooming your dogs at home with this step by step guide?
The first step to dog grooming at home is to give your furball a good brush! Brushing your dog’s fur helps to remove tangles and dead hair as well as distribute natural skin oils to make your dog’s coat healthy and shiny. Remember to be patient and gentle when brushing their fur, because too much pressure can cause irritation and might hurt them in the process. Out of all the types of dog brushes, we recommend this Slicker Brush (available on 1allsystems Official Store). The angled wire bristles prevent you from scratching their skin while still effectively removing debris and loose hair off their coat. When using a slicker brush, remember to brush in the direction of the fur growth!
Bathing your dog helps to remove grime and dirt from their coats. Ideally, you should bathe your dog weekly to keep them looking fresh. This is a crucial step when dog grooming at home! Do you know that human shampoo (even the ones for babies) are too harsh for your dog? Dog’s skin has a pH level of 6.5-7.5, while human skin has a more acidic pH of 5.5. This is why you need a dog shampoo that is gentler and high in PH! Using a pH balanced organic shampoo like this Melanie Newman Everyday Dog Shampoo (available on Petsboutique) will ensure effective cleansing without drying their coat!
Pro tip: Put cotton balls in their ears when bathing them. This prevents water from getting inside, which may cause ear infections. Be careful not to let the shampoo get into their eyes too or else it might irritate and hurt their eyes!
Brushing your pet’s teeth is an important step when dog grooming at home because it cleans the plague that leads to bad breath. In some serious cases, it can also cause gum diseases and tooth decay. To brush their teeth effectively, gently place your hand under your dog’s lower jaw and the other on top. Gradually part his mouth and ease his jaw open. Next, let your dog sniff and lick the dog toothpaste and toothbrush before brushing starting to his teeth in a circular motion, gradually increasing the number of teeth as you brush. When buying a toothbrush, choose angled brush heads to clean hard-to-reach areas and look for ones with soft bristles to prevent hurting and bleeding their gums. For dogs who do not like the minty taste of toothpaste, try using vanilla or beef flavoured toothpaste as an alternative!
If your dog dislikes brushing their teeth, why not try chew brushes and dental sprays? The different textures in the chew brush will help to get in between your dog’s teeth to remove plaque and tartar, while dental sprays help to get rid of bad breath and contain enzymes to fight tooth decay. Your dog now has fresh new pearly whites ready to charm everyone!
Although dogs shake off excess water after taking a bath, you will still need to rub them dry with a large absorbent dog towel or wrap them in cute dog bathrobes. After drying, they should be damp and not dripping wet. Blow dryers are not recommended because it can be difficult to regulate the temperature of the airflow. You don’t want to accidentally burn their skin and hurt them!
It’s time to start brushing your dog’s fur once they’re all dry. Leaving your dog as it is after drying is not recommended as there could still be some loose hair that hasn’t been washed or blown off. Brushing will help remove these loose fur and distribute the natural skin oils that’ll help maintain the shine in their coat. If your dog is a shedder, then a dematting comb can help remove any tangles and mats.
If this step is taking too much time, we recommend employing the help of the Neabot Pet Grooming Kit (available on Wearereadysg). The Neabot Pet Grooming Kit is an all-in-one device that allows you to brush, de-shed and trim your dog’s fur. You also won’t have to worry about your little pal’s fur flying about as the Neabot is equipped with suction and collect all the fur in its vacuum canister. The adjustable suction power and quiet motor also means that your dog won’t be frightened by this grooming kit!
Now that your dog is nice and dry, the next step when grooming your dog at home is to trim their fur! Although it depends on the type of coat and how often their fur sheds, a general guideline would be to trim your dogs once a month. When trimming their fur, you can either use clippers or scissors. Clippers are ideal for dogs with short hair and for inexperienced owners cutting their hair for the first time. When using clippers, work your way from their neck to their back leg on one side, then repeat on the other. Try going slowly to reduce the possibility of your dog becoming nervous and moving suddenly. Hold your dog gently when cutting, especially when trimming around sensitive areas like their paws and faces. Reward them with dog treats when you are done trimming!
For long-haired dogs, you may want to consider using dog grooming scissors. Before cutting, decide how short you want to cut your dog’s coat and use your fingers as a guide for a more consistent finish. Avoid holding the scissors at a steep angle where the edges are close to their skin. If you are cutting their hair short, use a stainless steel dog comb to act as a safety barrier between the scissors and your dog’s skin.
When you’re grooming your dog at home, don’t forget to trim their nails with a dog nail clipper! When their nails start touching the ground surface or growing beyond the pads of their paws, you know it is time for a trim. For nails that are transparent, you can usually see a pinkish area. Stay away from the pinkish area because it contains blood vessels, which will cause your dog to bleed and feel pain if you accidentally cut it.
For dogs with dark nails, you can use a nail grinder. Nail grinders have a grinding head that’s used to shorten and smooth your dog’s nails. It works by grinding the nail little by little rather than clipping it off. Gently apply the grinder to the bottom of the nail tip and move the grinder slowly to the top of the nail tip. When done, apply the grinder in a circular motion around the tip to polish it smoothly.
Besides grooming, maintaining a good diet is very important in keeping your dog’s coat shiny and healthy. A way to add an extra shine is to incorporate omega-3 into their diets. Omega-3 has anti-inflammatory effects and can be found in fish, fish oil and chia seeds. To achieve shiny coats for your furry pals, we recommend pet supplements like this Alaska Wild Salmon Oil (available on 21st Century Official Store) for your dogs to get that extra shine! Now your dogs can feel good AND look good!
With this step by step guide, you are now ready to groom your dogs in the comfort of your home. The key to nailing this is comfort and consistency. Always remember to be gentle and take it slow! This creates a comfortable environment for your dog. Don’t forget to give them treats after each stage so that they’ll associate grooming with a positive experience. Once they’re used to the initial stages, subsequent dog grooming sessions at home will be a breeze.
Still prefer to leave the grooming to the experts? Check out our deals at these pet grooming salons! Meanwhile, keep your dog occupied with these pet toys or spruce up your house for your furry pals with these pet-friendly home decor ideas. Be sure to also shop at our latest Work From Home: Pets Edition to snag some exclusive deals for your furball!
This article was updated on 6 June 2022. Additional research done by Caryn Tan.
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