Grooming our Dogs

Before my husband and I decided to  buy a puppy, we researched which breed is best for us and whether it requires much grooming.  Since we wanted to have a canine companion,  labrador retriever breed was the best choice.  They have smooth, short-haired coat which is easy to groom.  These dogs are average shedders so it’s an advantage for me because I  have asthma. I prefer to groom my own dog.  I used to have a german shepherd when I was in college and I did the grooming myself. 

Grooming my dog was easy and time consuming but I  find it worthwhile.  Since there are more grooming tools available now that it used to,  I did some research about the new grooming tools in the market.  For the benefit of those who doesn’t have any experience, one of the ways to properly groom your pet is to first introduce him to the water. Once you have accomplished that, it will be easy for you to put him in the bathtub.  I used to take my dog swimming either in the swimming pool or the beach and he loved it.  I also make it as enjoyable as possible.    While giving him the bath, I say soothing words to help him relax.  I use an all natural shampoo, no soap and no detergent in it.  I also give him a  massage.  I towel dry his hair and finish it with a blow dryer.  Electric grooming brush is also an excellent tool which makes grooming really easy. This electric grooming brush is suitable for long and short fur coats. The rigid bristles on this brush help to gather dust, fluff and dead hair as well. Twice a month, I take him to a salon and treat him to a spa. Once a week, I treat his hair with a low-shed shampoo and a 30minute brushing with the FURminator tool to reduce shedding.  This will leave the  shiny top coat intact and healthy.  I like this tool because it is designed to dramatically reduce the mess and clean up of unwanted pet hair. I like to do his nails after bath because they are soft and easy to clip. Most dogs don’t like to have their nail done but most of them like it under the arm and you get a lot of control on him.  I also have one of this PetZoom Nail Groom. The stainless steel filing disk is curved so the nail rests on the plate and the tip and sides are trimmed at the same time.

Grooming takes a lot of patience but it’s gratifying.  It may take time for your pet to get used to the water but when he does it’s you’ll find it very rewarding.