How to Groom Your Dog at Home

Grooming your dog is an integral part of a dog care routine. Without a proper grooming routine, our precious pups are susceptible to nasty diseases and illnesses.

Learning how to groom your dog at home helps keep them looking and feeling their best and can prevent many health problems that could otherwise cause serious health risks. Many dog owners underestimate the importance of regular grooming beyond just brushing.

Some dog breeds require more specialised grooming such as haircuts and styling to maintain the appearance of that specific breed but there are many other elements of grooming that you can do at home. Learning how to groom your dog will not only keep them looking and feeling their best but it will also strengthen the bond between you both and get them used to being handled, which makes every trip to the vet that much easier!

What Are the Benefits of Regular Dog Grooming?

Regular grooming goes far beyond keeping your dog looking nice. Here's why it's essential for their health and wellbeing:

The benefits of regularly grooming your dog:

• Prevents illness and disease
• Gets rid of any matted hair, dirt, dandruff and trapped debris
• Cleans their teeth to prevent any dental problems
• Keeps your dog looking nice and clean
• Prevents other dogs from becoming dirty too
• Protects your household interior from getting dirty
• Prevents smelly breath

What Does Grooming Your Dog at Home Include?

Grooming your dog means taking care of their whole outer body. Grooming your dog goes way beyond brushing. Dog grooming includes:

• Brushing
• Bathing
• Nail trimming
• Dental care
• Trimming hair
• Nose and paw care

Ready to learn how to groom your dog? We've put together a comprehensive guide with essential grooming tips.

5 Essential Dog Grooming Steps for Home Care

1. Brushing Your Dog

The most regular activity on the grooming list should be brushing your dog's coat and is the easiest way to get started when grooming your dog at home. Brushing your dog removes loose hair and prevents matting and tangling of fur which not only helps your dog avoid irritation but prevents excess shedding around your home. It also stimulates the skin, promoting blood circulation and distributing natural oils in the fur leading to a healthier skin and coat.

Key brushing techniques:

Invest in a Good Quality Dog Grooming Brush

• Slick brushes work better for long haired dogs
• Bristle brushes are usually better for shorter haired dogs
• We recommend the Bamboo Dog Double-sided Grooming Brush - sustainable and effective

Choose an Appropriate Time to Groom

• Set a specific time each week in a comfortable location
• Avoid noisy or high-energy environments
• Pick times when both you and your dog are calm and relaxed

Brush in the Direction of Hair Growth

• Always brush in the direction of hair growth using short strokes
• Work from top to bottom for effective hair loosening
• Focus extra attention on areas prone to matting: behind ears, under legs, belly, and around the tail
• Remove gathered hair from the brush regularly to maintain effectiveness

Remove Any Tangles or Mats

• Never pull on matted fur with the brush
• Isolate matted fur away from skin and work patiently from the edges
• Create detangling spray: mix dog conditioner or olive oil with water
• Use picking motions or a detangling comb, working from outside in

2. Bathing Your Dog

How often you bathe your dog depends on their specific breed. Dogs such as Siberian Huskies or Golden Retrievers have a double coat with a water resistant outer coat and shouldn't be bathed too much. Other breeds like Yorkshire Terriers may need bathing more regularly to help keep their coats tangle free.

Bathing frequency ranges from every 2 months to only once every 6 months - or when the coat gets noticeably dirty.

Essential Bathing Steps:

• Use special dog shampoo designed for deep cleaning without harmful chemicals
• Choose organic natural shampoos - we love So Fresh So Clean - Organic Dog & Puppy Shampoo
• Introduce water gently - let your dog get comfortable before beginning
• Use lukewarm water temperature that won't harm or distress your dog
• Work shampoo into soapy lather while massaging into the coat
• Dry thoroughly with a soft towel or hair dryer (if your dog tolerates the noise)

3. Trimming Your Dog's Nails

Nail overgrowth can be very painful for your dog, so clipping their nails is important to include in the grooming routine you have with your pooch.

Signs your dog needs nail trimming:

• Clicking sounds when walking on hard flooring
• Nails touching the floor when standing
• Paw chewing or licking
• Excessive scratching on floors or furniture
• Visible nail tears or splinters

Safe Nail Trimming Steps:

• Buy specially made dog nail clippers or grinders
• Ensure your dog is calm and relaxed before starting
• Avoid cutting too close to the quick - the pinkish part containing blood vessels and nerves
• Clip small amounts at a time - hold paws gently and separate toes to expose nails
• Check paw pads for damage while trimming

Pro tip: After nail trimming, treat your dog to a paw massage with our Dog Paw and Nose Balm for moisturized, healthy paw pads.

4. Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Just like us, dogs get build-up of plaque on their teeth. Regular brushing is recommended as part of a healthy grooming routine at home and it can help to prevent future dental problems like tartar build-up and gum disease. Good oral hygiene not only keeps your furry friend's breath fresh but can help avoid problems with heart, liver and other organs too!

Essential Dental Care Steps:

🦷 Choose a Dog-Specific Toothpaste

• Never use human toothpaste - contains xylitol which is poisonous to dogs
• Opt for natural options like Natural Dog Toothpaste by Dogslife
• Chemical-free formulas with only natural ingredients

🪥 Choose a Dog Toothbrush

• We recommend Petdentist bamboo toothbrush
• Bamboo handle with soft charcoal bristles
• Biodegradable and vegan-friendly

🔄 Brush Slowly and Gently

• Ensure calm, safe environment when dog is relaxed
• Introduce brush slowly - let them get used to look, smell, and feel
• Pay extra attention to back molars (accumulate more plaque)
• Brush in circular motions on visible teeth and gum line

⏰ Find a Routine That Works

• Aim for 2-3 times per week for good dental hygiene
• Consistency helps strengthen your bond and keeps dog calm
• Maintain the same process each time for familiarity

5. Trimming Hair Around Your Dog's Ears

Inspecting your dog's ears is an important part of grooming your dog and helps to keep your dog's ears from getting infected or having other ear related problems. Some dogs, especially those breeds with floppy ears, may have more hair growth within the ear that can sometimes cause irritation to the inner ear.

Safe ear care practices:

• Trim hair around ear entrance to prevent excess growth
• Never insert cotton buds inside the ear canal - can damage your dog's ear
• Check for healthy appearance - look for normal color without redness or swelling
• Watch for discharge which may require veterinary attention

Final Health Check: Full Body Inspection

It's good practice when grooming your dog to check over your dog's whole body for any lumps and bumps, cuts and scrapes. Regularly check the skin on your dog's whole body including under the belly and between the paws.

What to look for during inspection:

• Lumps and bumps under the skin
• Cuts and scrapes that need attention
• Skin irritation or redness
• Signs of dry or cracked paws
• A dry or cracked nose

You can incorporate a relaxing doggy massage into the mix as you do this which will help calm and relax your dog and strengthen the bond you both have together.

Why Choose Rhoose Point Remedies Dog Paw & Nose Balm?

Our specially formulated balm moisturizes, soothes, heals, and protects your dog's sensitive skin using only 100% natural, lick-safe ingredients.

Treat your dog to moisturised paws, a softer nose and quicker healing when needed with our dog balm. Rhoose Point Remedies Dog Paw and Nose Balm contains only 100% natural lick-safe ingredients, just in case your dog loves a good lick!

Get Complete Product Information

For more information about Rhoose Point Remedies' Dog Paw & Nose Balm, take a look at our comprehensive guide: All You Need to Know About Rhoose Point Remedies Dog Paw & Nose Balm. It's packed full of useful information - including a detailed ingredients list and application instructions.