Dog grooming goes beyond keeping your pet good-looking; it also ensures they are healthy. Regular grooming can help prevent issues like ear and eye infections, constricted blood flow, and other health concerns caused by chronically matted fur.
It has also been found that grooming helps to reduce anxiety and stress among dogs and bolster the bond between the pet parent and their furbaby.
In this guide, we’ll show you the basics of pet grooming, covering all the essential tools and tasks you need to learn to ensure your pet’s overall well-being.
Dog Grooming Essential Tools and Supplies
Are you overwhelmed by the number of dog grooming products in the market? Here’s a list of the essentials you need to have for safe and efficient pet grooming at home.
Brushes
Choose appropriate brushes for the length and texture of your pet’s coat to prevent discomfort and unnecessary damage.
For example, a slicker brush can help remove tangles, loose fur, and matts for pups with medium to long fur, while a bristle brush is ideal for short-haired breeds.
Deshedding tool
A deshedding tool can help remove loose fur efficiently, especially during high-shedding periods.
Detangling spray
Detangling products, which usually come in the form of a spray, can help loosen knots and tangles on your pet’s fur.
Dog shampoo
Experts recommend using shampoo specifically formulated for dogs. Product variants are also available for curly hair, sensitive skin, and more.
Towels
Microfibre and other absorbent fabric towels help remove excess moisture quickly after a bath.
Nail file and clippers
Like brushes, there are also a variety of nail clippers that cater to the specific needs and preferences of pet parents and their fur babies.
Guillotine clippers, for instance, have a hole where the nail is inserted and a blade that cuts through the nail. Meanwhile, scissor clippers look like regular scissors but have a notch that holds the nail in place during the trimming.
Aside from clippers, you’ll also need tools to file down your pet’s nails. A good example is a grinder tool, which rotates to grind down the nail naturally to get smoother edges.
Dog toothbrush and toothpaste
Dog dental care is not that different from what we do for our oral health. There are toothbrushes for dogs that have soft bristles, although these usually come with a more flexible shape. Dog toothpaste flavours (e.g., poultry and beef) are also made specifically more appealing for canines.
Grooming apron and gloves
Pet grooming at home can become messy if you’re not thoroughly prepared. Wear a grooming apron to keep your clothing dry and clean during grooming sessions. Gloves are also indispensable as they help remove loose hair while simultaneously giving your pet a gentle massage.
Key Tasks When Home Grooming Your Dog
Dog grooming goes beyond enhancing your pup’s outer appearance. While it does help make your pet look their best, it is also vital to keeping them healthy, fit, and happy.
Here, we tackle all the key tasks you need to learn to ensure safety and efficiency when home grooming your dog.
1. Coat brushing
You need to brush your pet’s fur regularly to keep it tidy and shiny. Different breeds have varying fur lengths and textures. This is a crucial factor in how frequently you need to brush your dog’s coat.
Bulldogs, dachshunds, airedales, cairn terriers, and other short-haired breeds with smooth or wiry coats require weekly brushing. Use a rubber-bristled brush to help distribute skin oils through their fur for that glossy shine.
Shih Tzus, poodles, spaniels, and other breeds with long, smooth or curly fur require daily brushing using a steel comb and a slicker brush to remove debris and prevent matts and tangles.
Here’s an example of one of the tools you will need:
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Flamingo Slicker Brush Babu Smooth, Shiny Dog Brush, AED 46.50 |
Meanwhile, breeds with double coats (e.g., labradors) need weekly deshedding on top of their regular brushing routine.
Ideally, long-haired dogs should undergo full grooming at home or in a grooming clinic every four to eight weeks. For short dogs, a monthly bath should suffice.
2. Hair trimming
Most canine parents take their dogs to a professional pet groomer for a haircut. However, it pays to know how to trim overgrown fur around your dog’s paws or eyes between those trips to ensure their fur doesn’t block your pet’s vision or cause them to slip while running.
Here’s what you will need:
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Before you proceed, make sure your pup is calmly lying down. Move carefully and slowly, and pay extra attention and care when the scissor blades are close to your pet’s skin. Once done, be sure to reward your fur baby with dog treats.
Important: If you’re not confident enough to do this without hurting your dog, it’s best to leave the task to a professional groomer.
3. Bathing
Dogs need regular (but not too frequent) baths to prevent their fur from drying out. Depending on your pet’s breed and coat type, you may need to bathe them just once a month or every three to four weeks.
Before the bath, be sure to brush your dog’s fur first, especially if it is matted.
Then, starting from the neck back, wet their fur and apply doggie shampoo. You can use a mild product for puppies or your vet-recommended brand for itch relief as needed.
Here’s a good product you can try:
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Vet's Best Flea Itch Relief Veterinarian Formulated Dog Shampoo 16oz, AED 88.20 |
Build up a lather and scrub before rinsing with warm water.
After the bath, dry your pet using a microfiber towel. You can hasten the drying process with a hair dryer, keeping it on the low setting and moving it back and forth while holding it away from your pet’s skin.
4. Nail trimming
Trim your dog’s nails before they grow long enough to touch the ground. Do this regularly, at least once every three to four weeks.
When cutting your pet’s nails, avoid the quick (the pink portion on the white nail). If your pet has dark nails, it would be safest to trim only a little at a time until you see signs of the quick. Keep a styptic pencil handy in case of accidental bleeding.
You can use a sharp nail clipper or a nail grinder for this task, depending on your preference. Here’s one example of the tools you can use:
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Mikki Scratch Me Not Guillotine Claw Clipper Dog & Cat Grooming, AED 44.50 |
Note that your pet may need some time to acclimate to whichever tool you use. You can trim a little (or even pretend to trim) one nail daily and reward your pet with treats and praises to help ease them into a regular nail trim routine.
5. Teeth brushing
Like humans, dogs need regular toothbrushing and dental care. If they are still not used to it, you may need to ease them into this routine by rubbing their gums and teeth with your fingers. Put a small amount of toothpaste on your puppy's teeth and let them lick or sniff it before moving on to using a toothbrush.
Dental treats can also help with removing dental plaque; below is an excellent example:
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Whimzees Natural Dog Treats Variety Value Box, AED 120.75 |
Keep in mind that plaque buildup begins after 48 hours, so you must consistently build your pet’s teeth brushing routine daily or at least two or three times per week. Besides plaque, regular tooth brushing can also help prevent medical concerns, such as kidney and heart disease.
6. Eye cleaning
Clean your dog’s eyes every two weeks using a soft washcloth or cotton ball moistened with warm water. Gently wipe away any discharge in the corners of their eyes, avoiding the eye.
For convenience, you can also use products designed for dogs’ eyes, like the following example:
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Vet's Best Clean Eye Round Pads 100 pads, AED 36.75 |
When cleaning your pet’s eyes, be on the lookout for redness and other signs of irritation. If you spot any, talk to your vet about it.
7. Ear cleaning
Ear cleaning needs to be done at least once a month or more frequently if your pet is prone to ear problems. Similar to eye cleaning, you can use a cotton ball or damp cloth, or a product specifically made for the task. Below is a good example:
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DogsLife Ear Wipes Aloe Vera Dog 50pcs, AED 38.00 |
Do not force anything into your dog’s ear. Watch out for debris, redness, swelling, brown or yellow discharge, or a foetid odour. If you notice any of these signs of infection, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Suggestion: Create an optimised infographic similar to this one in the pet grooming FAQs on the Pet’s Delight blog page.
Make Pet Grooming at Home Fuss-Free
Home grooming for dogs is an important part of pet parenthood. Make sure you have everything you need and know how to perform these tasks to keep your pup tidy, healthy, and happy.
Are you a new fur parent? Get your grooming questions answered here or contact us for professional advice. We’re ready to help.
