Many pet owners are more than happy to groom their own dog. It provides many benefits, including financial savings, which is often enough to get most pet owner started. You shouldn’t overlook the fact that grooming your own dog also provides some quality time when the two of you can bond. As long as you take your time and work with the dog gently and properly, you should not experience any major problems.
From time to time, however, you may come across a dog that requires a specific type of grooming that may not be necessary for other dog breeds. After all, some types of dogs are just going to need a good brushing and on occasion, a bath. Other dogs, however, require specific care, including the following.
Curly coats – This is one of the special considerations, because a dog with curly hair does not tend to shed the same as long hair or short hair dog breeds. They may end up with more tangles and matting. That is why may be necessary to brush them on a daily basis using a wire pin brush and sometimes, running a shedding blade over their coat. It may also require additional rinsing when you shampoo them.
Long-Haired Dogs – When a dog has a long coat, they typically can get by with a brushing and bath but there may be some issues that need to be considered when grooming them. This would especially be true as far as their ears are concerned, because the long hair in their ears could make them prone to infection. It may be necessary to wash the dog’s ears twice a week. Make sure that you research how to do this carefully so that you don’t cause problems.
Wrinkly Dogs – If your dog has wrinkles or folds in the skin, it may be necessary to give extra attention during the cleaning process. In the areas that are wrinkled, they may experience infections, as mange. Skin issues of all types may be a problem, so you may need to carefully clean in the folds of the skin on a regular basis. Make sure that you use a mild cleaning product so you don’t irritate the skin.
Dogs That Don’t like Grooming – Many dogs do quite well when they are groomed at home but sometimes, you may have a dog that does not enjoy the process. Regardless of whether they don’t like brushing, bathing or trimming, it is necessary to take care of the process properly. Sometimes, it is just something that needs to be put up with by the owner if you don’t want to take them to a professional. At other times, obedience training and a calm demeanor on your part can go a long way in helping them to get through the process.