Friday, August 28, 2009

Grooming a dog - necessary and beneficial

Regular grooming is essential to your dog's health and well being as it will keep the coat clean and healthy. It will stimulate the blood supply to skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate to the coat. It will also help you to check for potentially serious problems i.e. hair loss, inflammations, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin. Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Consult your veterinarian about any unusual problems found.

Combing
Comb should be done in the direction of hair growth, combing small sections at a time, until the coat is tangle free. If the coat has a particular knot or tangle, you may have to trim it off with scissors. A de-matting comb, slicker can be used to remove mats. When using a combination comb, begin with the widely spaced teeth, and follow with the finer teeth.

Brushing
Begin brushing at the head, working toward the tail and down the legs. Always brush in the direction of hair growth. A pin brush can be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth. Regular brushing will help distribute the natural oils from the skin, producing a healthy, shiny coat.
Puppies
Like babies, puppies have short attention spans. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic. Begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so. Constantly talk to your puppy in a gentle and reassuring tone to make him feel comfortable. Be sure to check his ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure. This will make him accustomed to being handled and examined. Gradually, he will be quite comfortable being groomed, and will look forward to these sessions with you.

Frequency
A good time to do this is after the dog has been walked, while he is relieved and calm. Select a time when you will not be interrupted and have ample time to do a proper grooming.

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