How to Groom Your Dog

Proper grooming is an important part of dog ownership. Your dog loves to run around outside and get dirty, but they’re not really great at keeping themselves clean. Unlike cats, dogs don’t spend a lot of time on grooming themselves, although they may try to remove fleas from their fur with their teeth. The good news is that your grooming routine doesn’t have to be complicated. However, part of caring for your pet includes trimming their nails and fur, washing and combing your dog, and keeping their paws clean.

Trim Nails

Your dog’s nails keep growing through their entire life much like your own. This can become a problem, because their nails can be quite sharp. They may also get snagged in the carpet when they’re walking. Since dogs don’t need their nails to climb trees outside like cats, it’s a good idea to keep them trimmed to prevent broken nails or scraped floors. You know it’s time to trim your dog’s nails when they just about touch the ground when the dog is walking across the floor. You might even be able to hear the clicking of the nails when the walk on hard flooring, such as your kitchen.

Ideally, you’ll get your dog used to nail trimming when they’re young. In any case, you’ll want to watch for the quick (blood vein that goes through the nail) and trim bit by bit before it. You may want to reward your dog with a treat after clipping each nail to get them to stay calm for the entire procedure. If necessary, you can trim a little bit now and do another trim a week later. It’s also a good idea to use a nail file to remove any jagged edges.

Brush and Shampoo Your Dog’s Fur

Keeping your dog’s hair neatly brushed and shampooed prevents it from matting together and looking unruly. It can also reduce the amount of shedding as well as the number of dog hairs that stick to your couch. How often you need to brush or shampoo your dog depends on the dog. A short-haired breed won’t need to go in the tub as often. You probably also don’t have large amounts of dog hair all over your house.

If you have a long-haired breed, you’ll probably want to brush or comb them every day. In that case, it’s important to establish a routine. Brushing can be great bonding time both of you can enjoy if you can get your dog to cooperate. Treats may help in the beginning, but many dogs love being brushed.

It’s also a good idea to give your dog a bath if they’ve gotten really dirty. Similarly, you may need to give them a flea bath if you’re dealing with an infestation at home. It’s not always necessary to blow-dry your dog’s hair, but some dogs really enjoy the warm air on their coat.

Trimming

Dogs may need their hair trimmed occasionally, especially medium- and long-haired breeds. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you can take them to a dog groomer. Trimming their hair can make it easier to keep their fur looking neat. It may also reduce tangles. A dog groomer can even give your dog a bath using special dog shampoo to make their coat shine again if it starts to look a little dull.

Keeping Paws Clean

One are of dog grooming that’s often neglected is the paws of your pet. Dogs don’t wear shoes, and when they go for a walk or run with you, they touch the ground with everywhere. Since dogs are known to lick their paws to clean them, it pays to pay attention to what they’re stepping in.

It’s really important that you clean your dog’s paws if they’ve stepped in something potentially toxic – whether that’s paint or oil on the garage floor or tar from the newly finished street. You may also want to clean their paws if they stepped in something you don’t want them spreading around in your home, whether that’s sticky gum or spilled juice. Your dog’s paws may also get salty if they’ve been to the beach with you. When you come home, you should rinse their paws with warm water.

Occasionally, your dog may get something stuck in their paw. If you notice that they’re spending a lot of time trying to dislodge something, it’s a good idea to take a look. Injuries to paws can also happen if your dog stepped on glass or something else that was sharp or pointy. If you’re not sure what to do, it’s always best to call your veterinarian for guidance.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe & Healthy

If you’re like most pet owners, you want the best for your dog. That includes keeping him or her safe and healthy all year round. Not only do you need to provide adequate nutrition and exercise for your dog, but you also want to schedule regular checkups. Below you’ll find some tips on the most important aspects of keeping your pet healthy.

Spay or Neuter

If you adopted your dog from a shelter, you already know that there is an overpopulation of dogs in your area. It may seem unnatural, but spaying and neutering is the only option for preventing additional puppies that need homes. When you get your dog fixed, you also prevent them from roaming the neighborhood unnecessarily. Dogs in heat will go to great lengths to find mates, and this instinct could jeopardize your pet’s safety, especially if you live on a busy street.

Tag and Microchip

Your dog should have a collar and a tag that identifies you as the owner. You don’t have to put your address on the dog’s collar, but it’s a good idea to list your phone number on there. If your dog gets lost, it will be easy to return him or her to your home. If your dog has a tendency to escape or roam or refuses to wear the collar – you may want to consider getting them micro chipped. Micro-chipping is a minor procedure that includes inserting an identifier on your pet. Animal services can scan this microchip to find you if someone turns the dog into them.

Immunize

Regular appointments with your vet are important for your pet’s health. Most dogs should have an annual checkup to ensure they’re healthy, prevent problems, and diagnose diseases early (if that’s the case). An annual checkup can give you and your veterinarian a lot of information about your dog, such as their weight. This will help you track their health over the years.

At the vet’s office, you may also choose to vaccinate your pet. In most areas, annual rabies shots are required. There are additional options for immunizing your pet, and you may want to discuss these with your vet. An older pet or a dog with existing health issues may not be the best candidate for immunizations. Similarly, animals who are primarily indoors may not be at risk for certain diseases. Last but not least, you may have personal reservations about vaccines. In the end, it’s up to you to decide which immunizations make the most sense for your pet, and your veterinarian can help you make the decision that’s right for you and your dog.

Nutrition

For humans and pets, proper nutrition is the key to a long, healthy life. That’s why it’s important for you to do your research and select the right food for your dog. Your vet is an important partner here as well and can help you make this decision for your pet. In most cases, dogs do best with a diet that’s low in carbohydrates, because that’s their natural food. You can even prepare your own food for your dog if you prefer to minimize preservatives and know the ingredients. Of course, you don’t have to go this far to provide good nutrition for your dog.

In addition to picking the right brand and type of dog food, you need to feed your dog the appropriate amount of food. Generally, a puppy won’t eat as much as an adult. However, both younger and older dogs tend to eat as much food as you let them have. A combination of this tendency to scarf down any food they can get and limited exercise can make it so easy for a dog to gain too much weight. Unfortunately, an overweight dog will be prone to health problems, which is why it’s best to regulate their food intake from the beginning or consider a diet if it becomes an issue.

Exercise, Training & Love

Every dog needs exercise. Some dogs need to run fast or for long distances every day, others just need a walk around the block. It depends on the size, age, and temperament of your dog. Dogs are also very smart, which is why it’s a good idea to put some time into obedience training. Dogs can learn new tricks at any age. Last but not least, your dogs needs to spend time with you. Whether you play with them, take them for a walk, or cuddle up next to your dog on the couch – pets want to spend lots of time with their humans.