Of all the activities dog owners carryout every day nothing gives a dog more pleasure than routine grooming.  Not only is dog grooming a great way to keep your dog clean, sensitive skin medicated , and smelling great it also provides extra attention to keep them mentally engaged with their pet parents.

It is no secret to long time dog owners that their four-legged family members take on the personality of their owner. Dogs are very “in-tune” with how you feel both emotionally and physically. Companion breeds are being trained to alert their owners of upcoming episodes such as epilepsy, heart attacks, and many other issues facing their pet parents.

Dogs are able to recognize and will reflect your “feelings” good or bad. When you’re upset just watch your dog casually curl up next to you with those big brown eyes and you cannot help but feel better. Enjoy going on a walk around the neighborhood, well it isn’t just the sound of the dog leash that gets them excited.

While many pet owners view dog grooming as more of a necessity rather than bonding time this belief is only half-true. Whereas the mechanics of shampooing and brushing will control shedding, keeping dander down to a tolerable level the process of dog grooming is what really counts.

The natural rhythm of you bathing and brushing actually massages your dog giving them that “Oh ya…that’s the spot” feeling.  The dog grooming process can sooth tired and sore muscles and joints not to mention the calming effect a dog owner’s voice has on your dog.

Grooming time should be bonding time. Take advantage of dog grooming as the process from start to finish offers you about an hour to give a little something back to your best friend. Brushing in between a full dog grooming session is also a time when you as the pet parent have the opportunity to notice any abnormalities in skin or the growth of fatty tumors so many dogs develop in their senior years.

As you are shampooing and drying your dog use that time as well to check your dog from head to tail for any cuts or scrapes that may need some extra attention. Dog grooming is a great opportunity for pet parents use it wisely and reap the rewards of bonding that only caring and loving dog owners can experience.

by Remarkable Dogs

Pet owners with longhaired dogs have tried for decades to stop shedding with little success. Then along came the FURminator deshedding brush and people ran to buy the grooming tool hoping against hope this would do the trick.

While this deshedding tool did help relieve some the shedding problems, it did not stop. Dog owners of longhaired breeds can spend hours brushing their dogs only to find that the next day they still have a house full of hair. In fact, there is no one grooming tool that will stop shedding.

First, let us dispense with the myth that some dog do not shed; all dogs shed just some much more than others. Shedding comes from the undercoat, which is present in all longhaired dogs. This undercoat can be clogged with dead air argot shedding. The goal is to treat the problem not the result of the problem.

Wouldn’t it be great if owners of heavy shedding dogs did not have to vacuum the house or pick up clumps of fur from the coach daily? Allergy suffers from dander and hair could enjoy the companionship dog ownership brings if they could just stop the shedding.

The technology of the FURminator does just that. It removes the dead hair of the undercoat without damaging the top coat. The deshedding brush alone will help reduce shedding, however, when you combine the deshedding tool with deshedding dog shampoo and conditioner you can severely reduce shedding.

Studies have shown that by using all of these deshedding tools together in a grooming program you can reduce dog shedding up to 90%. Some dog owners of heavy shedding dogs have said “…the combination of deshedding dog shampoo along with using the FURminator dog brush together in one grooming session has left our house hair free for up to eight weeks.”

Customer reviews of these grooming supplies have all said the same thing; they have stopped the shedding for several weeks. So if you are looking to truly enjoy the companionship dog ownership can bring but cannot because of allergies or frustration; cleaning daily with these deshedding tools will help. The added benefit is that several FURminator users have also said their dog seems more comfortable and scratches less with healthier skin as a result from using the dog brush.

While you can never permanently stop shedding, you can severely reduce loose hair allowing you and family the opportunity to genuinely experience man’s best friend.

by Remarkable Dogs

As dog owners, we understand grooming is part of caring for our four-legged family members. We brush them, bathe them, and clip their fur but when was the last time you brushed your dogs teeth? Humans brush their teeth everyday most twice daily as well as visit the dentist at least twice a year. Generally, for our dogs, they only get their teeth cleaned when they hit the six or seven year mark and by then it can be too late to correct serious problems.

Dogs suffer from the same mouth diseases as humans. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious gum problem and a step up (worse) from gingivitis, which can lead to a host of health issues.

Health issues that can arise from neglecting your dog’s teeth:

• Multiple Infections
• Heart Disease
• Bad Breath
• Tooth Loss

There are several ways to combat the issue of brushing your dog’s teeth. The first is to make dog dental care part of your grooming process every week. When you start brushing teeth, starting young is best. Older dog’s, no matter how enticing the dog toothpaste flavor, do not enjoy the process and would rather eat the dog toothbrush than let you actually brush their teeth.

For most owners the later is the case and if this sounds like you, try using dental treats in between dog dental care during your professional grooming appointments. Using one treat a day, will reduce the chances of disease. Although these treats are a little pricey, the cost is nothing compared to the cost of a full day at the vet for a teeth cleaning and scraping.

Second, for those do it yourself dog groomers, the dog toothbrush on the market that works great with one stroke is a three-sided dog toothbrush. It looks like something made for someone not of this planet but, it makes the job of dog dental care faster and easier giving you the opportunity to do a thorough job.  

Regardless of whether you brush your dog’s teeth, have your groomer brush, or take your dog to the vet for cleaning, brushing your dogs teeth is one of the most important components in dog grooming. One of the wonderful aspects of dog ownership is being greeted every day with those sloppy kisses, wouldn’t be perfect if their breath was always fresh. Extend your dog’s life by taking an interest in dog dental care.

by Remarkable Dogs

As people continue to look for ways to reduce household expenses, dog owners are opting for do-it-yourself dog grooming. However, some people over do it when bathing their dog. If you have been a dog owner for some time then you realize dog’s have a certain odor that you no longer seem to notice. When non-dog owners come to visit, they notice it straight away and if your new spouse never had a dog and you do, you could be in for some serious pushback.

In talking with a local groomer, one of their clients that fall in the category of non-dog owner new spouse said they have a standing appointment every two weeks. “The new spouse just hates the smell even if the dog was outside for only an hour,” she said. While this is quite extreme and frankly something, they will have to get over, it is not unusual for some dog owners to bath their dog one a month.

Dogs unlike their human companions do not and should not, be bathed that often. Most dog breeds have a protective oil in their fur that helps guard against the elements by repelling water, keeps skin moist and fur soft, as well as keep them warm in winter, cool in summer. Hound dogs especially are susceptible to the damages of over bathing.

How often should you bathe your dog? For Hound dogs no more than twice a year and for most others about quarterly. There are dog shampoos and dog hair conditioners mild enough and are formulated to help sensitive skin that you can use more often but, still no more than every eight weeks.

The best solution for reducing dog odor are dog wipes and dry dog shampoo; perfect for those people that feel they cannot wait that long to give their dog a bath. Both of these dog grooming supplies have ingredients that will moisturize your dog’s coat and skin while relieving hot spots. Hot spots are those areas where your dog continually scratches without seemingly any relief.

Dry dog shampoo and dog wipes will reduce dander which help allergy suffers as well as keep your home cleaner. If you are a dog owner that insists on giving your dog a bath often to reduce dog odor, try using dog wipes or dry dog shampoo. Both you and your dog will appreciate this new grooming routine.

by Remarkable Dogs

Aussie dogs are among the easiest to groom. Their thick wiry coats make it easy to keep them clean and tidy, and they shed little; while other terriers can benefit from brushing regimens as frequent as every 3-4 days. This breed often requires only a weekly or bi-weekly brushing to be kept in perfect shape, thanks to the unique properties of their stiff wire coat.

Indeed, Aussie dogs have such thick hair that it’s sometimes irritating, especially around the eyes. These are either cut or plucked. Otherwise, the only other trimming your dog is likely to require may be a trim of the fur that grows between your dogs’ paw pads.

Country dogs will require more frequent inspection and dog grooming than their urban counterparts. Unless they roll in something truly foul, it is usually best to avoid washing them more than a few times a year.

The breed is also pone to skin problems, and a part of regular dog grooming may be to treat dry or scaling skin. They may also develop horrible red welts when attacked by even just a few fleas. Other problems may involve pimples and black heads, even in older dogs. Many skin maladies clear up after adulthood, which they reach at about a year.

Their ears are upright and do not readily get a build-up of wax like floppy ears do. It is recommended by some that you pluck the hairs on the ears, though it is good to keep in mind that terriers hate to have their ears touched. It’s a good idea to make it a point when spending time with your puppy, to touch his or her ears regularly. It’s also a good idea to make grooming something to look forward to with positive reinforcement in the form of meat bits and praise.

This is especially useful when performing the hated task of dog nail clipping. Many people just take the dog into the vet or groomer’s to have them taken of. Whether you do it yourself of hire out the job, the dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly, with careful attention paid to the dewclaws that don’t get worn down at the same rate as claws that touch the ground. Be very careful when cutting black nails and always be sure to err on the side of caution whenever you can.

It is also important to pay attention to dog dental hygiene with your terrier. There are several kinds of tiny dog toothbrushes even some that fit on your finger. With such small dogs, you can even use a gauze pad and wrap that around your finger. With a very small amount of baking soda or special poultry flavored dog toothpaste, you can keep on this yourself.

Small dogs also have the advantage of being able to chew on real beef bones without suffering splinters. This helps keep your dog’s teeth clean without having to intervene. Dog dental chews are also very effective in keeping your dog’s teeth and breath clean and fresh.

Dog grooming for the inexperienced can be a difficult task. Most dog owners know how to clip nails and bathe their dog but when it comes to anything else, it is left to the professionals. In today’s economy when we are all looking to save money a dog booking on grooming is just the answer.

While a professional groomer will do a great job, buying a dog book on grooming can stretch your dog-grooming dollar. If you have your dog groomed, every couple of months, with a quality dog book you can pass on some appointments doing it yourself.

Your German shepherd Dog will benefit from a quick brushing about twice a week. If he is not brushed regularly, you’ll find lots of short dark hairs in your house, and you may also find that his undercoat, particularly on his stomach and around his neck becomes matted. Find a dog brush that is good at removing hair, as wells as one that your dog enjoys being brushed with.

During the shedding season, you’ll want to use a shedding blade or rake as your daily dog grooming routine to keep the excess hair at bay. The blade should be placed on the German Shepherd Dog and lightly pulled back in the direction of the hair growth, with only the slightest pressure. Shedding rakes are particularly helpful because they also massage the skin and distribute the oil throughout the coat.

Occasionally, you can scissor any long hairs under the German Shepherd Dog’s feet even with the pads and trim the hair on the back of the hock with thinning shears to neaten the overall appearance of the feet and to keep the hair in that area from becoming matted.

German Shepherd Dogs should be bathed rarely; maybe once or twice a year. Bathing too often can cause the natural oil in their fur to become depleted. When you do bathe them, using a slicker brush after their bath is particularly effective. You will also want to only use dog grooming products specifically formulated for your pooch. Human products will cause skin irritations.

You will get a lot of excess hair off right after bathing. Once the dog is dry, they look great if their coat is finished by shining it with a chamois cloth for shine. Some owners also spray on a light coat of mink oil at this time.

The long, silky beautiful hair of the Afghan Hound requires regular, daily grooming to keep it in top shape and free from knots and tangles. To keep an Afghan Hounds coat in good shape it will usually take a commitment of several hours of grooming time per week. The breed is never clipped or trimmed on the body or head for show, although the leg cuffs may occasionally be trimmed for show.

Typically, an Afghan Hound being used as a show dog will be bathed at least once a week, however those that are used as pets will not require bathing this frequently. When it is time to bathe your dog ensure you use only grooming products specifically formulated for dogs such as FURminator dog shampoo.

When grooming a pin brush and a wide toothed dog grooming comb is usually all that is required. A misting bottle filled with water or water with a few drops of dog hair conditioner or detangler mixed in is a great way to help detangle the coat and stop the coat from tangling back up after brushing.

Unlike many breeds, the Afghan Hound should be fully bathed before dog grooming if the coat is soiled, dirty or very matted. Trying to dry groom a coat will lead to more tangles and hair breakage that will significantly damage the appearance of the coat. The coat should always be groomed from the area closest to the skin to the ends of the coat, not from the ends to the roots.

Most owners will use a hairdryer to blow the thick coat aside to get to the area next to the skin. Other people choose to simply take their Afghan Hound to the groomer every two weeks for a complete bath and grooming. In addition, a “snood” or hood can be used to protect the long hair on the Afghan Hounds ears from getting into their food and keeping the hair around the head clean.

The commitment to grooming is essential for families or individuals thinking about choosing an Afghan Hound as a pet. These dogs cannot maintain their beautiful coats without regular, time-consuming brushing and grooming. Understanding the commitment to grooming and the ongoing requirement is critical.

In keeping with their self-assured temperament, Chows are a breed that truly likes to stay clean. While there are exceptions, most very much enjoy the dog grooming process. While clipping the coat of a Chow can actually be damaging to the two layers of its naturally dense coat, regular weekly dog grooming is what keeps the breed free from mats and tangles.

Regular dog grooming also builds a stronger bond with the owner and their Chow, something that is quite necessary for this breed’s temperament. Dogs love the feeling of good massage and the dog grooming process is a perfect time.

It is often recommended that grooming be done twice weekly with a good stiff bristled dog comb or slicker dog brush. Some find applying a coat dressing keeps static to a minimum and helps thoroughly condition the coat.

Because of their special thick coat, wet bathing should take place only when needed, or not more than once per month. In fact, applying a dry dog shampoo is the most recommended method of upkeep for this breed. When it is time to bathe your Chow, use only dog grooming supplies specifically formulated for your pooch, such as dog shampoo and conditioner; human products have a different Ph and will cause skin irritations.

The Chow is a breed that has at least two periods of heavy shedding. Spring and fall are two times of year that will offer the heaviest shed. Using a FURminator dog shampoo coupled with the FURminator dog brush will significantly reduce the hair left behind.

While it may seem their heavy coat would be uncomfortable for summer, shaving the breed is highly looked down upon as it not only takes away the dogs natural defenses, it can also lead to sunburned skin.

The recommended course of action is to be sure all dead hair is groomed out of the natural coat. With the Chow, it is always important to brush down to the skin. Otherwise, dirt, debris, and moisture can become trapped in the hair, which then kinks up causing bothersome skin problems.

Dog grooming should be fun for everyone involved and especially necessary for the Chow; not only for his or her thick coat but for their personality as well. Use the right dog grooming supplies and you will enjoy the beautiful thick coat of your Chow. As part of your dog grooming process be sure to brush your dogs teeth, as they are just as susceptible to the same mouth diseases as humans.

The coat of the Irish Red and White Setter is beautiful with it’s  long and luxurious fur. However, it does take some maintenance and regular care to keep their coat in excellent condition. Although the breed is an average shedder, the medium length white hair left around on the carpet and furniture often appears to be more than it actually is.

Like most dogs, they do have a heavy, twice a year, seasonal shed. Daily brushing for about a half hour will remove quite a bit of hair. Invest in a good quality dog brush and always brush in the direction of the fur. Your dog will love the attention and you will appreciate a cleaner house.

As the fur is long around the tail and stomach it is prone to collecting twigs and small burrs when they are outside. This is especially true if you take your Setter hunting. Work the burrs out with your fingers as soon as they come in the house, doing so will keep them from becoming embedded in the hair. Should you find that debris is tangled, use a grooming clipper to cut it out being careful not to nick the skin.

Typically, this breed does not require regular clipping of their fur. If you have your dog professionally groomed make sure to tell them only trim around the paws and ears. Once you start clipping the rest of the body it will change the texture of the fur from soft to coarse.

Since the Setter is bred to be a hunter, spending time outdoors trudging through the woods and lakes, their fur has developed natural oils for protection. Therefore, bathe your Setter as little as possible to retain the natural oils. When you do give your dog a bath, be sure to use only pet specific dog shampoo and conditioner. Human products contain different ingredients that will cause skin irritation on your dogs’ skin. There are some dog shampoos sensitive enough to use more often if would like to bathe your Setter every couple of months.

Once the bath is over it’s time for a full dog grooming session, that is brushing, towel drying, brushing their teeth, and the dreaded nail trimming. If you are like most dog owners this can be a lesson in taxing your patience especially for puppies that just want play and wiggle around or older dogs that prefer to just lie down.

The easiest way around this is to invest in a dog grooming table. Although this may sound extravagant for the home groomer, their ease of use and the quality results from your grooming session more than make up for it. There are new hydraulic dog grooming tables on the market that are easy on the budget, simple and convenient to use, and offer a safe and frustration free grooming session.

These new dog grooming tables work just like the salon chair from your local hair stylist with a foot pedal to raise the table to your perfect height. They can hold up to 150 pounds, have a skid free tabletop, and rounded corners. They also come with an adjustable grooming arm and grooming loop to hold your dog in place and standing upright. Imagine being able to clip your dogs’ nails and brush his/her teeth without them running away or wiggling around.

Grooming Your Irish Setter should be fun for you and give your dog that “Oh…Ya, that feels great!” moment. Using quality dog grooming supplies will keep the process aggravation free for you and safe for your dog. Dog grooming tables work wonderfully and because of their adjustability will accommodate all your dogs. There is a reason professional dog groomers use a table, the results are amazing. You too can now have the same results without breaking the bank.

Terriers like the Australian Terrier, are among the easiest to groom. Their thick wiry coats make it easy to keep them clean and tidy, and they shed little, while other terriers can benefit from dog brushing regimens as frequent as every 3-4 days. This breed often requires only a weekly or bi-weekly brushing as part of their dog grooming routine to keep in perfect shape, thanks to the unique properties of their stiff wire coat.

Indeed, most Terriers have such thick hair that it is sometimes irritating, especially around the eyes; these are either cut or plucked. Otherwise, the only other trimming your dog is likely to require may be a trim of the fur that grows between your dogs’ paw pads. Using the suitable dog grooming supply for this will help prevent infections that will occur if material is allowed to build-up between the toes.

Country dogs will require inspection that is more frequent and dog grooming than their urban counterparts. Unless they roll in something truly foul, it is usually best to avoid washing them more than a few times a year. When it is time to bathe your dog only use dog grooming supplies specifically for dogs, human product will most certainly irritate their sensitive skin.

These breeds are also pone to skin problems, and a part of regular dog grooming may be to treat dry or scaling skin with dog grooming supplies such as sensitive-skin dog shampoos and conditioners. They may also develop horrible red welts when attacked by even just a few fleas. Other problems may involve pimples and black heads, even in older dogs. Many skin maladies clear up after adulthood, which they reach at about a year.

Their ears are upright and don’t readily get a build-up of wax like floppy ears do. It is recommended by some that you pluck the hairs on the ears, though it is good to keep in mind that terriers hate to have their ears touched. It is a good idea to make it a point when spending time with your puppy, to touch his or her ears regularly. It is also a good idea to make dog grooming something to look forward to with positive reinforcement in the form of meat bits and praise.

This is especially useful when performing the hated dog grooming task of nail clipping. Many people just take the dog into the vet or dog groomer to have them taken of. Whether you do it yourself of hire out the job, the dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly with the appropriate dog grooming supplies, with careful attention paid to the dewclaws that don’t get worn down at the same rate as claws that touch the ground. Be very careful when cutting black nails and always be sure to err on the side of caution whenever you can.

It is also important as part of your dog grooming, to pay attention to oral hygiene with your dog. There are several kinds of tiny toothbrushes some, even fit on your finger. With such small dogs, you can even use a gauze pad and wrap that around your finger. With a very small amount of baking soda or special poultry flavored toothpaste, you can keep on this yourself.

Small dogs also have the advantage of being able to chew on real beef bones without suffering splinters. This helps keep your dog’s teeth clean without having to intervene. Dental toys are also often effective, but you should not play tug of war with a puppy using one as you could damage their teeth.