In the Dog House: 3 Dog Grooming Mistakes

Posted on: 11 May 2016

Every dog owner wants their pooch to look its best. Taking the time to regularly look after and groom your dog is a great thing to do. However, when carrying out DIY dog grooming at home it is easy to make mistakes. Below we look at three of the most common dog grooming mistakes.

Not Handling Your Dog

You should make a habit of handling and touching your dog in ways they will be touched during grooming. This means holding their paws so you can examine their nails, lifting their ears and gentling touching the area around their ear canal, wiping their faces with a cloth and opening their mouths to expose their teeth for cleaning. You should perform these actions even when you are not grooming the dog. This will familiarise your dog with the different sensations it will experience when it is groomed. Dogs that are unfamiliar are likely to act up during grooming, making it a stressful experience for both you and your pooch.

Being Inconsistent

When your dog is used to being handled during grooming, you shouldn't let them forget it. If you are inconsistent with when and how you groom your dog, it will make it much more challenging in the long run. Create a consistent routine by brushing your dog's coat every day, regardless of whether it is needed or not. During the brushing, you should inspect your dogs ears and paws to reinforce your touch. Daily brushing is not only good for your dog's fur and skin, it also helps to the strengthen the bond between you and your pet. 

Not Being Thorough

Your dog has lots of nooks and crannies hidden away that need to be washed. When grooming your dog, make sure you pay attention to its face, tail, bum, belly, teeth, ears and legs. These areas are often overlooked during home grooming but do require attention. During the grooming process you should reward your dog with small treats whenever they behave well and comply with what you want them to do. Reinforcing good behaviour will encourage your dog to repeat it. If you maintain a frequent and thorough grooming regime it will soon become second nature to both you and your dog.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to groom your dog, it is best to contact a professional dog grooming service or your vet for advice.

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