Hair brushing is one of the most basic aspects of dog grooming. Dog owners have to brush their pets regularly to ensure that their coats remain clean and neat. The easiest dogs to brush are the short-haired type. These dogs usually need brushing only once a month. Brushing medium and long-haired dogs require more patience and skill, because their hair can get matted and tangled. Typically, dogs with medium-length hair should be brushed weekly, and long-haired dogs need daily brushing.
Nail trimming is often dreaded by both dogs and owners, because it can cause pain if it is not carefully done. Dog owners should ask their veterinarians what nail trimmers are most suitable for their dogs and how to cut the nails properly. Each nail should be snipped little by little, until pink tissue becomes visible near the tip of the nail. Then, take a nail file to smoothen the edges. Nail trimming should be done at least once a month.
Bathing is something that many dogs do not enjoy, and owners will have a lot of cleaning to do if their dogs escape from the tub and run around the house dripping wet. To prevent a dog from causing a mess around the house, a dog owner should make their dog feel relaxed during bath time. To begin, soak the dog's body with warm water. Use a shampoo specially made for dogs and apply it throughout the body. Be careful not to let the shampoo come into contact with the dog's eyes and ears. Scrub the body thoroughly, and then, rinse with water. Dog owners should bathe their dogs monthly.
Dogs' ears can easily attract yeast and bacteria if they are not given proper care. Floppy-eared dogs are especially prone to ear problems. Soak a piece of cotton with a formulated ear wash and use it to clean the area around the opening of the ear hole. Then, dip a cotton swab in the ear wash and clean the nooks and crannies inside the dog's ears. Do not insert the swab too deep into the ear canal. Ear cleaning should be done once a month.