5 Essentials of DIY Grooming
When we read this article in the paper recently about DIY hairdos sweeping locked down Sydney, we laughed quite loudly before we realised that we were basically about to attempt the same on our beloved pets.
While we have almost come to terms with the re-emergence of the mullet as the hairstyle of choice for our human children, we know deep down that our dog’s dignity would be horribly tarnished if we were to take them to dog park with some dodgy 80’s styling. Nobody but nobody wants to be seen on the ‘gram with the hashtag #homegroomingfails.
So, we did what any self-respecting dog owner would do in the first instance and turned to Google. We then regretted that decision. It could all go SO very wrong. To save you that trauma we’ve put together a quick guide to the five essentials of DIY grooming:
1. Clippers
Not all clippers are created equal. Human hair clippers have teeth that are spaced more closely together which means that they are more likely to jam if used on the thicker hair of dogs potentially leaving your poor pooch with a very lopsided ‘do’. Dog clippers tend to be much sharper and have wider teeth that will move more easily than thick fur.
When it comes to clipping your dogs nails – the flat clippers designed for human nails are entirely the wrong shape for your dog’s nail. You need guillotine clippers like the Artero nail clippers that are the correct size and shape to cleanly cut through a dog’s nail. Just remember – no matter how smokin’ a nail job you give your dog – human nail polish should never be applied to show it off.
2. Brushing
While it is true that during moulting season you might be brushing your dog with the specific purpose of helping them shed their seasonal coats, you should be brushing your dogs hair every couple of days no matter the length of their coat. Regular brushing removes dead hair, stimulates the skin, distributes natural oils and gets rid of dead skin.
Make sure you choose the right kind of brush. For shedding dogs, you might want to use something like the Artero Soft Slicker Brush – just select the right size for your pooch. Regular brushing can be done with a good bristle brush like the Artero Long Metal Pin Grooming Brush.
Remember to keep your sessions short at first as you and your dog get used to your efforts at grooming. Make sure you reward them with treats and cuddles and slowly increase the length of time you do it as you both get more used to it.
3. Eye Care
Turns out there is a lot of misinformation about ‘tear stains’ on dogs. The stains around dogs eyes are usually caused by dye molecules called porphyrins. These are produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. These are mainly disposed of via the intestinal tract but in dogs, a significant amount of porphyrin is excreted through tears, saliva and urine. They are more obvious on light coloured animals but tear stains can be prevented simply by keeping their face hair trimmed and wiping the face with a clean, damp wash cloth to dilute and wipe away the tears.
If despite your best efforts, your pup’s eyes regularly look like they slept in their eye makeup, we recommend using Petaway Tear Stain Remover which is a pH balanced formula which helps reduce the build up that causes the stains.
4. Ear Care
Like your human children, some fur babies have ears that accumulate more dirt than a potato farmers boots. If they have a pre-disposition to ear infections, you should talk to your vet to get some professional advice. But as part of your weekly grooming you can use Petway Petcare Ear Cleaner to keep your dog’s ears free of wax and debris.
5. Dental care
Another thing your human and fur babies have in common is the fuss they make when it comes to having their teeth cleaned. While we know it’s important for their overall health to keep those pearly whites in tip top shape, we are also honest enough to admit that nobody, but nobody likes to be on the receiving end of bad breath at ANY TIME but particularly not during cuddles on the couch.
To ensure your canine is not the one the other dogs are avoiding in the park due to a bad case of halitosis, we suggest using Bell and One Dental Sticks to keep that doggy grin smelling minty fresh.
Check our Home Grooming Collection here.
THE WONDERPETS TEAM xx
P.S For more tips on grooming your pup check out https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/dog-grooming-tips
1. Clippers
Not all clippers are created equal. Human hair clippers have teeth that are spaced more closely together which means that they are more likely to jam if used on the thicker hair of dogs potentially leaving your poor pooch with a very lopsided ‘do’. Dog clippers tend to be much sharper and have wider teeth that will move more easily than thick fur.
When it comes to clipping your dogs nails – the flat clippers designed for human nails are entirely the wrong shape for your dog’s nail. You need guillotine clippers like the Artero nail clippers that are the correct size and shape to cleanly cut through a dog’s nail. Just remember – no matter how smokin’ a nail job you give your dog – human nail polish should never be applied to show it off.
2. Brushing
While it is true that during moulting season you might be brushing your dog with the specific purpose of helping them shed their seasonal coats, you should be brushing your dogs hair every couple of days no matter the length of their coat. Regular brushing removes dead hair, stimulates the skin, distributes natural oils and gets rid of dead skin.
Make sure you choose the right kind of brush. For shedding dogs, you might want to use something like the Artero Soft Slicker Brush – just select the right size for your pooch. Regular brushing can be done with a good bristle brush like the Artero Long Metal Pin Grooming Brush.
Remember to keep your sessions short at first as you and your dog get used to your efforts at grooming. Make sure you reward them with treats and cuddles and slowly increase the length of time you do it as you both get more used to it.
3. Eye Care
Turns out there is a lot of misinformation about ‘tear stains’ on dogs. The stains around dogs eyes are usually caused by dye molecules called porphyrins. These are produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. These are mainly disposed of via the intestinal tract but in dogs, a significant amount of porphyrin is excreted through tears, saliva and urine. They are more obvious on light coloured animals but tear stains can be prevented simply by keeping their face hair trimmed and wiping the face with a clean, damp wash cloth to dilute and wipe away the tears.
If despite your best efforts, your pup’s eyes regularly look like they slept in their eye makeup, we recommend using Petaway Tear Stain Remover which is a pH balanced formula which helps reduce the build up that causes the stains.
4. Ear Care
Like your human children, some fur babies have ears that accumulate more dirt than a potato farmers boots. If they have a pre-disposition to ear infections, you should talk to your vet to get some professional advice. But as part of your weekly grooming you can use Petway Petcare Ear Cleaner to keep your dog’s ears free of wax and debris.
5. Dental care
Another thing your human and fur babies have in common is the fuss they make when it comes to having their teeth cleaned. While we know it’s important for their overall health to keep those pearly whites in tip top shape, we are also honest enough to admit that nobody, but nobody likes to be on the receiving end of bad breath at ANY TIME but particularly not during cuddles on the couch.
To ensure your canine is not the one the other dogs are avoiding in the park due to a bad case of halitosis, we suggest using Bell and One Dental Sticks to keep that doggy grin smelling minty fresh.
Check our Home Grooming Collection here.
THE WONDERPETS TEAM xx
P.S For more tips on grooming your pup check out https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/dog-grooming-tips
