Grooming

During this time I learned a couple of things about dog grooming...I even groomed a dog myself at the grooming salon.

Depending on what kind of dog you have is what will determine what "service" your dog needs...

Some might just need a wash and a comb and others might need some shaving done.

This is what I do with my dogs...

I first brush them out with a furminator. A Furminator is a brush that I discovered through friends and bought in Alaska. Which I now stock in my shop.

When I feel satisfied that all the loose hair and more is removed I bath my dogs with shampoo. In the grooming salon the dogs get bathed two to three times.

But one time is sufficient for me.Then when their toe nails are softer I cut them. Trying not to cut into the quick of the nail.That's where your dog will have feeling. Some dogs are not as fortunate as their quick grows with the nail and do not end where the paw stops.

Think of it this way...

Look at your nails. Do you see the white part growing over your finger tip known as the free edge?

That's sort of the part you want to cut of your dogs nail.

It's of course much more difficult if your dog has got black toe nails. So rather cut just the edge of the nail and then a little more if you need to cut more.

You can ask your vet to do this for you but it would be good if you can do it yourself.

Don’t give up...

Even if it takes you a day to cut the toe nails one by one and having breaks in between.

Your dog will soon see that he can either fight you and you still do it or he can tolerate you and you can do it much more quickly.

Don't hold your dog down though.

Take a paw in your hand by standing behind the paw. Bend it slightly backwards holding it firmly against his body.

If your dog has dew claws remember to cut that too.

In the grooming salon they use very fancy stuff to dry off the dog but at home if your dog is not too scared you can use your hair drier and a towel. You can also just let him dry off in the sun.

You will notice that the paws stay wet the longest.

Then you can comb him again.

If your dog has a lot of mats you should try to comb him while he is wet especially dogs shedding their winter coat.

Huskies do well when you brush them during a bath. Of course my Ice howls to the moon when I give her a bath. She really doesn't like it at all.

Last but not least if your dogs coat is so matted that he will only get hurt to try and brush them out you can shave him depending on the situation and breed.

What my friend has taught me is to shave a little before the bath and then again afterwards.

Some how they seem less scared of the whole shaving process the next time around.

Suppose it's better then being bathed?

But remember if your dog is really dirty only shave him after the bath as the dust and sand on his coat will only make your clipper blunt.

She also taught me to shave the hair under their feet between the pads. If you are scared that you will hurt him use a small scissor with a blunt point in front. This you would only do with hair so long that your dog slips on it which happens to dogs that don't walk often like older dogs or small breed dogs. In the snow these long hairs could cause snow to accumulate under their paws.

Remember if your dog runs a lot on hard services this hair would be less then dogs running on grass.

After all of this you can use a little oil to rub on your dogs "elbow" area if it seems cracked to prevent it from being dry along with good food. If your dog has cracked pads you can rub a little bit of oil on them too.

When your dog seems aggressive during any stage of the grooming process, safe you and your dog from being hurt by using a muzzle. Let your dog know that he is safe and that you mean him no harm.

Learn to work quick and sufficient.

Most dogs especially huskies smell bad if you bath them too often. I bath my dog’s ones or twice a year.

The more you bath them the more oil will be secreted to the surface of the skin to try and compensate for being dry and itchy.

Shampoo is a chemical and should be used sparingly.

Happy grooming...