Page 320 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CARE AND TRAINING | GROOMING

Grooming

No matter what type of dog you have, regular grooming and occasional bathing
are essential to his well-being. They will help to keep a dog’s skin and coat healthy,
and keep dirt, smells, and hair shedding to a minimum.

GROOMING ESSENTIALS brushing. Knots and tangles that form teeth—being heavy-handed or staying in one
All dogs benefit from regular grooming, in long coats, for instance, on spaniels, are place too long can cause cuts called brush
so dog owners should build time into their painful and difficult to remove once they burns. Brushing is finished when all the
schedule to do it. In addition to removing have set in. Similarly, a buildup of dirt loose hair has been removed—typically
dead hair, grooming is good for the skin, should be avoided, because it can quickly when it becomes difficult to remove more
and reduces the likelihood of your dog cause skin irritation. than half a brush-full of hair.
getting parasites such as fleas and ticks. The When grooming a dog, special attention Always approach grooming in a calm,
process is also a good opportunity to check needs to be paid to the groin, ears, legs, relaxed fashion and without any force.
for any new lumps, bumps, or injuries that and chest, where body parts rub across If your dog is uncomfortable for any
might need veterinary attention. Grooming one another. These areas are prone to knots reason, take your time and use treats to
is relaxing for dogs and helps to strengthen and tangles. You will also need to focus help him through the experience. Using
the bond between dog and owner. closely on the underside of your dog’s feet force may get the job done quickly, but
Although short-haired breeds can be and tail, where dirt can easily build up. future grooming sessions will become
groomed as little as once a week, longer- While grooming is essential, it is much more difficult because your dog
coated dogs naturally require more regular important not to get too carried away. Be will associate grooming with being
attention—some breeds may even need daily careful when using any tool with metal uncomfortable and try to avoid it.

COMBS AND CLIPPERS

There are many grooming tools available,
and each boasts features to make
grooming more effective. For example,
combs are available in a variety of
lengths, with and without handles. It is
important to select a brush appropriate
for your dog’s coat type. Brush heads also
come in a range of shapes and sizes. Take
some time to select equipment that you
are comfortable handling and that is
appropriate for the size of your dog.
Clean your equipment after each use to SLICKER BRUSH SHEDDING COMB
reduce the risk of contamination. BLADE

SCISSORS

NAIL CLIPPERS

CLIPPERS

Grooming your dog
DE-MATTING Whatever breed of dog you own, you should make
COMB RUBBER BRUSH
sure you groom him regularly to remove dead hair
and to check for parasites.

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