How to Groom Your Dogs

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Grooming your dog regularly is an important part of keeping him or her healthy. Dogs vary widely in the amount of grooming that their coat requires, but all canines require some basic care. Taking care of these needs can help prevent future problems.

Brushing

Brushing is important for your dog's skin and coat health, as well as for their comfort. The type of brush that should be used depends on the type of coat your dog has. Combs may also be more appropriate for certain breeds.

It is important that you teach your dog to like brushing so that regular grooming doesn't become a battle. When just starting out, introduce the brush gently and praise your dog softly for allowing the process. Be careful never to hurt your dog accidentally with tools like slicker brushes and de-shedding rakes.

If your dog already doesn't like grooming, try giving a treat after every few brush strokes. The number of brush strokes depends on how much your dog dislikes being groomed. Hopefully, after a while you will be able to just give one treat when the grooming is over.

Bathing

Some dogs go their whole lives on only one or two baths. Some dogs are bathed every day. What is the best practice? Generally, moderate bathing, something like once a month or four times a year is considered best. However, gentle shampoos can be used more often.

Always use a shampoo formulated especially for pets. Their skin has a different pH than ours, and using the wrong shampoo can dry out their skin and hair. Pet stores usually have many options.

Dogs can be bathed outdoors if it is warm enough, in the bathtub, or in the sink. Just like people, dogs tend to like slightly warm water best. Don't use hot or very cold water to bathe your dog. A handheld shower head can be very useful for bathing your dog indoors.

Nails

All dogs need to have their nails clipped. If they overgrow, they can cause the dog pain by putting the feet at an unnatural angle. Some dogs are easy to do, but a lot of dogs hate having this done. Positive reinforcement training can help these dogs get over their fears.

Teeth

Teeth are a neglected part of the body for most canines. Because of this most canines will have some degree of oral disease by the time they are three years old. However, this is largely preventable.

The two main ways that your dog's teeth can be kept clean are through brushing and chewing. You can brush your dog's teeth with toothpaste from the pet store, and this will help keep his or her mouth in good shape. It needs to be done regularly and at least once a week.

Chewing is sometimes referred to as "Nature's toothbrush." Dogs that chew regularly keep their teeth cleaner. Special chews are made for this purpose, but they don't need to be used. Anything that is safe for your dog to chew and that he or she likes chewing will usually help.

Ears

Some people clean their dog's ears regularly. Others don't think it is necessary. At the very least, you should take a look and a sniff in your dog's ears when you groom him or her. This will help detect problems such as infections or mites.           

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Is it Okay to Give Treats to Your Pets?

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Yes, it is okay to give your pets some treats once in a while. That is what famed dog trainer Cesar Millan said. According the star of the hit TV series Dog Whisperer, giving treats are a popular, effective tool for positive reinforcement, which, in turn, is a crucial aspect in the reward system present in dog training.

While Cesar spoke about giving treats to dogs, his response can be equally applicable to all pets. Providing your pets with treats is not just a teaching tool; more importantly, it is an expression of love and affection.

Did you know pet treats are among the top pet expenditures? While many pet parents are treating their pets like humans by affording them with luxury dining, daycare, and grooming, it is estimated that $3 to $4 billion is spent on pet treats alone every year. The spending has increased by 10 to 15 percent in Latin America and Eastern Europe; in the U.S., there is an increase of about 5 percent.

In dog training, treats can be classified as high-value and low-value. High-value treats include meats and liver while the low-value variety is limited to dog kibble or biscuits. When used as a reward system during training, dogs learn faster and more effectively with high-value treats as opposed to using the low-value types. Furthermore, it is also said by many dog trainers that giving treats is much more effective compared to praise or petting.

When low-value treats are substituted with the high-value variety, it significantly reduced the training time and the number of sessions to achieve the desired behavior in dogs. However, when the high-value treats were switched with the low-value ones, dogs would not respond to commands nor perform the behavior ordered.

Treats As Substitute for Attention

Did you know nearly 60 percent of pets have weight issues? So before you give in to your treat-giving urge, you might want to do a self-check and ask, “Do I really need to offer them this indulgence or should I only feed them at proper meal times?”

Have you ever wondered why we just feel the need to give treats to our pets? Experts have a theory. There seems to be a subconscious voice that imparts guilt to us. For those of us who work during the day, our pets are usually left at home. Long separations would necessarily mean less time to interact, care, or even exercise our pets. Thus, treats are a way of compensating for the absence.

While giving treats fills the void caused by our guilt, we forget the fact that giving them too much can be unhealthy for them. What’s worse is that we tend to compromise on the food’s quality in order to meet the quantity we so think they need while still falling within our budget.

Overindulging pets with delicious delights is also common for animals who have been rescued from horrendous circumstances. They are overfed in the hopes of erasing the bad memories they have previously undergone.

Some psychologists have also noted that the way people pamper their pets casts a reflection of what their personal issues are. By pampering the pets, these experts believe that this is a way of coping with their personal struggles.

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Why You Should Have Your Dog Groomed Regularly

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Did you know dogs that are groomed on a regular basis are healthier? In addition to its health benefits, grooming can have aesthetic benefits too. This is especially true for dogs covered with lots of hair. Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, and Maltese; these breeds need frequent grooming to achieve a healthier, more beautiful coat.

Matted Dog Hair

If you have a dog with a thick coat, you might notice how skipping on their grooming schedule can lead to their hair becoming clumped and matted like dreadlocks. This can be very painful for dogs because there is a pulling force resulting from the tightening of the hair clumps. In addition, skin conditions are likely to develop as well. This is due to the breakage of the skin as a result of the tightened hair clumps. Sores are also likely to develop under the matted hair.

For dogs with longer or thicker coats, it is highly advisable to do a complete brushing of their hair before bath time to avoid getting water into the matted hair. If water gets stuck in the clumps, this can cause the buildup of mold and cause the hair to rot. Over time, this type of matting will be very difficult to brush out. Dog breeds like Labrador, Beagle, and German Shepherd have short to medium coats. Still they need regular grooming to keep their coats looking shiny and healthy.

With their weakened skeletal system, you have to understand older dogs are in a more fragile condition. They can benefit from having their fur regularly trimmed to ease the weight brought about by their thick coat.

What's more, longer facial hair can cause vision problems for your dogs. Crusts tend to develop in the corner of the eyes as a result of longer facial hair. With crusts come sores, which can lead to infection, discomfort, and other medical issues. With regularly grooming, you can prevent the buildup of bacteria around the eyes and alleviate their suffering.

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