6 Simple Steps for Dog Grooming at Home

Dog grooming can be expensive. I used to dread the thought of going to the groomer. My dog wasn’t a big fan of it either. So one day, I took it upon myself to learn how to groom my dog at home and I am here today to impart my wisdom unto you, dear readers. See, it’s actually quite simple, and much cheaper than recurring trips to the dog groomer over time.

Okay, enough lollygagging. Here is my personal simple(!) D.I.Y dog grooming regimen. Let’s begin.

To groom a dog you will need: a comb, a brush, shampoo and conditioner for dogs, toenail clippers for dogs, and if your dog has a long coat then you will also need some kind of electric clippers.

HOW TO GROOM YOUR DOG:

First, brush out any places where your dog’s fur is matted or tangled. Make sure to be thorough, as matted fur can actually be painful for a dog. Use a comb, and as you would with a human, work from the outside of the matted place and detangle until you clear the mat. If it’s really bad you can use those electric clippers I spoke of earlier to carefully take care of it. With the guard ON, of course.

Second, clip your dog’s nails before bathing them. I used to hate doing this because I could never get the hang of it, but it’s very simple to do. Gently grab the dog’s foot and hold it still, then clip off a small piece of the end of each nail with the toenail clippers. Be careful to avoid the quick. Oh, and don’t forget your dog’s dewclaws.

Third, bathe your dog using the dog shampoo, and dog conditioner. This feels like one I don’t really need to explain, so I’m gonna take this time to gush about Pure and Natural Pet products. I really can’t say enough about this company. Especially their offerings in the realm of dog shampoo. I mean it, they’ve got shampoo for every doggie occasion practically. We’re talking puppy shampoo, fragrance free shampoo and conditioner for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies, even shampoo for dogs that causes them to shed less! The best part about Pure and Natural Pet is that all of EVERY one of their products is certified organic, and uses ingredients like jojoba oil and chamomile extract instead of mystery chemicals.

Fourth, Brush your dog’s teeth. In last week’s post I talked extensively about exactly that. If you missed it the basics are this. Let your dog lick the dog toothpaste you are using off of the brush (Tip: Pure and Natural Pet makes a great toothbrush.) Then, just gently pull up their lips and massage the outward facing teeth and gums at a 45 degree angle for a couple of seconds.

Fifth, use old towels or a human hair dryer on the ‘no heat’ setting to dry the dog’s coat. A human hair dryer is very powerful, and can burn a dog’s skin, so make absolutely sure that it is set to ‘no heat’ if you decide to go that route.

Sixth, clean your dog’s ears. You can do this safely with a Pure and Natural Pet ear cleaning system. It comes with a cleaning solution, and what are basically big reusable swabs that you can use to clean out the inside of the dog’s ears. Gently flip the ear over, and apply the solution, carefully using the swabs to clean up any excess. Voila, you’ve done it!

For extra credit, you can follow the whole process up with a soothing balm for your dog's nose, wrinkles, and/or paw pads. Natural Dog Company has a full line of balms that aid in moisturizing and nourishing dry and cracked parts of a dog's skin.

So that’s about all there is to a simple DIY grooming routine for your dog. All you have to do is follow the steps provided and you’ll be a pro in no time. Hey, you might even pick up a side hustle out of this. So, GO FORTH AND GROOM!