Contrary to what most dog parents think, their beloved canines can groom themselves. Just watch them shake that fur after playing in the mud for a while.
However, they are not as obsessed as cats. And if they’ve been licking their coat for hours or becoming occupied with grooming, it may be a sign something is wrong with their health.
The point is this: your pooch needs your help to look and feel good. The best option is to bring it to a groomer. But if you don’t have access or are on a tight budget, you can consider building a dog grooming kit with these items:
- Grooming Scissors
One of the most common grooming problems of dogs is matting. It happens when the coat has dried to the point where parts of it are hard and clumped together. This will cause tangles if not removed, which can be very painful for your pet.
The solution is simple: you need grooming scissors to cut through these tough sections. But this isn’t just any regular pair of kitchen scissors that you have at home.
Human scissors won’t cut either (no pun intended). These are likely to create some pressure when you cut the dog’s hair, which increases the risk of injury and pain.
Grooming scissors are specially made to cut through the dead hair on your dog. It comes with blunt tips, bent blades, and non-slip ergonomic handles for easy gripping. They also come in different styles:
- Thinning Shears – Your thinning shears for dogs help remove as much hair as possible in one go (because you don’t really like your pooch to spend a lot of time getting its hair done). They also let you cut near to the dog’s skin without–hopefully–nicking it.
- Curved Scissors – These are the scissors you need when you cut the hairs at the curves. This means the ones that grow on the legs, ribcage, back, feet, and head. They help you achieve an excellent finish.
- Straight Shears – Straight shears give you more control and precision over your dog’s coat. They are ideal for tasks that other scissors cannot handle.
- Detail Scissors – If you want to do some fine grooming with a bit of style, the best option is to use detail scissors. You can use them for a fancier finish on the dog’s ears, feet, and face.
- Nail Clippers
Nail trimming is an important part of dog grooming that you have to do regularly. However, it can be a difficult task if you’re not experienced with using a clipper. Failing to cut the nails correctly could lead to bleeding and even injury from your pooch’s sharp claws. The trick is, as always, to use the right tool for the job.
When it comes to nail clippers, you have a lot of options. But for a beginner, the best one is a scissor-style nail clipper. It lets you choose how much of your pet’s nails to cut and prevents you from going too deep.
The most important thing with any dog grooming tool is safety. Nail clippers with guards around the blades prevent injury as they stop the blades from going too far. They also have a quick sensor that stops the blades when you accidentally slip and press the clipper on the claw instead of above it.
- Dog Grooming Brushes
The best grooming tool is useless if you don’t know how to use it properly. And this is especially true when it comes to brushes for dogs.
The most common mistake is brushing too hard. All you have to do is stroke the brush downward, and the resulting friction will remove dead hair and dirt from your pet’s fur. Don’t put pressure or push down on it, as this can hurt your pooch and damage its skin.
Also, make use of different types of brushes. Some of them are ideal for getting matted hair out, while others are perfect for finishing touches. For example, slicker brushes have thin steel bristles that dig deep in your pet’s coat to remove loose hair and dirt.
Pin slicker brushes have stainless steel pins with a cushion base. They work well with long-haired breeds and can reduce shedding. The bristle slicker brushes have nylon bristles and are suitable for short-haired pets as they don’t cause matted hair or harm the skin of small dogs.
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Giving your dog a thorough, professional cleaning includes its teeth and gums. During the grooming process, you can use a special toothbrush and toothpaste that’s made for dogs. Just like with humans, there are different types of toothbrushes and toothpaste for pets.
The most common toothbrush for dogs is the finger toothbrush. It’s a small toothbrush that has soft bristles on one edge and is attached to your finger so you can brush your dog’s teeth with ease.
When it comes to toothpaste, all you have to do is pick a paste that’s safe for animals. You should pay attention only to the active ingredients since they indicate whether the toothpaste is safe for your pet or not.
Grooming your dog from time to time is essential for its health and appearance. The four tools listed above let you keep your pet looking sharp with minimal effort.
