Estética canina Grooming

8/17/2019 Estética canina Grooming

1/24

By Samantha Rue


2/24

Do-it-YourselfDog Grooming

A Guide to Bonding with Your Pet

By Samantha Rue

ENG 321: Beginning Technical WritingInstructor Tracy DaltonNovember 17, 2010Missouri State UniversitySpringfield, MO


3/24

Page | ii

TABLE OF C ONTENTS List of Illustrations ...................................................................................................................... iii

Abstract ................................................................................................................................... iv

Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1

Should I groom my own dog?.......................................................................................................... 2

Positive aspects ....................................................................................................................... 2

Negative aspects ...................................................................................................................... 2

Longhaired Breeds ................................................................................................................... 4

Shorthaired Breeds ................................................................................................................... 4

Smooth-haired Breeds ............................................................................................................... 4

Hard-coated Terriers ................................................................................................................ 5

Poodles ................................................................................................................................ 5

Mixed Breed Dogs ................................................................................................................... 6

What equipment do I need? ............................................................................................................ 7

Brush & Comb ........................................................................................................................ 7

Dog shampoo ......................................................................................................................... 7

Drop Cloth ............................................................................................................................ 8

Scissors ................................................................................................................................ 8

Clippers ............................................................................................................................... 8

Nail Trimming Supplies ............................................................................................................. 9

Lint Roller (optional) ............................................................................................................... 9

What are the steps that I should follow? ............................................................................................ 10 1. Deciding on a location ....................................................................................................... 10

2. Setting up equipment ........................................................................................................ 10

3. Brushing and Combing....................................................................................................... 10

4. Bathing ......................................................................................................................... 11

5. Drying .......................................................................................................................... 11

6. Trimming nails & cleaning ears............................................................................................. 12

7. Using clippers & scissors .................................................................................................... 12

8. Cleaning up ....................................................................................................................... 13

Optional procedures ............................................................................................................... 13 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 15

Works Cited ............................................................................................................................. 16

Appendix A: Dog Breeds Listed by Coat Type .................................................................................... 17

Appendix B: Brushes and Combs .................................................................................................... 19


4/24

Page | iii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Pete’s Visit to the Groomer ............................................................................................... 1

I Cut Pete’s Fur Myself ..................................................................................................... 1

Long Haired Dog ............................................................................................................ 4

Eddie has a Hard Coat ...................................................................................................... 5

The Four Most Common Poodle Clips .................................................................................. 5

The Puli ........................................................................................................................ 6

Combination Brush .......................................................................................................... 7

Dog Shampoo ................................................................................................................. 7

Drop Cloths ................................................................................................................... 8

Clipper Marketed for Home Use ......................................................................................... 8Professional Grade Pet Clipper ........................................................................................... 9

Guillotine-Style Nail Clipper .............................................................................................. 9

Pedi-Paws ..................................................................................................................... 9

Brushing ....................................................................................................................... 10

Pet Shower Sprayer.......................................................................................................... 11

Clipping Direction ........................................................................................................... 12

The Quick ..................................................................................................................... 12

Cooling Spray................................................................................................................. 13

Anal Glands ................................................................................................................... 14

Your Dog Will be Amazed ................................................................................................. 14


5/24

Page | iv

A BSTRACT Do-it-Yourself Dog Grooming: A Guide to Bonding with Your PetBy Samantha Rue

This guide reveals the numerous benefits of “do-it-yourself” (DIY) dog grooming and provides a step-by-step look at the basic grooming process. Grooming is a necessary part of caring for a dog, and the ownercan easily undertake this duty by following the ideas presented in this manual. DIY grooming has bothpositive and negative aspects that need to be considered before a person decides to groom his or her dog.After reviewing these aspects, and deciding to move toward grooming a dog, the dog owner will need toanalyze his or her pet’s coat type. There are three basic coat variations that exist among the various breedsof dogs. Certain breeds (terriers, Poodles, Pulis, and Komodors in particular) are given different coat styleoptions. With each coat type, the grooming equipment and the methods of grooming vary. Descriptions ofrequired equipment is discussed so that the audience members will be able to purchase the proper tools tofit their needs. Once the equipment is gathered, the reader can then proceed to the seven main steps ingrooming: deciding on location, brushing and combing, bathing, drying, trimming nails and cleaning thedog’s ears, clipping and using scissors, and cleaning up. Two optional steps are also discussed; these includebrushing a dog’s teeth and expressing the anal glands. Grooming is a rewarding activity if undertaken in thecorrect manner. By the owner performing coat maintenance, the dog will experience less stress than iftaken to a traditional groomer. Owners that are considering DIY grooming, can also find online videos tofurther their knowledge of the grooming process for their particular dog breed.

Keywords: grooming, dog(s), pet(s), animal care


6/24

Page | 1

INTRODUCTION

Do you dread taking your dog to the groomer? I did. The trip didn’t necessarily bother me, it was knowingthat the trip would scare my miniature schnauzer, Pete. The last time I picked him up from the groomer

was terrible. When I arrived, he immediately began whining and crying to try to get me to hold him. Whilecarrying him outside, he scratched me before I could get the car door open, drawing blood. The whole wayhome, he kept trying to lick my arm as if to tell me how glad he was that I hadn’t abandoned him. Finallywhen we arrived at home, he spent the whole rest of the day sleeping; he had never slept that long duringthe day.

Soon afterward, I talked with neighbors and friends and found that their dogs experienced the same kinds ofstress during a trip to a groomer. I decided that I would cut Pete’s fur myself because I could not stand thethought of taking him back.

I have been clipping Pete’s fur for approximately three years now. I believe that one notices little differencebetween my grooming and when he was professionally groomed (see below for comparison):

During the first year of grooming Pete, I experienced a few problems that I wish to help you avoid if youdecide to groom your dog. You will not only discover the many benefits of grooming your own dog, butyou will also learn the necessary skills to make your dog look good. I will begin by explaining the positiveand negative aspects of DIY dog grooming. From there, you will learn about different canine coat types.Finally, I will guide you through the basic steps in grooming. Please keep in mind that details within thesesteps will vary according to your dog’s coat type.

This is afterPete’s visit to the groomer . This is afterI cut Pete’s fur myself .


7/24

Page | 2

SHOULD I GROOM MY OWN DOG ?As with anything, there are both positive and negative aspects to do-it-yourself grooming. Grooming canlead to a greater connection between you and your dog, but it can also create tension if it is not undertakenin the proper way. It is recommended that you base your decision on what is best for both you and the dog.

Positive aspectsThere are many positive reasons to groom your own dog. One of the most important is that it reduces theamount of stress on the animal. Any dog, even one that is well socialized, can experience a great amount ofanxiety when visiting a groomer. While the dogs are waiting to be groomed, they are usually placed incages. This alone is frightening for some dogs. A pet will not understand why it is at the groomer, and whyits owner has left it with strangers who use scary sounding equipment like large hairdryers and clippers.You may experience some anxiety as well. Some professional groomers will not let you stay at their place obusiness and wait for your dog. The large majority of groomers are reliable and do well with dogs, but inreality you never really know how your dog has been treated. The fear for both you and your dog is greatlyreduced if you groom the dog yourself.

If you are willing to groom your own dog, you do not have to worry about it riding in the car. I have afriend who worries about taking her Yorkshire Terrier to the groomer because the dog gets carsick on theway there. Also, some owners have elderly dogs that are hard to transport because they are irritable and donot wish to be picked up and placed in a vehicle. It is easier to groom an older dog at home because you cangroom for shorter periods of time. When the dog starts to get uncomfortable, you simply take a break andcontinue to groom at a later time.

DIY grooming can also help you save money. After a few months, the amount you save by grooming yourown dog will pay for the initial investment in grooming equipment. Before I started clipping my MiniatureSchnauzer, Pete, I had to pay $35 for each professional grooming session. There were many times after our

visit that I was not happy with certain aspects of his haircut. By doing it myself, I not only save money, but Iam much happier with his overall appearance.

By grooming your own dog, you can easily plan grooming sessions around your schedule. You don’t have toworry about the specific days and hours that a professional groomer is available. For example, you can clipyour dog’s hair at 2:00 a.m. if you wish.

Negative aspectsThe main negative issue occurs if you wish for your dog to have a complex hairstyle, such as that of aPoodle. You will probably not be able to achieve a certain “show dog look” when grooming at home. Peoplethat groom show dogs have had years of experience, so expecting this standard of quality from yourself isunreasonable.

Keep in mind that your dog may not appear as professionally groomed the first few times that you attemptto groom it yourself. This is especially true if your dog needs to be clipped. Clipping takes a little practice,but as you and your dog get more comfortable with the procedure, it will become easier.


8/24

Page | 3

If your dog has never been seriously groomed, and is now an elderly dog that needs some extra care, it maynot willingly cooperate. As they get older, some dogs can become rather irritable. You need to be awarethat your dog could potentially bite you. This does not mean that you should fear the dog, but rather thatyou should respect warning signs the dog may give you such as growling and displaying aggressive bodylanguage.

You must also be willing to take a break if you start to lose patience with the dog. If you feel yourselfgetting frustrated, you need to stop for awhile and come back later. If you do not, you may be tempted tohit the dog for not holding perfectly still while you are working on it.

Have you considered all of these positive and negative aspects of DIY grooming, and decided to groom youdog? If so, you now need to look at your dog’s coat and use the following section to help you determine theamount of grooming that you will need to perform.


9/24

D O SOME BREEDS

Some breeds require more groominbreed and your own preferences.

Since I do not plan on entering my dclipping him according to a particulawas a puppy. If all of the hair on hisfur on the legs and belly of a SchnauSouthwest Missouri, so the long leghim, which is something that a profePete professionally groomed, they c Remember that if you wish to showguidelines that are illustrated by the

Longhaired BreedLonghaired breeds, as you can imagiwork. These dogs also require dailyfrom getting matted. With longhairebetween a pet and a show dog. As pshorter than what the breed standaramount of time an owner spends trytangles.

Shorthaired BreedMany of the most popular dog breedbreeds. Shorthaired breeds typicallysmooth-haired counterparts. The shhaired breeds rarely see a pair of scisslightly trimmed in order to give theshorthaired breeds consists mainly o

Smooth-haired Br Smooth-haired breeds such as Beaglesleek, shiny coat that dries very quicoccasional nail trimming. If you havethe dog’s hair (step 7). There are a fbut I think you could perform this w

EED MORE GROOMING ?

than others do. The amount of grooming depends b

og Pete in a competitive dog show, I do not have tor breed standard. My dog’s ears were not cropped prars is cut as short as it is supposed to be, it is very noer is ideally left longer than the fur on the back. Weair is not practical. I make adjustments for these issu

ssional groomer may charge customers extra for. (Tharged me an additional $5.00 to have the hair on his

your dog, it is important to make sure that you follobreed standard for the sponsoring organization.

e, require the most clipping and scissorrushing and combing to keep their coat

d breeds, you can often see differencests, many of these dogs have their hair cutsuggests. This helps decrease theng to keep the coat clean and free of

s are either shorthaired or smooth-hairedhave a more dense coat than theirrthaired dogs require a little trimming here and ther

sors. For example the Golden Retriever, a shorthaire dog a well-groomed appearance (Stone and Stone 15

terriers and retrievers.

edss, require the least amount of grooming. These dogsly when they get wet. They require little beyond ba smooth-haired dog, you can disregard the upcomiw people that choose to shave off the whiskers of a s

ith scissors if you wish.

This mallonghai(Source:

/breeds)

Page | 4

oth upon the

orry aboutoperly when heticeable. Also, thelive on a farm ines when I groome last time I hadlegs clipped).

the grooming

e, while smooth-d breed, is often0). The group of

often have a verything and ang step of clippingooth-haired dog,

ese is an example of aed dog breed. ttp://www.akc.org


10/24

Page | 5

Hard-coated TerriersMany terrier breeds are double-coated; they have an outerwiry coat and a soft undercoat. The amount of wiry hair thateach dog has can vary, even amongst littermates. To see thedifference, compare the following two Parson Russell Terriersthat have been on television: Wishbone and Eddie (see right).Clipping causes the coat to lose color and texture (Stone andStone 175). With some terrier breeds, clipping makes thecoat grow in soft and curly (182). Therefore, if you own ahard-coated terrier breed and wish to maintain the dog’srough coat texture, you cannot clip the dog. Instead, it mustbe “stripped” or “plucked.” To do this, a groomer will useeither their fingers or a stripping knife to pull out the deadhair. According toThe Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for AllBreeds, pet owners and most professional groomers do not bother to learn this grooming method because itis time consuming and costly (175).

PoodlesThe standard Poodle clip was originally developed for functionality. If a Poodle’s coat is left to grownaturally, it can get over eight inches long (Stone and Stone 39). Poodles were bred to retrieve waterfowlfor hunters. Owners often clipped off part of the coat to reduce the amount of excess weight that the doghad to carry around when wet. The sections of hair that were left on the dog were in the areas where vitalorgans are located. The standard clip eventually became what we know today, a clip that is more cosmeticthan functional. The table below displays the difference between the four most common Poodle clips.Currently, at events sponsored by the American Kennel Club, “Poodles under 12 months may be shown inthe ‘Puppy’ clip (far left). In all regular classes, Poodles 12 months or over must be shown in the ‘English

Saddle’ (center left) or ‘Continental’ clip” (center right) (they also allow Poodles to be shown in the“Sporting” clip (far right) in some events). The table below compares these fancy Poodle clips. A lot ofpoodle owners, if not most of them, do not wish for their dog to look like the typical show dog. Many petPoodles appear in a version of the puppy clip because it is the most simplistic of the Poodle clips.

THE FOUR MOST COMMON POODLE CLIPS

PUPPY ENGLISH SADDLE CONTINENTAL SPORTING(Source: Ben Stone and Pearl Stone,Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for All Breeds46, 50)

Eddie (left) from the NBC sitcomFraiser has ahard coat , while Wishbone (right) from PBS seriesWishbone has a soft coat.(Sources: http://blog.newsok.com/ofinterest/2009/09/22 and http://www.charlescountycafe.com)


11/24

Corded Coat BreOne of the least common coat preseis usually seen only in the show ringPuli (see right) and the Komodor. Treminds me of dreadlocks, but I havdescribe it as “mop-like.” This manucording because it is a relatively rarepractice. In fact, grooming expertswrite that with cording “it is easier t

minutes working a dog what cannotpages of written instructions” (114).

Mixed Breed DogsWith a mixed breed dog, there is nobreed is to try to figure out what kinlot easier if you know a little about tcross, for instance, the dog would pShepherd’s.

If you still are not sure which coat tyType at the end of this manual to helyou can start acquiring the groomin

dstations is the corded coat. It

among two dog breeds, theis grooming style alwaysalso heard some peoplel does not further discussand somewhat difficulten Stone and Pearl Stoneshow someone in a few

be easily expressed in many

standard to adhere to. The best way to decide how td of purebred that the dog best resembles and go froe family history of the dog. If your dog were a Ger

obably look best if his or her hair were styled like a

pe your dog has, you can refer to Appendix A: Dog Breyou find out. Once you are able to determine yourequipment that is best suited for your purposes.

The Puli on top has been bPuli on the bottom has been(Source: Ben Stone and PeaStone Guide to Grooming for Al

Page | 6

groom a mixedthere. This is a

an Shepherd- erman

ds Listed by Coatog’s coat type,

ushed, while thecorded.l Stone,

l Breeds121)


12/24

W HAT EQUIPMENTWhen it comes to equipment, mostthe typical “big-box stores” such asanswer any questions that you may h

you purchase one of the more expen

Brush & CombThere are many different types of coFor a dog with short or smooth hair,probably all that you would need. Fmultiple combs and brushes.Typical brushes and combs for longcombs, shedding rakes, and sheddinname implies, helps you break up mrakes and shedding blades are used oloose fur in a dog’s undercoat.

Other common brushes and combs ibrushes, and what I call a “simple” cFlea combs can either have metal orhelp remove fleas from a dog’s coat.used on any dog. However, if yourbrush. If you use a hard wired brush,(Stone and Stone 264). Simple combmore coarse toothed comb on the otmentioned, please refer to Appendix

Dog shampooDog shampoo comes many variationdesigned only for puppies, while thedogs with sensitive skin. I have also ssupposed to help repel fleas and tickspecifically for white dogs. Many ownot it is okay to use shampoo intendHuman shampoo is not toxic to dogsnormally want to use it on your pet.

fragrances used in it can irritate a dotear-free baby shampoo on rare occadifficulty, but I would never rely onperiod of time because it could poteskin to become dry and irritated.

DO I NEED ?rooming items are relatively inexpensive. Many canalmart or Target; however, employees at a pet stor

ave about an item. It is also helpful to look up review

sive items, such as a pair of pet clippers.

mbs and brushes available.a combination brush (see right) isr a long haired dog, you may need

aired dogs include, demattingblades. A dematting comb, as thets within a dog’s coat. Shedding

n some breeds to help remove the

clude a flea comb, wire slickermb.plastic bristles. They are used toWire slicker brushes are available in hard or soft wirog has a relatively short, thin coat you would want tand do not brush very gently, you can actually causes are metal combs that feature a fine toothed comb oher. (If you would like to see photos of the different: Brushes and Combs).

s. Some shampoos arere are others that are foreen shampoo that is, and one type that isners wonder whether ord for humans on dogs., but you would notSometimes the

’s skin. I have usedsions withoutit for an extendedtially cause the dog’s

ThiscombinatioPaw™ features a pand a bristle brush(Source: http://pe

Dog shampoo is available in a varscents.(Source: http://petsmart.com)

Page | 7

be found at any ofwill more readily

s online before

es, and can beuse a softer“brush burns”one end and a

rush types that I

brush by Topn brush on one side,n the other.

tsmart.com)

iety of colors and


13/24

Page | 8

Drop ClothBeginning the clipping process with a drop cloth can make cleanup mucheasier. As you can see from the photo at right, Pete leaves a lot of hairbehind after being clipped. When I started clipping him, I did not use adrop cloth. I ended up sweeping up most of the hair, and then I would goaround with a canister vacuum in a vain attempt to pick up all of the smallerfuzz. When you use a drop cloth, you can simply pick up the cloth anddispose of the majority of the fur.

ScissorsScissors come in two basic types: barber scissors and thinning shears.Barber scissors are used to cut the hair, while thinning shears are used tothin the coat. You should be able to use the same kind of scissors that are used on humans. This means thatyou can either purchase scissors that are sold in a pet care aisle or you can buy scissors from a beauty supply

store. I suggest that you try different pairs to see which is the most comfortable for you to use.

ClippersOne of the most important things that I have learned in the years I have been grooming my dog, is that youneed to be willing to invest in a good pair of animal clippers. You will need to continue grooming your dogthroughout its whole life, so if your dog needs to be clipped you should try to find a pair of pet clippers thatyou are comfortable with using. There are two basic types of pet clippers: home-use clippers andprofessional grade clippers.

Home-Use ClippersPet clippers that are marketed for “home use” often come with plasticblade attachments and sometimes even a pair of scissors (see right).When I started grooming my dog, I purchased one of these kits fromWalmart for under $50. I soon regretted the decision. The clipperswould constantly hang up, causing the dog and me to jump. I wouldget frustrated because I could not get them to work correctly, and Petewould get scared because he thought that I was mad at him. I mighthave used this pair of clippers on two separate occasions beforeswitching another inexpensive clipper. I thought that maybe it was thebrand of clippers that was the problem. For a few months they workedwithout many issues, but eventually they started to hang up in a similarway.

Professional Grade ClippersAfter essentially fighting with my clippers once every few weeks, Ifinally called a local pet store and asked them to recommend a set ofclippers for me to purchase. They suggested a professional grade clipper, which I bought later for around$150. It was one of the best investments that I have ever made; I was amazed at how much difference a

Drop cloths are helpful because adog can leave behind a lot of hair.

The Andis Quick-Cut 11 pieceClipper Kit is an example of aclipper marketed for homeuse .(Source: http://petsmart.com)


14/24

Page | 9

good pair of clippers makes. Unlike home use clippers, professional gradeclippers (see right) are constructed of high quality materials, and they cutthrough the fur with no resistance.

The only issue that I had in switching to professional grade clippers is that

they continually blow air out of small vents located on the sides of theclippers to help keep the blade cool. Since my old clippers did not do this, Ihad to get Pete used to having the air blow in his face on occasion. However,a potential disadvantage to professional grade clippers is that if you want toadjust the cutting length of the clippers, you have to purchase a differentsized blade. This type of clipper cannot use the plastic adjustment headsthat are for home use clippers.

Nail Trimming SuppliesThere are two different ways that you can trim your dog’s nails. You caneither clip the nails or grind them down. If you decide to clip them, there aremany different types of clippers available. One of the most popular is theguillotine-style clipper (see right). Many people believe that it is easier to usethan other types of nail trimmers. After you clip the nails, you will need tofile off the rough edge by using a standard nail file.

If you are using a pair of nail clippers, you will also need to have somestyptic powder on hand. If you cut the nails too short, you risk cutting “thequick.” The quick is a blood vein that runs through the center of each nail.Styptic powder helps stop any bleeding. It usually comes in a smallcontainer with a screw-on cap.

Some people prefer to use nail grinders, such as Pedi-Paws (bottom right).By using a nail grinder, you do not have to worry about making the nailsbleed. However, a grinder takes considerably more time than using clippers.

Lint Roller (optional)You will get fur on your clothes if you clip your dog. I usually get it all overme, and I have found that a lint roller (or any similar pet hair removal tool) isa handy tool to get most of the fur off of my clothes. I have also used a lintroller to pick small clumps of hair up off of the floor that I missed duringcleanup.

When you have gathered all of your new grooming equipment, you can startcleaning up your dog.

The Oster Turbo A5 is an exampleof aprofessional grade petclipper (Source: http://petsmart.com)

ThePedi-Paws tool isused to grind down adog’s nails.(Source: http://www.

petsmart.com)

A guillotine-style nailclipper is one of the easiestnail clippers to use.(Source: http://www.petsmart.com)


15/24

Page | 10

W HAT ARE THE STEPS THAT I SHOULD FOLLOW ?The following set of instructions discusses the steps in grooming a dog that requires clipping, such as a longhaired dog, a Poodle, or a short-haired terrier breed (like my dog Pete). If you have a dog with short orsmooth hair, you can simply skip any steps that may be unnecessary for the breed. For example, if you own

a Beagle, you will not need to clip the dog and chances are that you may not even need to use scissors on it.

1. Deciding on a location1) Choose the room in your home where you are going to groom your dog.

You can pick different locations for different parts of the grooming process.2) Consider the following issues when choosing a location:

Brushing and combing can be done anywhere. Bathing must be done in a room with a water source. Pet hair is difficult to remove from carpeted floors.

2. Setting up equipment1) Set up as much of your equipment as possible before you begin grooming.2) Bring a small table into the room if you would like to have your dog stand on it while you clip the

dog’s fur.3) Plan so that you do not leave your dog unattended while you rush to get something.

Note: Prolonged grooming can often become tedious, so if you would like to listen to somemusic while grooming you should retrieve the necessary items during this phase.

4) Bring your dog into the room and shut any doors so that it cannot run into another room when itgets tired of being groomed.

3. Brushing and CombingBrushing and combing will vary depending upon your dog’s coat type.These steps are for basic brushing of a dog like a Golden Retriever:

1) Start at the dog’s back legs and use a brush to brush out a sectionof hair.

2) Comb the same section of hair that you just brushed, in order toremove any tangles that the brush missed.

3) Move toward the dog’s head as you continue this pattern ofbrushing and combing.

This woman isbrushing her dog.(Source: http://www.aspca.org)


16/24

Page | 11

4. Bathing1) Make sure that you have removed any tangles from the dog’s coat by brushing and combing. (If the

coat is tangled then becomes wet, the tangles will become mats.)2) Spread a towel out on the floor in front of the bathtub to place the dog on when you remove it

from the water, then place a rubber bathmat in the bottom ofthe tub to help keep the dog from slipping and potentiallyfalling.

3) Fill the tub with a couple of inches of lukewarm water, andthen place the dog in the water.

4) Use a plastic cup or pitcher to wet the dog. Most pet stores now sell sprayer attachments thatattach to your shower head like the one in this photo(right). If you have one of these, you can bathe your

dog in a shower stall instead of a bathtub.5) Begin to work the dog shampoo into the coat. Start at the baseof the dog’s head and work toward its tail.

It is sometimes hard to not to get water or shampoo inthe dog’s eyes, ears, and nose; to help avoid this, use adamp washcloth on the dog’s face.

6) Rinse the dog and try to get all of the shampoo out of the coat.7) Apply coat conditioner if necessary. Use the same technique you used to apply the shampoo.8) Remove the dog from the bathtub, and place it on the towel that you placed on the floor during

Step 2.

Helpful Hint: If your dog likes to act silly while being bathed, it might help for you to put a floatabletoy in the water during the bath to help distract the dog (American Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals).

5. Drying1) Use a towel to squeeze as much water from the coat as you can.2) Let the dog’s coat air-dry or use a blow dryer on a warm or cool setting to finish drying the dog.

Caution : You can accidentally burn your dog while using a blow dryer; make sure you

move the aim of the dryer around frequently to avoid hurting your pet.3) Make sure that you thoroughly dry any dog that has loose or wrinkly skin (like a Pug) because dirtand bacteria within the folds can cause irritation and infection (American Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals).

Note: If he goes outside immediately after a bath, Pete always heads for the nearest patch ofdirt to roll in, so I suggest that you do not let your dog outside to play until it is dry.

Thispet shower sprayer attaches to a standard shower head.(Source: http://petsmart.com)


17/24

Page | 12

6. Trimming nails & cleaning earsWhen trimming a dog’s nails you have two different options, you can either use a nail trimmer or a nailgrinder. I prefer the grinding method. My dog has black nails, making it impossible for me to see exactlywhere the quick is. The quick is a blood vein that runs through the nail (seeright); if your dog has light colored nails, you can easily see this vein.

Using a Trimmer1) Begin by firmly grasping the dog’s foot.2) Hold the dog’s foot towards you, take the clippers and carefully trim

each nail. Avoid hitting the quick when you trim. If you accidentally hit the vein, apply styptic powder to the nailto help stop the bleeding.

3) Use a nail file to soften the edges of the now-shorter nails.

Using a Grinder1) Begin by firmly grasping the dog’s foot.2) Hold the dog’s foot towards you, and use the nail grinder to grind off the excess nail.

Cleaning the Ears Swab the inside of your dog’s ear with a cotton ball that has been dipped in mineral oil orrubbing alcohol. Caution : Never use cotton swabs to clean inside the ear.

7. Using clippers & scissorsIt is often helpful to have a picture that is similar to what you wantyour dog to look like when you are clipping the dog.

1) Turn on your clippers and let the dog get used to thesound of them.

2) Lay the clippers against your dog’s side (not cutting thefur) so that it can become familiar with the vibration ofthe clippers.

3) Use the blade of the clippers to cut off any unnecessaryhair.

Note: Make sure that you shave with the directionof the hair. Shaving “against the grain,” can cause ingrown hair.4) Keep track of how warm the blade of your clippers is getting.

Warning : The blades will get hot after a long period of time. You should either stop andlet them cool down, or use a cooling clipper spray (see top right on following page) on theclippers.

Try to avoid hittingthequick when you trim adog’s nails.(Source: Ben Stone and

Pearl Stone,Stone Guideto Grooming for All Breeds30)

Clip in thedirection of hair growth.


18/24

Page | 13

5) Clean your clippers with a disinfectant clipper spray after clipping aroundthe genital and anal areas.

6) Use your scissors to cut off hair in small or delicate areas, such as aroundthe face.

8. Cleaning up After cutting a dog’s hair, you will need to pick up all of the hair.

1) Pick up your drop cloth and dispose of the hair. In the spring, I sometimes save a few tufts of it to put outside forbirds to use in their nests.

2) Use a canister vacuum or broom to cleanup any hair that remains on thefloor.

If you clipped your dog, you will probably have dog hair all overyou, so you may want to take a shower (or at least change clothing). You may also want to

bathe your dog to remove any loose clippings.

Optional proceduresThere are two procedures that most owners do not feel comfortable with performing: brushing theirdog’s teeth and expressing a dog’s anal glands. There are conflicting opinions about whether each theseactions is a necessary step in dog grooming. You can decide to attempt either or both of these if youdeem them to be important to your dog’s overall well-being.

Brushing teethBrushing a dog’s teeth is not something that I am very experienced with. Instead of brushing his teeth, Iprovide Pete with dental chews and feed him dry dog food to cut down on the plaque buildup. If yourdog eats only soft, canned food it will probably need to have its teeth brushed.

Warning : The toothpaste that people use is not edible. A dog will swallow the toothpaste, and itcould cause the animal to end up with an upset stomach. Never use toothpaste for humans on a dog;instead, purchase toothpaste that is specially formulated for dogs.

When you begin process, I suggest that you repeat the first couple of steps for a few days. Do not moveon to the next step until the dog is very comfortable with what you are doing.

1) Place some of the dog toothpaste on your finger and let your dog lick it off so that it can getused to the taste.

If the dog does not like the taste, you may need to try a different flavor or brand oftoothpaste

2) Apply the toothpaste to your finger and then rub the paste on your dog's teeth to get thedog used to something rubbing on its teeth.

Thiscoolingspray cools anddisinfects clipperblades.(Source:http://www.petsmart.com)


19/24

Page | 14

3) Put toothpaste onto the brush you plan to use and let the dog lick the toothpaste off. Whenyour pet is comfortable with this, gently lift the upper lip and attempt to brush a few of theteeth.

4) Repeat daily, and slowly increase the number of teeth you are brushing.

Expressing the anal glandsHave you ever seen your dog scoot his or her bottom on the ground?Someone might tell you that it is because the dog has worms, but thisis not true. Dogs actually have a scent gland on either side of theiranus. When a dog has a bowel movement, the glands excrete a foulsmelling liquid to help lubricate the anal opening. The scent istransferred to the feces, which helps other dogs in the area know whohas been by lately. If a dog’s diet is lacking in fiber, his or her feces

will not be hard enough to naturally empty the scent glands; this canlead to the glands becoming impacted. There are conflictingopinions over whether or not the anal glands should be expressed.You should consult your veterinarian before attempting to expressyour dog’s scent glands on your own.

After following these basic grooming steps, give your dogsome praise and a treat. You should then have a clean andhappy dog (see right).

Feel free to take a photo to commemorate your firstgrooming session together. As you continue to groomyour dog throughout the upcoming years, you may lookback at the photo and be surprised at how much your skillhas improved.

Your dog will be amazed by its beautiful appearance.

This image shows you where theanalglands are located.(Source: http://findavet.us/blog/

2009/11/tail-tips-your-dogs-anal-glands)


20/24


21/24

Page | 16

W ORKS C ITED

American Kennel Club. “AKC Meet the Breeds: Poodle.” AKC . AKC. 27 March 1990. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “Groom Your Dog.” ASPCA. ASPCA. 2010.

Web. 22 Oct. 2010.

Stone, Ben, and Pearl Stone.The Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for All Breeds. New York: Hungry Minds, 1981.

Print.


22/24

Page | 17

A PPENDIX A: D OG BREEDS LISTED BY C OAT TYPE

The following information has been taken from The Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for All Breeds, by Ben Stoneand Pearl Stone.

Longhaired Breeds

Afghan Hound English Setter Old English SheepdogAmerican Water Spaniel English Springer Spaniel Otter HoundBedlington Terrier English Toy Spaniel PapillonBelgian Sheepdog Field Spaniel PekingeseBelgian Tervuren Gordon Setter PomeranianBernese Mountain Dog Great Pyrenees *PuliBichon Frise Irish Setter Saint Bernard, LonghairedBorzoi Irish Water Spaniel Scottish DeerhoundBouvier Des Flandres Irish Wolfhound Shih TzuBriard Japanese Chin Silky TerrierBrittany Spaniel Keeshond Skye TerrierChow Chow, Rough Kerry Blue Terrier Soft-Coated Wheaten TerrierClumber Spaniel *Komondor Sussex SpanielCocker Spaniel Kuvasz Tibetan TerrierCollie, Rough Lhasa Apso Welsh Springer SpanielDachshund, Longhaired Maltese Yorkshire TerrierEnglish Cocker Spaniel Newfoundland

* These breeds can also be considered as Corded Coat Breeds

Shorthaired Breeds

Affenpinscher *Dandie Dinmont Terrier Schipperke*Airedale Terrier Flat Coated Retriever *Schnauzer, GiantAkita German Shepherd Dog *Schnauzer, MiniatureAlaskan Malamute German Shorthaired Pointer *Schnauzer, StandardAustralian Cattle Dog German Wirehaired Pointer *Scottish Terrier*Australian Terrier Golden Retriever *Sealyham TerrierBelgian Malinois *Irish Terrier Siberian Husky*Border Terrier Labrador Retriever Welsh Corgi, Cardigan

Brussels Griffon *Lakeland Terrier Welsh Corgi, Pembroke*Cairn Terrier *Norfolk Terrier *Welsh TerrierChesapeake Bay Retriever Norwegian Elkhound West Highland White TerrierChow Chow, Smooth *Norwich Terrier *Wire Fox TerrierCurly-Coated Retriever Saint Bernard, Shorthaired Wirehaired Pointing GriffonDachshund, Wirehaired Saluki

* These breeds can also be considered as Hard Coated Terriers


23/24

Page | 18

Smooth-haired Breeds

American Foxhound Collie, Smooth Miniature Pinscher

American Staffordshire Terrier Dachshund, Smooth PointerBasenji Dalmatian PugBasset Hound Doberman Pinscher Rhodesian RidgebackBeagle English Foxhound RottweilerBlack and Tan Coonhound French Bulldog Smooth Fox TerrierBloodhound Great Dane Staffordshire Bull TerrierBoston Terrier Greyhound Toy Manchester TerrierBoxer Harrier VizslaBull Terrier Ibizan Hound WeimaranerBulldog Italian Greyhound WhippetBullmastiff Manchester TerrierChihuahua, Smooth Mastiff


24/24

A PPENDIX B: BRUS

Shedding Rake

Wire Slicker Brush

Dematting Comb

Images source: http://www.

HES AND C OMBS

Shedding Bl

Flea Com es

“Simple”petsmart.com

Page | 19

ades

s

ombs

Documents

Estética canina Grooming