Hair and nail clipping, bath time, drying, and brushing doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to a professional groomer. Patience is the key, and, allowing plenty of time for the job so you never feel rushed. Animals can read emotions as well as a human can and if you remain calm, so will they. Most dogs don’t appreciate getting wet and are going to make you work for that bath but if you ignore those begging eyes and pitiful whines you will both get through it.
You will need two eye bolts, a leash, clippers made to use on dogs, wire grooming brush, steel toothed comb, surgical clamps, large nail clippers, wire cutters, styptic powder, rounded safety tip scissors, standard sharp point scissors, shampoo and cream rinse, perfume free powder and Gold Bond lotion or any lotion that doesn’t have alot of perfume in it.
The eye bolts are for you to hook a leash to so you can concentrate on getting the job done instead of chasing your pet around the house. They may still wiggle and fidget but at least they will stay where you want them to. One bolt needs to be installed where you plan on doing the bathing and the other in the area where you will be doing the rest of the work.
Most of the job will be done before the bath and if possible, on a surface that is waist high to you. Dogs get nervous on slick surfaces but you can fix that by using a rubber bathmat for them to stand on. This gives them something to grip with their claws and the padded surface makes it less tiring to stand in one place for any length of time. If your pet is too big for a table top you can still use the mat for their comfort on the floor or ground.
Once you have your pet leashed to the bolt I recommend you start with the head. Clippers are the one item you really should try to buy quality. The cheaper ones can overheat and quit working till they cool down and leave you standing there waiting to finish the job. This can be bad in more ways than one since most dogs don’t like the clipping process to begin with. Too much stopping and starting is only going to make them nervous and harder to work with. I use Oster and Andis brand clippers and they haven’t failed me yet.
When you have all the fur you want off the head and neck it’s time to put the clippers down and work on the inside of the ears. If your dog tends to have fur growing inside the ear it needs to come out for good hygene and ear health. Excess fur inside the ear can trap germs that cause ear infections and bad odors. Squirt a generous amount of powder directly inside the ear and rub it in gently. This will help loosen packed fur and make it easier to pull out. If it’s not packed too tightly you should be able to grasp it with your fingers and pull gently but firmly. If that doesn’t work use the surgical clamps to lock onto the fur but be very careful with them. If your pet struggles you could cause serious injury to the inner ear.
Now it’s time to clip the nails. On smaller dogs your own toe nail clippers will do the job. For large dogs wire clippers work well on thick nails. The quick of a dogs nail is where it curves. Always be very careful to cut well below the curve to avoid injury and a sore paw. It helps to dampen the foot and brush the fur backwards to get a clear view of the entire nail. If you accidentally cut the quick it will usually bleed quite a bit and you will need the styptic powder. Pour a small amount directly into your palm and gently press it against the bleeding nail till it stops.
Don’t forget to check the bottom of the paws for excess fur between the pads. Fur between the pads can form into painful mats. Imagine walking around with a rock in your shoe and that is probably what a dog with mats between the pads feels like. Press your thumb against the middle of the paw and this will cause the pads to open, giving you room to work. Use the rounded tip safety scissors for this and work slowly. Even using rounded tips you may nick a pad if you try to hurry.
If you plan on clipping the entire body, mats and tangles need to be dealt with first. Clippers will not cut through mats or most tangles and you will need your sharp tip scissors for this. Gently work the tip into the mat at various places and cut through to the end until you have it in sections. Cutting east to west through a mat with the cutting edge of the scissors held facing upwards, not flush with the body, lessens the chance of cutting the skin. It can be hard to tell where the mat ends and skin begins so be very careful with those scissors. Gently pull a section away from the body and cut just a few hairs at a time till it pulls free. Tangles or knots are easier, you can either cut them completely off or cut down through the tangle in a north to south direction until it’s loose enough to get a steel comb through.
You will need the safety scissors for the area around the anus, commonly called the “potty patch.” This area needs to be kept free of hair for obvious reasons. Bowel movements will stick to the fur instead of falling to the ground if the fur is too long here. With a firm grip on the base of the tail, cut slowly and carefully till the area is clear.
Now your ready to pick up the clippers again and finish that job before the bath. Depending on the thickness of a dogs coat, it can take longer to dry than any other grooming chore. The more fur you remove before the bath the less time you will spend using the dryer.
Now, time for the bath. If you are using shampoo for humans make sure it is perfume free. Leash your pet to the eye bolt and begin with the head, working your way back to the tail. Cream rinse isn’t necessary but if you removed a lot of mats the skin could be sore and the rinse is soothing.
Using the dryer will fluff the fur and when completely dry you may want to go over the body once more with the clippers for a smoother look.
If you notice raw looking, sore places from either mat removal or any number of reasons you can go to your local vet for a very small, very expensive tube of medicated cream. My dog is allergic to flea bites and they leave her with sores that almost bleed. I use Gold Bond medicated lotion on these “hot spots” and for her it’s like a magic cure. Many things you use for your own personal care will also work on your furry friend.
Did you know that dog fur could be beneficial to your potted plants? I use just enough in each pot to cover the soil completely. This keeps water from evaporating so quickly in hot weather and enriches the soil as it decomposes.
