Dog Nail Clipping Tips

Even though you have been taking care of your dog for years, you may not know that your dog is not comfortable whenever you trim her nails. The common problem with grooming dogs is that they fuss every time they’re being handled, but if you take time to train them, you’ll never run out of options.

Some dogs allow their owners to clip nails one paw at a time in between rest or other activities, while others allow their owners to trim nails at once. However, regardless of how your dog wants to get his nails trimmed, it is important that you cut their nails before they become overgrown. Here are some things you should know before you clip your dog’s nails:

1) If you’re a first-time dog owner, ask a pro to help you get started - Unlike clipping human toes, it can be an ordeal when you trim your dog’s nails for the first time. As such, it is best that you ask a dog groomer or vet to show you how to trim your dog’s nails properly and at the right length.
2) Make a routine just for your dog’s grooming so she can get used to handling her feet - Make sure that your dog does not detest having her feet handled by getting her used to having her nails trimmed at an early age. The sooner she gets used to enduring a manicure, the easier it can be for you to groom your dog. A weekly manicure is ideal to prevent broken nails and to build a grooming routine.
3) Use a nail grinder as clipper alternative - For dogs who cannot tolerate nail trimmers, they might find it more comfortable when you use a nail grinder.
4) Give your dog a treat - Just like behavior training, giving your dog a treat after trimming her nails helps them to understand that allowing you to finish a routine manicure can be rewarded.

If all else fails, don’t let your dog’s nails grow uncontrollably. You can always call a vet or professional groomer to have your dog’s nails trimmed.

Dog Grooming Business

Most professional dog groomers have taken care of their own dogs for years and offered their grooming services to their neighbors, friends and family. If you’re just like one of them, you’re probably having a good reputation in your neighborhood and you’re on your way to building a large client list. When you’re at this stage, you are only a few steps away from setting up your own business. But before you do, you should first know the pros and cons of setting up a dog grooming business.

Since any kind of business requires you to deal with clients, create a marketing plan, follow laws governing your business and understand the liabilities associated with starting up your own business, you need to be prepared. Here’s a list of pros and cons in opening your own dog grooming business so you can make an informed decision:

PROS

-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You don’t have to answer to an employer because you will become your own boss.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You don’t have to wake up early in the morning and work for 8 hours. You can set up your own schedule and work when and where you want to.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You have the power to earn more money by working overtime. Your earnings will not be limited by a paycheck.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You control the failure or success of your business.
-脗聽脗聽 You can choose your partners, employees and clients.

CONS

-脗聽脗聽 Since there is no steady paycheck, cash flow can be uncertain.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You need to complete the bookkeeping and tax paying on your own, or hire a person to do this and you have to keep him on payroll. In addition, since taxes are involved, you need to report your income to the IRS.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 To earn more money than your past paychecks, you need to work longer hours and lift heavy objects, like huge dogs and equipments.
-脗聽脗聽 Not all dogs are created equal, so it is possible to face aggressive dogs and risk possible injuries. The same goes with pet owners - some can be rude or snarky.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 You will not earn a cent if you get sick, take a vacation or run for an emergency.
-脗聽脗聽脗聽 If you plan to open a store, it becomes at risk of disaster, theft and other problem that may result in loss of money.
-脗聽脗聽 You have to maintain an insurance coverage and bonding fees should a client sue you for injuring a dog.

Just like any other business, setting up your own dog grooming business means you will have no safety net. Your business may sink or swim. But if you feel that your love for dogs and grooming experience is worth setting up a business, then consider these pros and cons before you decide.

Dog Grooming School

If you’re planning to groom dogs for a living, some people may tell you that you need to become a certified dog groomer before you can handle dogs. Contrary to this belief, you don’t have to be certified or have your own business; the only thing you need to do is hone your dog grooming skills to become a professional. Many dog groomers are self-taught; they learn the necessary grooming skills working on their own dog.

To get proper training and experience, you can attend a formal grooming school, complete short courses r be hired by an expert groomer who can teach you the ins and outs of dog grooming. The method you use developing you skills depend largely on the time and effort you put into handling dogs as well as your willingness to explore the trade. Regardless of which path you choose, a certificate can help you increase customers since it ensures you are up-to-date with the current techniques.

A dog grooming school offers you a way to learn everything about the trade in a hands-on and organized manner within a definitive amount of time. You can choose from a set of classes to attend, aside from the basic course. Since a professional groomer will be teaching you, he can guide you throughout the course and provide you with constructive feedback, so you’ll avoid mistakes and pinpoint which areas you need to improve. After completing each lesson, you’ll earn a diploma or certification, which you can use in marketing your services.

However, not everyone decides to go to dog grooming school because most courses are expensive, though some schools provide financial aid. Dog grooming schools are not easy to find, so if there’s no school offering such classes around your town, you may have to move or take a long commute. For many people, it can be hard to attend classes while working a full time job. Lastly, some people just avoid lectures, exams, studying and the pressure of competition.

Be aware that no training method is better than the other. If you’re serious about becoming a professional groomer, you have the option of honing your skills to be the best in the industry at a grooming school or dedicate enough time to master the techniques on your own.

Dog Bath 101

If you are a first-time dog owner, you may have no idea on how to give your dog a bath. Don’t worry, it only takes several easy steps to keep your dog groomed. Here are 6 steps you can follow:

1) Prepare - One of the first things you need to do is place clean cotton balls on your dog’s ears to prevent water from infecting her ears while bathing. Place her on a tub where she can fit.
2) Water - Using lukewarm water is ideal when wetting your dog’s hair thoroughly. To wet your dog’s face, use a washcloth to avoid irritating her face.
3) Shampoo - Choose a pH-balanced shampoo and make sure to apply shampoo while your dog’s wet to clean your dog’s anal sacs, particularly if you are planning to do include it into your grooming routine. Apply enough shampoo to lather up the coat of your dog, but avoid the face and eyes.
4) Rinse - Slide your fingers along your dog’s skin when rinsing to ensure you get all the soap out. Since soap can attract dirt, especially when it has dried up on your dog’s hair, it is important to rinse thoroughly. Failing to do so may increase your dog’s risk to mats.
5) Conditioner - Use a pH-balanced cream or conditioner for dogs to prevent tangles and make sure the coat dries out completely. Rinse the conditioner thoroughly as it can equally attract dirt as shampoo.
6) Drying - Use a clean towel and start drying your dog’s hair. Sometimes, soap can still be present, so look out for soapy water while squeezing the towel into the coat. When this happens, simply rinse the coat again.

Everyone loves a bath and even if your dog doesn’t say so, you can see after giving her a bath that she appreciates being cleaned. Once you make it a routine, it will be easier for you to give your dog a regular bath.

How to Bath a Dog

Most dogs start out hating baths, so training your dogs to like this routine can be difficult. If you just adopted or bought a puppy, use these five simple tricks so taking a bath won’t become a dreaded task for both you and your dog:

1) Start at an early age - Your dogs can get used to bathing if you start grooming them young. Just as brushing and obedience training, experience is the secret in preventing bad behavior. However, when it comes to grooming your dog, it may take time to work through their bad bath behavior.

2) Choose the right tub - Avoid giving your dog a bath outdoors, especially if you are tempted to just hose her off, because the water in your garden is usually too cold for your dog. Choose a tub large enough for your dog to fit comfortably. You can use the sink for your puppies or toy-sized dogs. It is recommended that you use your bathtub, as it can be easier than using stars or ramp with a groomer’s tub.

3) Keep your dog steady - Although this can be tricky since most dogs don’t like staying in one place, you can use a special tub for her or buy a bathing noose that attaches to your ordinary tub just to keep your dog in place. However, make sure you don’t leave your dog attached to the noose alone as it may strangle her should your dog try to escape.

4) Take your time - Never be in a hurry when giving your dog a bath. You may not know it, but a quick bath can be a rough experience for your dog and once she experiences one bath gone bad, it can be traumatic for your dog.

5) Keep your dog comfortable - Make sure to place cotton balls in your dog’s ears to help keep water out of her inner ears. You can also apply an optic ointment to protect her eyes. This way, you make bathing as comfortable for your dog as possible.

Once you follow these simple tricks, you can be sure that you and your dog share a pleasurable experience every time you bath her.

Washing Your Dog

One of the oldest myths about grooming your dog claims that you should not bathe your dog unless she’s really stinky or dirty. Some people say that if you do this, you will be removing essential oils out of her coat, resulting in dried coat.

Many people have believed and followed this myth for so long that it has been repeated as a mantra by dog people who should know better, such as dog experts, groomers and breeders. If you’re one of these people, you need to clear your facts right now.

Dog shampoo used to be formulated with harsh ingredients that it could easily strip down a dog’s coat. During these days, dogs experienced icky and dried coats that many people started to schedule bathing for months apart. However, since groomers and other dog people needed to bathe their dogs frequently, such as those who compete in dog shows, the need for a new shampoo formula for dogs that will not ruin their coats increased.

Today, the grooming supplies available in stores, including shampoos, conditioners, de-tanglers, cream rinses, gels, mousses and other hair-care products made for dogs can clean their coats effectively without the risk of shedding the coats off. As such, the myth about washing your dog shouldn’t be followed anymore. However, make sure to ask a dog expert about the best hair care product in the market because it can be overwhelming to choose a brand or variant out of thousands.

Although it is still not a good idea to bathe your dog every day, don’t be afraid of giving her a bath regularly thinking that you’ll be hurting her coat. Just like brushing, bathing shouldn’t have to be a painful and traumatic experience for your dogs. As long as you make it as comfortable as possible and you use pH-balanced hair care products, your dog will allow you to bathe her more easily.脗聽 Learn more on How to Bath a Dog.

The Right Tools for Dog Grooming

If you’ve spent a lot of money paying for a professional groomer to clean your dog, it may be time for you to learn how to do it yourself, buy the right tools and save some money. Although you need money to complete your grooming tools to keep your dog’s coat clean and picture perfect, maintaining a well-groomed dog can be worth the investment.

Good equipment is important in grooming your dog correctly, but buying the most expensive equipments does not necessarily mean they are guaranteed to do the job right. Most grooming equipments can be easily made or purchased without spending a lot of money. Below is a list of the basic grooming supplies you need:

1) Brushing - To give your dog a smooth and silky coat, you will need brushes, combs, mat rake, mat splitter, shedding blade, stripping knife and a spray bottle of de-tangler solution.

2) Bathing - To remove the dirt from your dog’s coat, you will need pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner, cotton balls to keep water out from you dog’s ear, protective eye ointment, towels and a blow-dryer.

3) Clipping - If you do your dog’s haircut on your own, you will need a pair of electric clippers with lubricant or clipper oil and extra clipper blades.

4) Toe-nail clipping - To ensure your dog’s nails do not become overgrown, you will need cotton balls, styptic or powder, cauterize and toe clipper or a nail grinder for dogs that are not used to handling their paws.

4) Toothbrush - To maintain your dog’s fresh breath and take care of her teeth, you will need a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste, which are designed specifically for dogs. Never use your own toothbrush and toothpaste for your dog.

5) Ear cleaning - You will need cotton balls, drying towels, otic solution, sterile gauze, forceps and ear powder to prevent ear infection and keep your dog’s ear clean.

6) Face care - Use tear stain remover, no-rinse shampoo, cotton swabs and soft washcloth when handling your dog’s face.

Dogs that compete on shows may require additional tools. In addition, you may still need other equipments, depending on your dog’s breed, but the list above caters to any kind of dog, regardless of size, breed and gender.

When to Call a Pro Dog Groomer

Many people give the dog grooming responsibilities to their kids. Although this is a good way to introduce your kids to responsibility, it may not benefit your dogs. One bad grooming experience can become traumatic for your dogs, so no matter how much your kids promise to bathe, cut the hair and groom your dogs, you can never be too sure they’ll be handled properly.

Most people groom their dogs from head to toe on their own. However, when you face situations wherein you cannot handle your dogs properly or you don’t have enough time on your hands to keep your dog well-groomed, it is best to rely on the skills and expert advice of a professional.

While you can easily perform regular baths and toenail clipping on your own, some situations may require your utmost attention and patience. For instance, if your dog tangles with a sticker brush, it may take forever for you to pick every inch of stick out of his coat or if your dog becomes wild when you start touching his paws in preparation of trimming his nails, these situations can become tricky especially if you don’t have the experience, skill, time or patient to handle the situation. Newly adopted dogs that haven’t been groomed before can be more difficult to handle when grooming than your other dogs.

You may try all you want and handle these situations on your own, but are you willing to risk giving your dog a bad haircut, uneven toenails, infecting his ears and other problems improper grooming can cause? If not, don’t be ashamed to seek the help of expert dog groomers. Besides, you can a plumber when you don’t have time or skill to fix your pipes, right? There’s no shame in hiring someone to do the tasks you won’t, can’t or don’t know how to do.

Training Your Dog for Grooming

Grooming your dog can be a dreaded task for both you and your dog, but with training, your dog can get used to a grooming routine and avoid all the fuss you experienced before. Some dogs had bad experiences while being bombed, brushed, bathed or trimmed their nails, so your dogs think they will go through that experience again. Whatever reasons your dog has to refuse grooming, you can do something about it to make your dog as comfortable as possible.

The secret of easy dog grooming is to train her as early as possible. However, if adopted an adult dog, this can be a problem. For a successful grooming routine, you need to buy the right equipments and provide enough time for you to clean your dog from head to toe. The good thing about grooming your dog by yourself is that it only takes an initial investment to buy the equipments and you won’t have to pay for a dog groomer to do the work for you.

Once you have all the equipments you need, you have to control your dog by proper training, so you can groom him without difficulties. Your dog should be able to sit or lie steadily during the grooming process, so you can inspect each part of her coat thoroughly. As such, you should train her to “stay”, roll over her belly and sit. Find a place where your dog loves, so she can enjoy being combed and brushed on her “safety zone”.

Whatever you do, always be gentle in handling your dog. You can be firm while speaking to her, so your dog knows you’re serious, but don’t pull or push her when she won’t keep still. It is best to start off with short grooming sessions about several times a week and build up to longer sessions once your dog is used to handling.

Follow these steps and you’ll see that your dog is starting to have a great time bonding with you. As long as you give enough time to keep your dog clean and well groomed, the grooming process won’t be a dreaded task.脗聽 Learn more in our article about Refining Dog Grooming Manners.

Refining Dog Grooming Manners

Some dogs are well-mannered during grooming, while others can be the nicest dog before grooming and transform into the most difficult dog you’ll ever face while grooming. However, you can train any dog to have the best manners while grooming, but this does not happen overnight. You need to familiarize your dog with the processes involved in keeping her clean and free from infections and injuries.

Dogs require a firm hand to refine their grooming manners, so they can be used to the idea of being cleaned, brushed and groomed. After a while, you dogs may come to enjoy the grooming process as they see this as a time to bond with you and we all know how dogs love the attention, right?

The most common problem dog owners face is introducing their dogs to grooming during worst situations, such as having mats in their hair, when they’re very dirty, when they need to get their toenails clipped and other instances. Dogs struggle because you haven’t done it before, so they don’t like having their feet and coat touched.

The most effective way to refine your dog’s grooming manner is to make the experience as pleasant as possible. If they find the experience to be traumatic, it will only become more difficult for you to clean your dogs. It is always ideal to instill good grooming manners with you dog while she’s a puppy because younger dogs are open to new things, giving you enough time to build up good experiences while she’s willing to learn. As long as you are gentle with the entire grooming process, she’s more likely to accept that grooming is part of your routine. If she endured bad experiences while grooming, you can always retrain her to get used to it again.

Training your dog to deal with grooming doesn’t take much time - even several minutes a day will do. Make sure to give her a treat once you’re done grooming her, so your dog understands that allowing you to hold her will be rewarded.脗聽 Find out How to use Positive Reinforcement to Train Your Dog.

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