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.