How to groom dogs at home: guide for the most popular breeds

Regular grooming is important for dogs of all breeds. This keeps the coat shiny, healthy, and tangle-free, and allows you to check your dog for parasites and skin problems, thereby promoting general hygiene. In addition, grooming strengthens the relationship between you and your dog. We outline how to groom dogs at home, with grooming tips for each of the most popular dog breeds.

Even with dogs with short, easy-care coats, as the basic steps in how to groom a dog, you should make sure that you brush, bathe, and cut their nails on a regular basis. Dogs with longer coats may need a proper haircut. Perhaps you will take your dog to a professional grooming salon to have their hair cut, but are put off by how much to groom a dog costs! The following seven tips will help you groom your dog’s coat at home just as well, and save you some money too. Also read how to take dogs temperature: with different thermometers or without one

How to groom dogs at home: 7 factors in how to dog groom properly

1. Brush your dog regularly to keep the fur from becoming matted

Regardless of the breed, your dog will need regular brushing to keep their coat shiny. How often you should do this depends on the length and texture of the dog’s fur. Long-haired breeds like Golden Retrievers and Collies need more frequent brushing (at least once a week, if not every other day); short-haired breeds like greyhounds or labradors only every two weeks.

A matted coat can cause painful skin irritation in long-haired dogs. Dogs lick or bite each other’s irritated areas, which can quickly lead to infections. A matted coat can also hide foreign objects such as grass seeds and even penetrate the skin, where they cause abscesses. Regular brushing of a long-haired dog will reduce the risk.

Short-haired dogs should also be brushed. This will remove any loose hair, dirt, and flakes of skin from its coat, and save your dog from having to bathe as often.

2. Trim your dog’s hair – but be careful

Most dog owners prefer to take their dog to a salon to have their fur trimmed. But if you’re careful, as one of the first right steps for how to groom your dogs at home, you can cut hair that is too long around your dog’s eyes or paws – so that you don’t have to go to the grooming parlor as often. By trimming the hair around your dog’s eyes, you prevent his vision from being impaired or the hair on his eyes from rubbing and damaging them.

Wait with the scissors until your dog is calm and has lain down. Move slowly and carefully – especially when the scissors are close to the skin. Reward your dog with a treat when you’re done.

Trimming the hair inside the ears can improve air circulation and prevent ear infections. However, it should ideally be carried out by an experienced dog groom or at the veterinarian’s.

Remember: it is easy to accidentally injure your dog with scissors or nail clippers. So always be careful when trimming your hair or nails. If you’re nervous or if you don’t want to trim your dog’s hair yourself, contact a professional dog groomer.

3. How to trim your dog’s nails

When you hear your dog’s nails clicking on hard floors in your home, it is time to trim their nails. In this way you can prevent your dog from having pain when moving due to the long claws. Before you start trimming your dog’s nails, there are a few safety tips that you should read for this step in how to groom your dog at home.  Here you will find our full step-by-step guide to help you trim your dog’s nails safely and easily.

4. Check your dog’s skin while grooming

Skin allergies are common in dogs. They make it itchy and the dog scratches, bites, or licks itself on the irritated areas.

Make it a habit to check your dog’s skin every time you brush. First, run your fingers through your dog’s fur and feel for any unusual knots or bumps. Then part the fur to examine the skin more closely for sores, redness, rashes, bald patches, and signs of parasites.

5. Teach your dog to enjoy grooming

Many dogs, and puppies in particular, need a little motivation before their first grooming session. These tips ensure that the first care units at home run smoothly:

• Spread a little malt paste on a washable surface and let your dog or puppy lick it while you brush or bathe.
• Take things slowly – with lots of treats and lots of praise, so that your dog can look forward to the next round of pampering.
• Put a non-slip mat in the tub to keep your dog from slipping while bathing.

6. Check your dog’s ears regularly

When grooming your dog, take a close look at his ears. Ear infections can be painful. So, if you see any of the following changes or behaviors, get your dog checked by a veterinarian:

• The inside of the ears is inflamed or damp.
• The ears smell strange (a dog ear infection often smells sweet).
• Your dog is shaking its head or scratching its ears.
• The ears contain more or different types of wax than usual (a little wax is normal).
• Your dog whines or barks when you examine its ears.

7. Don’t bathe your dog too often

Most dogs with healthy skin only need a bath every few months to avoid hygiene issues and unpleasant odors. If you bathe your dog more often, the natural oils from the coat may be removed and the skin dries out.

If your dog smells unpleasant without wallowing in something smelly, it is a good idea to speak to your veterinarian, as the smell can indicate a dental disease or skin infection. When bathing your dog, keep these things in mind:

• A dog’s skin has a different pH than ours, so never use shampoos intended for babies or adult humans, instead use a soap-free and skin-friendly shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs.
• Pour warm water over your dog until he’s really wet. Then gently massage the shampoo into the fur. Be careful not to get anything in your dog’s eyes, mouth, or ears.
• Rinse off the shampoo with warm water. Then the dog can shake itself and air dry outside in warm weather. In cooler weather, gently towel dry the dog or blow-dry it on the lowest setting.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom a Shih Tzu

The most important thing in how to groom a Shihtzu is combing the fur regularly. Even as part of training a puppy, you should start combing and brushing the Shih Tzu’s coat every day, if possible. Only through this daily shihtzu care will the coat get an orderly structure and a beautiful appearance.

If a Shih Tzu is not combed or combed too seldom, the fur can become matted and knotted very quickly. This not only looks ugly, but is also very uncomfortable for the animal and can only be remedied with difficulty without cutting off.

For this reason, Shih Tzu owners should take care of combing and brushing the fur from the start and work on establishing a daily routine in how to groom a Shitzu. The use of special dog fur brushes is helpful , with which Shih Tzu can also be optimally combed and freed from loose fur parts.

Facial hair control

In addition to daily brushing, there are other things that should be considered for optimal care of a Shih Tzu. This includes, for example, the daily check of facial hair. The Shih Tzu’s long fur tends to grow over the eyes and obscure the face. This can cause the dog to see badly. It can also cause irritation and crusting of the eyes occur when the fur extends to the eyes of the little dog.

Therefore, the optimal Shih Tzu care also includes the daily control of this facial hair. Especially very long ponies should be tied in a little pigtail every day and laid out of the face.

Special hair clips for dogs can be very helpful here, as conventional rubber bands can break the hair quickly or pull out numerous hairs when removed.

Shih Tzu bathing and trimming

Furthermore, regular bathing and fur cutting are part of the extensive and necessary care of the Shih Tzu. Depending on the weather conditions, it can very easily happen that the Shih Tzu’s coat becomes very dirty. The long and dense fur generally tends to absorb a lot of foreign particles and a lot of dirt and therefore has to be cleaned regularly when it is very dirty.

For this, it is helpful to get the Shih Tzu puppy used to bathing, as the fur is best and easiest to clean with the help of plenty of water and a suitable dog shampoo. An additional useful helper for grooming can be a hair conditioner that is suitable for dogs. This is applied after the shampoo, protects and strengthens the coat and ensures that the dog can be combed better and easier.

After bathing, drying the fur under supervision is part of the care of the cute, little Shih Tzu. The dogs must be protected from drafts under all circumstances as long as their fur is wet or damp, otherwise the animals can get sick. Optimally, Shih Tzu should be blown dry carefully and not too hot after bathing.

In addition to cleaning, Shih Tzu care must also pay close attention to the length of the coat . Especially on the sides and paws, the Shih Tzu’s coat tends to become so long that it drags on the ground and accumulates a lot of dirt. Therefore, the fur should be regularly cut back to the appropriate and desired length with the help of scissors or a long hair trimmer in the affected areas.

The soles of the paws also have to be clipped and freed of hair again and again . In addition, a control of the claws and any necessary claw clipping are part of the care program for Shih Tzu dogs. However, if you take all these care instructions into account and take care of your beloved Shih Tzu on a regular basis, you will enjoy a particularly beautiful and well-groomed dog.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom a Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever’s coat does not require extensive care. Brush the dog once a week and daily during the coat change as the first step in how to groom golden retriever dogs. Regular brushing ensures good blood circulation and the removal of dead skin particles. If he has got himself dirty outside, drying is the first thing to do. You can then untangle the fur with a comb and brush. If the dirt is very stubborn, only a bath with warm water and dog shampoo will help.

Regularly check the eyes and ears of your four-legged friend for cleanliness and a healthy appearance. If necessary, you can clean the eye area with a lint-free cloth moistened with warm water. Larger soiling on the ears can also be gently cleaned with a cloth. Do not use a cotton swab for this purpose! In the event of changes or sensitivity to pain in the eyes, ears or teeth, a veterinarian should always be consulted.

Dogs’ claws and paws should also be checked regularly and the fur between the balls of the feet trimmed a little so that too much dirt does not collect there. In the case of snow and ice, it is advisable to grease your paws a little to protect them from the cold and road salt.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom Goldendoodle dogs and pups

Assuming your Goldendoodle is not shedding fur, it will need to see the groomer on a regular basis. The professional is able to consistently shorten the fur with the clipping machine or trimming scissors. With the necessary expertise, you can make the annual cut yourself. If you do not master the handles, the risk of shortening the fur too much or injuring your dog would be too high. After all, the four-legged friends should have a positive feeling and good experiences.

Most Goldendoodles have medium to long, wavy or curly fur. For a species-appropriate grooming of the Goldendoodle, you need a comb, a brush or a curry comb with which you can drive through the dog’s fur. It is best to repeat the grooming routine every 2 days and check the entire dog’s fur for residues, injuries, parasites or matting after each walk. Above all else, look in the areas the dog cannot reach, such as the neck, throat, behind the ears, and stomach.

Start regular grooming routines as a puppy. The young dogs will get used to it quickly. Be sure to use care and caution when combing and do not press too hard with the comb or brush with hard tines. After all, we don’t want to injure the Goldendoodle, but rather comb the fur thoroughly. If you have discovered a ball of fur or a tangle, you should try to loosen the hairball with your fingers and a little oil. Only if this is not possible at all do you use scissors and carefully cut out the area. Use special pet scissors with round tips so as not to injure your four-legged friend.

In connection with grooming the Goldendoodle, check the eyes and ears and remove dirt from them. Use clean microfiber cloths or cotton pads and never push them too far into your ear or eye. Also check the claws. These need to be shortened regularly if your dog does not have the opportunity to rub them off on a hard surface. Be careful not to cut the nails too far as there is a blood vein running through one area. If you injure it, it will hurt your four-legged friend and the claw will start to bleed. If you are not sure how to cut the claws correctly, you should have this done at the first appointment with the vet. The professionals will show you how to do it correctly.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom a Yorkie

The long, silky fur of the Yorkie, which is often coiffed with a small bow, already gives an idea of ​​it. Caring for this pretty pedigree dog requires a lot of time and expertise. But don’t worry, with a little practice of our steps for how to groom Yorkie dogs and pups, you will be able to enjoy the daily grooming ritual with your dog.

When you get your Yorkshire puppy, you should get him used to brushing, bathing, brushing teeth, trimming his hair and clipping his nails right from the start. But even adult Yorkshire Terriers can be used to the necessary grooming procedure with a little practice and patience.

Grooming

As the crucial step in how to groom Yorkies, you have to brush the silky, long and fine fur of the little terrier every day. A metal comb with wide teeth is a good choice for this. You should also bathe your Yorkie at least once a week. Rinse hair with lukewarm water and then shampoo with aspecial dog shampoo . You should always work from back to front and start your runs. Any dirt that has got caught in the fur while digging and digging, for example, can simply be removed with your hands. You can clean the face with a sponge to prevent water from getting into the dog’s sensitive nose.

Yorkshire Terriers do not have a natural, seasonal coat change. Luckily, the sofa, carpet and dog basket are spared from thick tufts of hair. But at the same time, it also means that you need to regularly trim your Yorkie’s hair. Depending on your short or long hairstyle, you should take him to a professional dog groomer around three to four times a year.

Cutting Claws and Brushing Teeth

You should cut your dog’s claws about once a week to avoid injury. Also, you need to brush your pet’s teeth regularly with dog toothpaste to keep them white, shiny, and healthy.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom an Australian Shepherd

An important part of how to groom Australian Shepherd dogs or pups is to brush their coat every day. This is how you can remove loose hair, remove dirt and avoid tangles. Dry dirt and dust usually dissolve quite easily on their own just by shaking and rolling. Otherwise, you can easily help, because dirt can easily be brushed out with a brush or curry comb.

Be sure to choose the appropriate brush for your dog’s coat type. The ideal brush for Australian Shepherds should be made of plastic or have rubber tips. Brush each tuft of hair first in the opposite direction up and then down in the direction of hair growth. Proceed gently, little by little, so as not to hurt or frighten your furry friend; after all, he shouldn’t associate the brush with pain.

The medium-length Australian Shepherd coat is prone to tangles and knots, which you can carefully loosen with a comb. If it cannot be easily disentangled, cut it out instead of pulling it and possibly injuring your four-legged friend.

If you are using scissors, be careful to only shear the knot itself. In general, it is not recommended to shear Australian Shepherds – especially if they are white – as their fur protects them from bad weather and sunlight. However, if the fur is full of knots, you may want to plan a visit to the dog groomer. In these cases it is not advisable to brush your dog yourself.

Australian Shepherds only need to be washed once or twice a year unless they get particularly dirty. Remember to use a special dog shampoo as grooming products for humans can be harmful to animals!

You should also check your ears, teeth, paws and claws about once a week and have them cleaned or trimmed. Tartar, injuries and inflammation of the gums cause pain and lead to food refusal. Bacteria can even get into the bloodstream through small wounds in the mouth and lead to organ diseases.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom a poodle

The poodle puppy should get used to the brush and the comb at an early stage so that it does not develop aversion later. This should be done carefully and gently as the puppy is very sensitive. Daily poodle grooming is particularly effective, but it is sufficient to brush the poodle thoroughly three times a week.

• As the first step in how to groom poddle pups and dogs, they should be brushed against the grain – from the tail to the head. It should be noted that the brush reaches the skin.
• Then it is brushed again thoroughly with the line.
• In the next step, the coarse-toothed comb is used – from the head to the tail.
• At the end of grooming, the fine-toothed comb is used. You can now see whether the poodle wool has been thoroughly brushed beforehand. Otherwise, the comb can get caught in the wool.
• In order for the poodle to always have a well-groomed appearance, it should be brought to the groomer every 5 to 6 weeks.

Proper bathing

If the poodle is to be bathed, it should first be ensured that the shampoo used is completely alkali-free . Otherwise, when using traditional shampoos, it will cause the dog’s skin to become flaky and brittle. The dog’s skin has no pores and can therefore not secrete any fat.

• To begin with, the poodle’s ears should be stuffed with cotton wool to prevent the water from entering the ear canals.
• Then the poodle is rinsed or showered with lukewarm water. It is important to ensure that the water jet is not aimed directly at sensitive areas such as the nose, ears or eyes. It is best to place the poodle on a non-slip surface for the bathing process.
• The poodle should then be thoroughly shampooed twice to remove all dirt. This is followed by a thorough rinsing, working from the head to the tail. The poodle wool should be rinsed out until only clear water can be seen.
• After the poodle has been bathed, it is thoroughly rubbed off and then the poodle is blown dry with permanent brushing.

Poodle shearing

Another part of poodle grooming is shearing. A pair of scissors and a clipper are required as care accessories. The poodle should be bathed first and then thoroughly dried and brushed. Thorough brushing and combing ensures that the coat becomes smoother and that the clipper does not accidentally get caught in the coat. During the shearing, the poodle should be as calm as possible and be praised so that he saves the procedure as something positive.

• The shearing begins at the head – from the eyes to the edge of the face.
• This is followed by the ears, which give the poodle its characteristic hairstyle.
• As a result, the armpit regions are then sheared, these should be the same length as the fur on the back.
• After this is done, the abdominal and groin regions are shaved. It is helpful to lift the respective leg and briefly shear these regions.
• Then the rear part and the tail are sheared, paying attention to the direction of growth of the tail. For good hygiene, the region around the anus should be sheared briefly.
• Once this has been done, the rest of the body is shorn to the previously selected fur length.
• A structured length of coat is created, which makes the poodle look more well-groomed.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom a Labradoodle

The Labradoodle has a poodle-like, curly coat that requires special care. Basically, the breed is still developing and therefore the coat can vary from dog to dog.

Proper care of the coat is important in any case. Brush your Labradoodle regularly – preferably daily. You only need to bathe your dog if he is very dirty. Everyday dirt dries in the fur and can then be brushed out easily. A good tip: get your dog used to brushing as a puppy .

If the Labradoodle’s coat becomes very long, you can also trim it regularly. The hair around the eyes can be cut a bit so that your four-legged friend’s vision is not impaired. You should also make sure that the hair under the paws between the pads does not become too long, otherwise it can become matted.

Cutting the dog’s claws is also part of caring for these dogs for allergy sufferers – just like cleaning their ears. As with most dog breeds with drooping ears, the hearing organs of these four-legged friends are very sensitive. You can regularly wipe them gently with a cleaning cloth and should also rinse them out with a special cleaner if necessary.

How to groom dogs at home: How to groom Pomeranians

To avoid matting and thick hair, you will need to brush your Pomeranian frequently. You should get your dog used to this right from the start . You can walk puppies through their fur with a soft brush every day. In this way your Pomeranian gets to know the process and there are no “dramas” later in the important grooming.

Also, be sure to make sure to brush your Pomeranian all over , not just the back and sides. Especially on the belly often form knotsin the fur; Your dog should not only have the first grooming experience on the sensitive belly when knots have to be removed.

Thorough brushing is particularly important during the change of coat . Then the undercoat of the Pomeranian falls out, making knots and matted areas even easier. This can then quickly lead to painful chafed areas on the skin that can become inflamed. Thorough, regular brushing is the best protection against this.

Combing aids that can be sprayed onto the coat are helpful when brushing. They can be compared to hair conditioners for humans because they care for the hair, make it smoother and thus reduce the formation of knots. Some small tangles can sometimes even be “loosened” and combed out with little pain.

In the case of matted strands or knots, work from bottom to top. Spray the knot with detanglerand leave the product where appropriate, a short time to act. Then place the comb underneath the affected area and move towards the ends of the hair through the fur. On the next move a little higher, start directly in the knot. Repeat until the knot is undone. Don’t forget your legs and stomach, especially your armpits and groin. The risk of matting is particularly great here.

Regular grooming is not just a cosmetic measure; at best, it is also a good opportunity to simply spend time together. At the same time, you can also check for ticks and inspect your Pomeranian’s eyes and ears and clean them if necessary.

Sometimes a bath cannot be avoided. Too frequent washing is not recommended , especially not with shampoo or the like. If your dog has played in the mud, however, washing cannot be avoided. In many cases, however, it is enough to simply remove the dirt with clear water to shower off, then to dry the dog with (hopefully plenty of provided) towels. However, if your Pomeranian has sticky or strongly smelling dirt in its fur, you will have to use a high-quality dog ​​shampoo.

Make sure to rinse the products very carefully . If residues remain in the fur, they can irritate the sensitive skin of your Pomeranian, lead to severe scratching and even inflammation. Do not get shampoo or conditioner in the dog’s eyes ; the ear canals must also be protected from water and shampoo foam.

This works best if you do not use the shower head to rinse your Pomeranian’s head, but rather carefully pour the water over the dog’s head with a bowl or, better still, with a plastic bottle. The bottle has the advantage that the water jet can be controlled very well here.

After bathing, you need to dry your dog thoroughly. In the summer, you can sort of air dry your dog by playing with him outside in the sun. In the winter, you may even need to blow dry your Pomeranian so it gets dry quickly and doesn’t catch a cold. To do this, set the hairdryer to the lowest setting and low heat. For faster drying, you can lift the fur of your Pomeranian part by part while blow-drying with the comb.

Also, watch out for your Pomeranian’s sensitive ears and eyes while blow-drying. The ears can be easily dried with soft paper handkerchiefs or extremely absorbent microfiber towels.

Pomeranians can also get tooth decay and tartar. To prevent this, you can brush your teeth on your pom daily. You can do this with a standard children’s toothbrush, but you can also use special dog toothbrushes.

Regular checking of the ears is the best method to detect any inflammation or the like at an early stage. Otherwise, you should inspect your ears whenever your Pomeranian shakes its head or scratches its ears. Stubborn dirt or excess ear wax can be removed with a special ear cleaner (from a veterinarian or specialist retailer).

Put a few drops in your Pomeranian’s ear and let the cleaner work for a short time. Many dogs don’t like the feeling; By gently massaging the base of the ear, you can distract your dog and accelerate the action of the ear cleaner. Dirt and ear wax are loosened and can be wiped off with a soft cloth. Avoid using cotton swabs if possible; You could injure your dog’s ears.

Summary

For all dog breeds, good body care, regular bathing, and skin and ear checks don’t just keep your dog healthy. You also show your love and spend time together.

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