Regular grooming is important for most dogs mainly for removing dead or long hair. Grooming your dog is also important for detecting fleas, parasites, thorns and other objects that may have lodged in your dogs skin while the dog was out walking or playing.
Grooming is an important part of the bonding process between owner and dog and be very pleasurable and enjoyable for the dog. Grooming can be used as part of training as the owner can exercise control and dominance by getting the dog to stand still while being groomed.
Grooming can start with a very young puppy even though their coat is not fully developed just yet. It is no harm to get a young puppy used to the equipment used for grooming like the sound of a clippers or a hairdryer as this will make it easier to groom the dog as it gets older.
When grooming a puppy or young dog quite often you will just need to use a brush and comb for doing the coat. You will need a clippers too for their nails as they can become quite sharp very quickly. A towel for drying the puppy and cotton buds for the ears and a soft cloth for the eye area is all you willl need for now.
Some dog breeds need to be groomed more often then others do. For example a Jack Russell Terrrier requires little gooming while a Bichon Frise needs to be brushed every day. Dog breeds like Bichons have hair that if not looked after will matt. Matting is when hair tangles together and forms knots or lumps of hair that can be painful for the dog as the hair is being pulled away from the skin. It is often very difficult to clear away matted hair and may have to be removed by a shaver or sissors.
When grooming a dog it is best to place them on a table or a level that is comfortable for yourself. Put one hand around the chest and shoulders of the dog to kepp it steady and then begin using the brush or comb. Starting at the back of the neck move down the sides then between the hind legs and underneath the body.
Remember that dogs have sensitve areas that they do not always like being touched and they may become uncomfortable and may struggle or even snap if upset. The areas where dogs usually hate being touched are around their paws, their tails and their anal regions.
If for any reason you are not comofortable grooming your dog or you fell you are not doing it right then contact a professional dog groomer in your area. These groomers do a great job and will often call to your home to groom your dog or will collect and return your dog for you.