Regular Grooming Keeps Your Dog Looking Prim & Pretty

Proper grooming is an important part of dog care, as it not only makes your companion look better, but it contributes to the physiological and psychological health of your pet. Not only will your dog love the attention and quality time this regular grooming will provide, but you can use the opportunity to check closely for skin conditions, parasites and fleas. ‘Dog Grooming Made Easy’, Daniel Stevens’s book at SitStayFetch, gives step-by-step instructions, with many color photographs of the methods and equipment used to correctly groom your dog.

The major part of keeping a well groomed dog is regular brushing, and this is convenient to do at home. The first step will be the purchase of a proper brush, comb or rake that is suitable for your pet’s coat. If you are unsure of what type to buy, seek advice from a pet care professional, or do some research with books or the internet, such as the SitStayFetch book on grooming, which gives details and photos of all the grooming equipment needed. Regular brushing will help keep your dog’s coat in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils through the entire coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation.

While coat condition, climate, hair type and density are some of the factors that determine the duration of time between requiring professional grooming, the biggest determining factor is the amount of time spent grooming at home. As little as five to ten minutes of brushing every day or two will help keep your pet’s coat in pristine condition. If following a regular grooming schedule, you may wish to bathe your dog at home, which should be done about every three months. For a complete regular grooming program, such as that outlined in Daniel Steven’s book at SitStayFetch, you may follow his methods at home, or make an annual visit to a professional groomer. Either way, regular nail clipping, sanitary trimming, teeth brushing, ear cleaning and dematting, will keep your pet looking and feeling healthy and happy.