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 Failing to groom a dog is neglect that cannot be excused.
A long-coated dog should have its fur brushed and combed at least twice each week. A double-coated dog should have the dead hair combed from its coat regularly so that the molting process is minimised and hairballs end up in the rubbish bag rather than on your carpet.
Even short-coated dogs should be brushed or rubbed down a couple of times a week to keep the skin and coat healthy.
A brush suitable for the dog's particular coat; a fine-toothed comb for soft, silky hair and flea control; a rubber mitt or towelling cloth for short coats; are the necessary tools for the job. Owners who are confident may add a pair of clippers for toenails.
First, the dog must be taught to accept grooming, so start from puppyhood, handling feet and cutting nails; handling the mouth, brushing the teeth with just water and a soft brush to begin with; and getting the pup used to brushing and combing, including the tail and ears. Use a soft brush, or a coarse washcloth to groom a puppy. If the puppy finds it hard to stand still, use a rubber mat for grooming so that the pup has better traction.
A dog that has grown up ungroomed can still be taught to stand or lie still but you may need more patience to teach the older dog what is expected. For a tangled coat (ideally this situation should never have time to eventuate) work gently to avoid skin damage or pain to the dog - a bad grooming experience may make it wary or frightened at future grooming sessions.
Comb from the outside of the tangle, gently progressing towards the skin. If the tangle is severe, work in short sessions and offer praise frequently to the dog. For really badly matted coats consider the advantages of clipping.
Dead hairs may be shed continuously from some breeds, particularly in dry, heated homes in winter. Double-coated dogs usually shed huge amounts of hair twice a year. Undercoat shedding usually begins with the haunches and works its way forward until the entire coat has molted. The whole process may take a month or more.
Bathing
Too many baths will remove essential oils from your dog's coat, but occasional baths are beneficial. Warm baths can speed up the coat shedding process.
Coats must be wet through to the skin for effective bathing, and shampoo must be thoroughly rinsed out to keep the skin and coat clean and healthy. A large dog with a thick, double coat can take up to an hour to bathe which can be most uncomfortable for an owner whether it is done outside or inside - an hour kneeling by a tub washing a wriggling dog is physical labour.
First, teach the dog to stand still in the bath. It is so much easier if the dog willingly climbs into the tub and remains there until the final rinse is done. Use a facecloth to clean the dog's face and avoid getting water in the ears. Moisture inside a dog's ears encourages fungus infections.
After a thorough rinse, towel the dog dry or use a hand-held hair dryer on thick-coated dogs if they will accept that treatment. Don't let them outside until they are dry, unless the day is hot, the sun shining and no chance of a chill.
Skin
Grooming is a must to keep the skin healthy, not for keeping it clean as much as for allowing the owner to detect developing problems. A daily examination of the dog during flea season is a must.
Contact allergies can also appear in a very short time. Irritated skin is scratched, which leaves it open to staphylococcus infections. Use a fine-toothed comb to check for fleas, and remove ticks with protected fingers and drop in to alcohol. Treat your house for fleas as well if you find any on your dog - modern controls can be very safe and environmentally friendly.
Feet
Dogs should have their nails cut every two to three weeks. That may sound like a lot, but taking a tiny piece off the nails more often means your dog is less likely to have the nail vein nipped - an accident that may mean your dog resists all further nail clipping and will be more likely to be nipped in the future because of fear and wriggling during the process.
In light-colored nails the vein or quick can be seen as darker than the rest of the nail, but it can not be seen in dogs with dark claws so it is usually these last dogs who have had bad nail-trimming experiences.
Examination of the dog's feet should be included in all grooming sessions to make sure there is nothing stuck between the pads. Seeds from some grasses can stab into the pad (spear grass can work its way through the skin and cause serious damage in the body), pebbles can get stuck between toes, or fungus infections can cause licking, which can lead to hot spots.
Grooming sessions at home can improve the dog-owner relationship. Dogs groom each other to reinforce pack behaviour and to show subordination, and as an owner you can take advantage of that behaviour. Just 10-20 minutes daily where possible will increase the bond with your pet, insure that you will detect any skin changes or infections quickly, and will keep the skin and coat healthy.
Ears
All dogs should have their ears checked often. Dogs with droopy ears are more susceptible to fungus and bacterial infections and should be checked at least weekly. Your vet can prescribe ear cleaners to dry them out.
Infected ears may lead to haematoma if the dog breaks a blood vessel while shaking his head. The haematoma may disappear on its own, but may grow and require lancing and stitching, especially if the ear infection is not cured and the dog keeps shaking its head.
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