Daily Grooming

Grooming your dog daily not only keeps it clean and healthy, but also reasserts your authority over it. Picking up the dog, holding its head, and opening its mouth are dominant gestures, and they help to reinforce your control. Initially, use food rewards as distractions throughout the grooming sessions, then progress to verbal and physical praise alone.

Picking up a dog

Pick up the god by putting one arm around its chest and forelimbs, and the other around its rump. Place it on a table for grooming. You can ensure that the dog won’t slip and injure itself by placing a rubber mat on the table.

Holding a dog still

Hold the dog still in the stand position, and put your thumb through its collar. This will ensure that the dog doesn’t move and that you are in control.

Gentle brushing

Use long, firm strokes to brush along the dog’s body. Brush the entire coat, including the tail and legs, avoiding any sensitive areas.

Turning a dog around

Place the flat of your hand, with the fingers together, over the hing-leg muscles, to turn the dog around. A flat palm avoids hurting the dog.

Trimming the nails

Cut the nails after the dog has been bathed, when its nails will be softer than usual. Take care not to cut the living tissue (the pink area inside the nail). If in doubt, ask a vet.

Cleaning the eyes

Many dogs build up mucus in the corners of their eyes. Holding the head firmly, bathe the eyes, using a clean piece of damp cotton wool for each one.

Examining the mouth

Use food rewards while training the dog to let you open and examine its mouth. You should check the dog’s teeth and gums once a week.

Special conditions

Long coats

Long-haired dogs with thick coats can develop mats under their legs. Take care when grooming these areas, since the skin here is often more sensitive than on other parts of the dog’s body.

Lips and gums

Some breeds need to have their lip folds cleaned and their gums checked regularly. Use damp cotton-wool buds to remove any dirt.

Hairy ears

Use a damp cotton-wool bud to clean the dog’s ears, but be careful not to insert the bud into the ear canal. Carefully remove excess hair using forceps or your fingers.

Foot maintenance

Minimize the risk of dirt embedding between the dog’s toes by clipping and examining after exercise.

NEW COMPLETE DOG TRAINING MANUAL, Dr. Bruce Fogle