Dog Grooming Supplies

Grooming Essentials

Shampoos can be human beauty products or shampoos formulated especially for dogs. You will find there are shampoos designed to enhance a specific coat type, texture, or color. Other dog shampoos are formulated to remove urine and food stains from your dog's coat. Flea and Tick shampoos contain pyrithrins to kill the unwanted insects and should be used carefully, according to the directions on the label. Some shampoos are self-rinsing, which means they require no water rinse and will dry without feeling tacky, and there are even dry shampoos in powder form that can provide a quick refresher between full baths.

Conditioners are available to detangle and complement every coat texture. You also may select human hair conditioners for use on dogs.

Nail Trimmers come in several styles. Guillotine nail trimmers tend to squeeze the nails before they actually cut through and are the least desirable of the lot. Nail trimmers that resemble tiny hedge clippers allow groomers the best angles for trimming nails, especially dew claws. Electric nail grinders are also available that will use a grinding stone to wear away your dog's nail tips, and they do not leave behind the sharp edges that the previous two trimmers may leave. It is important to be extremely careful with nail grinders, as long hair can become wound around the unit as the tip spins.

Cotton Swabs and Alcohol are used for cleaning a dog's ear canals.

Towels help get dogs dry after the bath. There are some fine, highly absorbant towels made just for dog grooming; however, your old bathroom towels will still get the job done.

Brushes and Combs help remove shedding hair and help your dog look neat again.

Specialized Dog Grooming Supplies

Dog Clippers are motorized hair cutting blades that allow you to shave a dog's coat closely and evenly. Most electric dog clippers come with an assortment of blades and comb attachments to help you vary the length of your trims.

Scissors or Shears are used for those breeds requiring a stylized trim, such as the Poodle or Miniature Schnauzers. Shears come in many sizes and are designed to perform a specific type of cut. For example, thinning shears have tiny teeth along the length of the blade that leave a very natural-looking cut instead of the bluntly trimmed edge left by regular straight-edged blade shears.

Blow Dryers are essential for thick or long-coated breeds such as the Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier. Blow dryers come in powerful box units as well as long-armed units on raised stands. Even a simple handheld blow dryer can help you get the job done.

Grooming Tables can save a groomer a lot of back pain when grooming small dog breeds. Grooming tables often come with adjustable legs, to allow you to raise or lower the unit to the perfect height. The tabletop should be covered with non-slip rubber matting, and most units also have a detachable grooming arm with a slip noose to help keep the dog in place.

Never leave any dog unattended on a grooming table, or you risk injuring him.

Where to Purchase

As mentioned, you can use nearly all human grooming supplies for dogs, but it's not recommended for you to use most of these items on yourself again unless you disinfect them after use on your dog. Some sources for dog supplies include:

• Pet and pet supply shops
• Dog grooming shops
• Pet departments at retail stores
• Dog supply catalogs
• Grooming supply websites
• Dog show vendors

External Grooming Supplies Links

• Cherrybrook Dog and Cat Supplies
• Dog Grooming Supplies at Future Pets
• ePet Pals Dog Grooming Supplies