How to Create Your Own Dog Grooming Box
From LoveToKnow Dogs
Our guest dog advice expert Wendy Nan Rees offers tips on how to create your own dog grooming box. Find out which supplies you should keep handy to make grooming a breeze.
Learn How to Create Your Own Dog Grooming Box
Wendy's Thoughts on Dog Grooming
When it comes to grooming your dog, you can make it a time for bonding or you can make it a chore! I always make it a time for bonding with my three boys. I have been lucky enough to have started very young with them, so they are well trained and we have great fun!
If you are lucky enough to start young with your puppy, you can begin by bathing him in the kitchen sink with warm water. This will make him feel safe since there won't be as much slipping around as there would in a larger tub. If you shower him with lots of praise he'll learn to love his special time with you, and he'll never have a fear of bath time or water.
If you have a long coated breed like my Cappy who is a Yorkie you should also begin taking him to professional grooming appoints as soon as the hair has grown about three inches long. This way he'll learn to stand still while he's clipped, and he'll also get used to having his nails trimmed while he's standing on a table. This helps him learn not to struggle, and it can save you a lot of money down the road if you don't have to pay a groomer or a vet to do it every time.
Just yesterday I had a great time with all three of my boys at the beach and pool, and this is where bath time training really comes in handy. Why you ask? Salt water and chlorine can both be very drying and damaging to your dog's coat and skin, so you want to get it rinsed of him as soon as possible.
I am so lucky that all my dogs love to be washed down, so at the end of the day I took one dog at a time to the hose and gave each of them a good bath with an all natural shampoo for dry skin. I followed up with conditioner and a flea treatment. All three were finished and dry within the hour, and they went home smelling fresh and clean!
Last week I'd had enough of my expensive grooming cost for Cappy my Yorkie. I like to keep him in full coat, and this usually requires the full works at the groomer's. Some people prefer to keep long coated dogs in a shorter puppy clip, but not Wendy! I figured I could probably do the job myself so I gave it a try, and Cappy didn't turn out half bad. I can't say I'm as good as a professional dog groomer, but with some more practice who knows?
What Goes in Your Grooming Box
You can either buy a professional dog tack box, or save yourself some money by purchasing a large plastic carry all. You can find inexpensive cases at most discount department stores. You can even make one out of a five gallon plastic pail if you have one handy.
According to your dog's coat type, you'll want to include many of the following supplies:
- Bristle brush
- Wire pin brush
- Dematting comb
- Regular comb
- Flea comb
- Round tip scissors
- Hemostats for removing ear hair
- Small clipper for hair between foot pads
- Large clipper for overall body
- Tweezers
- Nail trimmer/clipper
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Waterless shampoo
- Pet wipes
- Eye cleaner
- Ear cleaner
- Cotton balls
- Blow dryer
- Towel(s)
- Tooth brush
- Flea spray or spot-on product
- Treats
I hope this tip helps you as much as it has helped me for the last 25 years. Have fun making grooming time a bonding time, and remember your animals are not just your pets, they're your friends!
~~ WNR
More Two Minute Tips
Find more of Wendy Nan Rees' tips at Two Minute Dog Advice.
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