Many people buy a dog, love it, feed it, walk it, and water it and yet they never really think about grooming their dog. Grooming is one of your dog’s basic needs and it is not something that can be overlooked. Just like you would never think of not bathing and attending to these needs of your children, you should never overlook the grooming needs of your dog. Just like when you get clean, trim your nails, or do your hair and you feel better, your dog will feel better when their grooming needs are attended to.

In addition to the connecting with your dog. Grooming also has several health benefits. Brushing leaves a clear and shiny coat. Free of mats and other nastyness. Keeping the nails trimmed ensures that your dog wil walk comfortable. Brushing your dogs teeth regularly reduces tooth rot as your dog ages. Potentially saving you from huge veterinary bills for fixing and pulling out broken and neglected teeth, Regular grooming ensures the well being of your dog and creates an unbreakable bond between you and your pet dog.

Because grooming is something that your dog needs you need to make sure that it is also something that they will enjoy. When you take the time to teach them how to enjoy being groomed you may find that it is an enjoyable process for both of you. Start when your dog is a puppy or as soon as you bring him or her home. When you groom your dog continually tell them that they are a “good dog” to let them know that they are not in trouble but being loved upon. This will help your dog learn how to enjoy the grooming process if they don’t naturally like it.

Brushing is one of the best things that you can do for your dog in the grooming department. You can simply use a soft dog brush and brush in the direction that the hair grows. You’ll want to brush everywhere, not just on the back, but also on the ears, stomach, tail, and the back of the legs. When a dog is not brushed they can develop large tangles or mats in their hair that pull on their skin and actually cause pain when they move.

Bathing your dog is an important part of grooming, as well. When you bathe your dog you should make it as fun, enjoyable, and as comfortable as possible. You can use your own bathtub, sink, or even the garden hose. If you don’t have the time to bathe your dog, or you have a difficult time controlling your dog during the bathing process, be sure to get them bathed by a professional. Even if you don’t have time to bathe your dog or you don’t enjoy it, it still needs to be done!

Other things that you need to tend to when you groom your dog include the toenails, teeth, and skin. Your dog is a living breathing being and it has feelings and needs just like you do. Grooming doesn’t have to be all that time consuming or uncomfortable, in fact if you make it a regular part of what you do, you’ll find that it takes very little time and while you are grooming your dog you will also be giving them the attention that they want and need from you. Grooming is essential part of dog ownership because it will ensure that they are healthy inside and out.