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Grooming your dog yourself can be challenging. For it not to be a major mission in your life, and for the result not to be embarrassing (for yourself or your dog), grooming does require practice. This is why the pet grooming industry has been booming - most people just prefer to pay a professional to do it, rather than go through the hassle.
Despite the convenience of just dropping off your dog at a groomer’s, some people still prefer the DIY approach, or cannot (or prefer not to) pay the groomer’s fees. So, to help you get “pro-level” good at grooming, we gathered some useful tips from professional pet stylists. Whether you are a novice or a veteran in taking care of your dog, there are insights here to take away!
Above All Else, Make Sure Your Dog Is SUPER Clean
You spend a lot more time grooming your dog when the coat is not clean. A dog’s ears and face are especially important, as people tend to go easy in these areas for fear of getting soap or water in their eyes or ears. While this is understandable, these areas still have to be completely clean, along with the rest of the dog.
You Cannot Rinse Your Dog Enough
If your dog’s skin and coat are not rinsed really thoroughly, shampoo residue and dirt will likely remain on their skin and coat. Think you’ve rinsed enough? Nope - keep rinsing!
Dry Your Whole Dog At One Time
Drying your entire dog all at one time will ensure the coat is curl-free and dried evenly. This will also allow you to save time on the backend of the grooming process. If your dog’s coat is perfectly dried, you will end up with a much better end result.
De-Shed And De-Mat Your Dog
Be sure to de-shed your dog every time. Also, do a lot of de-matting in the tub. This will save time on drying and will mean less hair to clean up after force drying your pooch.
Keep Blade Swapping To A Minimum
Whenever possible, use each blade for everything you need it for before switching it out. For instance, do all of your #10 blade work, such as pads, sanitary areas and facial trimming, before changing your blade to clip your dog’s body. This will eliminate the need to keep changing back and forth while you are grooming.
Clip Once
As often as possible, wash, high-velocity-dry and hand-dry each dog before clipping. This will help you to avoid having to clip the dog twice.
Don’t Tangle Your Dog’s Hair During Drying
Stay focused when you are drying a dog with the forced-air dryer. Keep the nozzle the right distance away from the coat, so you do not tangle the ends. The longer the coat, the farther away you need to be. Don’t forget there are attachments that come with many force dryers that make drying different coats easy.
Keep Styptic Powder Handy
Styptic-powder holders are super handy, allowing you to quickly get some powder without dumping it all over the place and taking your hands off your dog while you’re grooming them.
Know Your Strengths
The truth is that every groomer has a side of the dog that always turns out better for them, or that they find it easier to work on. Since it’s difficult to get the two sides to match, as you get more familiar with your dog and how you groom, groom your weaker side first. This will make it easier to match it with your strong side. This gives you more control and will end up in a better overall groom.
Check out Pet Pro Supply Co.’s collection of professional-grade grooming supplies to up your grooming game and to keep your furry friend looking sharp! For easy in-home use we particularly recommend the Booster Bath Elevated Tub, the Aeolus Rechargeable Pet Trimmer and the XPower B53 dryer!
Also check out our tips for taking care of your dog's coat, check out this article by Pet Pro Supply Co.'s partner and reknowed dog groomer, Sasha Riess.