Keeping your dog looking and smelling fresh can be time consuming, and – in some cases – costly. If you often take your dog to the groomers to get them into shape, the cost of it can begin to add up. But did you know you can give your dog the VIP treatment from home for a fraction of the cost? Take a look at these top tips from Mr Lender to find out how you can save money on your dog grooming routine.
Keep sessions regular and short
The trick to successful DIY dog grooming, is to keep your sessions regular and short. This will not only keep your pet pooch looking and smelling lovely for longer, but it’ll also prevent them getting any sores and infections in the long run. When it comes to grooming your dog, break it up into smaller chunks – your dog may not enjoy being groomed too much so it can be quite stressful for them if you try and get it all done at once.
Grooming your dog regularly is also vitally important as this will alert you as soon as something unusual shows up. If you have a long haired dog, brush their coat once a day to get rid of any tangles – short haired dogs need brushing just once a week. When brushing your dog, check their coat and skin for any bugs, sores or dry patches. It’s important to take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice anything unusual with them, but mild cases of fleas, ticks and dry skin can usually be treated at home.
Washing your dog
Keeping your dog clean will not only make them smell wonderful, but it’ll help reduce problems from arising. When it comes to washing your dog, you certainly don’t need to splash out on expensive dog shampoos – you can quite easily make your own for a fraction of the cost! A flea shampoo uses just water, vinegar and baby shampoo, or you can make your own doggy dry shampoo from baking soda, corn starch and essential oils. If your dog does have a case of dry skin, make your own special shampoo from water, baby shampoo, vinegar, glycerine and Aloe Vera gel.
One extra dog grooming tip, is to make sure you rinse your dog thoroughly, as not doing so can irritate their skin. Make sure the water is lukewarm, and avoid spraying it around any sensitive areas. To dry them, you can simply use a towel or a hairdryer on a low setting.
Cleaning their ears
Cleaning your dog’s ears is also a vital necessity. By keeping your pets’ ears nice and clean, you can prevent the likelihood of them getting ear infections. You can do this very simply with some cotton wool and warm water. Simply keep your dog calm and gently rub the inside of their ears to get the wax off. If you notice any weeping or redness, or if their ears are quite sore, take them to the vet as they may have an ear infection.
Trimming their fur
If you have a long haired dog, keeping their coats nice and trim can be tricky. But you don’t need to spend a great deal at the groomers to get their coats looking smart again. Trimming your dog’s coat can be done at home, with special clippers bought from the pet store. You can even get some sharp trimming scissors aswell to cut the fur around their paws, mouth and ears. Just pay extra attention when using scissors or clippers, as it can be really easy to cut your pet by accident. If your dog is quite excitable and doesn’t tend to sit still for very long, it may be better to get someone professional to trim their fur instead.
Doggy spray
Once you’ve groomed your pet and you’ve got them looking lovely and fresh, you could spray them with some doggy perfume to get them smelling extra nice. Again, you don’t need to spend lots on expensive sprays – simply make your own at home. All you need is some peppermint oil, vanilla extract and coconut or Argan oil.
Paw wax
One final dog grooming tip, is to use paw wax if your pooch has particularly sore, dry or cracked paws. But instead of buying an expensive wax to get them moisturised, make your own from coconut oil, Shea butter and beeswax.