Well.. at least that’s what most of our humans think. I’d beg to differ, it’s much more fun to find that smell on the ground and roll your body in it. 😀
BUT.. if your human insists on keeping you clean then whatcha going to do? There are plus sides to being clean though, mostly for the humans since us dogs don’t seem to care.
- Less shedding!
- We smell nice and they want to cuddle and snuggle us more!
- Helps maintain a healthy coat and shine!
Bathing, Brushing, and Nail Clipping
Nowadays the doggie bathing products are a lot nicer and more balanced so regular washing won’t damage your pets coat or irritate their skin. Granted each dog is different and regular bathing can vary from every week to every month depending on the type of coat and skin your dog has.
Not to mention bathing and grooming your pet is a great bonding experience. Brushing your pet also helps keep their coats healthy and is a chance for you to make sure there aren’t any strange lumps, bruises, or scratches on your dog or cat. If your pet doesn’t like to be brushed, start by petting and stroking them the entire length of their body. You can buy brushes with soft bristles or even rubber ones (like Kong’s Zoom Groom Brush) that feel more like hands and work your way up.
Then there’s the dreaded nail clipping/trimming process!! If you’re like my mom, you try to exercise your dog to wear their nails down or you pay someone to cut them for you. BOL! (Bark out loud). No matter how hard she tried when I was a puppy I just didn’t like my paws touched.
However, if you’re willing to try and train your dog, be patient. Show them the clipper or dremel first and use a motivator (treats or toys) to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of. Then when they’re comfortable, clip one nail and again use the motivator (give them a treat). If you keep going slow and watch the dogs comfort level, it should make it easier to clip their nails after awhile. If the dog is getting agitated, stop and wait to clip the rest. With any training you want to try and end on a positive experience.
Here’s a few products mom’s tried out on me in the past:
- Happy Tails Spa – she loves their all in one shampoo/conditioner.. why? because i don’t like bathing and the quicker the better!
- Isle of Dog – they make a great shampoo for dogs with white coats, mom’s last dog was an eskie and it helped keep his coat nice and white.
- For nail clipping/trimming – make sure you research the different kinds of clippers/dremels (sanders).. depending on your dog and yourself, there might be one that works better for you.
- For Teeth Cleaning – Check out my last post during Dental Health Month!
Disclaimer – FFR does not endorse any stores or products, the above mentioned products were things that I’ve tried out but there are plenty of great dog cleaning products out there now!