Mastering Bathing and Brushing

Bathing

In order to bathe your dog properly, you will need sufficient room to bathe him in. That concept may sound like an obvious one, but many people try to stuff their Mastiff into a wash tub in the backyard. If your dog feels as though he is in too small an area for comfort, he will try to escape. Conversely, you should not try to bathe your toy-sized in a large tub. Doing so may cause him to feel exposed and insecure, once again leading to escape attempts. Your dog should be able to move freely in the tub where he is being bathed and be able to see over the walls, but he should not have enough space to elude you if he feels threatened. Sometimes the best "tub" is no tub at all: large dogs can be bathed outside using a hose, while small dogs can be bathed in the kitchen sink.

Your dog must also feel secure with the surface under his feet. If the surface is smooth and slippery, giving your dog a towel or rubber shelf lining to stand on while being bathed may reassure him.

Make certain that the water is set at the proper temperature before you bathe your dog. Water that is too cool will not rinse the shampoo properly, leaving an oily residue on your dog's coat. Water that is too hot can burn him. If you feel comfortable with the water running over your skin, chances are that your dog will feel comfortable with that temperature as well. Fill the tub roughly to the height of your dog's ankles. If your dog has a collar on, remove it and ease your dog into the water. Soak your dog's coat with a spray hose or by pouring water over him, taking care not to get water into his eyes or ears. You can use a washcloth to clean his face if you feel more comfortable doing so.

Shampoo should never be placed directly onto your dog's coat. Pour a little into your cupped palm and spread it along the back of your dog's neck and along the spine to the tail. Gently massage the shampoo into your dog's coat. Pay attention to potential problem areas, such as his tail, the "pants" under the tail, the hair along his belly, and his ruff.

Leave the shampoo in your dog's coat for as long as required by the directions on the bottle. Regular shampoos can be rinsed immediately; however, medicated shampoos may need to be left in the coat for anywhere from two to five minutes or more. Rinse your dog, making certain that the rinse water from his coat runs clear before you stop. Repeat or apply conditioner as needed.

Remove your dog from the tub. Dogs with long coats may need to be patted dry to prevent tangles. Those with long coats may appreciate being massaged dry. If your dog has a long coat or one that is styled in a particular cut, you many need to blow dry it. If that is the case, begin with the hair dryer set on low. Make certain the hair dryer remains in motion while it is aimed at your dog; you do not want to burn his hair or his skin.

Brushing

It is not difficult to master brushing if your dog has been trained to be groomed. If your dog is willing to sit or lie in one position for even a little while, brushing is a piece of cake.

Begin brushing your dog from his head, working your way toward his tail. Use a soft brush, face cloth, or chamois cloth to clean his face and put the stray hairs into place. Brush behind his ear leathers, making certain to get the brush into the little ridge behind his ears, to loosen any dead hair, soil, or parasites that hide there.

If your dog is wearing a collar, remove it. Use a slightly stiffer brush on the coat on your dog's body. If he has a long coat, make certain that you dampen his coat before you brush it. Brushing long coats, particularly single coats, when dry can break or tear the guard hairs. Groom in the direction of the hair, gently working through any tangles. Use a wide-toothed steel comb to loosen the tangles, if needed. Finally, use a soft brush on the dog's legs and feet, inspecting them for any sign of debris being caught in the hair between his toes. If your dog is lying on his side during grooming, turn him over and start again from the front of his body.

It is not difficult to master bathing and brushing your dog. Work slowly and give your dog reassurance through each step if he needs it. With patience, and with practice, you will master the tasks of bathing and brushing your dog.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Dog Care Site, part of Localwin Network.