Spending time with your dog can always bring a smile to your face, whether it’s cuddling up on the couch together or escaping into nature on a long hike at the weekend. Your pet pooch will quickly become part of the family, and it can be hard to imagine a life without them once you welcome them into your home.
However, while there are a lot of activities you might like to do with your dog, grooming them isn’t always a fun experience, particularly if they don’t like standing in the bath or having their fur trimmed. So, if you want to try and make grooming your dog at home easier, here are some useful tips.
- Creating a Soothing Atmosphere
If you want your dog to feel more at ease when they are being groomed, creating a calming atmosphere can help. You don’t have to light-scented candles and put on classical music, but try to stay calm yourself – patience will certainly be a virtue in this scenario.
Give them time to get settled, and try to reassure them as best as you can with a gentle massage. You could also try using pheromone sprays or plug-ins in the bathroom before you start grooming them to see if this helps keep them calm.
- Comb Their Fur Regularly
To make bathing your dog and trimming their fur easier, try to comb the fur regularly with a brush to keep it from getting matted. You can do this when you’re sitting with them in front of the TV and perhaps after walks if they have been out exploring in the grass.
It will help to get rid of any dirt that might be building up in their coats, and when it does come to shampooing and trimming, you won’t need to worry about knots in their fur pulling and making it a more difficult experience for them.
- Invest in Good Grooming Equipment
Another way you can make this process easier is to have the correct equipment at hand. This includes brushes, combs, and shampoos, but also things like trimmers and scissors.
You should also get some good quality clippers for their claws to avoid ingrowing and other issues. You can find a lot of great grooming equipment and accessories, like fur trimming scissors, from specialist sites like christiesdirect.com.
- Try a Rewards System
If your dog struggles with grooming, another thing you can try is establishing a reward system to make them more compliant.
If they can begin to associate grooming with a treat at the end, they might become more well-behaved during this process. They may also start to see grooming as a more positive experience, too.
- Let Your Dog Get Used to Noises
You may find that your dog gets nervous or frightened when they hear clippers or a hair dryer running, and you will likely use at least one or both of these as part of the process.
It can be helpful to let these both run for a while and let your dog get used to the noises before you use them on their fur. Taking breaks in between can also help them feel more at ease.
If you are finding grooming your dog at home difficult, then try these tips to see if they help. If not, think about going to a professional dog groomer who might have more expertise in making your dog feel at ease and grooming them properly.
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