Margaret H. Bonham

Dog grooming is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy, so groom your dog regularly. Do the job right by having basic equipment; follow a routine to ensure that you cover all the steps each time.Grooming is more than just a bath and brushing — it includes cleaning teeth and ears and clipping nails.

Dogs don’t get cavities the way humans do, but they can develop plaque, tartar, and gingivitis — all of which contribute to foul breath and tooth problems. Trips to the veterinarian can be costly, so it pays to do periodic brushing yourself. (Although if your dog has lots of tartar buildup, a visit to the vet is in order.

Cleaning your dog’s ears is a fairly uncomplicated job. Some breeds — notably sporting dogs and hounds — have a predilection for ear infections and injuries because of their hanging or drooping ears. These dropped ears make an ideal place for bacteria to grow and mites to hide. If an odor is present around your dog’s ears, they may be infected, which means a trip to the vet.

Regular brushing and combing helps keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy and looking good and to get the full benefits, you need to brush all the hair and not just the top coat. The most common brushing method is to brush backward against the lay of the fur and then brush it back into place. Brushing that way usually loosens and removes dead hair and stimulates your dog’s skin.

Matted dog hair can be painful for your pet, so prevent matting by brushing your dog's coat regularly. Instead of going to the dog groomer, save some money and learn to remove matted hair yourself. Badly matted fur should always be remedied by a professional dog groomer. Follow these tips for removing snarled, tangled, matted dog hair: If the mat isn't too bad, spray it with detangler solution and use a comb to slowly work the mat free.

Dog fur comes in short coats, long coats — and everything in between — and ranges from curly to straight, puffy to wiry, bald to long. Some dogs come equipped with dreadlocks and a few have no hair at all (or very little)! Dogs basically have two types of coats: Double coat: Most dogs have a top coat is composed of stiff guard hairs, which tend to be naturally water-repellent.

Before you cut your first dog hair, make sure you treat your dog safely and plan how you're going to clip her. Your dog needs to be clean and have all mats and tangles brushed out of her coat before you start clipping. Doing so makes it easier for you to clip the coat evenly. Preparing for success You have your clippers and your dog.

Dogs don't get cavities the way humans do, but they do get plaque, tartar, and gingivitis — all of which can cause foul breath and tooth problems. Trips to the doggie dentist can end up being costly, and your dog will have to be put under anesthesia, because no dog ever "opens wide" for any dentist or vet. Brushing your dog's teeth is important, but how often you do it depends on your dog and your motivation factor.

Successfully grooming your dog for a show requires planning well in advance of the show so you don't run into any surprises the day of the show. The following sections help you prepare for the big day. The night before the big event On the night before you show your dog, you probably don't want to wait up just to hear David Letterman's Top Ten, so in its place, here are the top ten steps you need to follow the night before the big show: 1.