For many dog parents, grooming is something that can cost a lot of money during the lifetime of their pet. To save money, some think about doing touch-ups or even full grooms themselves. But even this can be costly. Beginners often waste money on the wrong tools, ruin them by not taking care of them properly, and ending up having to pay a groomer to fix the bad job they did.
To help you avoid costly mistakes, Brent Lotz, a vet assistant and ex-groomer, gave us some tips for the average pet parent on beginning grooming including tools to use, set-up/holding the dog, cutting tips, tool care and the best order of grooming.
Tools
Basic tools you will want to have are:
- Nail trimmers
- Scissors
- Comb or brush depending on coat type
- Clippers
- Clipper combs
- Clipper Cleaner
- Clipper Oil
- Clipper steel brush
For this video, we used the new ANDIS Spring Green AGC2 with a 10 blade and their chrome-plated magnetic combs (sold separately).
You find these at Andis.com, Petsmart, and Petco.
Set-up
Have a grooming table really saves your back and helps you restrain your dog using the arm. However, it’s not necessary. You can also groom your dog on the ground if you prefer. You can find fairy inexpensive grooming tables (like the one used in the video) at Petedge.com.
Grooming your dog outside can help minimize the amount of hair you have to clean up inside your house.
Watch the video below to see how to restrain your dog, nail trim and cutting tips and the best way to care for your dog clippers to keep them running like new longer.
As Lotz mentions in the video, you can also seek a professional advice if you are not sure which blade and comb combination you need for your dog’s coat. A vet can help show you how to trim your dog’s nails properly and even how to restrain them if you have trouble. Finally, if you have a dog that is scared of the clippers or nail trims, work with a dog trainer on desensitizing them – never force your dog, it will just increase their fear and you will have an even harder go of it next time you need to groom him.
Toledo, United States.
