Regular grooming not only keeps your dog looking their best but also promotes their health and strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend. Especially if you’re interested in grooming your dog at home, it can be some excellent quality time. Although some dogs don’t like the grooming process, with plenty of practice and positive reinforcement, your dog can grow to love it.
In this guide to dog grooming and care, we explore those frequently asked questions by dog owners all over the globe. Such as how often you should groom your dog, how to clean their, ears, which shampoo is best for dogs, and much more.
Take this advice and remember each dog is different, what may be right for one pup may not be right for another. If you’re unsure how to care for a dog, get in touch with your vet.
How often should a dog be professionally groomed?
A full professional grooming is one of the best ways to keep your dog clean. Depending on the breed, age and lifestyle of your dog, the amount of professional grooming required can vary.
Dogs with longer hair will also require more grooming than dogs with shorter hair. If you’re like many dog owners in the UK, taking your dog to be professionally groomed every 6-8 weeks should be enough. However, it can be more or less, depending on how much you bathe your dog at home.
Dog grooming tips - grooming dogs at home
Between visits to the professional dog groomers, it’s easy to maintain your dog’s cleanliness by bathing at home.
Follow our tips below for advice on at-home dog grooming:
How often should a dog be bathed?
As a general rule, aim to bathe your dog anywhere between one month and three months. This will naturally depend on the breed and lifestyle of your pup. Got a furry friend that likes muddy puddles and rolling in all that nature has to offer? You’ll likely need to be bathing your dog more than others.
Temperature to bath a dog
A cold bath isn’t at the top of the list of enjoyable things to do. And, like humans, dogs enjoy warm water when having a bath. The best temperature to clean a dog is in lukewarm water. To make sure the bath isn’t too hot for your dog, run the water over your wrist. Not too hot, not too cold. Imagine a temperature Goldilocks would approve of!
How to clean your dog’s ears
If you’re planning on some at-home grooming with your pup, you’ll need to make sure you clean their ears. And there’s an easy step-by-step process:
What you’ll need: Cotton pads, an ear-cleaning solution, and treats. The treats aren’t mandatory, but you’ll want to reward your furry pal for handling the ear-cleaning process so well!
Step 1) Check your dog's ears first. This is to check how dirty they are and to see if there is anything abnormal. If your dog has any redness, abnormal odour or swelling, contact your vet.
Step 2) Use the ear cleaning solution to clean the ears. Read the instructions thoroughly and make sure your vet has given the go-ahead for the solution you’re using before you clean your dog's ears.
Step 3) The third step is simple, just wipe away any mess the solution has picked up with your cotton pad. This is when you should be rewarding your dog for being so well-behaved during the cleaning process.
How to clean a dog’s eyes
What you’ll need: When cleaning a dog’s eyes, you can use a clean, damp cloth, a cotton pad, or you can purchase an eye-cleaning solution.
Cleaning with a cloth or cotton pad: Simply saturate the clean cloth or cotton pad with lukewarm, clean water and gently wipe away any mucus or dirt from around their eyes. Your dog’s eyes and the skin around their eyes are very sensitive, so be extremely careful and gentle while doing this.
Cleaning with an eye solution: The method for using an eye cleaning solution will depend on the brand and type of product you buy. Carefully read the instructions before cleaning your dog’s eyes.
Grooming tip: Regularly cleaning your dog’s eyes should reduce tear stains.
While we’re on the topic of dog grooming and care, read our Dog & Puppy Dental Care Guide for the best advice on looking after their dental hygiene.
Can human shampoo be used on dogs?
We do not recommend using human shampoo on your dog. It can cause itching and irritation. The best thing to do when cleaning your furry friend is to use a shampoo designed for dogs. This is because they’ve been formulated to improve coat health, are gentle in their skin, and in some cases, include allergen control.
Shampoo for dogs
So, we’ve covered that we shouldn’t be using shampoo for humans on our pups. But what should you use? Here at BullyBillow’s, we’ve developed a selection of doggy shampoos and conditioners specially formulated for their needs.
Our dog shampoo, conditioner and colognes have been:
- Crafted to gently cleanse and nourish your pet’s skin and coat without irritation.
- Tested on many breeds and ages with zero irritation.
- Mild and gentle formula for all coat types.
We offer this collection of dog-care products in a variety of scents and each is suitable for all dog breeds, completely vegan, and suitable for sensitive skin.
The best dog shampoo and cologne collection
- Baby Powder - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
- Chamomile - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
- Sweet Strawberry - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
- Refreshing Mint & Hemp - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
- Tea Tree - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
- Mango & Coconut - Dog Shampoo & Cologne
Explore the Dog Shampoo, Conditioner and Cologne Collection now!
Dog post-bath zoomies
If your dogs are like our dogs here at BullyBillows, you may have found yourself asking, why does my dog get ‘the zoomies’ after a bath? Or why does my dog run around after a scrub? Well, this is actually very common.
After a wash, there are a few reasons why dogs could get the zoomies. First off, some dogs find the bathing procedure itself to be a little stressful, especially if they don't particularly like being wet. They could feel relieved after the bath and let out their pent-up energy through zoomies. Second, being wet may actually be energising for dogs. A rush of energy may be sparked by the water on their fur since it might make them feel colder and more invigorated.
And, of course, when we get our beloved dogs out of the bath, we towel dry them or blast the hair dryer. This could have a huge implant on their zoomies! They could feel super excited with all the attention, especially as towel-drying them could feel like lots of strokes. Which they’re likely to love.
Discover more with BullyBillows
We’ve got the very best Dog Collars, Harnesses, Leads, and Dog Accessories available here with BullyBillows. And did you know that it is a legal requirement to ensure your dog has an ID? If you’re in need of a Dog ID Tag make sure to check out our selection and pick the perfect match for your pooch.
If you fancy reading more about man’s best friend, see our handy Dog Blog!
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