There is a danger that your dog will get sunburn, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. The good news is that you can prevent these things from happening to your dog. We already talked about keeping dogs cool in summer. Now let us take a look at a couple of other dangers.

Sunburn Protection

You might not have considered it before but the sun can burn your dog. Areas that are particularly sensitive are the nose, ears, and lips. You can try to keep your dog in the shade between the sunniest hours of the day. These are usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you are not able to stay in the shade you can put some dog sunscreen on her nose and other sensitive areas.

You should not put sunscreen on your dog’s lips as it is not safe. You just need to keep an eye on them to be sure there is no sunburn. Any blistering needs to be examined by a veterinarian.

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Have you ever left your dog in a parked car? If so, it’s definitely time to stop. In fact, leaving a dog in a car is the number one reason that dogs get heat stroke. They can also develop it if they are too active on a very hot day and don’t have a shady spot to go to.

If your dog is overweight or has a history of lung or heart disease you need to be extra careful. Older dogs are particularly susceptible to getting heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

It’s best to leave your dog in your air conditioned home if you are going to be out running errands. If you must take your dog with you it’s best to leave them in the car with the air conditioner still running.

Try not to take your dog exercising with you. Some people like to take their dogs power walking, jogging and cycling. If your dog falls behind or seems overly hot or tired it might be time to call it a day.

There are some dogs that live outside. These owners need to be especially careful and provide a shady area for them to go during the day. There are ventilated doghouses and umbrellas that can do the trick.

If you have an older dog it is best to keep in them inside no matter what when it’s very hot. You might even want to keep a fan on your dog to make sure he stays nice and cool.

Finally, keep an eye out for danger zones such as hot, black pavement, the bed of a truck, or beach sand. If you allow your dog to be on these areas he might get blisters. Stick to grassy areas if at all possible.

Water is Essential

Giving your dog water is one of the number one ways that you can prevent heat problems for your dog. Be sure there is clean, cool water available at all times. This will stop dehydrations and other heat problems in their tracks.

Tips For Keeping Dogs Cool In Summer

Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Always keep your dog well hydrated. If it is very warm it won’t take much to make them dehydrated. This problem is even worse for dogs that have thick fur. The best thing for you to do is to keep the water bowl very visible. Every time you or a family member walks by you need to remember to refill it. If you are going to be outside of our home you should bring a water bottle and stop your dog to drink often.

Limit Exercise

When there is extreme heat you also need to limit the amount of exercise they get outside. You do need to take walks in order to keep them in general health, but consider different options when there are heat warnings. You could just shorten the time of your walk or break it up into two halves. Another option is to plan the walk for the very early morning or late evening.

Stay Close To Home

It is a good idea to stick close to your home in extreme heat no matter what you do. That way you can ask for help if a situation arises where you need it. If you go on a hiking trail it will be hard to get help. In fact, you can’t even take your vehicle to such a situation.

Consider Your Dog’s Health

When you’re making your decisions it’s important to think about the health of your dog. If it is very old you’ll need to take even more care. Older dogs require more hydration and rest, and may need to stay inside completely during extreme heat. Younger dogs can handle these changes more easily.

Check For Ticks

Beyond staying hydrated you also need to check for ticks. These are tiny insects that latch onto your dog’s skin and can carry diseases like Lyme’s disease. These are incredibly common in the warm weather and if you have a wooded area around your home. Search through your dog’s fur daily and remove the tick carefully with tweezers. If you find a deer tick you’ll need to get your dog evaluated at the vet.

Never Leave Your Dog Inside a Car

A silly mistake that many pet owners make is leaving their dog inside of a car. It doesn’t matter whether your windows are cracked or not. A car is like an oven that can quickly become over 100 degrees. This can create a lot of trouble for your beloved dog.

Use Common Sense

Above all, use your common sense in the summer. Take this advice and you’ll eliminate the chance that you’ll need to make an emergency stop at the vet. This will give you peace of mind and create a happier pet for you, and reduce some of the risks when dogs and heat are involved.

First of all, it’s important to understand the basic reasons for brushing a dog’s hair.

Why Brush Your Dog

• Eliminate uncomfortable tangles
• Get rid of skin problems
• Prevent parasite infestation
• Prevent smells
• Save money at the vet
• Eliminate loose pet hair around your home

You absolutely must make sure that you brush and check every part of your dog. This includes their ears, eyes, coat, skin, and anal area. You can set regular grooming times to do this.

If you’re new to grooming, the process can seem intimidating. Even so, it is easy to do once you know how. There are some things you need to be aware of before you get started.

First, you need a surface with good traction. Some people like to place a rubber grooming mat down on a firm table.

Then, be sure to train your dog to be still whenever they are in this location. If you have a puppy, or need to train your dog you can do so in short sessions at first.

Be sure to make this experience fun for you and your dog, but not to get too boisterous

Your dog will learn to stay still and obedient throughout the grooming process so long as you repeat yourself, correct mistakes, and praise them when they are correct. Do not hit your dog and maintain a smooth and even tone.

After you’re done grooming you need to be sure to reward your dog. This could be verbal praise or even a physical dog treat.

In order to prevent problems during the grooming session you should take your dog out to the bathroom before and after.

Now, once you have the set up it’s time to learn the rules of grooming. These are different depending on the type of coat your dog has. If you’re unsure you can ask an experienced breeder or dog groomer. A general rule of thumb is to groom your dog at least once per week. Do keep in mind that some will need to be groomed three times per week.

Extra Points To Brush Your Dog

• Do not bathe your dog before you have brushed his hair well. When dog’s hair gets wet the knots are more difficult to get out. It can also prevent thorough rinsing of your shampoo.
• Start brushing along the back and then toward the front. This will help to prevent irritation
• Use a system to make sure you groom every area
• When you brush around limbs, hold them at a natural angle
• Keep in mind that the hair you see on the surface is not the only hair there is. There is also an undercoat to pay attention to.
• You can be firm with your dog, but never hit him. Do remember to praise when your dog is following your orders.

There are some more advanced techniques to learn as well. When your dog has long, dense, or curly hair you should know that brushing on the surface will not get out the knots. Be sure to brush the hair that is closest to the dog’s skin.

You should start at the bottom of the back leg to lift the hair up. Brush each part of the leg, then work your way to the body and belly. Be sure to check your comb to make sure there are no hidden knots.

Be extra careful when you’re near the eyes because you wouldn’t want to damage them. The hock and stomach areas are also extra sensitive.

There are certain tools you will need to do a good job. If you have a smooth haired dog it is best to use a rubber brush to loosen the hairs. A bristle brush is great for getting rid of dead skin and improving circulation. You can even use a chamois cloth to add some shine.

Dogs with shorter coats will need a slicker brush and a bristle brush. Some with longer hair will require a comb to get out stubborn knots. Curly haired dogs will need a pin brush and comb.

There are other reasons why groom your dog as well.

1. Get Your Dog an ID Tag

One thing you need to do is give your pet an ID tag. This will state your address as well as any medical concerns people need to be aware of. If you do not have an ID tag for your pet you might have to collect them from the pound one day.

2. Sign Up For Behavior Training

Definitely enroll your pet in a behavior training class. This will ensure that no bad habits develop. You’ll be happy and maintain a large degree of control over the animal.

3. Schedule Annual Checkups

Take your dog to the vet to get a checkup once per year. There may be some things that appear normal to you that are actually very dangerous to your pet’s health.

4. Be Prepared

Always be prepared for things that can go wrong in your household. Just like you have an emergency evacuation plan for your family, you need to figure out what you would do in case your pet was trapped. It must be stressed that human safety always comes first.

5. Plan For The Future

Decide what will happen in the future. If you were to pass on you would need to know where your pet is going to go. If your pet has a godparent that is even better. In fact, if you go to the hospital or on vacation this person could be the one to care for your pet.

6. Avoid Getting Bitten

You can avoid getting bitten by your dog with proper care and technique. This is very important if you have children, as there are millions that get bitten each year. If you go to http://www.nodogbites.org you can find out more information.

7. Have Your Dog Spayed or Neutered

The best thing you can do is to have your pet neutered or spayed when they reach that age. There are even places you can go if you can’t afford the operation.

If you follow these simple rules you’re sure to have a long, happy life with your pet and you can avoid many common dog behavior problems.

There are two ways of stripping your dog – a manual method that uses scissors, or by using dog stripping tools. However, many grooming professionals prefer plucking coat with the fingers and thumb, and later use tools for refining.

Purpose of Stripping Your Dog’s Coat

• to make sure that all strands of dead hair are being removed,
• to make sure that there aren’t any dead undercoat layers,
• to make certain that the dog’s coat texture is kept in great condition,
• to make sure that color of the coat is maintained throughout the dog’s life.

Types of Dog Stripping Tools

There are various types of stripping tools available for grooming your dog. Proper coat stripping could be spread out over a period of several weeks, depending on the growth of the coat and its texture. It also depends on the climate, coat pattern, health of the dog and other varying conditions. Before you start stripping your dog, make sure that you ask a professional groomer for advice and follow those guidelines.

Here are some of the most frequently used dog stripping tools:

Dog Scissors

You can use a regular human scissors, but it is recommended that you use a scissor made for especially for dog grooming.

There are two types of scissors based on their use: ordinary clipping scissors and hair thinning shears.

Ordinary scissors are designed with jagged and sharp edges and is used to clip thin hair. Thinning shears are made especially to cut a large amount of hair, on dogs like the Pekingese or the Pomeranian.

Tips for selecting a good pair of scissors:

• Make sure the gaps are properly arranged and set,
• Both blades must make contact with each other,
• The movement should not be jerky, but smooth.
• The should only need to use minimal effort to open the scissors and the blades should not get jammed,
• Make sure that you buy one or two extra pair of scissors with different blade lengths and sharpness.

Dog Stripping Knives

These grooming tools are used to maintain difficult dogs like terriers and schnauzers. Apart from pulling the loose hair, it can also be used to effectively trim any unwanted hair.

Clippers

A dog grooming clipper is another important tool in a dog owner’s grooming toolbox. To trim your dog’s coat, a human hair clipper simply does not work, and you will need to use a clipper designed especially for dog grooming.

Clippers are available in various brands, with some of the more popular brands being Wahl, Andis, and Oster.

Both regular and professional dog clippers are available.

Professional clippers are usually long lasting and durable, but can be very expensive. Professional clippers can be used to trim and groom a number of dogs for many months.

If you are adopting an older dog then it will depend on if they were exposed to a grooming routine before you brought them home. If they weren’t, grooming may be a bit of a challenge, but you can still at least get to where they will tolerate being handled and groomed. It just requires effort and patience on your part.

If you have a young puppy, then the key will be to start teaching them about grooming as early as possible.

No One Size Fits All in Dog Grooming

There are so many factors that can make dog grooming different from dog to dog, such as size of the dog, the dog breed, their coat type, long coats versus short coats, and so on. But basic dog grooming remains pretty much the same for all dogs. No matter what type of dog you have they will need a bath, regular brushing and combing, ears cleaned, teeth brushed, and nails trimmed.

True, if you have a long-haired dog you will spend more time grooming, and getting your dog or puppy to enjoy grooming will be more of a challenge, but just remember that there are definite benefits to dog grooming. You will just need to practice more often .

Because there are tasks that you will have to perform on a regular basis, and because of the benefits, it is important that you introduce your puppy or your adult dog to grooming as soon as you can. The experience will be much more pleasant for both of you if you start early.

Groom Your Dog or Puppy Every Day

To create a positive grooming experience for both you and your dog or puppy, you must introduce her to the process slowly and often. Allow her to become familiar with all the different dog grooming tools by showing them to her one at a time.

For example, show her one of her brushes and let her sniff it for a couple seconds then reward her with a treat. Next, gently touch her with the brush and reward her with a treat again. Once she has fully accepted the brush, start by brushing her with just one stroke and then give her a treat. Repeat this process another two or three times.

She will soon realize that the brush creates a pleasant sensation for her, not to mention the treats she will be receiving. However, you will want to start phasing out the treats once you see she is allowing you to brush her without any fuss.

The key is to break down any grooming process into small steps and allow your dog or puppy to associate a positive experience with each step. Patience and repetition is important.

Another example would be bath time. Take her to where you will be grooming her and allow her to just get comfortable with being in that area before you begin.

Start a couple days before giving her a bath. Put her in a tub without water and throw in a couple toys and give her a favorite treat. Do the same thing again the following day, but this time add some water. Allow her to get used to the idea of getting wet. Then move on to getting her entire body wet and so on, and so on.

The same process can be applied to other grooming tasks. Follow the same ideas for the nail clipper, the toothbrush, and other grooming tools.

So, can your dog or puppy love dog grooming? They may not necessarily love the idea, but they can certainly learn to tolerate grooming and create a much more pleasant experience for both of you. Just spend the time getting them used to all the different tasks you will be routinely performing.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Dog Grooming Tools, or go back to the previous article, Why Groom Your Dog.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. Grooming your dog requires a good set of tools. Read the article on Chris Christensen products to see why I think you should invest in a couple of their dog grooming products.

Why Groom Your Dog

Grooming is not just about making your dog look nice and pretty by caring for their coats. There are also health, emotional, and physical benefits to good dog grooming.

Regular grooming can provide an opportunity for the following:

1. Strengthen the bond between you and your dog. The time you spend interacting with your dog as you go about your grooming tasks will serve to strengthen the bond between the two of you. As you calmly reassure her, she relaxes and you both become in tune with each other.

2. Understand your dog’s body. Many people don’t think about this, but as you groom your dog, you will become more familiar with her body. Over time you will be able tell if there is a lump that was not there before. Your dog will let you know if something is hurting her as you explore her body with your hands. You will be in a position to identify potential problems before they escalate into something more serious.

3. Remove dead hair and skin. Grooming allows you to remove dead hair and skin from your dog’s coat. This will not only improve the look of the coat, but will also improve air circulation to the skin. This is especially important during the hot months when it is hot and humid.

4. Increase blood flow to hair follicles. Grooming increases the blood flow to the dog’s hair follicles. This improves the overall health of the skin and coat.

5. Stimulates the lymphatic system. As you brush and comb your dog’s coat and inspect her body to make sure everything is fine, you are massaging the skin and coat as well. This stimulates the lymphatic system which provides additional health benefits for your dog.

6. Locate parasites. Fleas and other parasites can cause dog allergies. While grooming your dog keep an eye out for fleas and ticks and remove them right away. These parasites can cause other problems for your dog as well.

7. Check the feet. One of your grooming tasks will be to trim your dog’s nails. As you do so, inspect the pads of their feet for any potential problems.

8. Save money. Of course, if you are grooming your dog at home you will save a lot versus taking your dog to a professional groomer. But if you are not comfortable grooming your dog yourself, she will still get many of the other benefits of dog grooming.

As you can see, there are many rewards for both you and your dog when you make the time and put in the effort required to groom your dog.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Can Your Dog or Puppy Love Dog Grooming, or go back to the previous article, Basic Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. If you don’t have the essential grooming tools you can find all you need at a good online pet supply store. Click Here to check price and availability of the grooming tools you will need.

Basic Dog Grooming For Short-Haired Dogs

In general, grooming a short-haired dog will require less time and effort than grooming dogs with other types of coats. For most short-haired dogs all you have to do is brush them on a regular basis. Usually a weekly brushing with a good dog grooming brush is sufficient.

However, there are some short-haired dog breeds that are notorious shedders. For example, Labrador Retrievers are perhaps one of the worst culprits when it comes to shedding. During some parts of the year, you may have to brush their coats daily to keep all the loose hair from going all over your house.

Other short-haired breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Beagle also shed quite a lot. So do not think that just because you have a short-haired dog breed that you will escape your grooming chores.

Basic Dog Grooming For Long and Medium Coats

Dogs with long coats will require a great deal more attention when it comes to grooming them. Dogs such as the Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Afghan Hound, the Setters, and the Spaniels will need to be brushed several times weekly, or even daily.

Dogs like the Collie or the Sheltie that have a medium coat, may also have a thick double coat that needs frequent grooming to avoid matting and tangling.

If you are brushing a long coat or a medium coat, start with a good brush, such as a boar bristle brush like the IONIC Brass-Boar Bristle Palm Brush by Chris Christensen. You can also use a boar bristle and nylon bristle mixed brush. Boar bristles are good for spreading the natural oils in the dog’s coat.

Brush the coat in the direction that the hair grows. For dogs with a thick double coat, you can brush a second time. This time, brush in the opposite direction to how the hair grows, and then brush back in the way hair naturally grows.

If your dog has a long, flowing coat you can then use a good pin brush to separate out the dog’s furnishing and make sure that you remove any matted fur and tangles. The pin brush is made with metal pins that are good for separating the long hair. Do not use it on the dog’s body as the metal pins can be sharp and can scratch the skin.

Next you can use a dog comb to gently comb out the long hair.

Other Basic Dog Grooming Tasks

Besides brushing and combing your dog’s coat, you will also need to brush the teeth and trim the nails weekly.

You can use a good ear cleaner to clean the ears. There are also a variety of dental care products to help your brush your dog’s teeth and maintain proper dental health. Try to get a dog toothpaste that has chicken, beef, or peanut butter flavor. Your dog will love it and brushing the teeth will be a lot easier.

To trim your dog’s nails, you can use nail clipper or a rotary nail clipper. There are various products available to help you keep your dog’s nails in great shape.

These are the basic dog grooming tasks you will need to keep your dog looking and feeling great.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Why Groom Your Dog, or go back to the previous article, An Introduction to Good Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. Order your IONIC Brass-Boar Bristle Palm Brush by Chris Christensen today!

Some of the most common grooming tasks include:

• brushing the coat
• trimming the coat
• bathing the dog
• trimming the nails
• cleaning the ears
• brushing the teeth

The actual time and effort spent doing some of these tasks will depend largely on what type of dog you have. In general, the longer the coat, the more time you will spend on brushing the coat and and clipping the coat. Short-haired dogs will usually take less time to groom.

A dog that is groomed regularly tends to be radiant and full of energy and spunk. A dog whose grooming needs are neglected tend to look dull, dirty, and lethargic. How the dog’s coat is kept is a good indicator of the overall health and condition of a dog.

Note: A dull and dry coat with flaky skin may be a sign of potential long-term health problems and skin infections.

Good Dog Grooming Identifies Potential Problems

Dogs are prone to skin infections, cuts, sores, and scratches. They are also likely to be bothered by fleas, ticks, mites, and other pets, which can lead to dog allergies. When you maintain your dog’s coat through good dog grooming, it is easy to identify any signs of these common problems that can affect your dog. Once you know that something is wrong, you can address the issue before it leads to more serious health problems.

Younger dogs are less like to develop lesions, lumps, and tumors. However, with age these things may become more of a concern. That is why it is important to groom dogs both old and young alike.

Benefits of Good Dog Grooming

There are various benefits of regular dog grooming such as:

• a healthy coat and skin
• it creates a special bond between dog and owner
• prevents the occurrence of fleas and other parasites
• helps to eliminate doggy odors

How we groom our dogs says a lot about how we treat our pets in general. The overall health and condition or our four-legged friends depend a lot on what we choose to do. Spend the time grooming your dog and you will treasure a long and happy relationship with your pet.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Basic Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

This is the first article in an in depth series on good dog grooming. Follow along via our RSS feed or by filling out the form below to get updates.

To get the job done properly, you may need to buy different types of combs, each designed for a special purpose. They can be purchased in various styles and sizes, with different tooth lengths and spacing.

Here are a few of the products used regularly:

Metal Comb For Dogs

A regular metal comb should have widely spaced teeth on one end and more finely spaced teeth at the other end. These are great because they can work on most types of dog coats.

Start with small sections of the coat by using the widely spaced end first. Comb in the direction the hair grows. Repeat the process with the narrower end.

Dematting Comb For Dogs

These are used to remove tangles and matted fur from the coat. They have sharp, wide spaced teeth designed to untangle the hair. Be careful when using this particular type because you can easily hurt your dog’s skin with the sharp teeth.

Try to hold the hair from the roots when you are detangling the matted fur, if not it hurts your dog when you are combing through the mats.

There are some models with replaceable blades that are recommended if you plan on using your dematting comb on a regular basis.

Rubber Curry Comb For Dogs

These are great for massaging the skin, removing debris and loose, dead hair from the coats of short-haired breeds.

Flea Comb For Dogs

A flea comb has very finely spaced teeth that can remove fleas and their eggs from the dog’s coat. Be sure to clean the comb in a bowl of soap water after each pass through your dog’s coat. This will remove any fleas from the comb and dispose of them in the soapy water.

Choosing the best comb for dogs

Some combs come with handles, while many others do not have them. For the best dog combs, you may prefer to buy one that has stainless steel or a brass coated handle.  Try to get one with spring tempered teeth and rounded tips to prevent damage to the skin.

Fine toothed varieties usually work great on the surface of the skin to remove parasites.  However, going too deep may damage the surface skin of the dog.  This makes it easier for germs and fungus to start an infection.

After combing your dog’s coat, you may need to make sure that there are no scratches or wounds on the skin. If you see any wounds or scratches, be certain to apply a good antiseptic solution.

Before buying a comb for your dog, consider these things…

• The edge of the teeth is not very sharp
• The comb has different spaced teeth on both sides
• The teeth are firm and well laid
• The comb is sturdy with a steel or brass handle
• Buy and extra set of combs

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Go back to the previous article, Dog Grooming Brush.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. Get your dog grooming combs today. With your new set of combs your dog will have a nice healthy coat.