Dog Grooming: Mistakes People Make

A clean and healthy dog is a happy dog. There is no denying that all pet parents want their pooches to be hygienic and in good health but to achieve that, you need to be regular and consistent with dog grooming, whether it is at home or a professional place. At the same time, it is equally important to be aware of the mistakes you should not be making while grooming your dog. Here in this blog, we cover the mistakes you should avoid while grooming your dog.

Not Washing Off the Shampoo Properly

Most people prefer bathing their dogs at home as it is a good way to bond with their furry friends. As much as bathing your dog is an enjoyable process for you and your dog, you must ensure that you have the right dog grooming products, that is shampoo and conditioner as per your dog’s coat and then, most importantly, applying the shampoo in a limited quantity followed by washing off the shampoo properly. Many pet parents rinse the shampoo with water in a hurry, not realising that without proper rinsing, the residue of the shampoo gets left behind on the dog’s coat which causes more harm than good. If you miss this step during dog grooming, the shampoo residue will cause skin irritation and unnecessary shedding.

Proper rinsing can be achieved by using a jet or shower with medium pressure. Make sure it is not too high as your dog can get hurt. You must also ensure that the water is lukewarm - neither too hot nor too cold.

Pro Tip: It is always better to opt for professional services when you want to bathe your dog. Get in touch with our groomers at Zigly, who provide home service and will bathe your dog most professionally within the comforts of your home! Your dog will get salon-like treatment at home!

Putting Soap on the Inner Ears

Another common mistake pet parents make while grooming dogs at home is applying soap on the inside of the ears. Dogs' ears are very delicate and require proper care if you do not want them to become a breeding hub for bacteria and germs. Pet parents think that washing the insides of the ear canal and applying soap or shampoo will help fight off infection, but the opposite happens. Any synthetic liquid and water can irritate the insides of the ear and pave the way for nasty ear infections. It can also cause swelling. The nose, eyes and ears should be dry and spilling water on them must be avoided.

If you wish to clean your dog’s ears, you must use a mild ear cleaner and apply it on a cotton bud to remove any dirt from the insides of the ears.

Frequent Bathing

Since we are talking about the do’s and don'ts of bathing your dog as it forms the foundation of dog grooming, bathing your dog frequently is not healthy, nor is it required. A dog’s coat is gifted with natural oils - which it needs to retain to maintain healthy skin and coat. If you bathe your dog too frequently, no matter which dog grooming products you use, it can rob the coat and skin of its natural oils. Excessive bathing or shampooing causes the coat to dry out and often worsens the present coat conditions. Shedding, dry hair, damaged or irritated skin is common conditions caused by frequent bathing. A dog must be bathed only once a month and should not be dried with human blow dryers as they can harm the skin.

Pro Tip: It is best to book a monthly appointment to bathe your dog with professional services, as they will bathe your dog the right way and dry the coat and skin with utmost care and love. Our groomers at ZIgly, carry out the entire process of bathing and drying your dog within the comforts of your home!

Brushing Wet Hair

A dog can get wet during any activity apart from just bathing. It could be accidental rain during a walk, a long, dirty run in the garden, jumping in a puddle or a nice swim. We understand that it is perfectly natural to want to brush your dog’s hair with a dog comb or a dog brush to get the coat back into shape. Many pet parents start brushing their dog’s coat right after a bath just because they do not have the time to wait for the coat to dry out first. This is a prevalent mistake that should be stopped immediately. Brushing your dog’s wet coat as a ritual of dog grooming is wrong. Wet hair tends to clump together and falls off. If your dog has long hair, brushing it while it is wet will only make any matts or knots worse. The right time to brush a dog’s coat is when it is absolutely dry.

Cutting Nails Roughly

While most dog grooming kits include dog nail clippers, cutting a dog’s nails can be a little difficult for pet parents. This is because dogs do not stay still while giving their paws to their handlers. The constant fidgeting during the trimming of nails can also lead to small accidents. That is why it is important to follow all precautions while giving your dog’s nails trim. You must also ensure that the nail clippers you use are not dull as they can crush the nail. It makes the process of trimming nails difficult and hurts the dog.

Pro Tip: New pet parents should seek professional help from dog groomers or vets in cutting nails as it is difficult initially. Identifying the quick of the nail takes time, and cutting nails at the wrong angle can lead to bleeding. You can book a grooming session with Zigly, where groomers will groom your dog thoroughly within the comforts of your home!

Shaving Extremely Close to the Skin

Dogs with long coats or long hair require more grooming than others. One of the important dog grooming tips to be followed is being cautious while shaving the dog’s hair. You can cause a razor burn on your dog’s skin if you cut the hair too close to the skin. These burns are susceptible to infection if not treated on time and cause discomfort and pain to the dog. Before each grooming session, it is helpful to ensure that you have sharp new clippers as the chances of injury are less with sharp blades.

There is no doubt that dog grooming is a great way to ensure that your dog is healthy if it is done the right way. Avoid making these mistakes, and you will see changes in your dog’s coat and overall health in no time! Feel free to contact our Pawsome People at Zigly if you have any more queries about the right way of grooming a dog at home or if you want to book an at-home grooming session!