Grooming your dog at home between salon visits

Regular at-home grooming keeps your dog comfortable and means fewer trips to the professional groomer. It also gives you a weekly chance to check for lumps, cuts and skin problems while they are still easy to fix.

The weekly basics

• Brush the coat a few times a week — more often for long or double coats that mat easily.
• Check the ears for redness, wax or a bad smell, and wipe them gently with a vet-approved cleaner.
• Check the paws and between the toes for matted fur, seeds or cracked pads.

Nails and baths

Trim nails little and often, cutting only the clear tip and stopping before the quick — the pink part you can see. If you are unsure, ask your groomer or vet to show you once. Bath your dog only when they actually need it, using a pet shampoo, because over-bathing strips the natural oils from the coat.

If your dog dislikes being handled, keep sessions short and end on a positive note with a treat. A calm dog makes the groomer's job easier too.