How to Take Care of a Dog Coat

Some dog coats are naturally shiny, and some need a little help. Taking care of your dog’s coat is more important than you may think. Here’s how to keep your canine’s coat healthy and shiny.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• An extra person

Instructions

1. Concentrate on good canine nutrition. Getting your dog’s coat to shine starts with good nutrition. Spend some time researching the best dog food. Look for foods with a digestibility rate of 82 to 86 percent. This isn’t always disclosed on packaging, so you may need to call the manufacturer.
2. Give your dog weekly coat check-ups. To make the examination easier, ask someone to help you. Do a head to toe examination, looking for fleas and burrs. These little pests can prevent the dog from having a healthy coat and are a health problem.
3. Find a good shampoo. Look for a shampoo designed for dogs. You can even find shampoos specifically designed for short- or long-haired dogs
4. Find a good conditioner. If you want a shiny dog coat, consider conditioner. Look for a formulation especially for dogs. It may be tempting to pamper your canine with your favorite brand, but human products can be too harsh for dogs.
5. Brush your dog weekly. Brushing your canine spreads the oil, resulting in a healthy coat. If your canine has long hair, brush twice a week. Shorter hair can get away with brushing once weekly.

Tips & Warnings

• Bathing needs may vary. Many dog owners wonder how often they should bath their dog. The answer depends on the breed. Some dogs do fine with a weekly or monthly bath, whereas others should be bathed semi-annually. If your dog has a dull dog coat, you may be bathing him too often. If you’re bathing once a month, try every other month. If you don’t see a change, try quarterly. Once you find the right length of time, his coat will start to look better.
• Don’t be afraid to use the blow dryer. The first time you use the blow dryer on your dog’s coat, the dog may have put up a fight. Don’t let this scare you off. Be persistent and, in time, your dog will get used to the dryer.
• If you opt to trim your dog’s nails, always use canine trimmers. If you don’t, there is a huge risk of harming your dog.