How to Groom Your Short Haired Dog

Many people think short haired dogs need no grooming; wrong! Even short haired dogs need to be kept clean and healthy. Granted short haired dogs are easier to maintain, but they still need regular grooming to keep their coat and skin in great condition. Here is your step by step guide.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good quality DOG shampoo
• Warm water
• Cotton balls
• Q-tips
• Sharp nail clippers
• Quick stop
• 1 Washcloth
• 1 thirsty towel

1. Step one: Your dog’s nails. Obviously, your pets nails can cause you pain, but were you aware that their nails also cause them pain? Cutting their nails can be stressful for you and your dog, but it’s a necessary evil if you own a dog. Whatever you do, don’t clip too far and cut the quick, which is the blood vessel inside the nail.
   
   If clipping your dog’s nails makes him nervous, put a little peanut butter in a Kong dog toy and put it where he can lick at it while you clip his nails. It works well to distract him and I’ve never met a dog who didn’t like peanut butter.
   
   If clipping your dog’s nails makes you nervous, put a little peanut butter, (no just kidding!) actually, all you need to do is barely shave the tips of the nails off with the nail clippers. Make sure the clippers are sharp so they don’t pinch the nail. After clipping the nails, walk your dog on concrete to file any sharp edges off the nails. Shaving the tips every two weeks will keep them from getting over grown in the first place. If his nails are greatly over grown already, shaving the tips will eventually work, but you may want to invest in a trip to the vet to have them cut off right and let you see where they should be.
   
   If you clip too short and the nail bleeds, use Quick stop, per package directions to stop the bleeding.

2. Step two: Clean your dog’s ears: Using a little peroxide on a cotton ball, wipe out your dog’s ears. For the crevices you can use a Q-tip, but be careful not to put it down into the dog’s ear too far.

3. Step three: Place your dog in an empty tub with the water running, but already adjusted to a warm temperature. A dog’s internal temperature usually around 100 degrees, so be sure the water is warm. Wet the dog thoroughly and make sure all of the dog’s hair is wet.
   
   Add the shampoo in a line from the top of his head to the base of his tail. Massage the shampoo into the dog’s coat, all the way down to his skin. Start with his ears, scrub his neck, his shoulder blades and then his front legs. Scrub his back, sides, and belly. Move to his hips, rear legs and genitals. Using a wet wash cloth, wash your dog’s face and rinse it but don’t get soap in his eyes, nose or mouth.

4. Step four: Rinse the dog, beginning with his head, using the washcloth to do around his ears, wiping the soap away from his face and ears.
   
   Spray or pore water from his neck to his tail, then down over his sides. Use the washcloth to rinse his belly, then rinse his rear and back legs. Make sure you remove all the soap. Often the rinse takes longer than the shampoo.

5. Step Five: hold up a towel, or draw the shower curtain to block the dog and gently blow in his ear, saying ssssshhhaakke, shake it off. He will eventually learn to shake on command!
   
   Towel him off to get him as dry as you possibly can. Allow him to air dry the rest of the way, as he runs crazily around the house until you think you must have washed his brain down the drain.

Tips & Warnings

• Got a stinky dog and no time for a bath? Mix one part vinegar to two parts water and sponge it on the dog from his head to his tail, and from his head to his feet. You can use a clean sponge to wipe off and further dilute the vinegar smell, but it will go away on it's own in a few minutes. This old groomer's trick makes your dog shine like nothing you've ever seen before!