10 Common Dog Grooming Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Dog grooming is usually a very challenging task for every dog parent. However, if you unknowingly make mistakes, it can become an even worse one.

There’s a good reason why dog groomers are so well-paid and sought after. If you want to save money by grooming your puppy yourself, you should learn and put in a lot of effort. There are a few mistakes you should try to steer clear of.

Not training your dog well

You must train your dog to be groomed. This way, the process will be less painful for both of you. Besides, you don’t want your puppy to feel anxious or get hurt in the process!

This is why you should make sure that you train your dog to feel comfortable being touched on the entire body and to not be scared of equipment that makes noise. Moreover, you should ensure that they feel okay with other people’s touch, since one day you may need to use the services of a groomer.

Not brushing the fur before getting it wet

Dogs can have a bad hair day, too! So getting their fur wet without brushing it can cause a whole lot of pain and discomfort. Especially prone to this are the big furballs with long hair. Brushing before washing will remove any dead hair and lower the chances of discomfort.

Not brushing the fur after bathtime

It goes without saying that you should also brush the dog’s hair after a bath. It is important because even after a thorough brush beforehand, there can still be some dead hair tangled up.

Not grooming during the cold months

A lot of pup parents are afraid of their pups being cold after a haircut in the winter months. However thoughtful this may seem, it has a lot of negative results in the long run. Not to mention that the few inches of fur won’t help with staying warm. This is why it is important to at least trim and thoroughly brush and wash your dog’s hair.

Inconsistency

We aren’t telling you to do a full groom of your dog every few weeks. However, it is very important that you maintain the grooming habits of your dog. This is why you should at the very least brush it often so that it maintains the habit and doesn’t get stressed out during your next grooming session.

Not being thorough enough

It isn’t very hard to brush your dog’s back. However, when it comes to the rest of the body, it often gets forgotten. Unfortunately, these are all places where pests and parasites usually latch on. This is why thorough cleaning and brushing of these areas is incredibly important.

Using the wrong equipment for nail clipping

Cutting a pup’s nails can be a challenge for any parent, especially if it hasn’t been properly trained. This is why you should go at it slowly and with lots of patience. Another important aspect is to use the proper equipment and make sure it is well-sharpened. If you are unsure of how to do it, however, you should consult your groomer or vet.

Shaving too low

Shaving too low can also be a problem. If the blades are dull they can leave razor burn which in turn can get infected if it doesn’t get treated. Make sure that your equipment is well-sharpened, clean and that you don’t cut too low, to avoid issues.

Shampoo in the eyes

If you have ever gotten shampoo in your eyes, you know how unpleasant it can be. And while most newer shampoos are made in a way that is safe for eye contact, they still cause stress. This can make bathtime a pain to deal with. Work slowly and carefully to avoid causing discomfort for your pup and yourself.

Letting the pup outside after bathtime

For one reason or another, our pups get the zoomies after bathtime, regardless of whether they have been dried off or not. However tempting, you should avoid letting them out of the house in situations like this, because they can roll in dirt, mud, and a lot of other things. Then you’ll have to repeat the grooming all over again.

What are some mistakes with grooming you have made?