posted 05-17-2003 10:30 AM         

It is best to start grooming when your pet is still young to get it accustomed to your handling. Regular handling will not bring out negative behaviors like aggressiveness as it is not intimidated by handling. As the owner, you need to groom your pet for its hygiene. Professional grooming can be done occasionally when you think there is a need for it.

You need to brush and comb away the dead hairs before bathing your pet as water creates tight matts in the loose hairs. Trim the nails, clean your pet's eyes, ears and teeth.

Pets with long coat require brushing almost daily; depending on the condition of its coat. If you exercise your dog in the garden, it is likely to get tangles in its hair. You need to comb out its tangles immediately after exercise to avoid the tangles becoming mats. Brush your pet from top to bottom. Use the right brush for your pet's coat. Get advice from the pet shop if you're unsure. You can cut away hair around the eyes, ears, muzzle and tail regions. Check that your animal has no inflammation of the skin. Check its feet pads to remove any trapped mud or stones.

Different breeds of dogs require different frequencies for bathing. Before bathing, it is essential to brush and comb the coat to remove dead hairs and mats as water will tighten mats. Avoid wetting your pet's ears, eyes and mouth. Give your pet a double bath to rinse off shampoo thoroughly. Towel dry your pet before using a hair dryer on it. Clip the nails regularly as long nails make walking painful and difficult for the dog.

You should clean your dog's ears to prevent them being dirtied with ear wax. Use medicated ear powder to dust its ears weekly. Some dogs have excess hairs growing at the opening of the ear canal. These can be trimmed or plucked out gently. Apply medicated ear powder to prevent infections.

Whenever you notice eye mucus on your pet's eyes, clean it away with a damp wad of cotton wool. Your pet needs you to care for its dental hygiene too. Use special dog toothpaste and a soft toothbrush to get rid of the tartar. Smaller pets like rodents cannot take your brushing, so leave them out. Give them a hard diet with plenty of chewing to clean their teeth. For coat trimming, it is better to leave it to a professional groomer as it is a difficult job.