How to Groom a Small, Noisy Dog

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How to Groom a Small, Noisy Dog

Medium

15 - 30 Minutes

1 Week

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Introduction

No matter how much you try to train some dogs, they just can't seem to stop barking when they are excited or agitated. Which of course means that little Tiger is probably going to let the whole world know how he feels about the idea of being kept in one spot long enough for you to groom him. For Tiger, grooming is just another kind of game, one that requires plenty of barking and growling. Rather than trying to put a complete stop to all of his fussing, why not put it to good use instead?

Dog's Perspective

Before you decide to give Tiger a weekly or monthly bath, you should check with his vet to see how often it is safe to bath him. Not all dogs should be bathed on a monthly basis, for some this will strip their skin and coats of the natural oils needed to protect their coat and skin. As for the barking, it may just be his way of letting everyone know how happy he is about hanging out with you.

The Exercise Before Grooming Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Shampoo

Scissors

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Dremel

Nail File

Towel

Toothbrush

Step

Burn off the excess energy

Since Tiger is a wound up little fella, one of the best things you can do to make each grooming session go easier, is to take him for a nice long walk. Let him go potty, sniff around, and generally burn off as much of that crazy energy as possible. But, do not exhaust him as this can be bad for his health.

Step

Time to hit the bath

Run Tiger a nice warm bath, keep the temperature tepid (baby bath warm) to protect his skin from burns. Using a vet-approved shampoo, scrub every inch of his body, making sure you get his tail, and around his face, but do not get shampoo in his ears or eyes as it can be quite painful. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry. Time for a short break and a treat.

Step

Prep for grooming

Set up your grooming station with a grooming table (with restraints), the tools you plan to use, some treats, and if necessary a toy to keep Tiger occupied. Bring Tiger in, place him on the table and secure him in the restraints. Give him a treat and plenty of time to get used to the tools before starting to use them on him.

Step

Step by step

Starting with his head and face, brush his hair and use shears to trim the hair back from his eyes and nostrils. Might as well trim his beard while you are here. Then, following the direction in which his hair is growing, brush his neck and chest, his back and sides. Take a break and give him a treat, before brushing his rump and tail. Have him roll over so you can brush paws, legs, and belly.

Step

Trim those long claws

If his nails are long, this is a good time to trim them using the appropriate nail cutters and grind them smooth. This will save many an arm or leg, not to mention your floors and furniture.

Step

On to those pearly whites

Even dogs need to have their teeth brushed. Using toothpaste and a toothbrush made for dogs and vet-approved, brush his teeth, starting with his molars and finishing with his front teeth. Be sure to get uppers and lowers, gums, and those molars that look like they are halfway down his throat. Give him a dental chew stick as a reward and you are all done.

The Keep Occupied Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Dremel

Nail File

Step

Collect your supplies

For this, you will need the following: the right brush for your dog's type of coat (long hair – pin brush, short hair – slicker brush), treats, maybe a new toy to use as a distraction, shears, clippers, and plenty of patience.

Step

Create your workspace

Find a quiet room in your house, preferably one with an easy to clean floor. Set up the grooming table, add the tool and treats and one dog. Secure him in the safety restraints and give him plenty of time to get used to everything. Once he settles down, go ahead and give him a treat.

Step

The grooming process

Now that you have your furry client all settled down, go ahead and start brushing him from the top down. Use short, gentle strokes, always brushing with the direction in which his hair is growing. Trim around his eyes, ears, nostrils, and chin. Then, as long as he hasn't started barking, give him a treat. If he starts to make noise, take a break, wait for him to stop again and then give him the treat.

Step

Around and over

Brush his back and sides, then your pup's backside before having him lie down so you can brush his belly, legs, and paws.

Step

Trim those nails

Using a pair of nail clippers, cut his nails to a point just in front of the quick and then grind or file them smooth. Give him a nice treat along with plenty of praise and you are all done.

Caution & Considerations

When taking your dog out for a pre-grooming walk, be sure it is long enough to tire him out, but not so long that it exhausts him, this could be dangerous to his health.
Be sure you have a large supply of your pup's favorite treats on hand.
The younger your pup is when you start working on grooming with him, the easier it will be for you to get him used to the process.
If you use toys to help keep him distracted, try swapping them out each week to keep your dog from getting bored.
Take your time, make it fun, and let your pup set the pace. Things will go much easier if you do.

Conclusion

Just because your little buddy is a noisy pooch doesn't mean you should use this as an excuse not to groom him. Instead, put all of that energy to work for you, making the grooming sessions easier, not harder. Use grooming time as bonding time and make it fun for both of you.

How to Groom a Small, Noisy Dog

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Exercise Before Grooming Method

The Keep Occupied Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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