The Ultimate Guide to Dog Grooming for Beginners

A free, downloadable guide for dog grooming success

We know that dog grooming can be confusing at first, but you can easily learn how to do it yourself with a little guidance. 

To help - we’ve created a complete guide to dog grooming for beginners. A comprehensive, downloadable guide that’s packed full of useful information and expert tips to put into practice at home.

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  • Who is this dog grooming guide for?

    Who is this dog grooming guide for?

    • You’re a new dog owner and not sure where to start
    • You're looking to improve your dog's wellness
    • You want to learn more about grooming dogs at home
    • You know the basics but want to improve your dog grooming skills
  • In this dog grooming guide you’ll discover:

    In this dog grooming guide you’ll discover:

    • Why, where and when you should groom your dog
    • Dog grooming equipment list for all breeds
    • Detailed advice for grooming and bathing success
    • Sensitive areas for dogs that you need to be mindful of
    • How to keep your dog’s skin and coat clean and healthy
    • Dog health check sheets to be completed at home
    • Advice for choosing a professional dog groomer

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You might be waiting to welcome your dog home, or perhaps it’s your first day with your gorgeous new pup! Becoming a pet parent is a hugely exciting time, but it can be daunting too.

There’s a lot to think about to ensure you’re providing the best care possible for your dog. Dog grooming is an area that can often get overlooked, with many people underestimating the importance of coat maintenance and the need to keep pups groomed and feeling their best. Grooming is essential to your dog's wellness, so it's great to learn as much about it as you can!

It’s down to you to make sure that you’re taking your responsibilities to care for your dog seriously - cleanliness couldn’t be more important to the overall health and happiness of our four-legged friends. 

What are dog grooming essentials?

Investing in the right dog grooming tools will make it easy for you and fun for your pup! Having the right equipment to hand helps to ensure you’re providing the best care possible, as well as making your dog’s grooming routine more enjoyable.

With so many dog grooming products out there, it can be hard to differentiate between valuable necessities and gimmicks. The supplies you need will again depend on your dog’s coat type. We outline the different tools needed in our guide, including what to use to tackle smelly dogs!

Dog Grooming FAQs:

Get the answers you need to help put your mind at ease. To understand more about grooming dogs at home, simply download our guide on dog grooming for beginners below.

Why is it important to groom my dog?

There are so many reasons why grooming your dog is important. Regular bathing and grooming helps to prevent dogs’ coats from getting dirty and matted, which can have negative impacts on the skin beneath. Dog grooming at home is important for: 

1. Checking for lumps, bumps or abnormalities 

2. Monitoring your dog’s health and wellness

3. Checking for parasites like fleas and ticks

4. Keeping their coat tangle free and healthy 

5. Minimising skin disorders and coat shedding 

If carried out correctly, dog grooming can be a great way to relax your dog, and bond with them too.

How often should I groom my dog?

The frequency of grooming depends on a number of factors, including your dog’s breed, age and coat type. Many people are surprised to find out that dog grooming should be incorporated into their weekly routine. 

Our complete guide to grooming for beginners details how often you should pamper your pup depending on its breed and hair type.

What is the difference between bathing and grooming?

Dog grooming refers to any activity that involves a dog's hygienic care. Bathing forms an essential part of dog grooming, which also includes caring for a dog’s skin, coat, nails and hair. While grooming covers the wider processes of dog care, bathing specifically helps to ensure your dog stays squeaky clean after being outdoors.

The term dog grooming also refers to an important professional service provided by pet groomers, which tend to be more focused on a dog’s appearance. Some dog grooming services include: 

1. Cutting hair 

2. Clipping nails 

3. Styling fur 

4. Shampooing 

5. Cleaning ears

We know that choosing a dog groomer can be tricky, which is why we’ve included a section of our guide to help you understand what to consider when finding the best professional groomer for your dog’s needs.

How often should dogs be bathed?

Learning how to properly bathe a dog is a skill that takes time and practice. You might have heard that some dogs don’t tend to naturally enjoy bath time, but there are steps you can take to keep this routine stress-free! 

If you’ve never bathed a dog before, you’ve probably got a tonne of questions about how to get it right. Before you dive in, it’s important to understand how often your dog should be bathed, where bathtime should take place, and when.

In our complete guide to dog grooming for beginners, we explain how frequently you should bathe your dog with grooming products. We also reveal how to slowly introduce your dog to the concept of bathing, step-by-step.

Can you use shampoo on dogs?

Using human shampoo to bathe your dog is not recommended over the long term. While it’s unlikely to cause any harm if used as a one-off, human shampoo can contain fragrances, with pH levels that are not suitable for dog skin or fur. 

There’s nothing wrong with an occasional pampering session - so long as you use a high-quality, chemical free dog shampoo that’s been specifically formulated for their skin and fur.

Ready to learn more?

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