The importance of grooming a dog really can’t be overstated. There’s a saying when it comes to horses that a good grooming is worth a good feed and the same is probably true when it comes to dogs. Grooming your dog is good for his health and it’s something that has to be done regularly.

 

Just as you feel better when you are well-groomed, your dog feels better when he is well-groomed, too. Have you ever noticed a difference in how your dog behaves after he’s had a bath? Doesn’t your dog hold his head a little higher and walk a little more proudly after he’s been groomed. Dogs seem to take as much pride in their appearance as people do. That’s one very good reason why you should groom your dog.

 

When your dog is well-groomed it’s easier to think highly of him. And, when you think highly of him it’s easier to love him. Groom your dog to show him that you care about him. And, while you’re at it you can also see that he gets his flea treatment and his heartworm preventive. All of these things seem to go together and they depend on respecting your dog and keeping him well-groomed.

 

When you don’t groom your dog -- when you allow him to become matted, let his nails grow too long, don’t clean his ears, and so on -- you are much less likely to want to spend time with him. Your dog can sense that you don’t care for him.

 

 

If you simply take the time to do the basic grooming that every dog needs, you will have a much better looking and happier dog. And, you will have a dog that you will enjoy spending time with. You’ll want to hug that good looking dog and get doggy kisses from him.

 

When you groom your dog you’ll also be able to check him for any kind of abrasions or lumps that he may have developed since the last time he was groomed. If you do this regularly you can catch health problems before they can become serious. Grooming your dog is an important part of preventive veterinary medicine.

 

The importance of grooming a dog also lies in the way that it encourages you and your dog to bond together. The time you spend with each other while you groom your dog is quality time. Your dog looks to you to take care of him and you are giving him the love and attention that he needs. What could be more important than that when it comes to your relationship with each other?

 

Grooming your dog also increases your dog’s circulation with regular brushing. It soothes him when he’s upset. Grooming your dog can also soothe you. Grooming should be a relaxing activity, not something that upsets you or your dog. If the two of you are getting upset with each other when you’re grooming then you should find a new way to approach grooming.

 

Spending time grooming your dog can also include taking care of his ears and teeth -- both of which can be problem areas for many dogs. If you clean your dog’s ears and teeth weekly then you can avoid many longterm problems such as ear infections and gingivitis. Ear infections often occur as the result of not cleaning the ears. Problems with the teeth can begin to show up in dogs as young as two or three years old. By the time a dog is in his senior years he may be unable to eat his food because of bad teeth -- a problem which could have easily been prevented with regular brushing.

 

Grooming your dog doesn’t have to be a chore. If you or your dog dreads the grooming session then try to change the mood. Try to do small parts of the grooming job at a time and praise your dog lavishly for participating. Give him lots of treats for everything he does. For instance, spend some time just brushing your dog and then tell him what a great dog he is! You don’t have to do all of the grooming at one time. You don’t have to do the parts that make your dog anxious or which could lead to a fight. Do the fun parts and reward your dog. Then, later, you can work through the more difficult things in very small steps so they aren’t so overwhelming.

 

If your dog hates having his nails done, for example, try to do just one nail and then give him lots of praise. Give him some treats for cooperating with having just one nail trimmed. Try to do the whole paw and then take a break. It’s much less stressful for both of you if you approach grooming in these small steps. Gradually you will be able to do more in each session, but there’s no need to try to do everything at one time when you first start. It’s far more important for you and your dog to have goodwill toward each other.

 

Try to find reasons to give your dog treats throughout the grooming session. Give him lots of praise for everything he does. And take lots of little breaks. Do things in small steps. You don’t even have to do all of your grooming in one day! What an idea. What’s the rush? If you remove the time pressure and stop feeling like you have to do everything at one time, grooming can become a lot more relaxed for both you and your dog. Instead, focus on trying to make grooming fun.

 

 

The importance of grooming a dog comes from knowing that you are doing your very best to take care of him and that it shows when you look at your dog. You and your dog can be very happy together, even if you don’t like grooming very much. It’s good for both of you.