One of the most exciting experiences in dog owning is when you have to spend time making your dog look great. However, for some, dog grooming is a daunting task. Imagine you have to cut, trim, bathe, nail cut, and brush the dog. You don’t even have the time to do them on yourself! Well, people who treat dog grooming this way are certainly those who do not take responsibility on their pet. Of course you are not one of these people, are you not?

To be able to keep your dog in its perfect and groomed condition, the following are some helpful guides you should consider:

Understand – If you previously own a Labrador and shifted to a Tibetan Terrier, then you have to realize that you need to do some grooming routine. Why? Because different dogs require different grooming techniques. What you should do is to understand the breed of your dog. Learn about its history and characteristics. Then, you should be able to know from this information the proper grooming techniques you should do as well as the right living environment it deserves.

Prepare – There are certain breeds that require frequent grooming. There are some breeds that require a once a month bathing. There are some breeds that require everyday coat brushing. These things must be anticipated. There is no better way to fail your dog grooming by not preparing for it. From this important information, you should be able to plan, prepare, and allocate a time where you can bring your dog to a dog grooming shop. Or, make a schedule on when to groom your dog on your own.

Invest – Taking care of a dog can be comparable to taking care of a baby (of course you get 4 legs instead of 2 among lots of other things). You need to provide full attention during the first months and constant care on the following years. Along with this is the fact that you should invest on tools and dog supply that your dog needs to maintain a healthy living. Tools such as toenail clippers, brushes, combs, de-matting tools, dryers, shampoo and conditioner, flea removal and dog food among other things. Allocating a budget and investing on these things is very important in dog grooming and keeping your dog healthy.

Learn – Grooming your dog does not stop once you follow the things given above, you should improve your knowledge about your dog and try to learn more things and techniques on how to properly groom your dog. You can buy books or read articles about how to groom your dog.

Groom – After you have understood your dog, prepared yourself, invested on the tools and supply you need, and learned more about the particular grooming requirement of your dog, then, it is time for you to do some dog grooming.

All these constitute to one thing: taking good care of your dog. You have to remember that the characteristic of the owner can manifest on the way the dog is groomed. Many would agree to this. And you should be as well. If you see a dog with mats everywhere, you often regard the owner of that dog to be irresponsible, right? So better make sure that you give proper care for your dog at the same time, be mindful of the things that are needed to keep your dog in good shape.

Check out some great recipes:

Dog Cookies With Chicken Broth

Dog Cookies With Chicken Broth 2 cups whole wheat flour 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup sunflower seeds — shelled 2 tablespoons corn oil 1/2 cup chicken broth 2 eggs 1/4 cup low-fat milk 1 egg — beaten Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large... [Read more]

Dog Biscuits

Dog Biscuits 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup dry milk — powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon brown sugar 6 tablespoons beef fat1 egg — beaten 1/2 cup ice water 1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a cookie sheet.... [Read more]

Canine Cookies #2

Canine Cookies #2 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk 1 egg — well beaten 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 cups wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion salt 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar 1/2 cup water 6 tablespoons gravy 2 jars baby food,... [Read more]

Cheesy Carrot Muffins

Cheesy Carrot Muffins 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 cup cheddar cheese — Shredded 1 cup carrot — grated 2 large eggs 1 cup milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin or line it with... [Read more]

Bow Wow Biscuits

Bow Wow Biscuits 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup powdered milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 8 tablespoons bacon grease — or margarine 1 egg — beaten 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 tablespoons beef broth —... [Read more]

Dog Cookies

Dog Cookies 1 c Beef, chicken, or vegetable stock 1 c Bread or all-purpose flour 1 c Whole wheat or rye (or other-dark) flour 1 c Bulgar wheat 1/4 c Non-fat dry milk powder 1/2 ts Salt 1 1/2 ts Yeast Use dough cycle. Roll dough to 1/4″ thickness.... [Read more]

Chow Chow Chicken

Ingredients: 2 chicken pieces (breats, thighs, whatever’s preferable) 3 carrots, peeled and cut in half 1 stick celery, sliced into chunks 2 small potaotes, peeled & cubed 2 cups rice, uncooked Directions: Place chicken pieces in large pot. Cover... [Read more]

Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits

Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits 2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water 1 teaspoon salt — optional 1 egg 1 cup chicken broth — slightly warmed 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup rye flour — optional 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 cup cracked wheat 1... [Read more]

Breath Busters Biscuits

Breath Busters Biscuits 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 1/2 cups Bisquick ® baking mix 1/2 cup mint leaves — loosely packed 1/4 cup milk 4 tablespoons margarine1 egg 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup — or corn syrup Combine all ingredients in... [Read more]

Bacon Bites

Bacon Bites 3 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup milk 1 egg 1/4 cup bacon grease — or vegetable oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 4 slices bacon — crumbled 1/2 cup cold water Mix ingredients together thoroughly. Roll out on a floured surface to 1/2... [Read more]