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Dog Grooming 101
 Start Early! If you begin grooming early on in your dogs life you will be thankful in the years to come. It is critical for any dog owner to get their dog used to being touched al over, this will help build trust between you and will make grooming and subsequent vet visits a lot more manageable. It is also important to have your vet check your dogs ears and paws for foxtails, and teeth for plaque.
Basic Ear Maintenance! Check your dogs ears weekly for parasites, and gently clean ears with 4 Paws Ear Wash Cleaner, 4 oz.  using a cotton ball, (no Q-Tips). Doing this weekly eliminates ear wax, odors, prevents infections, and also heals abrasions, promoting healthy new cell formation. Also, certain dog breeds, like Shih-Tzus need to have the hair growing in their ears plucked. Please consult your vet to find out if you should pluck your dogs ear hair.
Basic Tooth Brushing! Dogs, like people, need to maintain proper dental care. Caring for dog's teeth is something that pet owners have to incorporate into their daily lives much like a dog walk. My own personal experience is that many dogs are reluctant to have their teeth brushed. However, over time they tend to get quite use to it. I clean my dog's teeth at least every other day and I try to do it everyday. The more you clean their teeth, the better their overall health. See the instructional video on How to Brush Your Dogs Teeth below:
Basic Nail Clipping! Start out with a sharp nail clipper like Millers Forge Guillotine Nail Clipper  They come in various sizes to accommodate your dog. I replace mine every year to make sure they're always sharp because it pinches the nail less during the cut. Now, nail-clipping time can be a nightmare. I’ve always found it easier to do on a table with an assistant, and to give lots of praise and treats the entire time. I start with the right rear foot first by standing at the dog's side, and firmly grasping the dog's ankle from the front. I then lift the foot and turn the paw backward so that the pads are facing up. With the dog's ankle cradled in my palm and pads facing up I use my fingers to spread the toes and push the nail I want to clip upward into view. It is important to note that most dogs have black toenails that make it impossible to see where it is safe to cut. Quick trick - Along the bottom side of the nail, you'll see a groove. It begins at the tip of the toenail, where its outline is very sharp, deep and distinct. The groove continues toward the toe, becoming wider and shallower until its outline blends in with the rest of the nail and seems to disappear. The part of the toenail with a deep, distinct groove is the dead area. There is no nerve or blood vein in that section and you may safely cut it off without harming the dog. Front feet are done similarly to the rear ones: standing at the dog's shoulder and looking toward his tail, pick up the forefoot at the ankle and turn the foot so the pads are facing up. We are human and accidents can happen. Unfortunately, dog nails can bleed heavily, and it's wise to have something on hand to stop it like 4 Paws Quick Styptic Blood Stopper, 1/2 oz.,  that is designed especially for that purpose.
De-tangle! It is important that your dog is tangle-free before heading into the tub. The brushes and combs that you use should be determined by the type of coat your dog has. These are some great brushes/combs that I recommend and three in particular that you definitely need; 4 Paws Flea Comb, Fine  which is perfect for helping get the eye gunk out, and for helping to remove any number of things that dogs get stuck in their fur. The JW Gripsoft Pin Brush, Regular is great for  combing through lightly matted hair. Finally, the Safari Soft Slicker Brush, For medium breeds is for controlling shedding. Remember, regularly brushing your dog gives you the opportunity to check your dogs body for ticks and growths, and is also a great way to show love and affection to your dog.
Bath Time is FUN Time! This is the message you should be sending to your pet. Bathing can be traumatic for your dog at first. It is your responsibility to make the process as simple and pain-free as possible. That is why you should never, ever use human shampoo as it is ALWAYS too harsh for your dog, and could lead to skin conditions. Selecting the right shampoo is important as well. You should consider the following when making a decision, coat type, dogs age, fleas present, and the breed. These are some shampoos I like very much Pearls Au Lait Milk Bath Moisturizing Shampoo, Strawberry,12 oz., and Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Conditioner For Pets.  This combo leaves your dogs hair extra soft, shiny and manageable (conditioner isn't necessary if you have a short-haired dog). Now where you decide to wash your dog is a matter of preference. I prefer to wash my dog in the bathtub with a hand-held shower attachment like Rinse Ace Indoor Outdoor Pet Sprayer (Hose: 8' Length), or this fantastic new product from Rapid Bath, that will help you Clean your Dog in 3 minutes or less! - RapidBath Pet Bathing System . It made rinsing my Shih Tzus a breeze! To make things easier on my dogs I use a Rinse Ace® Bathing Mat (11" L X 14" W; Off-White)  which prevents my dog from slipping and protects my tub from scratches. I also like to use Bathing Tethers with my Shih Tzu because it helps keep him in place (he’s a frisky one) and leaves both my hands free to work through all his hair. I also really like using the Rubber Grooming Glove to work shampoo through my dogs hair because it stimulates their skin (like a spa massage!) and removes loose hair. It also helps greatly in the rinsing process.
Getting Dry! After I am done rinsing I gently squeeze as much water as possible from my dogs coat. I then use a super-absorbent towel like Planet Dog Travel Towel Shammy for Dogs,  and, I BLOT, BLOT, BLOT. Rubbing can tangle up your dogs coat. These towels are great because they are capable of absorbing up to 10x their weight in water and they won’t break your dogs hair like a human towel can, not to mention that they are eco-friendly! Once I’ve gotten my dog as dry as possible with the towel, I move onto blow-drying. I can’t stress enough how important it is to never use a human hair dryer. It’s too hot and will damage your dogs coat. Use a good pet dryer like Metro Air Force Quick Draw Dryer (7.25 X 11.25 X 20; Orange; Black)  This particular model has a stand which makes things much, much easier.
Using a Grooming table can bring you further ease in the grooming process. I personally use the Grooming with the grooming arm and security loop. This keeps my dog elevated and in place so that I’m not bending over trying to hold him with one hand as I dry or clip.
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Getting Trimmed!
