Take a moment before you groom your dog to give thanks that he isn't a cat. Then consider the following tips to improve the grooming experience for you and for him.

First, is your canine buddy used to your touch? If not (especially for any dog new to your home), put off the grooming for a few days of petting and play, until he will let you stroke him for 3-4 minutes without trying to get away.

Before you start, how's that fur looking? It it heavily tangled, or filled with burrs? If so, don't risk your relationship on a grooming session that promises to be uncomfortable for all. Instead, hire a hire a professional groomer and let him take the blame.


When you're ready to groom your dog yourself, pick a time when your pet is relaxed (after that romp in the park, not before), and start with the areas most comfortable for your dog, usually the shoulders, back and chest. In fact, for the first few grooming sessions, you may want to groom ONLY these areas until your buddy is fully comfortable with the process. In any case, leave until last the parts that make him squirmy, usually the belly and hind legs. Groom all dogs once per week, especially in spring and summer. Long-haired dogs should be groomed even more frequently if possible.

It helps to wash before grooming, but don't wash much more than every 4-6 weeks, since excessive washing can dry out your dog's skin. Be sure to use shampoos designed for dogs (never human shampoos). To make bath time less stressful keep the water off when the dog is in the bathroom with you - draw the bath before, and use buckets, not the faucet, for rinsing. Give him a rubber met to stand on in the bath, so he can stand securely, and avoid loud hair driers that will only freak him out unnecessarily.

As you finish and survey the mess, try again to remember that at least he's not a cat.