Grooming Your Lap Dog

Small dogs have always been very different from big dogs. That includes how you groom them. There are certain things that you can and cannot do with small dogs. Here is how to groom a small dog.

Since your dog is small, you can just set her in your lap while you do things like cut her nails and clean her ears. If she starts to get nervous or wants to run away, assure her that everything is ok and continue. If she really starts going crazy, put her on a leash.

Use small nail clippers. Since your dog is small you can use human nail clippers but it's never a bad idea to buy the ones specifically for the dog. Make sure that you hold your dog's paw with one hand and then cut with the other. You can't count on her staying still. Never cut into the pink part of the nail. You won't have to cut off much at all. Cut small amounts and look back and see if you need to cut any more.

Clean your dog's ears. Your dog gets wax build-up in her ears and so it has to be cleaned. Use a special solution that you can buy at any pet store. You need to use the solution to clean the dog better. Use a cotton ball and put the solution on it.

Brush your dog's teeth. You should be giving her a bone that will help her teeth all the time. Dogs need to have healthy teeth so they don't have rotting teeth in their mouth. Use dog toothpaste and never give her human toothpaste. Normal toothpaste could seriously harm your dog.

Brush your dog's hair. Get out any knots and work through it slowly. You don't want to scare your little dog anymore than she probably already is. Use a rake and go through your dog's hair. The special dog tool will get out any knots and any loose hair that has just fallen out.

Trim your dog's hair. Get it wet and then cut slowly. You don't need to cut a huge amount off, especially for a small dog, so be careful. Use special scissors for your dog to make it easier.

Whenever you bathe a dog, you want to put a different collar on them. The collar can bleed onto their coat and change your dog's hair color. You also need a different collar because wet collars tend to create sores on your dog's neck.

Get everything that you will need before you start. Get things like the shampoo, a couple towels, brushes and combs, and treats for your dog when she is done. You want to reward her for being good.

Give your dog a bath. Use special dog shampoo so that you won't hurt her. Be especially careful around the eyes and genital areas. Rinse all the soap off completely. You don't want any leftover soap or it will cause soreness and redness.

Keep your dog warm and wrapped up until she is completely dry. You can use a special blow dryer for dogs, but never use a human blow dryer on a small dog. It could easily give your dog a serious burn.

Give your dog a treat when you are done. It will show her that you love her and appreciate her being so good while you were grooming her. Be sure to use only products that are safe for dogs and meant for dogs or you could really hurt your small dog.

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