A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

1) How often do you trim their nails? Do you use a clipper, or a grinder like pedicure/pedipaws, etc.?

2) How often do you give them a bath? If you give them a bath, does anyone have some tips for a quick dry? Maddy HATES the blow dryer (on a low/cold setting) so I sit there for almost 45 minutes using three towels. I'd really like to give it to her once every other week b/c I heard doing it often (once a week) is too much and the doggies should have their own natural oils on their skin to prevent from rashes/dry-skin, etc.

3) How often do you take them to a groomer? I heard that every three/four months is enough...true?

Okay, I think that's it for now - so thank you in advance!!!!

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

I trim their nails every 3-4 weeks. I use a nail clipper. Sometimes i use a dremmel.

Porter the big guy gets a bath once a month in the summer. WE wont bathe him all winter and as soon as it is warm out we will bathe him outside. He is 70 lbs. Lucky is 8lbs. He gets a bath every 5-8 weeks when he goes to the groomer. It's not good to bath a dog too often. Even every other week is too much. You can use a dry shampoo and just spray them with it and comb it through in between baths. I like to take Lucky to the groomer every 5-8 weeks. However 8 weeks is pushing it. He is a poodle and his hair grows fast. I try to stay on the 5 week mark. If i waited beyond 8 weeks his hair would be matted and gross. HTH!

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

Thanks so much - so I'm going to eliminate the bath once every other week, and wait as long as possible until she starts being "stinky."

Thanks for the recm'd of the dry shampoo - didn't even think of that!

Grooming - I'll definitely take your advisement on your poodle, since she's a Havanese, and their hair type is similar - and go w/the 5 - 6 week routine.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

Your very welcome. Oh and blow drying when i do give Lucky a bath, i use the warm setting on low. It usually goes faster that having it on the cold setting. I also keep running a brush or my hand through his coat to make sure i get all of it. It takes about 20 min to dry him

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

I take my dog every 8 weeks to the groomer. She clips the nails then.

Message edited 12/29/2008 12:40:53 AM.

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

Brutus gets his nails cut at the groomer about once every few months. In the summer he is outside a lot on the concrete so his nails stay short.

We bathe him about once a month in the summer and once every two months in the winter.

He has short hair so we only bring him to the groomer for his nails nad sometimes he will clean out his ears too

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

1) How often do you trim their nails? Do you use a clipper, or a grinder like pedicure/pedipaws, etc.?

I try to do Cooper's nails as often as possible, but I won't lie, I really slack in this area. We use clippers. We have the Pedicure, but it's not as fast as the clippers.

2) How often do you give them a bath? If you give them a bath, does anyone have some tips for a quick dry?

We try and give Cooper a bath 2x a week (per Dr's orders.. he has some skin issues). We dry him with the blow dryer... he likes it. So I don't really have any drying tips for you there.

3) How often do you take them to a groomer? I heard that every three/four months is enough...true?

Never... Cooper has short hair so he doesn't really need it. Besides, he requires medicated shampoo.

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

I have an 8 lb yorkie, so it's pretty easy for me to handle her myself -
I bathe her and clean her ears once a week.
Her nails are black, so I never trim them myself - I'm too afraid I'm going to cut them too short. -

She gets groomed about 4 or 5 times a year - When she starts to look ratty -

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

I trim their nails with a clipper whenever I notice they need trimming. Usually after they scratch me

My dogs get a bath about once a month, but they're shiba inus - depending on the breed of your dog, it might need them more or less often. We usually towel-dry them. One likes the blow dryer, but the other runs away.

They never go to the groomer. Again, depends on the breed - mine don't need haircuts or anything like that.

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

We get our dogs professionally groomed every 6 weeks, and she trims their nails. I won't touch them for fear of the veins. In between groomings, we wash them once and brush them 2-3 times a week (should do it daily but the reality is 2-3 times a week). We also brush their teeth 2-3 times a week (also should be daily but just being honest!).

Re: A few dog grooming/cleaning questions

Message edited 12/30/2008 2:55:11 PM.