Your dog is your responsibility. That much is true. It is not only for their benefit but also for yours. For them to become stronger and healthier, you will have to feed them correctly. For them to be able to be well behaved and go around places, they have to be trained, and you can always have them as a companion because of that.
Grooming is also very important. It is not just to make them look good and presentable but also for their health and hygiene. And like the others, it is also for your good. Would it be nice to cuddle them with their soft fur and absence of dog odor? What is great is that you can do it yourself and can save up from bringing them in dog salons.
1. Bathing
Before anything else, take them to a bath. This way, you will be able to wash away the dirt that is stuck in their fur. This will also help to make it softer. You will need a shampoo for this, and there are a lot of available shampoos for dogs which are mostly gentle and are made for them.
2. Brushing
After taking a bath and have them dry, brush their fur to get rid of the tangles. This will also help their coat be shiny and clean. Be gentle so that they will not hurt and also will avoid more shedding of fur. This actually requires a lot of patience especially if your dog is long furred. With all the tangles, it might take a while. But even so, it is really important to do this even if they do not have a bath. By brushing their fur, it will remain clean and shiny. It will also help get rid of loose hair.
3. Hair Trimming
If your dog has a long coat, they will need some trimming. The first thing you need to be aware of is using scissors. You do not want to hurt them. Make sure to use blunt-nosed scissors to be safe especially if you are a first-timer. You can also ask for some advice from your veterinarian on how and also the safe way. Keep in mind the areas that needed to be trimmed like around their eyes, anus, and chin. Another way is using clippers or shaving them. It is said to be safer but is advised to have the help or a vet or professional groomer.
4. Nail Trimming
It is also important to trim their nails. You can definitely do it by yourself as long as you have the right trimmer and know how to do it. Keep in mind that dogs are not fond of touching their feet and would be traumatizing for them if they got hurt, so you really need to have the skill and be confident with it. If not, you can always, ask your vet or groomer to trim it so that it can be done right without any hesitation.