Almost all dogs require grooming on a regular basis. The basic grooming requirements will depend on your dog's breed and the type of coat your dog has. Our guide shows you all the basic steps of How to Groom a Dog. Not only will your dog look great, but you'll also save money in the process too!

1. Gather all the supplies you'll need before you begin.
2. Most supplies needed for grooming are available at your local pet supply store.
3. A thorough brushing before giving your dog a bath will remove loose hair and loosen dirt.
4. Clipping about 1/4 inch of the nail will help prevent clipping the quick.
5. Cotton balls placed in the dog's ear will help prevent water from entering the ear canal.
6. Have plenty of towels available for drying your dog after the bath.
7. Reward your dog with treats during the grooming process.
8. Praising your dog in a gentle voice will help to reassure him that everything is okay.

• An essential part of grooming your dog is ensuring that the coat is clean, nails are trimmed and the ears are clean. The right choice in grooming supplies will depend on the needs of your dog and the type of coat your dog has. The correct supplies will aid you in keeping your pet well groomed and healthy for a longer period of time.

1. Dog brush
   • -Bristle brush: General brushing.
   • -Porcupine brush: Suitable for removing loose hair.Dog Supplies Advisor: Review Dog Brushes, Combs & Other Coat Grooming Tools
   • -Wire pin brush: Good for dogs with a wavy, wiry or long coat.Dog Owner's Guide: Tools
   • -Slicker brush: Used for long-coated dogs.Dog Owner's Guide: Tools
2. Comb
   • -Metal comb: General standard comb.Dog Supplies Advisor: Review Dog Brushes, Combs & Other Coat Grooming Tools
   • -Shedding blade: Great for removing loose hair from both long and short-haired dogs.Dog Supplies Advisor: Review Dog Brushes, Combs & Other Coat Grooming Tools
   • -Undercoat Rake: Great for dogs with long hairs or a thick undercoat.Dog Supplies Advisor: Review Dog Brushes, Combs & Other Coat Grooming Tools
   • -De-matting comb: Used for removing matted fur.
3. Grooming scissors
   • -A good quality and comfortable pair of scissors can be used for trimming the hair around the eyes,face and trimming around the dogs feet.
4. Nail clippers
   • -Guillotine-style nail clippers have a hole that the nail is inserted into. Squeezing the handle forces the blade to down and cuts through the nail.About.com: Top Five Supplies for Basic Dog Grooming
   • -Pliers-style nail clippers have two blades which come together on each side of the nail, cutting through the nail as the handles are squeezed together.About.com: Top Five Supplies for Basic Dog Grooming
5. Styptic powder
   • -A blood-clotting powder used if the quick is cut when trimming the nails.Drugs.com: Nik Stop Styptic Powder
6. Bathtub or shower
   • -Your own bathtub or shower is all you actually need, however there are specialized dogs baths and sprayers available if you prefer.
7. Non-slip mat
   • -A non-slip mat is placed in the tub or shower to prevent the dog from slipping. A towel can work in the same way if one is not available.
8. Towels
   • -Towels are used to dry the dog once the bath is over.
9. Dog ShampooHartz: Grooming and Your Dog's Health
   • -Standard dog shampoo: A basic, all-around shampoo that removes dirt and is often formulated for normal, oily or dry skin.
   • -Flea and tick shampoo: A shampoo that contains a chemical to kill fleas and ticks on your dog. Some have a residual effect which help to repel further infestation after the bath.Martha Stewart: Bathing Cats and Dogs
   • -Medicated shampoo: A shampoo that is specially formulated to treat skin irritations] as well as clean your dog.Doctors Foster & Smith: Grooming: 5 Signs Your Dog Needs a Bath Some medicated shampoos are available at your local pet supply store, while other are available through your local vet by prescription.
10. Ear wash
    • -A basic ear wash can be purchased from your your local pet supply store.
    • -Medicated ear wash: This is a insecticidal ear wash used to eliminate and control ear mites. It's always a good idea to check with your local vet regarding which product you should use.Washington State University: Examining and Medicating the Ears of a Dog
11. Cotton balls
    • -Cotton balls are used to remove dirt, wax and debris from the inner side of the ear flap.PetPlace: How to Clean Your Dog's Ears They can also be placed in each ear during the bath process to prevent water from entering the ear canal.

• Before you begin to bathe your dog, you should first brush out the dog's coat.CBS News: How To Wash Fido (June 30, 2006) Brushing will get rid of tangles and loose hair. If your dog's coat is matted, the following steps should get you started on putting your pup's fur back to normal. But if you've got some particularly nasty tangles on your hands, head on over to Mahalo's complete guide on How to Remove Matted Fur from a Dog.

1. Choose the proper brush for the type of coat your dog has.About.com: Brushing Your Best Buddy
2. Begin at the back of the dog and brush in the direction that the hair grows. Work your way from the tail to the head on one side and then repeat on the other side.Animal Planet: Caring for Your Pet's Coat
3. Use a comb in the areas where the fur is longer, such as the ears, neck or under the tail and on the feet.
4. Use scissors to carefully trim the fur in the ears, nose and under the tail if needed.University of Hawaii: Grooming a Small Long-Haired Dog

• Cleaning your dog's face, ears and trimming his nails is an important part of dog grooming. Regular attention to these areas will help to detect and prevent problems in the future.

• Regular ear care will help prevent excessive wax build up and also offers the opportunity to check for problems such as infection and ear mites.BellaOnLine: Clean and Healthy Ears

1. To begin hold your dog's head in a position which will allow the ear wash to flow down into the ear canal.
2. Squeeze the bottle of the ear wash solution into the ear, filling the ear canal.Doctors Foster & Smith: Cleaning Your Dog's Ears, How to
   • TIP: Warm the ear wash solution by placing the bottle into a glass of warm water for a few minutes. The warm solution will feel better to your dog than just squirting in the cold solution.
3. Gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds to a minute. This will help to soften and loosen the wax.Washington State University: Examining and Medicating the Ears of a Dog
4. Allow your dog to shake his head back and forth a few times.Doctors Foster & Smith: Cleaning Your Dog's Ears, How to
5. Gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball to remove the loosened wax and any remaining residue.Washington State University: Examining and Medicating the Ears of a Dog
6. With a clean cotton ball repeat until the ear is dry.
7. Wipe any residue from the inside of the ear flap.
8. Repeat on other ear.

• YouTube: How to Groom a Dog : How to Clean a Dog's Ears (Time: 2:24)

• If your dog has wrinkles, it is important to keep these clean. If left unchecked your pooch could get a bacterial infection within the facial folds.BulldogVoice: Wrinkles Love um Hate um

1. Dip one end of a cotton swab into warm water.
2. Gently run the wet cotton swab in the folds above the nose and below the eyes.PugVillage: General Pug Care
3. Use the dry end of the cotton swab to thoroughly dry the folds.American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) : Groom Your Dog
4. Use a clean cotton swab to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly inside the folds above the nose.

• If there is dirt and debris in your dogs eyes it's a good idea to clean them using an eyewash made especially for dogs.Pets.ca: Dog and Cat Pet Tips You should be able to purchase this at a pet supply store or from your vet.

1. Place the bottle of eye wash near your dog's eye and squeeze the bottle gently.
2. Flush the eyes with the eyewash.Doctors Foster & Smith: Cleaning Your Dog's Eyes, How to
3. Gently wipe the outer edge of the eye with a cotton ball.HowToCleanStuff: How to Clean Your Dog's Eyes
4. Repeat this procedure on the other eye.

• Just like with people, nail clipping is an important procedure that will prevent the toenails from becoming overgrown.

1. With one hand, pick and hold the foot of your dog.About.com: How to Trim Your Dog's Nails
2. Using your fingers, separate the nail to be cut away from the other toes.
3. Place the nail between the blades or in the hole if using guillotine clippers.Washington State University: Clipping a Dog's Claws (Toenails)
4. With a quick squeeze of the handles, clip your dog's toenail, cutting the curved part of the nail.ThePetCenter: How To Trim Nails
5. Avoid cutting the quick which is the vein that is located within the toenail.Washington State University: Clipping a Dog's Claws (Toenails)
   • TIP: If you should clip the quick don't panic. This is where you would use the blood-clotting styptic powder. Just dab a little on the end of the nail.ThePetCenter: How To Trim Nails You can also use baking powder, flour or cornstarch if the styptic powder is not readily available.Earth Clinic: Remedies to Treat Nail Injury in Dogs
6. Repeat with each nail until all toenails are clipped.
   • TIP: Instead of cutting your dog's nails with clippers, you can also use a nail grinder such as a dremel tool can be used. There are also grinders made especially for pets.PetPlace: How to Trim Your Dogs Nails with a Nail Grinder or Dremel Tool

• YouTube: How To Trim Your Dog's Nails (Time: 2:32)

• Now comes the fun part, the bath. Two good, but often overlooked ideas are to gather all the necessary supplies ahead of time and place them within reach of the bath tub, and also to to open the bottle of shampoo before you begin. These preparatory steps will allow you to keep one hand on your dog at all times and prevent him from jumping ship!

1. Place a rubber mat or towel in the bottom of the tub.Hartz: How to Bathe Your Dog
2. Turn the water on and adjust the water temperature until it is lukewarm, not hot.Family Education: Bathing Your Dog
3. Place a cotton ball in each of your dog's ears.DrLarryPetVet: Bathing Your Dog
4. Place your dog in the tub and thoroughly wet his coat.About.com: Bathing Step 2: Get Your Dog Wet
5. Apply your choice of shampoo an work it into a thick lather on your dogs body, stomach, legs, feet, and tail.Hartz: How to Bathe Your Dog
6. Once your dog has been lathered, you should completely rinse off all of the suds, starting at head and working all the way down the body, stomach, legs, feet and tail.DrLarryPetVet: Bathing Your Dog
   • TIP: Attaching a detachable hose sprayer to the tub faucet or shower will make wetting and rinsing the dog easier. These can be purchased at a pet supple store. If this is not available then a clean empty milk jug or water pitcher will work.
7. Remove the cotton balls from your dogs ears and wipe dry any remaining moisture in the ears.Petco: Bathing Your Dog
8. Dry your dog's coat by gently rubbing his fur with a towel.About.com: Bathing Your Dog
   • TIP: If you prefer, you can also use a pet dryer or blow dryer to dry your dog's coat. make sure that you use only the low setting and never aim the blow dryer at your dog's face. If your pooch has a long coat, it would also be good idea is to comb the fur at this time.Hartz: How to Bathe Your Dog

• YouTube: How to Groom a Dog : How to Shampoo Your Dog (Time: 3:10)

• Keep in mind that plenty of dogs are big babies when it comes to grooming time, so it is important to be as reassuring as possible throughout the process. Make sure to speak in a gentle, but still firm tone of voice and offer small treats to your dog as you proceed. Follow these steps and voila! Your dog will be clean and fresh-smelling once again.