Keeping your dog clean and tangle-free is essential, not only to prevent bad odours and clumps of wafting fur but also for their health and well-being. The level of dog grooming and bathing your pet requires will depend on its breed and coat type. However, all dogs will need a basic level of brushing and cleaning at home.
There are seven main steps in grooming a dog:
- brushing
- bathing
- clipping fur
- trimming nails
- cleaning/checking ears
- cleaning eyes
- brushing teeth
We’ll cover all of this and more in this at-home dog grooming guide for beginners, including advice on using the right tools, training tips, and when to call on a professional for help.
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Why It’s Important To Groom My Dog
Grooming your dog is crucial to their health and happiness. Brushing stimulates the release of oils that keep skin and coats healthy while getting rid of dead fur. For longer-coated breeds, it also prevents mats, which can be painful and may lead to infections.
How much maintenance your dog needs depends on their type of coat. For short-haired dogs, one or two brushes a week should suffice, while longer or curly coats may even need daily grooming. But grooming isn’t just about brushing — it’s a chance to check their ears, eyes, and paws, looking for any changes in the skin or unusual lumps.
Dr Sabrina Kong, DVM, vet, dog trainer, and We Love Doodles consultant, says neglecting at-home grooming can have various implications: “Overgrown nails can cause discomfort and even injury, matted fur can lead to skin infections, and unclean ears can result in infections. Regular grooming not only keeps them physically healthy but also allows you to check for any signs of health issues like lumps, parasites, or skin problems.”
Getting your dog used to grooming from a young age—ideally during early puppyhood—may support a positive experience and help with vet handling. Healthy day-to-day habits like wiping down paws after walks and cleaning eyes will also help establish their routine and save time in grooming sessions.
Now you know why it’s so important, you’re probably asking yourself: “How can I learn to groom my dog?” Look no further—we’ve got you covered.
Dog Grooming Basics Tips
These are all the tools, techniques, and safety measures you need for grooming your dog.
Get the right tools
The tools you need to groom your dog will depend on the type of coat they have. Here are the recommendations:
- Short-haired dog breeds, such as Labradors and Dalmatians, benefit from grooming with a rubber brush or mitt to remove dead fur and/or a bristle brush to stimulate oils in the skin. These dogs are relatively low-maintenance on the grooming front and only need a quick brush a couple of times a week unless they’re shedding intensely.
- Long-haired dog breeds, such as Shih Tzus and Poodles, have non-shedding coats that are best tackled with a slicker brush to eliminate knots and a comb for finer grooming. These breeds will often need daily brushing and regular professional coat clipping.
- Wire-haired breeds, such as Border Terriers, are best groomed with a slicker brush and comb around once a week. Some wire-haired breeds also need a treatment called hand-stripping from a professional groomer to remove dead fur and stimulate the growth of a healthy coat, as they don’t shed as easily as other dogs.
- Breeds with thick undercoats include dogs like Huskies, which benefit from an undercoat rake to remove loose fur without damaging the topcoat. Deshedding tools and pinbrushes may also help.
All pet parents should also have the following tools and products to hand:
- Round-tip scissors to trim fur as well as clip away any knots and debris that can’t be brushed out
- Nail clippers (to be used with caution and only on the advice of your vet or professional groomer)
- Dog-specific toothpaste and toothbrush (human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs)
- Dog shampoo and conditioner
- Treats to reward good, calm behaviour
How to take care of the skin and the coat
Healthy skin and fur in dogs have as much to do with nutrition as grooming. A good, balanced diet coupled with regular brushing will stimulate the release of natural oils that keep a coat healthy. It’s important to stay on top of your dog’s routine medication to prevent parasites such as fleas and ticks from taking hold. Also, look out for any allergies or other skin conditions.
How to clean the paws
After walks, inspect the paws for anything unusual, such as grass seeds. Clean them with special dog wipes or a damp cloth soaked in warm water. Really muddy paws may require a bath.
How to cut the nails
Consult your vet or a professional groomer about this first. Many dogs’ nails will wear down naturally if they walk on pavements or roads and will not need regular clipping. For dogs who are walked on grass, or those that are very light on their feet, more maintenance may be needed.
If you clip a dog’s nails at home, it’s important to keep your dog calm and still to ensure safety for you and your pet. This may mean desensitising them to the nail clippers in training sessions before you start using them. Clipping dark nails is much harder than white ones, as the nail quick isn’t visible.
How to brush the coat
Brush in the direction of fur growth. “Always avoid skin and never rush” is the key advice from Dr Alex Crow, MRCVS, vet and senior editor at Hamster Answers. Use gentle brush strokes, and if you encounter a knot, carefully try to detangle it using a slicker brush without causing discomfort. If you can’t, it’s best to clip away the mat carefully to prevent stress and pain.
How to trim the fur
If doing this at home, always use round-tipped scissors to reduce the likelihood of nicks. It’s a good idea to ask another person to hold your dog still and try to keep their focus on a treat rather than what you’re doing with the scissors. If your dog has a long coat that doesn’t shed and requires regular clipping, it is usually best to seek professional help from a groomer when it comes to trimming fur.
How to brush teeth
Like us humans, regular dental care in dogs can prevent plaque buildup and the gum disease it can lead to. As with brushing fur, getting your dog accustomed to having their teeth cleaned from a young age is crucial. Follow our top tips on brushing your dog’s teeth to keep plaque and tartar at bay.
Warning! Human toothpaste often contains an artificial sweetener called xylitol and/or fluoride, both of which can be toxic and deadly to dogs. Always use a canine-specific toothpaste.
How to check the ears
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Looking inside your dog’s ears is an important step in their grooming routine. The ears can easily clog up with wax and dirt, which may lead to painful ear infections and costly trips to the vet.
Clean and remove any debris from the outer ear—but avoid using cotton wool buds or anything that will penetrate the inner ear canal, as this can cause pain and damage. Check for symptoms of ear infections or ear mites, such as redness or excessive wax, and consult your vet if you spot any.
Some dogs are prone to growing excess hair in their ears and this will often need plucking to prevent wax build-up and infections. Ask your vet first if you think this may be necessary.
How to clean the eyes
Wiping away any eye gunk daily with a damp cloth will often suffice. However, there are a range of dog-specific eye wipes available.
How to express the anal glands
Unless your vet advises you to do this and gives thorough instructions, do not try this at home. Most dogs empty their anal glands when they poo and require no intervention.
Safety tips
- Never use sharp-ended scissors.
- Always use tools and products intended for dogs, not humans.
- Secure pets or get another person to help hold them still if grooming them on tables or trimming fur.
- Reduce stress by keeping grooming sessions short, and reward throughout.
- Gently hold your dog’s mouth shut if you are trimming around their face.
- Use a muzzle if there’s a risk your dog might bite through fear.
Give treats for positive reinforcement
Rewarding calm behaviour when grooming is key to helping your dog frame this time as positive. Never reprimand your dog for resisting grooming or showing fear.
The Difference Between Bathing And Grooming
How to bathe your dog
- Drench your pet’s fur in lukewarm water before applying the dog shampoo.
- Massage the shampoo in thoroughly, avoiding the face area, for around five minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly, leaving behind no residue that can irritate the skin.
- Towel dry or use a hairdryer on a cool setting (if your dog is comfortable with it).
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How often should I bathe my dog?
This depends on individual dogs. “Some dogs will be fine never having a bath, or might only have a bath a couple of times a year,” says Dr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS, a vet at Petlearnia.
The average time between baths tends to be a few months, she says, unless they get smelly or your groomer or vet has advised more frequent washing. Bathing dogs too often can strip their coat of essential oils.
Removing Bad Odour From Your Dog
If your dog has rolled in something nasty like fox poo, then you’ll probably need to bathe them. For easier clean-ups, special dog wipes can suffice. Fragrance sprays are also useful to have on hand.
But if your dog smells bad for no reason despite regular grooming, consult your vet. An underlying health problem may be responsible.
Dr Woodnutt explains: “If bathing doesn’t get rid of a bad smell, you should take your pet to the vet for investigation—skin infections, blocked anal glands, and dental disease can often cause bad smells with a few other symptoms.”
What if I Cut My Dog’s Nail Too Short?
If you accidentally clip a nail too short and it bleeds, apply styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop or your dog appears to be in lots of pain, visit your vet.
What to Do If Your Dog is Scared of Grooming
Getting your dog used to grooming from a young age should ensure calm, stress-free handling for life. This needs to be done gradually and with positive reinforcement.
For older dogs nervous about grooming, patience is key, explains Dr Kong. She advises creating positive associations with brushes and other tools before using them. “Let them sniff the brush or clippers while giving them treats,” suggests Dr Kong. “Groom in short, calm sessions, gradually increasing the time as they become more comfortable. It’s important to remain calm and patient, as dogs can sense our emotions.”
“Treats, praise, and gentle handling make dogs see it as bonding, not punishment,” adds Dr Crow.
What Not To Do At Home
- Full-body clipping with electric trimmers. It isn’t as easy as it might look—and reputable groomers receive extensive training on how to do this safely. Using electronic clippers without the relevant experience or knowledge can result in botched canine haircuts and, at worse, injury and a trip to the vet.
- Ear plucking and trimming fur around the eyes. It’s easy to do these wrong or cause injury, according to Dr Kong. She says, “It’s best to leave these [complex tasks] to professional groomers or veterinarians.”
- Expressing anal glands. Done incorrectly, this can cause further harm and pain. Only do this on vet advice.
- Grooming of a fearful dog without desensitisation and training. This could lead to you or the dog getting injured. In extreme cases, fearful dogs may need to be sedated by a vet for grooming tasks.
