Contents at a Glance Introduction...1 Part I: Getting Started...7 Chapter 1: What Good Grooming Is All About...9 Chapter 2: Inside and Out: What Affects a Dog s Coat and Grooming...25 Chapter 3: Prepping for the Prettying...41 Chapter 4: Training Your Dog for Grooming...63 Part II: Making Your Dog Look Good:The Basics...83 Chapter 5: Mastering Brushing and Bathing Basics...85 Chapter 6: Caring for Your Canine s Teeth, Toes, Ears, Face, and Ahem, Other Areas...99 Chapter 7: Giving Your Dog a Great Do: Clipping Basics...119 Part III: Grooming by Coat Type: Beyond the Basics...131 Chapter 8: Spiffing Up Short- and Medium-Coated Breeds...133 Chapter 9: Warming Up to Double-Coated Breeds...145 Chapter 10: Clarifying the Corded Breed s Coif...157 Chapter 11: Shaping Up the Clipped Breeds...167 Chapter 12: Beautifying the Stripped Breeds...183 Chapter 13: Tidying the Tresses of the Long-Haired Breeds...193 Chapter 14: Poodles: A Breed Apart...203 Part IV: Grooming Specialties...223 Chapter 15: Getting the Sticky and Stinky Stuff Out...225 Chapter 16: The Skinny on Hairy Health Issues...237 Chapter 17: Grooming Emergencies: Knowing Doggie First Aid...261 Chapter 18: It s Showtime! Grooming a Dog for the Ring...275 Chapter 19: Going Pro: Starting a Dog Grooming Business...289 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Part V: The Part of Tens...311 Chapter 20: Ten Popular Myths About Grooming Dogs...313 Chapter 21: Ten Timesaving Grooming Tips...319 Chapter 22: Ten Best Ways to Make Grooming a Pleasant Experience...325 Appendix: Grooming Resources...333 Index...339
Table of Contents Introduction...1 About This Book...1 Conventions Used in This Book...2 What You re Not to Read...3 Foolish Assumptions...3 How This Book Is Organized...4 Part I: Getting Started...4 Part II: Making Your Dog Look Good: The Basics...4 Part III: Grooming by Coat Type: Beyond the Basics...4 Part IV: Grooming Specialties...5 Part V: The Part of Tens...5 Icons Used in This Book...5 Where to Go from Here...6 Part I: Getting Started...7 Chapter 1: What Good Grooming Is All About.....................9 Big Hairy Deal: Discovering Why Grooming Is Important...9 Sociability...10 Presenting a positive public image...10 Eliminating the spread of dirt and disease...10 Determining whether something s really wrong with your dog internally...11 Considering the Necessary Investment...11 The cost in money...12 The cost in time...12 The added investment: Grooming for show...13 Familiarizing Yourself with Your Dog s Coat...14 Coat types: Single versus double...14 Coat textures...16 Coat length...16 Coat color...17 Having the Proper Tools on Hand...17 Coaching Your Canine to Be Groomed...18 Taking Note: Keeping a Grooming Diary...18 Knowing When to Call a Pro...20 Considering the cost...20 Looking for a professional groomer...21 Screening the professional groomer...22 Becoming a Pro Yourself...24
xii Dog Grooming For Dummies Chapter 2: Inside and Out: What Affects a Dog s Coat and Grooming................................................25 Anatomy of the Dog: The Hipbone s Connected to the.....25 Head...27 Neck and shoulders...28 Back and chest...29 Forelegs and hind legs...30 Rear and tail...31 Considering Factors That Influence a Dog s Appearance...32 Genetics...32 Haircoat...34 Health...35 Exercise...35 Diet...37 Exploring the Importance of Nutrition...37 Providing a balanced diet...38 Feeding for a beautiful coat...39 Supplementing your dog s diet for a healthy coat...40 Chapter 3: Prepping for the Prettying............................41 Gearing Up...41 Taking stock in what you have...42 Gathering the essential equipment...43 Stocking up on important routine supplies...49 Adding optional equipment and supplies...51 Where s the flea and tick stuff?...53 Purchasing Your Supplies...54 From the grocery store...54 From big-box retailers...55 From big-box pet supply stores...55 From très chic pet boutiques...56 From groomer-supply stores and catalogs...56 From dog shows...57 Online...58 Setting Aside a Grooming Space...58 A groom room of your own...59 The bathroom...60 The great outdoors...60 Dog washes: Options for grooming when you have no space...61 Organizing Your Accoutrements...61 Chapter 4: Training Your Dog for Grooming......................63 Refining Your Dog s Grooming Manners...63 Using positive reinforcement to train your dog...64 Showing your dog how to enjoy grooming procedures...65 Handling sensitive puppy feet...66 Manipulating your dog s mouth...68 Convincing your dog to accept eye contact...69
Table of Contents xiii Getting Your Dog to Help You Reach the Right Places...70 Helping your dog onto the grooming table...71 Teaching Sit...72 Teaching your dog to lie on his side...73 Teaching her Stay...75 Establishing a Grooming Routine...76 Dealing with Difficult Dogs...76 Handling an uncooperative dog...77 Considering muzzling versus medication...79 Restraining a difficult dog...81 Part II: Making Your Dog Look Good: The Basics...83 Chapter 5: Mastering Brushing and Bathing Basics...............85 Brushing and Combing Basics...85 Beyond pulling hairs: Making the experience pleasant...86 Gathering the tools you need...87 Brushing up on basic techniques...88 Rub-A-Dub-Dub: Washing Your Dog...93 Just (rubber) ducky: Making bath time a pleasant experience...94 Gathering the tools you need...95 Scrubbing bubbles...95 Drying...96 Chapter 6: Caring for Your Canine s Teeth, Toes, Ears, Face, and Ahem, Other Areas...........................................99 Toe (Nail) Tapping...99 Making toenail trimming a pleasant experience...100 Gathering the tools you need...101 Just a little off the tip: Trimming basics...101 Do You Hear What I Hear?...103 Making ear cleaning a pleasurable experience...104 Gathering the tools you need...104 Cleaning your dog s ears...105 Recognizing an ear problem...105 Unclogging Anal Sacs...106 Making anal sac expression a pleasurable experience (Yeah, sure)...106 Gathering the tools you need...107 Expressing yourself...107 Pearly Whites Tooth Brushing...108 Making brushing dog teeth a pleasurable experience...109 Gathering the tools you need...109 Twice a day and between meals: The lowdown on brushing a dog s teeth...110 Spotting a dental problem...111
xiv Dog Grooming For Dummies The Eyes Have It: Keeping Your Dog s Eyes Shiny and Bright...112 Making cleansing your dog s eyes a pleasurable experience...113 Don t cry for me Argentina: Tear stains...113 Gathering the tools you need to clear up minor tear stains...114 Getting rid of your dog s tear stains...115 Eyeing other eye issues...116 Knowing when your dog has an eye problem...116 Face Time...116 Making cleaning your dog s face a pleasurable experience...117 Gathering the tools you need...117 Facing off...117 Chapter 7: Giving Your Dog a Great Do: Clipping Basics.........119 Deciding Whether to Clip Your Dog...120 Getting Acquainted with Your Tools...120 Clip, clip! Deciding which clippers to buy...121 Becoming a blade-runner...121 Snapping on guide combs...123 Using scissors...124 Getting Down to Clipping Business...124 Preparing for success...125 Using clippers safely...125 Making your first clip...126 Attempting a Pet cut...127 Oops! Righting a wrong...128 Part III: Grooming by Coat Type: Beyond the Basics...131 Chapter 8: Spiffing Up Short- and Medium-Coated Breeds........133 Introducing the Wash-and-Wear Breeds...134 The bald breeds...134 The short coats...135 The medium coats...137 Brushing...138 Hairless breeds...138 Short coats...139 Medium-length coats...140 Bathing...141 How often and when, really?...141 The basics...142 Drying...143 Preparing for Show...143
Table of Contents xv Chapter 9: Warming Up to Double-Coated Breeds...............145 Introducing the Big Hairy Deal: Double-Coated Breeds...146 Brushing...148 The basics...148 Surviving shedding season...149 Bathing...151 How often and when, really?...151 The basics...151 Preventing tangles and mats...152 Drying...153 Preparing for Show...154 Mousse and a spritz Conditioning the coat...155 Making the hair stand up...155 Chapter 10: Clarifying the Corded Breed s Coif..................157 Introducing the Corded Breeds...157 Brushing...158 Caring for the coat before cords form...158 As the cords form...159 Maintaining healthy cords...160 Keeping Cords Clean...162 How often and when, really?...162 Bathing basics...162 Drying the cords...163 Preparing for Show...164 Chapter 11: Shaping Up the Clipped Breeds.....................167 Taking a Little off the Top: Introducing the Clipped Breeds...168 Brushing Basics...169 Terrier-type coats...169 Spaniel-type coats...170 Poodle-type coats...171 Bathing...171 The prebath clip...171 Bathing basics...172 Clipping...173 Terrier-type coats...173 Spaniel-type coats...178 Poodle-type coats...179 Preparing for Show...182
xvi Dog Grooming For Dummies Chapter 12: Beautifying the Stripped Breeds....................183 Introducing the Stripped Breeds...184 Brushing...185 The basics...185 Knowing when it s time to strip...186 Bathing...186 The prebath strip...186 Bathing basics...187 Stripping Your Dog...187 Using a stripping knife...188 Using a shedding blade...189 Hand stripping...190 Rolling the coat...190 Preparing for Show...191 Chapter 13: Tidying the Tresses of the Long-Haired Breeds.......193 Introducing the Long-Haired Breeds...193 Brushing...194 The basics...195 Preventing tangles and mats...196 Bathing...196 Prebath brushing and clipping...197 Bathing basics...197 Drying...198 Clipping...199 Neatening the breeds that need it...199 Doing the low-maintenance do: A Puppy cut...200 Preparing for Show...201 Clip and snip...201 Using coat conditioners...201 Chapter 14: Poodles: A Breed Apart............................203 Brushing...203 Bathing...204 The prebath clip...204 Bathing basics...204 Clipping...205 Poodle pet cuts...206 Poodle show clips...216 Preparing for Show...221
Table of Contents xvii Part IV: Grooming Specialties...223 Chapter 15: Getting the Sticky and Stinky Stuff Out..............225 Taking a Walk on the Prickly Side...226 Getting rid of burrs and stickers...226 Dealing with grass awns (foxtails)...228 Shedding the Slick and Sticky Stuff...229 Oil slick (petroleum-based chemicals)...230 Tar babies...231 Gummy pups...232 Glue...232 Corn syrup and sugary problems...233 Surviving Stinky Skunk Odor...233 Dealing with Downright Dangerous Chemical Poisons...235 Chapter 16: The Skinny on Hairy Health Issues..................237 Canine Cuteness More Than Just Skin Deep...237 Allergies...238 Contact allergies...238 Food allergies...239 Flea allergy dermatitis...240 Coat Funk...241 Collar Rot...241 Cushing s Disease...242 Fleas, Ticks, Lice, and Mites...243 Fleas...243 Ticks...246 Lice...249 Mites (or mite not)...250 Cooling Down Those Hot Spots...253 Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism...253 Hypothyroidism...253 Hyperthyroidism...254 Internal Parasites...254 Hookworms...255 Roundworms...255 Tapeworms...256 Whipworms...256 Heartworms...256 Lick Granulomas...257 Sebaceous Adentitis...257 Ringworm...258 Seborrhea...258 Tumors and Cysts...259 Zinc Responsive Dermatosis...259
xviii Dog Grooming For Dummies Chapter 17: Grooming Emergencies: Knowing Doggie First Aid...261 Preparing for a Grooming Emergency...261 Preventing an emergency...262 Assembling a first-aid kit...263 Emergency know-how...264 Handling Minor Grooming Snafus...267 Cuts and nicks...267 Skin irritation...268 Doggie 911...268 Serious cuts...268 Allergic reaction...269 Overheating...270 Dehydration...272 Strangulation...272 Electric shock...273 Hypothermia...273 Dog bites...274 Chapter 18: It s Showtime! Grooming a Dog for the Ring..........275 Brushing Up on Dog Show Basics...275 Grooming for the Show...279 In the weeks leading up to the show...280 The night before the big event...280 The morning of the show...281 Putting on the Finishing Touches at the Show...283 Touching up before entering the ring...284 Handling your dog in the show ring...285 Chapter 19: Going Pro: Starting a Dog Grooming Business........289 Deciding Whether Professional Grooming Is Right for You...289 Weighing the pros and cons of starting a grooming business...290 Considering whether you re ready to be the boss...291 Evaluating the need in your area...292 Training...293 Heading back to school...293 Taking correspondence courses...295 Working for an established groomer...297 Home-schooling yourself...298 Getting Down to Business...299 Choosing how to set up your business...299 Creating a business plan...300 Securing licensing...300 Paying taxes...301
Table of Contents xix Setting Up Shop...301 Finding a workspace...301 Obtaining insurance and bonding...304 Purchasing supplies and equipment...304 Getting the word out: Marketing...305 Satisfying Your First Customers...307 Exhibiting professionalism...307 Dealing with difficult clients/difficult dogs...308 Some tips to keep customers coming back...309 Part V: The Part of Tens...311 Chapter 20: Ten Popular Myths About Grooming Dogs............313 Never Bathe Your Dog Unless He Is Really Dirty...313 Certain Breeds Are Hypoallergenic...314 Lamb and Rice Is a Good Food for Coats...315 Tomato Juice Gets Rid of Skunk Odor...315 Dogs Naturally Have Bad Breath...316 Raw Egg Is Good for Your Dog s Coat...316 Never, Ever Shave Your Dog s Coat...316 Garlic and Brewer s Yeast Get Rid of Fleas...317 Never Use Human Shampoo on Dogs...317 A Dog s Saliva Has Fewer Germs than a Human s...318 Chapter 21: Ten Timesaving Grooming Tips.....................319 Use No-Rinse Shampoo for Touchups...319 Keep a Rubber Basin Handy for Quick Cleanups...320 Grind Rather Than Clip Your Dog s Nails...320 Brush Regularly to Keep Fido s Breath Fresh and Teeth Clean...321 Employ Snoods and Hoods to Keep Clean...321 Keep Your Pooch in a Pet Cut...321 Add Beautiful Shine to Your Dog s Coat...322 Enjoy a Refreshing Blast...322 Perform a Quick Hair Pickup...323 Substitute in a Pinch...323 Chapter 22: Ten Best Ways to Make Grooming a Pleasant Experience.......................................325 Getting into a Grooming Routine...325 Starting Out Small and Building Up...326 Taking Your Time While Grooming...326 Using the Right Equipment...327
xx Dog Grooming For Dummies Controlling the Situation at All Times...327 Sparing Yourself the Agony: Ergonomics...328 Making Your Dog Comfortable...329 Showing Your Dog that Grooming Is Fun...330 Procrastination = Grooming Nightmare...330 Don t Worry, Be Happy: Keeping It Upbeat...330 Appendix: Grooming Resources...333 Web Sites...333 Grooming your own dog...333 Grooming for yourself and others...333 Grooming Supplies...334 Grooming and Dog-Related Magazines...337 Other Useful Reference Books...337 Index...339