We all know how nice it feels to be clean. It feels wonderful when our hair is squeaky clean right after a shampoo. Just as grooming is important for us, it is important for our dogs. The dictionary says that to groom a dog is to make it neat and tidy.
Regular grooming is as important to a dog as it's food and checkup at the vet.
Grooming a dog includes brushing and combing the hair, clipping toenails, cleaning ears, brushing teeth and sometimes trimming up the hair. Since I have already discussed trimming nails and cleaning ears in a previous issue of the Fancier, I won't discuss them here. However, they must be included in your grooming routine. It is essential to learn how to brush your dog correctly, and to always brush before giving your dog a bath. Bathing a coat that is matted will only tightly the tangles, making them harder to comb out.