Training Your Dog to Wear a Top KnotFor a long time I tried everything I could think of to get my little female Yorkie to wear a top knot, but she had other ideas. Finally I stumbled across the perfect recipe for us. I hope this helps you fix the top knot troubles of your little drama queen or king.
Conditioning Spray for Tangle-Free DogsWe have shitzu puppies, and their hair is a lot of work to keep away the knots. We have to brush their fur everyday. I keep a bottle with 1 tablespoon of conditioner and a cap full of vinegar mixed with water. Shake well, spray on their fur and brush. It keeps knots out and makes the coat shiny.
Lint Roller for SheddingMy short haired dog likes being "petted" with a lint roller. Since she likes to sleep in the middle of my bed, I wear less of her hair.
Handle Your Puppy's Foot Pads EarlyAs soon as you bring your puppy home, start playing with their pads. Using your fingers, touch and rub the pads of each paw. Do this daily and your pup will become accustomed to you handling their paws, making the future years of nail-clipping much easier.
Back Scratcher for My DogI have a Border Collier mix dog - Danny. He is an indoor/outdoor farm dog. I need to brush him a lot in the spring while he sheds and then throughout the year for pleasure. Danny is now 13 yrs old with arthritis and brushing can be painful to him. I had to find a way I could "brush" him without causing pain.
Clear Eyes for Pet Tear Stain RemovalUse Clear Eyes, yes, the eye drops for humans. They have seven (I think) different formulations. Any of them will work. Place a couple of drops on the stain, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Leave it on for at least ten minutes then rinse and dry.
De-Skunking Your DogWe live in a rural area and our dog gets "skunked" at least once a year. This is how I have learned to handle it. I developed this method through trial and error, and unfortunately lots of practice.
Grooming Difficult DogsMy Shiba has always been difficult to bathe. She hates water. As a puppy, I would hold a Buda bone between my knees for her to chew while I brushed her. It made grooming 1000 times easier. As an adult, I reward her with her favorite goody after brushing.
Eraser to Pick Up FurI am waiting on getting my hound glove for Bruno's coat. I remembered that pencil erasers, the square kind, tend to pick up hair. I was hoping that it might help some of his hair come out.
Bathe a Dog with Tea Tree Oil and DawnI have been giving baths to my husband's German Shepherd mix dog, and I use the Tea Tree and Dawn mixed with water to bathe her with. She no longer has the tumors or warts she had on her back, above her tail at the end of her spine.
Shirt to Contain Dog FurI have two short haired dogs; one is a Doberman and one is a Min Pin/Pug mix. They are easy to groom, but all dogs shed. I found that putting my dogs in children's sweatshirts in the house really keeps the hair situation manageable.
Start Grooming Puppies EarlyYou can make life easier for you and your new puppy if you start early with basic care giving and grooming. When you first get your puppy, begin slowly introducing it to the various grooming procedures it can expect to experience regularly throughout its life. You could start by softly brushing its hair as it sleeps in your lap.
Maintaining Your Dog's NailsLike everything else the price to have my dogs nails cut went up too. I'm not at all comfortable cutting his black nails myself. However, Teddy, who I recently adopted doesn't mind having his paws touched.
Mineral Oil For Dog's EarsTake some mineral oil and put a few drops in your dog's ear with a baby's ear dropper or ask a pharmacist for one. Gently rub your dog's ear to get the oil inside the ear and let the oil stay in the ear for about 3-5 minutes.
Avoid Oatmeal Shampoo For DogsMost dogs that have itchy skin, have yeast as at least a part of the problem. Oatmeal is a grain. Yeast feeds on grain. Tea Tree oil shampoo would be a better solution.
Learn to Groom Your Dogs YourselfI've got three little white dogs that all need regular grooming, and have "learned on the job" how to do it myself. Check out the internet for useful videos.
Bathing PetsUsing baby shampoo, even the cheap stuff, as long as it really is sensitive, is perfectly fine for dogs and cats. Cats don't need to be bathed at all unless they get into something that's gotten them extremely dirty. They clean themselves.
Baby Shampoo As Pet ShampooMy daughter recently moved and couldn't keep her little doggie. We have given her a new home with us. Her skin is sensitive so she had pet shampoo, and it was fairly expensive. When she ran out, I just bought baby shampoo.
Easy Dog Clean-Up Without A BathOver-bathing most dogs can lead to dry skin issues. To avoid this problem, use a simple four-step process in between baths.
Use a Wading Pool to Bath Your DogBathing your dog indoors can be very messy. I hate cleaning the dog hair out of the bath tub when they are bathed in the house. I prefer to do it outside when the weather permits.
Frequent Grooming CardsMany groomers and pet shops offer "frequent grooming" cards. After you have paid for a certain number of services you get a discount or a free service on your next visit.
Brush Your Dog's Teeth For A Healthier DogIt is best to start with a puppy, if possible, but any age will do. Purchase toothpaste and a toothbrush made especially for dogs. Put a dab of toothpaste on toothbrush and attempt to softly brush along the sides of their mouth along the gum line, pulling the cheek out.
Bathing Small Dog That Hates WaterOne of my long-haried chihuahuas is now 6 years old, but right from day one she has hated being bathed. I decided to try taking her in the shower with me and it worked like a charm.
Use Silicone Basting Brush for SheddingGo to your local Dollar Store and pick up a silicone basting brush. This brush is excellent. I have 2 dogs, a Shepherd Lab and Jack Russel, that both shed quite a bit of hair. I have found that the silicone brush works the best. I even keep one in the car.
Cleaning Snow Off PawsHere's a tip for snowy doggie paws! My three little long haired dogs do love to romp in the snow during their potty breaks. Before I let them back in the house, I dust the loose snow off their paws with a foxtail brush.
Homemade Mitts for Cleaning Dog's PawsWith the rainy weather in Seattle, I (and every other dog owner I know) really have a problem with mud and dirt coming in on my dog's paws after they are outside. Keeping a towel by the back door to wipe them off worked, but I didn't like it sitting there at the door.
Using Dremel Tool for Dog Nail TrimmingTo make trimming my Chihuahua's nails a little more safe, I use a small Dremel tool with a sanding hub. The noise is very low. Just tap the tips. She likes this better than using the nail clippers. I was always afraid of cutting her nails too short.
Use Yoga Mat to Keep Dog From Slipping in BathTo help keep a dog secure during a bath, place a yoga mat in the tub before bathing the dog. This will provide a non-slip surface that will hold the dog in place during the bath.
Brush Pets Daily to Reduce SheddingYour cats and dogs are busily shedding as much of their winter coats as they can so that they are a little cooler. If you have all indoor pets as we do, that fur is going to end up on your furniture, in the carpet, or flying around the floors.
Use Olive Oil To Remove Sap/PitchMy dog had stepped in a big pile of sap/pitch and it covered her whole left back foot. I read somewhere where butter would help.
Clipping Your Dogs NailsWhen I clip my dog's nails it is always a scary thing. Just be careful and slow. I have someone hold Lanee (she's a small dog) while I do the clipping. Do not go in the pink.
Clipping Your Pet's NailsFor those of us who are afraid to use the nail clippers on our pets, I've discovered that using a Dremel sanding tool is quick and easy.
Foot Care for Your DogRoutine foot care for your dog is very important, because they spend so much time on their feet without any protection of shoes. Here are a few tips for your dogs foot care.
Pet Bath for Itchy SkinFor dry, itchy skin and shedding, give your dog an oatmeal bath.
Deodorizing Your Pet LabFor Labrador Retrievers, mix one part Listerine with one part water and spray on after bathing to cut down on the Lab smell.
