Grooming Your Dog: Brushing, Bathing and Nail Care

How often should I brush my dog?  

Regular brushing removes loose hair and helps prevent tangles and painful matting. How often your dog needs it depends on their coat. 

• Short, smooth coats: brushing once a week is often enough. 

• Thick coats with a dense undercoat, such as those of Labradors and German Shepherds: brush several times a week, with more frequent brushing during shedding. 

• Long, silky, curly or woolly coats: often need daily brushing and combing, even between grooming appointments. 

Choose a brush or comb suited to your dog’s coat and use it gently. Pay attention to areas prone to tangling, such as behind the ears, under the legs and around the collar or harness. 

Some coats also need regular trimming or clipping. If you need help, look for someone suitably trained who uses calm, gentle handling. Tight matting, sore skin or pain during grooming should prompt veterinary advice. 

How often should I bathe my dog?   

There is no single bathing schedule that suits every dog. How often they need a bath depends on their coat, skin health and how dirty they get. Muddy paws or a small dirty patch may only need rinsing or wiping. 

When a bath is needed, use lukewarm water and shampoo formulated for dogs. Rinse thoroughly and dry them gently, keeping them warm until their coat is dry. 

If your dog has a skin condition, follow your vet’s advice on products and frequency. Some conditions benefit from frequent bathing with a prescribed shampoo. 

Persistent itching, redness or an unusual smell needs veterinary attention rather than repeated washing. 

Checking and trimming nails 

Check your dog’s nails regularly, including dewclaws, which do not usually touch the ground. Exercise may help wear nails down, but some dogs still need them trimmed to prevent discomfort or nails curling into the paw pad. 

If you want to trim them yourself, ask your veterinary team to show you how. Use suitable dog nail clippers and remove only small amounts, avoiding the sensitive tissue inside the nail, known as the quick. 

Keep sessions short and reward calm cooperation. Stop if your dog becomes distressed. If a nail is broken, bleeding or growing into the pad, contact your veterinary practice. 

Making grooming comfortable 

Introduce handling, brushes and other equipment gradually, using short sessions and rewards. Let your dog stand or lie in a comfortable position on a non-slip surface and take breaks before they become worried or restless. 

Do not force your dog through grooming if they are frightened or struggling. Build up slowly and ask your veterinary team for help if grooming remains difficult or if your dog seems painful. 

Never use scissors to cut out mats close to the skin. Skin can be caught within the knot and accidentally cut.