Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog, and keeping it in peak condition. This includes every aspect of maintenance including bathing, feeding it well, exercise, and dental hygiene.

In order for your pet to have the best possible chance in life, you need to introduce good habits earlier on.

So what are the main things you need to be aware of when caring for your pooch?

Bathing

Contrary to popular belief, dogs don't actually need to be bathed that often. If you wash it too regularly, you could reduce the natural oils in its coating and dry out its skin.

Therefore, we recommend that you only bathe your dog every two to four months with a specially formulated Dog shampoo.

Be sure to rinse it off thoroughly to avoid leaving a dull residue on the dog's fur.

Eating

Overfeeding your dog can lead to all sorts of health problems. Where possible, try to feed your pet premium dog food, made of natural, raw ingredients.

The barf diet is especially good for this purpose, as it means that your dog gets all the nutrients it needs, and reduces the likelihood of obesity or health problems later on.

Brushing

To avoid your pooch suffering from dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, tartar buildup, be sure to clean its teeth on a regular basis.

Exercise

In order for your dog to look and feel its very best, you should ensure that it gets enough exercise.

Take it for regular walks and runs, and try and make it fun if possible, by introducing games and social activities.

Brushing

Regular brushing is essential to remove any dirt, or dust from your dog's coating. This should be done regardless of the length of its hair, as it evenly distributes the oil for its fur coating and helps to get rid of dead skin cells.

This should preferably be done every two days or so, to keep its skin and coating in optimum condition.

Trimming

Be sure to trim your dog's nails on a regular basis. Failing to do so could result in the nails growing too long and that will cause the paws to twist or splay when your dog moves. This can be incredibly uncomfortable, and cause nasty accidents.

If you found this article helpful, you might be interested to read our other related articles: Skin problems in cats & dogs, Promoting skin & coat health, Grooming is important for many pets, Dandruff in dogs: how to treat a scurfy coat, Allergies & skin complaints in dogs.

Written by: Hannah