Finding and Hiring a Dog Walker

By James T Phillips

If you work more than 6 hours a day and own a dog, you need a dog walker!

Urban life can be hard for dogs. Many of us keep pets in cramped city apartments and work long hours, resulting in a dogs life which is a far cry from that of a rural or suburban dog who usually has an outside yard to roam during the day -- or if they're really lucky, acres of open land in which to frolic.

Yet there is no reason why a city dog cannot enjoy a fantastic quality of life. Living in the city has its disadvantages but also brings with it levels of stimulation -- sights, sounds and smells -- which suburban or rural dogs never get to experience. City dogs are also also blessed with far more social opportunities, whether they be with other dogs on the street or with a pack of their buddies at the local dog park or dog run.

But many owners work long hours and enjoy active social lives, meaning long periods in which their pets are alone. For a dog, this means hours of inactivity -- especially in a small apartment or studio which has little space to play or run.

For this reason, most urban dog owners hire a dog walker. Having someone take your dog out for exercise and relief at least once a day makes all the difference. It breaks up those long solitary hours and gives your dog a chance to get out into the fresh air, stretch their legs and burn off some of the calories they have ingested for breakfast. For many dogs, their daytime dog walker is their daytime buddy.

But with the profession of dog walking becoming more and more popular, there are increasing numbers of dog walkers to choose from in cities. Dog walking and pet sitting services are springing up everywhere and in most cities dog owners are spoiled for choice. Yet all dog walking services are not the same -- there are differences in quality and type of services provided. Here are some tips for choosing the right dog walker for you:

• 
  Make sure you know exactly what you want before you start looking
  
  It's important to be clear about the kind of service you want. A large, established dog walking service is likely to provide peace of mind and more security, but if they're too big you may find their services a little too impersonal -- some guarantee the same walker every day, but some don't. If you want your walker and your dog to build a friendly, trusting relationship, it's worth asking about this. A good dog walking service will assign a regular dog walker to your dog and inform you of any changes in staffing well ahead of time. The downside is that they may be slightly less flexible with scheduling.
  
  On the other hand, a local independent dog walker who works alone is almost guaranteed to build a close relationship with your dog and you are likely to build a friendly relationship with them yourself, which brings familiarity and peace of mind. The disadvantage is that lone walkers rarely have anyone to provide a back up should they become sick or take a vacation.
• 
  Establish an ideal schedule, then be prepared to compromise
  
  Let's face it, the vast majority of dog owners would prefer their dog to be walked around the middle of the day, which generally means between 11am and 3pm in the dog walking business. This means that midday time slots are in great demand and it's unlikely that you'll find someone who can promise your ideal schedule. Be prepared to compromise with a leeway of around an hour either side of your ideal. Additionally, even when you settle on a time you should be aware that dog walking is a profession the nature of which means it is almost impossible to stick to a schedule 100% accurately every day. Walkers often have to travel between dogs and can be held up by a million and one different situations. Don't be too disappointed if your dog walker arrives a little early or late every day -- most of the time it cannot be helped. Be suspicious of any dog walking service that promises punctuality to the minute -- most of the time they're not being honest with you!
• 
  Dog walking in packs or individually?
  
  This is where opinion is split firmly down the middle! It's a common sight in urban centers like New York City to see pack walkers with up to twelve dogs at a time -- but is this really what you want for your dog? The advantage to this kind of service is primarily price -- pack walk rates are sometimes half the price of individual or small group walks and sometimes last longer. On the negative side, your dog will not receive anywhere near the same level of attention it would in a smaller group or alone -- and often much of the walk is spent sitting tied up in large groups on the sidewalk as the dog walker takes a dog upstairs to its apartment. There is no doubt that there is a strong social aspect to such walks which many dogs enjoy, but for the most part the majority of dog owners prefer their dogs to be walked in smaller packs or alone. Many people also worry about dogs fighting in large packs and while this is rare, it does sometimes happen.
  
  An individual, private walk brings with it the walkers undivided attention, but you should also consider that most dogs appreciate some kind of socialization -- so consider choosing a service which walks pairs or small groups of no more than three. Many dog walkers will tell you that dogs who have behavioral "issues" on the street with their owners benefit greatly from being walked with another dog, whose presence often acts to "center" the other dog and induce a good level of focus and attention. However, there is no avoiding the fact that some dogs just will not abide the company of other dogs no matter what! At the end of the day you know your own dog better than anyone and the decision is entirely yours to make.
• 
  Conduct interviews in person
  
  Choosing a dog walker is an important decision to make, not least because you're entrusting the welfare of your precious pet to a stranger but also because the service entails allowing someone access to your apartment on a daily basis. For this reason, you should always look into a number of services and insist on meeting first the business owner, then should you decide to go ahead and use the service, the walker who will be assigned to your dog. A good service will allow you to meet the walker at no cost to yourself. Never feel pressured into agreeing to a schedule over the telephone -- you'll feel much better when you know who you're dealing with personally. All good dog walking services appreciate that you're looking around and shopping for a service and will be happy to submit their pitch to compete with others.
  
  Don't be surprised or feel offended if the business owner will not give you full contact details of the walker however -- they're not trying to put one over on you. It's standard practice in the business to insist that the client conduct all communication (schedule changes, updates etc) through the business owner themselves. This ensures that the owner is kept "in the loop" and is always aware of what's going on. If you do have the walkers contact details however, it is always good practice to notify the owner of all communication between you to prevent misunderstandings or confusion later.
• 
  Have questions prepared in advance
  
  Before you conduct an interview, make sure you have everything you're going to ask written down and prepared beforehand. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. Don't be afraid to bombard the business owner or walker with requests for information regarding the nature of their service, their philosophy, their practices, their policy and their history. A good dog walking service will also ask you questions about exactly what you want, your likes and dislikes -- and most of all, your dog. Make sure they ask you about your dogs nature and about health issues which may be relevant. If they take notes, that's a good thing! A good dog walking service will keep information about your dog on file, including medical history, favorite treats, command words, things to watch out for, vets information etc. If they don't seem interested in any of this information then it's probably a good idea to choose another service.
  
  Be sure to get everything out in the open regarding prices and fees. Make certain you're both on the same page regarding rates and frequency of payment, about any hidden or supplementary fees (many dog walking services have a surcharge for early morning, evening and weekend walks), about their range of availability (do they cover evenings or weekends?) and about their policy regarding cancellations (most services request that you give 24 hours notice to avoid being charged). The last thing you want is to spoil a good relationship with a reliable dog walking service due to a misunderstanding later which should have been cleared up at the beginning.
  
• 
  Insist on seeing the walker on a trial walk
  
  It's very important that your dog walker both meets the dog beforehand -- and seeing them "in action" with your dog will give you great peace of mind. Not all dog walkers are the same! Some people have a natural affinity with animals and you will see this upon observing dog walker and dog together. Dogs usually have great judgment when it comes to humans and if the walker loves dogs, you'll see it in the way your dog reacts to them. Seeing them walking together on the street is important and you should check to see that they have adequate control skills and that they hold the leash securely. If the walker grips the leash halfheartedly with three fingers and allows your dog to run around in circles, give them a miss! The safety and well being of your dog comes first and foremost. It's also a good idea to see how they handle situations with other dogs in the street -- a good walker will ask the other owner whether their dog is friendly, and allow your dog to approach cautiously should they wish to sniff each other. Additionally, make sure they pick up after your dog and don't allow them to spray inappropriate things like cars, doors -- and especially lampposts which may carry live current!
• 
  Establish acceptable dog walking routes from the start
  
  It's important that you let your walker know exactly where you do and don't find acceptable for your dog to go. If there is a dog park or run nearby, let your walker know whether or not you're happy with them taking your dog there during the day. Many owners prefer that their dogs are taken to a run where they can play with other dogs, but only you know whether or not your dog is suitable for this kind of socialization. Some walkers like to take a bunch of dogs to the run and spend the next hour sitting down watching them play -- if you would prefer a more disciplined kind of street walk then make this clear from the start.
• 
  Ask for references and make sure they're insured and bonded
  
  Every good dog walking service can supply you with references -- other owners who have used their services regularly and are happy. Get the references, and call them! You'll feel so much better in the long run. It's also a good idea to ask whether they're insured and bonded and if so, to let you see their insurance certificates. Their insurance should cover both medical bills should anything happen to your dog in their care, but also liability costs should your dog ever injure someone on the street or cause an accident. Dog walkers rarely have to use their insurance but you'll feel a lot better knowing it's there. The fact that they have taken the trouble to get insured is also a good sign that they take the business seriously and are in it for the duration!
• 
  If you're worried about allowing someone access to your apartment, set up a web camera!
  
  This is a controversial issue with many dog walking services, but more and more home service providers are beginning to accept that home owners feel secure having a small web camera set up to make sure that nothing untoward happens while they're at work. It's also great to be able to see what your dog gets up to during the day! If you are going to set up a camera then it's common decency to inform your walker first. Tell them that you have the camera so that you can watch the dog while you're at work and try not to emphasize the part about checking up on them! Most dog walkers will be fine with this and if they are not -- well, perhaps it's time to seek out someone new.
• 
  Relax!
  
  Nobody finds choosing a dog walker easy. It's very common for first time owners to worry themselves half to death for the first few weeks wondering if their dog is OK and that everything is going well. However, if you have followed the steps above and taken the time to choose the walker you're happiest with, you'll find that your worry subsides after a couple of weeks and you can get down to the business of going about your day and taking for granted that your dog is in good hands. Do your best to build a friendly relationship with your dog walking service -- you'll feel so much better in the long run. Remember -- if they're dog lovers, they're going to end up building an attachment to your dog which rivals yours. This is also worth thinking about should you ever wish to discontinue a long running relationship -- make sure you give the walker a chance to say "goodbye" to your dog and don't be surprised if they request photos and even shed a few tears on their last walk together!

So where to start looking? There are plenty of ways to find a dog walker:

• Check online via a search engine
• Check online via local classified listings like "Craigslist"
• Ask at pet stores and vets offices for the business cards of local services
• Check notice boards in pet stores
• Ask other dog owners, or stop walkers on the street
• Ask at your local dog run or dog park
• Ask in doorman apartment buildings for the names of reputable neighborhood walkers and services

All in all, finding a suitable dog walker for your beloved is not something to be taken lightly -- although nor should it be something to overly stress about. At the end of the day, just remember that whatever your opinion of your walker, the most important opinion is that of your dog! A good dog walking service will leave your dog exercised, relieved and above all safe and happy -- something which you'll be able to judge for yourself as soon as you walk through the front door.

King Pup provides professional NYC Dog Walkers in Manhattan. Visit our website for more information about city dog walking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_T_Phillips

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Dog Breeds - Of Hybrids, Mutts And Purebred Dogs

By Kayyne Nynne

Ever noticed the sniffy hauteur with which purebred dog owners appraise mixed breed dogs? You can almost see them flinch as their condescending eye roves across the form of the objectionable mutt while they grudgingly concede that perhaps their refined canine specimen and that pollutant mutt do indeed belong to the same species! In fact you need only trawl various online dog forums to experience firsthand just how contentious the issue of mutt versus purebred really is. Yet much as purebred dog owners may put down the humble mutt or mixed breed dog the strange thing is:

Purebred Dogs Are Merely Strain-Refined Mutts!

Doberman Pinscher: The Doberman Pinscher dog breed was the brainchild of door-to-door tax collector Herr Louis Doberman. Whether Herr Doberman developed this dog breed as enforcer or protector has never been truly established but one aspect that is not in contention is the fact that his was an unenviable profession! It is well documented that since biblical times the tax collector has been much reviled; even today the tax collector is the subject of scorn and disgust. If you truly want to belabor the point, the next time you are at a social gathering, casually mention that you work for the IRS and watch the little-witnessed phenomenon of how so many can disappear so quickly!

However back to Herr Doberman and his dangerous profession; tired of being pushed about and quite possibly being set upon by irate tax payers, poor Herr Doberman came up with the novel yet economic solution of developing a dog breed that would be both enforcer and protector! The "ingredients" for his new dog breed included the following: Rottweiler; German Pinscher; Greyhound and the Manchester Terrier. Though some wishful fanciers contend that the German Shepherd dog was also involved in the genetic compilation of the Doberman Pinscher, this is highly unlikely since the development of the German Shepherd occurred a little later than that of the Doberman Pinscher.

The early form of the Doberman Pinscher dog was not the sleek lean machine that epitomizes the breed today, but it was a heavier-boned dog somewhat more similar in appearance to the Rottweiler dog breed. Subsequent tweaks by later breeders eventually resulted with the sleek contemporary dog that defines the modern Doberman Pinscher. The point of note here is that the Doberman Pinscher, a well-known dog breed that is officially recognized by countless of International Kennels such as the AKC, was a crossbreed developed from various other dog breeds before it attained the holy-grail status of purebred!

Verdict: The Doberman Pinscher, like all the other so-called purebred dogs is nothing more than a strain refined mutt. Sniff! What can I say...these pesky mongrels are everywhere, most of them disguising themselves as well-established purebreds!

Designer/Hybrid Dogs

Though the Labradoodle is widely accredited as the crossbreed dog that set the whole designer-dog movement rolling along at a good clip, the truth of the matter is that other well established crossbreeds already existed. One such crossbreed or so-called designer dog is the Cockerpoo (Cockapoo), a cross between the American Cocker Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle. The Cockerpoo has been in existence since the 1960s (in contrast to the Labradoodle which was developed in the 1980s). The Cockerpoo is currently so well established in North America that there is a strong movement to consolidate a breeding standard.

These days "Oodles" or "Poos" (Poodle hybrids) are practically everywhere in North America for the simple reason they translate into mega bucks. Though the Labradoodle (perhaps the best known Poodle derivative) was developed with a utilitarian purpose in mind, most designer dogs have no other function than to propel a burgeoning and lucrative market for these hybrid dogs; as it so happens, backyard breeders very quickly recognized the enormous profits to be had from designer dogs.

To date the designer dog market is flourishing, strong evidence that people are quite willing to shell out mega bucks so as to differentiate themselves from the rest of the crowd. And perhaps you've noticed, nobody refers to these mutts as well...mutts, for the simple reason crossbreeds do not satisfy people's sniff factor! (Sniff Factor defines the human tendency to snobbishness; in earlier times the upper classes were predisposed to strolling about with their noses pointed skywards as an expression of their obvious class superiority (as though reaching for air unpolluted by the masses!) Calling a mongrel a designer dog is certain to guarantee a far better price than if the animal were addressed as a crossbreed.

The unfortunate fallout of this whole designer dog issue, is that there're now many more dogs in shelters and rescues, as well as dogs being euthanized, because of unethical breeders, who without regard to genetics, breed thousands of these dogs every year in a bid to capitalize on the public's ignorance and insatiable appetite for "exclusive" or "limited" dogs.

So how did this designer dog brouhaha really begin?

Good Intentions Open Pandora's Box

Sometime during the 1980s, Wally Conron, the breeding manager for the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia embarked on a quest to develop a non-allergenic guide dog for a visually impaired client whose husband happened to be allergic to common dog fur. Conron settled on the standard Poodle as the ideal cross with the already established Labradors in use at their center, for the simple fact that the Poodle,s as a highly trainable working dog with tightly curled coat, constituted a the best-fit match.

After two years of trials including 33 successive disappointment runs, Wally Conron hit pay dirt! A cross mating between one of their most prized Labradors and a Poodle specimen resulted in a litter of 3 non-allergenic puppies. Sultan the 1st ever Labradoodle destined for guide-dog greatness was introduced to his new owner amidst great fanfare. The bonding was a great success and Conron was confident that the remaining two puppies would quickly be snapped up; after all, the center at which he worked had a 6-month backlog of requests from people hoping to foster a dog. But he miscalculated; nobody it seemed wanted a dog that was associated with the dirty word crossbreed.

As eight weeks rolled by, the remaining two pups still hadn't found homes and the critical-period window in which they needed to bond with a new owner and thus become successful guide dogs was closing fast. Out of sheer frustration Wally Conron decided to call his new dog breed the Labradoodle and thenceforth stopped referring to them as crossbreeds. That was the eureka moment he had been waiting for (evidence of the sniff factor in play again)!

Within weeks, requests for this new "miracle dog" inundated the center...the rest as the saying goes, was history! Other than the Labradoodle, few designer dogs have been developed for utilitarian purposes and in fact for the most part new breeds are introduced for purely cosmetic purposes. Having said that though, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the fact that some new dog breeds are currently being developed to address the all pervasive problem of genetic disease in the canine; especially in the more popular breeds.

Some other well-established crossbreeds are the Bull Boxer which is a cross between the Boxer and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The Bull Boxer is said to be a more affable dog, especially towards other pets, than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is also reputed to be less inclined to exhibit the immature behaviorisms characteristic of the Boxer. By and large though, the substantial prevalence of the designer-dog set is to be found firmly within the realm of Poodle mixes. Such Poodle mixes usually go by names, which if not exactly flattering, are to say the least, colorful:

1. Doxiepoo (Dachshund Poodle Mix)

2. Papipoo (Papillon Poodle Mix)

3. Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever Poodle Mix)

4. Jack-A-Poo (Jack Russell Terrier Poodle Mix)

5. Irish Doodle (Irish Setter Poodle Mix) to name but a few.

Verdict: Sniff! These dogs may go under the guise of designer dog...but let's be honest, they are no more than glorified mutts!

The Humble Yet Ubiquitous Mutt

So where does the lowly mutt fit in this picture of brave new doggy world; that is to say, other than bearing the brunt of the purebred afficionado's scorn! Well as I have amply illustrated in the paragraphs above, all dog breeds are essentially mixed breeds even the purebreds. Purebred dogs are so entitled because over several generations they have been specifically bred for selective traits. But therein lies their Achilles' heel or weakness. Due to such selective-trait breeding, purebred dogs have an inherently high prevalence of genetic disease.

A classic example illustrating some of the problems encountered in trait-selective breeding can be found in the history of the Dalmatian. Breeding for the sharply-defined spot trait unintentionally also led to selective breeding for an abnormal uric acid gene (case of gene linkage). The result was that the Dalmatian dog breed was dogged (no pun intended) with hereditary urine stone disease. In an attempt to rectify the problem yet retain the desired spot pattern, the Dalmatian was crossbred with various Pointer breeds (Sniff! Sniff! What did I tell you...all mutts the lot of them!).

Conversely the lack of trait-selective breeding and a diverse gene pool in the mutt makes such dogs so much healthier and more robust than their purebred counterparts! Thus unless you're going to develop your own dog breed, if all you're looking for in a dog is a pet, do yourself, your pocket as well as the millions of dogs on death row a favor and adopt a dog from a shelter! Trust me, they make excellent pets. (Shelters cannot house dogs forever and each year more than 7,000,000 cats and dogs are euthanized!)

Verdict: Hmmm...the lowly mutt. At last! A dog without pretensions!

Dog Breeds

Kayye Nynne is the webmaster of http://www.dog-breeds-spot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kayyne_Nynne

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How to Care for a Skunk Sprayed Dog

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Has your dog been sprayed or been near a skunk? Don't let this pup stink up your house! Try the following solution to get your dog smelling clean in no time.

Steps

1. Do not run water over your dog. This only increases the stink, and if the dog has dry, or cracked skin, the spray can get into his or her skin, and cause burning. This also can lead to skin problems later.
   
2. Mix about 3/4 of a big bottle of hydrogen peroxide with about 3-6 tablespoons of baking soda. This is for a small dog. For a medium sized dog, use twice as much, and 3 times as much for a big dog.
   
3. Scrub the solution gently all over your dog. Do not leave in solution for more than 5 minutes. If so this may cause damage to the animal's fur, the texture may be affected as well as the color. It is advisable to use disposable gloves because dry or cracked skin may cause burring. If you do this outside, your house won't stink as much, and it would be better for everyone.
   
4. If stinking persists, make some more of the solution, or call your vet for other ideas.
   
5. You can also try a very effective product recommended to me by my veterinarian “DoggiCLEEN Skunk Spray”. This simple formula gets rid of skunk odor on dogs very effectively without harsh chemicals or costly veterinarian bills.
   
6. Try to keep your dog in the backyard, if you are missing a fence or have a swimming pool, try to keep him or her in the basement (in his or her cage) or a room that you don't usually use.
   

Tips

• If your house was in close proximity to the spray (i.e. the skunk sprayed on the porch or under the foundation), an effective way to remove the odor indoors (and bring back some of your sanity) is to use one or several "air ionizers" which release ozone, but PLEASE NOTE: the EPA recognizes breathing ionized air is harmful to humans and animals, so only cleanse the house with it at times when the premises are vacated
  
• A safer solution is "Biocide Systems’ Skunk 911 Home Kit and Skunk 911 Rescue Kit". They remove the skunk odor – not mask it and are affordable, non-invasive and eco-friendly.
  
• Simply "sniffing for a skunk" is not always an accurate way of determining whether there is one in the vicinity of your house or not, since you may be dealing with one that is "undiffused" (would you navigate a minefield by saying, "There's no craters here, so it must be safe to take a step!")
  
• Skunks seek human garbage (just like those animals in "Over the Hedge"), so it would be a good idea to use garbage cans with tightly fitting lids to help prevent such tempting odors from calling to skunks and other animals.
  
• Some people report that skunks like to dig in their soft garden dirt for delicious worms and grubs, but that planting a hedge of marigolds around the perimeter discourages this behavior
  
• Put some "live traps" out or buy some Coyote pee, and put it on a cotton pad and place around the perimeter of your property. This not only keeps skunks out, but raccoons as well as possums.
  
• If you do put a trap out, you can call the county animal shelter to come pick up the trap with the skunk.
  
• Also, if the above mixture does not work well, try washing your dog in tomato juice and rinsing well.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to De Skunk Your Pet
  
• How to Get a Skunk to Leave
  
• How to Give a Small Dog a Bath
  
• How to Give Your Large Dog a Bath
  
• How to Have Fun Giving Your Dog a Flea Bath
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Care for a Skunk Sprayed Dog. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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How To Groom Your Dog At Home

By Ken Mathie

Well groomed dogs are much healthier than those who are not regularly groomed. Matted or knotted hair can lead to yeast infections, periodontal disease can result from neglected teeth, and ear infections are common in dogs who are not groomed as well. The tips in this article will tell you how to groom your dog at home to keep him healthy, clean, and easy to care for.

Before you get started grooming your dog, make sure you have all the supplies that you will need. Gather items for cleaning your dog's eyes and ears, nail trimmers, as well as hair trimmers or scissors, and teeth and mouth cleaning tools. You will also need shampoo, a heavy towel, and tools to brush your dog's fur.

The first step in grooming your dog is to brush him very thoroughly. Be sure to untangle any knots or matted sections of hair because these will be nearly impossible to remove after they're wet. Use a quality dog brush that will free loose hair and dirt and that will distribute the oils thought your dog's coat. If your dog has short hair, brush out his coat with a glove or curry brush. If your dog has longer hair, you may need a durable pin brush or a slicker, or even an undercoat rake. If you find any mats that can't be removed by brushing, use a trimmer to cut it away. Matted hair that is left unattended can allow bacteria to grow on the skin, resulting in a yeast infection.

To save time and effort, you should take care of any trimming before giving your dog a bath. If you will be cutting away any large sections of your dog's hair, it would simply be a waste of time, energy, and shampoo to wash them first!

Next, you should clean your dog's eyes. The amount of maintenance your dog's eyes require will depend on the type of dog you have. Clean and healthy eyes should be clear with no evidence of irritation, discharge, or other complications. Carefully clean away any debris in the corners of the eyes with warm water. Dogs that are light in color or have long hair may need a special product that removes tear stains to clean their coats.

Cleaning your dog's ears is the next step in grooming. Most dogs do not like their ears being cleaned and your dog may be difficult to keep still. Put a small amount of ear cleaning solution on a cotton ball or small cloth and wipe the inside of your dog's ear to remove any wax or dirt that may have accumulated. Be very gentle so you don't irritate the sensitive skin inside the ear and avoid going to deep into the ear to prevent damage. Dab a few drops of rubbing alcohol into his ear to dry any water and to get rid of any ear mites or bacteria, then wipe the ear one last time with a dry cotton ball or swab. If you see anything unusual with your dog's ears, like irritation, swelling, or an odd odor, you should contact your veterinarian because it could be a sign of infection. Clean, healthy ears should not have an odor and should only contain a small amount of wax. Remember to warm any ear cleaning products, alcohol, or medications in room temperature water before using them inside your dog's ears.

Once you've brushed your dog and removed any matted hair and cleaned his eyes and ears, it is time to clean his teeth. Statistics show that only about 20% of dogs have healthy teeth and are not suffering from periodontal disease. A large buildup of tartar on your dog's teeth will be digested over time, causing problems with his liver and kidney. To avoid these problems, you should clean your dog's teeth at least twice a week.

You can brush your dog's teeth using a toothbrush or a piece of gauze over your fingertip. The Pets Tooth Brush is a specially designed glove with soft bristles on both the thumb and the forefinger. Most dogs are not too fond of having their teeth cleaned, but they typically prefer a human touch like this glove rather than a hard toothbrush. Whatever you use, it may take some time to get your dog comfortable with the process. There are also antimicrobial sprays, like the one made by Petzlife, that can easily be sprayed inside your dog's mouth to kill bacteria. Make sure you use teeth and mouth products made specifically for dogs to prevent accidental poisoning or illness.

If your dog will allow you to, you can use a standard dental scraper to gently remove tartar buildup from his teeth. Simply cleaning his mouth and teeth two to three times a week and giving him rawhide or frozen bones to gnaw on should be enough to keep his teeth clean and healthy. Again, remember to only use pet products in your dog's mouth. Human toothpaste is not made to be swallowed and could make your dog sick.

The last step of grooming you should do before bathing your dog is to attend to his nails. Neglected nails can create all sorts of painful problems. Nails that are too long can cause your dog to walk differently or curl into the bottom of his foot, or even lead to skeletal damage. Puppies or miniature breeds can have their nailed trimmed with regular nail clippers, but most dogs require clippers made specifically for dogs. Only trim a very small piece of the nail and repeat as often as necessary. Most dogs need their nails trimmed about once a week, but some breeds can go for a month before needing trimmed again. If you cut the nail too short and it starts to bleed, apply a small amount of corn starch or styptic powder to the area and hold pressure until the bleeding stops.

Now it is time to give your dog a bath. If your dog is nervous or apprehensive in the tub, you may need a special leash designed for use in the bath. These often feature suction cups to keep the dog restrained and your hands free to wash him. Remove your dog's collar before placing him in the tub and use a waterproof collar that won't damage your dog's coat or skin if you need a way to restrain him. Make sure your dog is completely dry before you put his collar back on to prevent sores around his neck. Wait about 12 hours.

It is best to wash your dog with running water, rather than filling the tub and washing him in dirty water, but many dogs are frightened by the sound of water. Work with your dog gently, without force, to get him accustomed to baths and remember to be patient because it may take time. Get your dog completely wet. An attachment hose for your shower head or bath faucet or even a pressurized spray nozzle on your outdoor hose will work well for most dogs. Again, remember to be patient with your dog if he is apprehensive.

You have already cleaned your dog's ears, eyes, and mouth, so you can start washing around his neck and then work your way down over the rest of his body. Use a shampoo appropriate for your dog and dilute it with a small amount of water. Diluting your dog shampoo will make it rinse easier without leaving soap residue behind. Work in small sections, applying a bit of the shampoo to your hand and working it into the dog's fur. If your dog has a thick coat, you can use a curry brush like the one available by Kong Zoom Groom to work the shampoo through. If you are bathing a dog with long hair, smooth the shampoo through the coat rather than brushing it in to avoid knots and unruly tangles. When you have finished washing your dog's body, carefully shampoo his head.

Rinse your dog completely before removing him from the water. Hot spots, or bald patches of skin that are itchy and uncomfortable, are caused by shampoo left in your dog's coat. Rinse him with clean, running water until the water runs clear of both soap and dirt.

Once your dog is rinsed well, you can get him out of the tub and dry him. Use a thick, soft towel to absorb most of the water and allow your dog to shake himself as well. Make sure you dry his feet very well to prevent fungus or bacteria from growing in his paws. If your dog has a short, easy to manage coat, you are finished grooming him.

Dogs with long hair, thick coats, and curly hair require a little more maintenance. If your dog has a lot of hair, you can use a blow dryer to speed up the drying process. Take care not to dry the hair completely with the appliance because you may cause damage to his skin. A brush, along with the blow dryer, can help keep long-haired dogs free of mats and tangles. Dogs with curly hair, like poodles, must be dried completely to keep their coats looking good.

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