With the right dog grooming equipment, you can keep your dog's fur and skin healthy and avoid all the costs associated with trips to a professional groomer. Many grooming supplies that professionals use are available to every dog owner. These include dog clippers, a dog grooming table, dog shampoo, conditioner, teeth cleaning supplies and a dog brush.
Dog Clippers
Owning professional quality dog clippers allows the dog owner to trim the dog's hair safely and effectively, and there are many clippers on the market. For around $150.00 to $200.00, you can find battery operated clippers. They come with detachable blades and cleaner to keep the blade sanitary. Most clippers come with clipper grease, lubricating oil and a cleaning brush.
Dog Grooming Table
A dog grooming table makes home dog grooming more ergonomic and safe for you and your dog. A table helps you avoid having to bend over or clog your bathtub drain with hair and dirt while your dog struggles to scamper out of the tub. You can find a table that folds up and includes a nylon harness that attaches to your dog's leash so that he'll stay still during the process.
Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
There are as many dog shampoos as shampoos for humans, and it's important to choose the right shampoo for your dog's fur, hair and skin needs. Some shampoos help relieve flea bite dermatitis and other shampoos help reduce general skin irritations. If your dog has hot spots or skin inflammation, a shampoo with oatmeal can be especially helpful. Many dog owners have found that also using a dog conditioner can help your dogs fur stay soft and the skin moisturized. Finding a shampoo and conditioner without artificial colors is often better for your dog's skin.
Washing Glove or Brush
You can clean your dog more thoroughly with a glove or brush specifically designed for dog washing. There are plastic brushes with little knobs sticking out and gloves with rough surfaces. These fit on your hand and you go over the dog's body after applying shampoo and conditioner.
Dog Brushes and Combs
A high quality dog brush and comb can help decrease the number of times you need to bathe your dog as well as keeping your dog's skin and fur healthy. The brush should be wire on one side and a soft brush on the other. The size of the brush should correlate to your dog's size so that it is not painful for your dog. A dog with irritated skin may only be able to tolerate a softer brush. A dog comb is especially useful for a dog with very long hair.
Nail Trimmers
It can be dangerous to try to clip your dog's nails with human nail clippers so dog nail trimmers are an important part of home grooming supplies. The trimmers should correspond to the size of your dog's nails and should be kept clean and sanitized. Ask your vet or a professional groomer to show you how to clip your dog's nails to avoid any injury to the dog.