5 Grooming Tips For Short-Haired Dogs

May 20, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Grooming Short-Haired Dogs

Short-haired dogs need grooming too! While it’s easy to assume short-haired dogs only require wash-and-go baths, they actually need a bit more. Short-haired dogs do shed. While their shedding coat doesn’t fall out in clumps during spring, it does slowly shed year-round.

Check out these 5 dog grooming tips that will keep your short-haired dog looking stunning regardless of the season. And be prepared for fellow short-haired dog owners to stop and ask, “How do you keep your dog’s coat so shiny?”

How Short is Short?

Just to make sure we’re on the same page, I classify short-haired dogs by their coat length. Short-haired dogs should have a coat length of 1 inch or shorter, and their hair should be very straight.

Examples of short-haired dog breeds are:

Rottweilers
Labrador Retrievers
American Pit Bull Terriers
Bull Terriers (Standard & Miniature)
Chihuahuas
Boston Terriers
Greyhounds

1. Invest in a Good Brush

Yup, short-haired dogs need to be brushed. Short-haired dogs need regular brushing with a really good brush made specifically for short hair. You’ll need a stiff bristle brush with bristles that are tightly pushed together to remove the maximum amount of dead hair. You can pick one up at your local pet supply store or, if you want to splurge on a super nice brush, I suggest Chris Christenson’s Original Ionic Brass Boar Brush (he has a nylon version too if the boar thing creeps you out). Use this brush for daily brushing on dry hair.

For baths, I highly recommend the Zoom Groom by Kong. For some reason, dogs tend to shed a bit more during a bath, so use this to your advantage. After applying shampoo to your dog’s coat, slowly brush in the direction of your dog’s coat.

2. Use a Gentle Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Ideally, short-haired dogs should be bathed once a week. I know many old school dog owners still follow the timeless motto of “bathe your dog only when he needs it” rule, but I think times have changed. Dogs are sleeping in our beds now, going for walks and traveling with us; you’ve also got to remember they don’t wear shoes. Plus, bathing your dog weekly removes dead hair and dander and moisturizes your dog’s skin and coat.

Before bathing your dog, brush your dog thoroughly with a bristle brush first. This pre-bath step will help loosen and remove dead hair plus loosen dry skin flakes and dander, so shampoo can penetrate and moisturize your dog’s skin during the bathing process.

Choose a gentle and natural shampoo that rinses easily and leaves no residual stickiness behind. Check out this article on my favorite gentle dog shampoo and tips on washing your dog effortlessly.

Conditioner for Dogs

There’s a lot of debate on using conditioners on short-haired dogs’ coats. Personally, I think it depends on your dog’s coat needs. Also, conditioners have come a long way; they are no longer heavy oil-based concoctions that leave a greasy feeling after rinsing. Newer conditioners contain silk proteins, aloe and shea butter that moisturize your dog’s skin while leaving his coat feeling like soft, expensive suede.

For short-haired dogs, you’ll need light or leave-in conditioners that also protect your dog’s coat from the sun. My favorite is Chris Christenson’s Silk Spirits. It smells heavenly, can be used as a leave-in conditioner or rinsed out, and can be purchased on Amazon.

3. Keep Dog Nails Trimmed Short

While your dog is standing, take a look at his paws from the side. Nails should be touching the ground, which means you don’t hear tick-tick when he walks on hard surfaces. Long dog nails are painful, and will cause arthritis, so trim your dog’s nails weekly. Check out this article on trimming overgrown dog nails if your dog’s nails are way too long.

4. Keep Brushing Those Pearly Whites

I’m totally obsessed with canine dental hygiene; it’s something that can be easily prevented with daily brushings. Diseased teeth and gums not only smell bad and look horrible, but it can also cause heart and kidney disease too. If your dog’s breath smells, you’ll probably need to schedule a veterinary dental appointment. After your dog’s dental, keep his teeth clean with regular brushings.

5. Spot-Check Pads, Ears and “Down There”

During your dog’s bath, take a look at your dog’s paw pads, ears and genital area too.

Paw Pads

Look for dryness, cracks or cuts on your dog’s paw pads and moisturize as needed. If your dog’s paws are dry and cracked, I would moisturize them with paw cream daily. For cuts, keep the area clean. If your dog is licking at the area or you notice his paw cut is getting worse, it’s time to schedule a vet visit.

Ears

Now, take a peek and sniff in your dog’s ears. You should see healthy light pink skin and your dog’s ears should be odor-free. If you see debris and it smells yeasty or foul in your dog’s ears, it’s time for a veterinary checkup.

“Down There”

Now, it’s time to look at your dog’s genital and anal area. 🙂 Female dogs, especially those spayed before one year of age, can develop brown residue around their vulvas. Don’t freak out. This residue can be easily and gently cleaned during their bath. For males, check the penis opening for healthy looking skin. If crust or redness is present, I suggest a vet checkup. Checking and cleaning your dog’s anal area is pretty important too. Dry fecal matter builds up in the area, which can irritate your dog’s skin. If you notice any discharge, swelling or lumps around your dog’s anus, I highly recommend scheduling a veterinary exam promptly. It could be anal gland issues or worse.

Now, you can certainly glam it up with spray glosses made for dogs, but that’s a whole other topic. Short-haired dogs can wear it all! 🙂

Best Dog Toothbrush for Every Dog Size

May 11, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Choose the Best Dog Toothbrush

Some people just might think I’m obsessed with dog dental care. I’ve written numerous articles, interviewed veterinary dentists, and discussed the topic in length during all group and private lessons. Your dog’s dental hygiene is just as important as yours. If left unchecked, it can cause heart and kidney disease from periodontal disease.

With that said, I’ve written oodles of articles and created videos on how to brush your dog’s teeth, which products work best and how to teach your dog to stand still during brushings. However, I’ve never discussed how to choose a specific toothbrush for your dog’s mouth. Believe me, size does matter!

Dog Toothbrush 101

Expect to change out your dog’s toothbrush every couple of months; look at the bristles and purchase a new one if they become frayed.
Dogs need their teeth brushed daily at best, and several times a week at a minimum.
Only choose very soft bristled dog toothbrushes. Medium or hard versions are just as harmful to your dog’s teeth as they are to yours. 🙂
Choose toothpaste made for pets only. Human toothpaste can be poisonous to your dog.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the double-sided toothbrushes–you know the ones sold in most pet supply places with a small toothbrush on one end and a large dog toothbrush on the other end? This type of toothbrush is just too long and cumbersome. Plus, they’re extremely expensive compared to human toothbrushes.

RELATED: Small Dog Dental Care Tips

Toothbrush for Small Dogs (1-20 pounds)

Little dogs have little mouths, and moving a toothbrush around in such a small space can be challenging. For dogs under 10 pounds, you’ll need a narrow toothbrush with a tiny handle. I highly recommend the C.E.T. Pet Toothbrush for a small dog (yellow handle) for tiny dogs. It has enough bristles to brush tiny teeth and the handle is narrow, so it fits in small dog mouths.

For dogs over 10 pounds that have larger teeth, I recommend a very soft bristled children’s toothbrush. You can find them at your local grocery store or pharmacy center.

Toothbrush for Medium Sized Dogs (20-45 pounds)

While this category ranges widely in size, medium sized dogs usually have good sized teeth for their size. For smaller mouthed dogs, such as some Terriers, a very soft bristled children’s toothbrush works best.

For larger dogs in this category, search for an adult toothbrush at your local grocery store or pharmacy center. As you’re looking through toothbrush options, look for a small to medium sized head toothbrush, which usually has a round shape. Round-shaped medium sized head toothbrushes usually narrow between the brush and handle, which works great for medium sized dogs. Don’t forget to choose a very soft bristle option.

Toothbrush for Large Dogs (45-80 pounds)

Depending on the size of your large dog’s mouth, choose a medium to large sized oval head toothbrush. These options usually narrow between the head and handle, which makes navigating between teeth much easier. When in doubt, choose one size smaller.

Now, some large dogs have huge mouths, such as a Lab and smaller Rottweiler. For these guys, choose a rectangular brush head option that slightly tapers on the corners. These toothbrushes are slightly larger than the oval option, which works for large mouthed dogs.

Toothbrush for Extra Large Dogs (80+ pounds)

While it seems like brushing a Rottweiler or Saint Bernard’s teeth would be super easy, it certainly has its own challenges for sure. Choose a wide rectangle brush option with a sturdy and wide handle. Extra large dogs have big teeth, so you’ll need lots of bristles to clean each tooth thoroughly and a wide handle to navigate a large mouth.

Most massive dogs drool; and, when brushing their teeth, they drool even more, which makes grasping a medium or small toothbrush very difficult. Additionally, brushing your huge dog’s teeth with a small toothbrush can be hazardous, as it can slip from your fingers and be easily swallowed by your dog.

Choosing the right sized toothbrush for your dog’s mouth size will speed up brushing plus leave teeth pearly white!

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What to Do When Your Dog is Sprayed By a Skunk

May 9, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Removing Skunk Smell From Your Dog

I will never forget the first time my dog was sprayed by a skunk; the smell was so intense I literally thought we had an electrical fire in our home. My poor dog was walking around sneezing, yet I had my husband in the attic looking for the fire. I can laugh now, but fresh skunk smell can take your breath away.

Once we realized it was our poor dog that smelled, we put her in the tub to bathe her beard. Of course, it would be our full-bearded Bouvier to be the dog sprayed by a skunk, and it was midnight. Poor girl, I shampooed her long beard and mustache with anything I could find, and it still stunk.

Getting Rid of Skunk Smell

Since this happened at night, we tried a homemade skunk smell removal recipe at first. It removed ¼ of the smell, but Nature’s Miracle removed the rest of it. Afterwards, a faint skunk odor would still be present whenever she got wet from playing in the rain. However, my sense of smell is my superpower. I can track like a Bloodhound.

How to Make Your Own Skunk Smell Remover

After bathing my poor dog several times with dog and human (I know I’m not supposed to, but it stunk so bad) shampoo, I grabbed my computer and searched online. A simple de-skunk recipe popped up over and over, so I gave it a try. Seriously, it was the middle of the night and our house smelled awful; I had to do something.

Recipe for Homemade Skunk Smell Remover

In an empty bottle, or large bowl in our case, mix the following ingredients together:

A bottle (1 quart) of 3% hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup of baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid dishwasher detergent (we used Dawn)

Squirt or pour the skunk smell remover over the skunked area several times, making sure to avoid your dog’s eyes. We used a cup around our dog’s muzzle. Rub the mixture into the coat, especially for long-coated areas.

Next, shampoo the mixture out of your dog’s coat. Apply a tearless dog shampoo and rub thoroughly into your dog’s skin and fur. Rinse and repeat by shampooing your dog’s coat again just to make sure this mixture is completely removed.

Nature’s Miracle Skunk Remover

Once stores were open the next day, I popped in and grabbed any product that promised to remove that awful smell. Apparently I smelled like skunk too because the young cashier wrinkled her nose, as I embarrassingly paid for these products and slinked out the door.

There were a couple of products that worked pretty well, but Nature’s Miracle Skunk Remover did the trick for us. Follow the directions, don’t dilute the mixture, pour it straight onto your dog’s affected coat and allow it to sit. Rinse and repeat. You’ll probably need to repeat the process 3-4 times to remove the maximum amount of skunk smell.

Don’t Let It Happen Again

An important step is to make sure skunks don’t spray your dog again. When this happened, we lived in an extremely rural area and the skunk refused to move. She made a nest adjacent to our backyard and was determined to raise her children there too! If you’re lucky, the skunk that sprayed your dog is miles away by now.

Well, I wasn’t going out there to chase the skunk away, so I placed sturdy exercise pens (portable metal fences) diagonally 10 feet from her nest, which is the furthest a skunk can spray. Then, I covered these portable fences with old outdoor carpet, so the dogs couldn’t see her. And yes, our dogs ran to the fence every time they went outside, but she didn’t spray them. After a week, she moved on. Maybe we were loud neighbors.

I’m sure you’ll never forget your first encounter with skunk spray! 🙂

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Dog Elbow Callus Treatment: Products That Work

May 6, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Get Rid of Calluses on Your Dog’s Elbow

We’ve never had an issue with elbow calluses on our dogs until we moved into a home with ceramic tile. After living in our home for two weeks, I noticed our Rottweiler was developing rough spots around his elbows. We needed to address the calluses on his elbows quickly.

What are Dog Elbow Calluses?

Basically, elbow calluses develop mostly around the elbow area and sometimes hocks (back legs). These calluses are dry, scaly, hairless and firm. Some calluses are dark brown and black, and others are gray; it depends on your dog’s skin and how long your dog has had a callus. Just like humans, calluses are caused by skin coming into contact with something rough or hard repeatedly. Over time, rough skin forms and, if left untreated, become a callus.

Some pet owners refer to dog calluses as pressure sores, but I think there’s a huge difference. If left untreated, some dog elbow calluses will crack and bleed, causing a lesion (sore). If a pressure sore is left untreated, it will likely become infected. If your dog’s calluses are oozing or bleeding, I would schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out any issues.

Preventing Dog Elbow Calluses

Preventing a callus from forming on your dog’s elbows is a tough one. Lying on soft bedding will prevent calluses, but some dogs prefer cool tile to an expensive orthopedic bed. 🙂 Trust me, I’ve been there! My Rottie has multiple cushy beds scattered around our home, but he prefers to lie on cool tile, especially during warmer months. During colder months, calluses seem to disappear because dogs will choose to lie on warmer, softer bedding.

During warmer months, instead of prevention, I jump straight into treatment, which prevents calluses from getting out of hand.

Dog Elbow Callus Treatment

Thankfully, there are tons of treatments for dog elbow calluses out there that work. I’ll share a few products I’ve personally used with great success as well as products that didn’t work out too well and why.

What Has Worked

I’ve tried tons of products, and these products worked the best!

The Blissful Dog Elbow Butter

By far, this product has worked the best. The Blissful Dog Elbow Butter is packed into tubes that resemble huge chapstick containers. Just pull off the long plastic cap, twist the bottom of the tube to push the product upward and apply generously. After having dabbed Elbow Butter all around my dog’s elbow callus, I began to rub the product onto his skin. Using your fingers, gently massage the product into the callus. As you’re rubbing, you’ll feel different callus layers; make sure to rub the product between these layers. In the beginning, I apply Elbow Butter twice a day–in the morning and before bed. After a week, you’ll notice your dog’s callus soften, so apply once a day going forward. Elbow Butter is made of all-natural ingredients, so it’s completely safe if your dog licks the area.

Good Old Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is tried and true; it will soften most calluses pretty quickly. Generously apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to your dog’s calluses and rub it in. Massaging the product into calluses is an important step. You need to reach all areas of a callus, and not just the top surface area. Apply every 12 hours for a week, and then keep the area soft with daily applications.

One negative about using petroleum jelly is it will leave the area feeling and looking greasy, which can transfer onto your flooring. However, with a low price point, I think it’s an easy issue to look over.

Products That Didn’t Work Very Well

These dog elbow callus treatment products just didn’t work well for my dogs and client’s dogs.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil believers swear this is a miracle product, but I didn’t have good luck using it as a dog elbow callus treatment. It’s super greasy even after rubbing it into the area for 2-3 minutes. Plus, it smells lovely, meaning my Rottie just licked it all off his elbow. If the product is removed from an area, it doesn’t have a chance to moisturize. Also, excessively licking can cause lick granulomas. Yuck!

Vitamin E

Many pet professionals swear rubbing vitamin E oil onto dog calluses works great. Well, I didn’t have such luck. It was extremely greasy and left a weird residue. And just like coconut oil, my dogs were attracted to the smell and licked every bit off my Rottie’s elbows.

Regardless of which product you use, start moisturizing your dog’s elbow calluses sooner rather than later for quicker results.

3 Tips That Will Drastically Reduce Dog Shedding

April 27, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Reduce Dog Shedding

As the temperature rises, your dog’s winter undercoat will start to fall out. It’s a normal canine process that happens twice a year, but a dog shedding after winter is usually worse. The moment you notice an increase of loose dog hair, it’s time to jump into action for best results. Do know, you don’t have to live life coated in dog hair. Try these tips to drastically reduce dog shedding.

Choose the Right Dog Brush

Before you reach for any old dog brush, understand that not all dog brushes are alike. Depending on your dog’s coat length and texture, you’ll need a special brush that will do the job quickly by capturing and pulling out any loose hair caught in the coat. Slicker brushes and undercoat rakes do the best job for medium to long-coated breeds.

When using either dog brush option, make sure to use light pressure; never push the bristles down onto your dog’s skin, or you’ll cause large scratches. When using these brushes, brush your dog’s hair slowly and by sections for long, thick coats. Short-coated dogs do well with a rubber curry comb or your hands running along their body over and over.

Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

Dogs don’t understand to stand still while their coats are being brushed. Follow these quick dog grooming tips that will quickly teach your dog to stand still, which makes brushing much easier for both of you. If your dog already stands still, reward good behavior to make sure it sticks around. 🙂

Brush Your Dog Daily

By far, brushing your dog daily is the single most important step to shorten the process of shedding. Unfortunately, many pet owners brush their dogs once and assume all loose hair has been removed, and that’s furthest from the truth. When a dog is blowing coat (shedding like crazy), it can take at least two weeks of daily brushing to get it under control.

Yes, brush your dog daily until you notice a drastic decline in dog shedding hair. The first few days will be crazy, so bring a chair outdoors and brush away. Don’t worry about the loose dog hair in your yard; birds will quickly grab it to make cozy nests for spring eggs. Of course, keep flying dog hair away from your neighbor’s yard and any pools. If your dog is large or has tons of hair, brush one side per day and alternate until you reduce dog shedding.

You’ll be totally convinced your dog is bald or has lost 10 pounds by the end, but keep brushing. Around the sixth or seventh day, you’ll notice a sudden decrease in dog shedding, which indicates it’s time for a bath. 🙂 However, you’re still not done! You’ll need to brush your dog for another week to remove any leftover shedding hair, but it will be much fewer now.

If you notice any bald patches or lesions, schedule a veterinary appointment. It’s amazing what you’ll find when your dog sheds.

Bathe Your Dog

When dogs shed and loose undercoat is brushed out, their skin gets dry and dusty. Use a gentle and highly moisturizing shampoo to soothe the dry skin and coat left behind after brushing daily for seven days.

When bathing your dog, wet your dog’s coat, add shampoo and lather from skin to hair. Allow shampoo lather to remain on your dog’s coat, depending on your chosen shampoo’s recommendations. Now, rinse and rinse again. Grab your dog’s shampoo and bathe again. I know this takes longer, but a second shampoo will thoroughly loosen any dead hair and remove skin flakes. After your dog’s second shampoo, rinse, rinse and then rinse again.

On warm days, allowing your dog’s coat to air dry is pretty safe. For longer and thicker coats, it’s best to use a force dryer (has no heating element and made specially for dogs) to blow excessive water out of your dog’s coat. Some thick dog coats can trap moisture and start to smell.

If this all seems like too much, schedule a thorough bath and blow-dry with a professional dog groomer. Using a force dryer can blow dead undercoat out too, so it’s totally worth it after brushing your dog’s coat out for seven days.

Don’t forget to continue brushing your dog for an additional seven days after his bath. Sometimes, bathing stimulates a dog’s skin to drop excess undercoat, so you’ll need to keep brushing. 🙂

Moisturize From the Inside Out

There’s no way to stop dog shedding–it’s going to happen. To make the dog shedding process a bit easier, I recommend supplementing with fish or coconut oils. Adding omega-3s to your dog’s diet daily will keep his skin moisturized, which prevents dandruff and irritated skin.

Stick to brushing your dog thoroughly for 14 days, and you’ll soon notice a huge reduction in dog shedding. Happy brushing!