Grooming your dog or puppy

It's a good idea to get into a daily grooming routine – it’s a great way to form a bond with your dog, as well as looking after their coat.

Daily brushing feels great to a dog and it removes dead hair and dirt. Choose a brush that’s designed to suit your dog’s size and their fur.

Grooming is also a good chance to check your dog’s claws, eyes, ears and teeth.
 

Claw trimming

If your dog often walks on hard surfaces like pavements, their claws won’t usually get too long. If not, they'll need regular trimming to make walking comfortable. Ask your vet or a professional dog groomer to show you how to do this.
 

Eyes and ears

Your dog's eyes and ears should always be clean. You can gently clean the area around their eyes with moist cotton wool. Do the same for the ears, but be careful not to poke inside; it’s sensitive in there.
 

Teeth and gums

It is important to establish a daily routine to care for your dog's teeth and gums.  There is a guide to brushing your dog's teeth in our dental care section. When your puppy is 14 weeks and starts to shed it’s deciduous (milk teeth) teeth then from about six months when the puppy’s permanent teeth are established, you can help prevent teeth and gum problems by using Pedigree DentaStix which are scientifically proven to reduce tartar build-up.