Whether your dog is long-haired or short-haired, grooming should be done regularly so that your pet feels well and be healthy, and, in the end, looks beautiful. Since grooming salon visits are not enough for the intended purpose (even if you take your pet to the professional every month), many new dog owners wonder how and when they should do grooming sessions at home.
The question of how often you should groom your dog is answered by its breed, i.e. type of coat. Breeds like the Komondor, Afghan Hound, or Shih Tzu certainly require more frequent grooming, as opposed to breeds like the Boxer, Beagle, or Labrador. But whatever your dog’s breed, regular grooming at home won’t be difficult if you have the right tools and follow a few tips provided by experienced groomers.

Brushing is not reserved for long-haired dogs. Grooming for short-haired breeds should also include brushing, as this removes loose hair and various dirt from the dog’s coat, reducing the need for frequent bathing (which, as we will see below, should be avoided).
Brush right down to the skin, especially gently on the sensitive underside of your dog’s belly. Thus, besides hygienic function, you will do massaging action, improving the pet’s blood circulation.
In terms of tools, long-haired breeds require pin brushes, while short-haired breeds need bristle brushes. Particularly useful are self-cleaning combination brushes, suited to both short and long-haired pets (especially if you have several dogs with different coat lengths).

Brush your dog several times a week, although it would be best to give him these ‘massage sessions’ every day.

Some people are hypersensitive to the usual smell of dogs, so they often bathe their pets. But too frequent baths are harmful to the dog’s skin and coat because they remove the natural oils. The actual need for most dogs is to bathe every few months.
To bathe your dog, always use a shampoo specially formulated for dogs – don’t use products designed for humans, even babies.
Wet the dog well with warm water and apply the shampoo, starting from the neck back, avoiding the mouth, eyes, and inside of the ears. Finally, rinse well with warm water, let the dog shake, then rub vigorously with a towel.
To avoid having to bathe your pet more often than usual, use a damp towel to wipe dirt, sand, or mud from his coat when necessary.

When to trim your dog’s nails? When you hear them clicking as he walks on the hard floors in your home.
Long nails can cause health problems for your pet. Besides deforming or making his gait painful, they can easily break, often at the base of the nail where the blood vessels and nerves are.
To avoid injuring your dog while trimming his nails, use only a clipper specially designed for this purpose. It is advisable to have a clipper with a safety guard that will prevent the nails from being cut too short. Since most dogs strongly dislike trimming, do not insist on doing it for all nails at once. Start with two or just one nail at a time and let your dog know he has nothing to fear. The general recommendation is to trim every four to six weeks.