Handling and grooming your puppy

Grooming a dog that stands nicely is a pleasure.  The job can be done quickly and thoroughly and you can easily reach all the awkward parts that could easily become matted.  To groom a dog which will not stand still can be a nightmare and could get to be a spiralling problem.  If the dog will not let you remove a small mat from his coat, it stands the risk of being left.  The mat can only get worse and if he would not let you remove a small mat, what chance do you stand with a great filthy knot of hair?

Daily grooming sessions will help you to build a good relationship with your dog.  As pack leader, it is your right to pick the time and place for these sessions.If they are enjoyable for the dog, it will help to establish your position as top of the pile.  If there is a running battle every time the brush comes out, your relationship with the dog could be in a very unstable state.

It is as essential to groom a short coated dog as a long haired one - all coats need the stimulation of a brush to remove dead hair, but the most important reason is to build and reinforce the right relationship with your dog. There is more to grooming than simply brushing the coat, it includes having the dog stand still while you wipe clean muddy paws or towel him down after a romp.  Teaching the pup to stand still now could save you a chase around the sofa with a filthy muddy hound!

Visits to the vet are less stressful. 

For a dog that is difficult to handle, a trip to the vets can be a nightmare for him, the owner and the vet.  The dog must be examined for an accurate diagnosis and treatment to be given, but this is rather difficult to do when the dog is doing a wall of death around the consulting room.  For the dog who behaves badly at the vet, each visit becomes worse than the last.  They know as soon as the car pulls up at the surgery where they are and react accordingly.  They are already in a stressed state before the vet even sees them and is immediately on the defensive when anyone tries to handle them.  This situation would never happen if all puppies learned to accept being handled and to trust in humans without questioning their attention.

Giving Medication is easier.

Few dogs go through life without needing some sort of treatment , such as tablets, bandages or ear drops.  This can be a real problem if the dog will not accept the owner's attention- the condition will not get better if not medicated correctly, it can become very costly if the dog must be brought to the vet for the nurses to administer daily medications, it does not lead to a happy relationship if a battle ensues every time a worming table is being administered and a real struggle could even end with the owner being given a nasty bite.

A well handled puppy is a well socialised dog.

No matter where you go, you will always meet people who do not know the correct way to approach a dog.  Children can be prone to reach out to the dog first and ask questions later, some adults insist on giving dogs a well meaning pat on the top of the head.   For a dog which has not become used to being handled, these situations can be very difficult to deal with and he may react badly - with a growl or a snap.  Not acceptable behaviour, whatever the dog's reasons.

Dealing with difficult situations

Should a difficult situation arise, will your dog trust you enough to allow you to help them?  They could get their leg trapped in a fence, get a thorn stuck in their pad or fall down a hole that they cannot climb out if they need your help, but if they will not let you handle them when they are not hurt or distressed, what chance do you have when they are?

Stroking a dog is good for you!

Last but not least, stroking a dog is one of life's pleasures and is a great stress buster.  So for your own health as well as his, teach your puppy to enjoy being handled by grooming him, stroke him and build up the relationship that having a dog is all about.

Grooming Health Checks

Regular grooming and handling sessions are an excellent opportunity for you to give your pup an all over health check. It is useful to get into a regular routine so that nothing is missed. This should be a pleasant and relaxing event for you both, but is not a game.  Choose your time carefully, ideally when the pup has finished with wild games and is feeling sleepy and ready for a cuddle.  Talk to him soothingly and reward them with verbal praise for accepting your handling of them.  Do not allow them to turn the handling session into playtime by stealing the brushes and running off with them.  A dog which is all wriggly is as difficult to handle as one which is trying to bite you.

Coat and Skin

All dogs, long and short coated need the stimulation given to the skin by daily brushing. This improves circulation of blood to the skin and helps spread essential oils through the coat, keeping it glossy.  Introduce your pup to grooming by initially using firm, positive stroking motions with your hand, all over his body -down his neck and back, down the legs, and under his tummy.  When he is happy with this, introduce a gentle brush such as a Zoom Groom which will remove dead hair and massage the skin.  Many dogs enjoy a good massage with brushes like this used in circular motions all over the back and sides.  Experiment to find out what your pup enjoys.  As your pup develops an adult coat, he may require special grooming techniques, such as combing out of feathers.   Whatever the coat type, try and avoid harsh wire brushes which can scratch delicate skin and turn grooming sessions into a torture.

While grooming your dog, you can check the skin all over. If you notice any hairless or inflamed patches, this should be mentioned to the vet.  If you see any sign of fleas - either live insects or, more commonly specks of dark grit like material which may be flea droppings, contact the surgery for advice on flea control.

Eyes 

Look at the corners of the eyes for signs of redness or discharge.  Some dogs have a slight, watery discharge from their eyes, which can easily be cleaned every day with a piece of damp cotton wool.  If the discharge is enough to cause tear staining around the eyes or becomes thick or discoloured, this should be checked by a vet immediately.

Ears

Lift the ear flaps and look at the opening of the ear canal, also take a quick sniff.  Dogs ears should not be waxy or smelly. If your dog's ears become dirty, this may require veterinary attention.  Some drop eared dogs do get smelly ears quite often and these will need to be cleaned regularly. 

A small amount of wax can be cleaned from around the ear using a proprietary ear cleaner, available from reception and a little cotton wool, but never poke anything down your dog's ears.  Many dogs have little fluffy hairs growing from their ear canals which can be a trap for wax. These will need to be plucked out from time to time.

Teeth

Lift your dog's lips and examine all the teeth, then open his mouth and look inside.  The teeth should be bright white, and there should be no redness around the gums.  Dogs should not have smelly breath.  As your pup becomes older, they may develop deposits of plaque around their teeth and gums.  As well as causing the teeth to become discoloured and creating bad breath this can lead to gingivitis, a gum infection which may lead to tooth loss or blood borne infections.  If your dog's teeth become affected by plaque, they can be cleaned under general anaesthetic, with a dental scaling and polishing machine.

As with all health problems prevention is, of course, better than cure.  Certain dry foods and specially designed dog chews will help prevent this, but there is no substitute for regular brushing with a dog toothpaste.  Animal toothpastes do not froth the way ones for humans do, and do not have the strong taste which many pets find unpleasant, instead having a savoury flavour which most dogs enjoy. 

They contain enzymes which gently break down plaque and kill the bacteria which cause tartar and gingivitis to develop, without the need for you to scrub hard.  If your dog has become used to having their teeth brushed when they are puppies, they will not object and will probably enjoy it!  Regular brushing allows a dog to become accustomed to having his mouth examined, making it much easier for you to remove dangerous items from him in a hurry, should this ever prove necessary. 

Feet

Pick up each foot in turn, feel and look between the toes for thorns or tangles of hair and check the nails.  Nails should touch the ground when the dog is standing, but should not curl round.  It is important that your dog's nails do not become too long.  This will cause their feet to be uncomfortable, and long claws can easily become caught on carpets and clothes, causing pain and distress. 

If your dog's nails are not being worn down regularly on pavements, they need to be clipped with appropriate nail clippers.  It is important that they are not cut too short or they will bleed and be painful, and you should ask the nurses for a demonstration if you are not sure how to go about this task.  If you prefer not to clip the nails yourself, it is always possible to make an appointment for the nurses to perform this task. 

Do not forget to check the dew claws which are situated further up the leg than the other nails, and may be difficult to find in long coated breeds.  Some breeders have these removed shortly after birth but if they are left intact they may grow very long and easily become caught and damaged.