What kind of dog do you have? Is yours a Rin-Tin-Tin in the making or Tramp, the smelly pound runaway? After you pet your dog, can you grab a potato chip, or do you run to the sink to wash your hands?

Maybe it’s time for Poopsy to have a bath.

With the warmer weather, a lot of dog owners will be thinking of taking Fido out to the back deck for an annual bathing event, but if you listen to the grooming expert of Littleton’s Wag ‘N Wash, your key watch phrase is, “Be Prepared.”

“Everything needs to be right with you,” said Mike Gacek, manager of Wag ‘N Wash, “because the last thing you want to do is tell your dog, ‘wait here, I need to run to the store for more shampoo.’

“Working with dogs is like working with a two-year old. You have that window of opportunity, and once they say ‘I’m done’–you’re done,” said Mike.

We asked him to give us some pointers for the do-it-yourself fans who are planning to groom their dogs soon. Mike explained that these are the basic steps to a complete grooming experience:

1. Gather your tools – brushes, shampoos, cotton balls and dog-formula ear cleaner, toothbrushes, dog-style nail trimmers, and styptic powder (just in case). Mike also recommended that you have a friend help you. “If you’re doing this yourself, and not using a groomer, I suggest you have a pair of people—a handler and a groomer kind of thing.”
2. Start with brushing – Especially with longer coated dogs, Mike says, “Do some brushing first while the dog is still dry. That’s what we suggest to people who are using our self-wash area. Brush through tangles, because once you get the coat wet, those tangles are going to be worse and harder to take care of.”
3. Shampoo your pet – Mike suggests using specially formulated dog shampoos because human shampoos have more chemicals in them. “Our thicker skin can handle that, but dogs can have sensitivities to human shampoos,” he said.
4. Rinse—”Make sure that you rinse your dog thoroughly,” Mike continued. “Otherwise you can accidentally dry out the coat or skin.”
5. Dry—If you visit a self-grooming shop like Wag ‘N Wash, they’ll have dryers and towels for you to use. If you’re working out on your back deck, best to have a stack of towels nearby. Let your dog shake off the water, then jump in with a good rub-down.
6. Nails, teeth, and ears would be the last tasks you would do. If these are a bigger challenge than you expected, a good groomer can help. This is true especially if you haven’t trained your dog from puppyhood to let you touch those sensitive areas of its body. And remember to have a fun with your dog. Grooming can be a great bonding opportunity.

We asked how long this would take. “If you bring a dog to the groomers, depending on the dog, from drop off to pick-up it usually takes two to three hours,” he replied. If this is your first time grooming your pet, you may need a little extra time.

Dogs should be groomed every six to eight weeks. Mike explained that you don’t want to wash too frequently and dry the skin or so infrequently that tangles start to form.

It’s also very important to use equipment that’s the right size for your dog, and comfortable for you. For example, there are several different kinds of dog brushes to choose from when you’re shopping for your pet:

• A rubber curry brush is good for terriers and other short coat dogs. This is an oval shaped tool made of soft rubber, and will help massage as you brush.
• Long-coated dogs will need more of a “rake” type of brush. Mike said the longer spindles will be able to reach the undercoat and do a thorough job of removing mats and tangles.
• The slicker, or wire-pronged brush is best for running through top coats.
• The razor brush (often called Furminator works well to pull out undercoats and help reduce general shedding. But be careful with this tool. “You don’t want to overdo it,” said Mike, “because the Ferminators work so well you can accidentally damage your dog’s coat.”

Before getting started, you may want to plan to spend time at your local pet-grooming store and ask questions. Most shop staff will be willing to spend the time necessary to fit your dog’s grooming need to the right tools.

And Mike’s last piece of advice?

“Take your time. If you do a little here and a little there, you can make grooming a pleasant part of your time with your dog, and not something Fluffy fears.”

(Photo by Jonathan Silverberg)