If you have picked a dog with long hair you should be prepared to perform some extra work in keeping it nice and shiny. If you don't like to find a lot of hair floating around then it would be best if you selected a breed that is not known for shedding a lot of hair. If any of the family members are allergic to dog hair you should again pick a dog like a poodle or a hairless breed.

Some people like to bathe their dogs on a regular basis. However, some people do it so often that they dry out the skin of the dog and he will start itching himself. If the dog gets a lot of exercise outdoors and not cooped up in a small room in the house you may not have to do any bathing at all. We have always had several dogs in the house but they get out several times a day and get fully exercised. We take them occasionally to a neighborhood pond and let them swim there. Our dogs unfortunately have a propensity for rolling around in bad smelling stuff they find in the woods or the field and we have to bathe them when we get back to the house. Otherwise the dogs keep themselves clean and they are not smelly.

You need several brushes if you have selected a long-haired dog so you can comb the coat and straighten out any clumping of the hair. If you do a little grooming every day then the coat will never get really bad. You do also comb your hair every day so why not the dog? A young pup doesn't need much combing, but you do it gently anyway to get the pup used to feeling the comb bristles against his body. Any grooming is best done outdoors making it easier to just let the hair go flying wild. You will find that much of the hair ends up feathering bird nests. If you have picked a breed that needs plucking it may be best passed on to an expert groomer. An Airedale Terrier comes to mind that may require plucking of its coat. It should never be clipped because it will damage its coat. The plucking removes the dull dead hair resulting in the coat remaining shiny.

Handling the Pup

While you are combing the pup make it a habit of touching the pup all over to feel if there are any deformations and thickening of the muscles which may be caused by an inflammation. Check the eyes, ears, and teeth. If something doesn't look normal it may be best to bring the pup to a veterinarian to get a more accurate diagnosis. If there is anything to be concerned about you may then also get started on the right treatment of the ailment.

Your examination of the pup from early on accustoms the pup to be touched and looked at deeply. Like when you are looking at the teeth don't just look at the front teeth but open the mouth very gently so you can examine the back of the mouth as well. There could be a small stick that had lodged itself in the back of the pup's mouth that it would be a good idea to get removed before it does any damage.

Check between the toes for any burr or cut that may have resulted in the pup walking and running on uneven ground in the woods. There may be nothing but if you have accustomed the pup to be touched all over it will be so much easier to deal with the pup if there is something that needs to be removed.

Again the most important thing is to get pup accustomed to being touched all over and you by the same time learn what is normal and what is not. This will enable you to make a better diagnosis of any problems that may occur later by just watching the pup actions or reaction to any uncomfortable situation. Touching the paws is very important because you will have to do that in order to clip the nails if they have grown too long. This will happen if the dog is not aired on concrete or asphalt for some length of time. To clip the toe nails you need to acquire a special nail clipper. Before you use this special nail clipper it is a good idea to let a more experienced person show you how it is done so you don't inadvertently cut too deep into the nerves. If you make a mistake in that area it will be very difficult to keep the pup quiet the next time he needs a manicure because he will remember that it might hurt. Don't let the nails get too long. It is better to clip a small piece off every time rather that a larger piece more seldom. It will be a good idea to schedule yourself to perform the operation once every three months. You will know when the nails have become too long because you can hear the dog walk over the floors with a click-clack sound.

It may sound distasteful but it is a good idea to pay attention to the pup's bowl movements. Is the discharge solid or loose? If it doesn't look normal, and how do you know if it doesn't look normal unless you normally look at it? Has there been some excitement in the dog's life that could cause it to get a nervous stomach? Have you changed the feed? Is there any blood in the discharge? If you have any questions regarding what might be the problem take the pup to a veterinarian for a professional diagnosis.