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If you just got your first dog, it is important that you know how to properly groom your pet. Grooming your pet is just one of your responsibilities as a pet owner. Here are the basics when it comes to giving your dog a bath, brushing their coat, and cutting their nails, the three most essential grooming habits that you need to learn to do as a new dog owner.

#1 Bathing Your Dog

It is essential that you give your dog a bath. If your dog is an outside dog, you can get away with giving them a bath once or twice a month. However, if your dog is an inside dog, in order to keep your house smelling clean as well as your dog, you'll want to bathe your dog every week.

If your dog is a puppy, this is the perfect time for its first bath. Bathing your dog regularly when they are a puppy will help your dog becoming comfortable with bathing and will help ensure that your dog doesn't fight you to take baths when they are older.

When you bathe your dog, you are going to want to use warm water to clean them. Don't use hot water – it will not be comfortable for your dog, nor will really cold water. Use shampoo that is created just for dogs and be sure to rinse really well; leaving soap residue on your dog's skin can make them itch. Lightly towel dry your dog and keep them inside until they have dried off.

#2 Taking Care Of Your Dog's Coat

Second, you need to make sure that you take care of your dog's coat. You are going to need to brush your dog's coat in between their baths. Brushing your dog's hair not only ensures that it doesn't get tangled and matted, it also help keep their coat healthy by spreading around your dog's natural oils.

Dogs with long hair need their coats brushed more often than dogs with shorter hair, due to the potential for tangles and matting. You'll also want to brush more frequently as the weather warms up and your dog starts to shed. Brushing your dog daily while they are shedding will help keep their hair from getting all over your house, car, and yard.

#3 Clipping Your Dog's Nails

The last grooming task is one that you don't have to do that often. Your dog's nails will need to be clipped about once a month, and potentially longer, depending on how your dog's nails grow. The nail growth rate varies from one dog breed to another. Lots of activity can also wear down your dog's nails.

Clipping your dog's nails requires you to cut their nails like you would your own nails. However, unlike baths, which most dogs enjoy, most dogs don't like getting their nails cut. You may want to take your dog to a professional groomer to get their nails cut until you learn how to properly cut your dog's nails. This will help ensure that you don't hurt your dog while clipping their nails, and it will allow you to keep your dog calm and hold them while someone else clips. 

For more information, contact a professional in your area like those found at Love & Care Pet Salon.