First time pet owner? You probably feel over-the-moon about owning your first dog! But becoming a new dog owner takes great responsibility. Maintaining the health and safety of your newfound companion takes a lot of time, research, and dedication. You’re probably terrified of accidentally doing something wrong and hurting your dog. Not to worry! Here are just a few dog grooming tips to help you get started!

Essential equipment

When you’re completing basic grooms, you’ll want to have a few of these items. If you’re unsure about the size and type of equipment needed, ask a professional!

  • Hairbrush
  • Nail clipper
  • Flea shampoo
  • Dog toothpaste + toothbrush
  • Towel

You can consult your vet and get your dog professionally groomed at least once before you tackle grooming. They’ll be able to identify your dog’s coat type, and shed some light on their sensitivities, allergies, and health conditions. Especially if it’s your first time, you may not be equipped to groom your pet if they have specific skin conditions. If there are significant scabs and/or infections, it’s best to see a vet so you won’t end up seriously injuring your dog!

dog first aid in case something goes wrong

Pet First Aid

Speaking of injury, before we get into the nitty-gritty of at-home grooming, let’s talk about pet first aid.

Emergency situations happen! No matter how many precautions you put in, you can never guarantee that something won’t go wrong. So you need to expect the unexpected. If you don’t want to learn how to conduct full-on doggie grooms, that’s fair. But as a responsible pet owner, it’s worthwhile to take a course on First Aid. You’ll learn about performing CPR, checking for vitals, treating minor wounds, dealing with heatstroke/dehydration, and more. This way, you’ll always know you’re prepared for the worst and be able to protect and help your canine companion.

Our best dog grooming tips

We can’t cover every single dog grooming trick in the book. Not only will it be overwhelming to new owners, but its extensiveness means it’s better suited to learn in a dog grooming course. While you should be visiting the groomer regularly, you can extend the time between visits! Here’s what you can do at home:

Brushing

Brushing your dog’s coat removes excess hair. This is a lifesaver if you have a heavy-shedder. If your dog has a short coat, you won’t need to do it often. No matter the coat length, you’ll stimulate blood circulation and natural oil production to condition the coat. Ensure you choose the correct brush for your dog’s coat. Not sure which is best? Talk to your groomer!

brushing dog at home maintenance

Bathing

  • Get the rest of the body wet during a bath first before proceeding to the head. Use your hand to push back and away from the dog’s eyes and ears.
  • Avoid getting water and soap into their eyes and ears. Use a teapot to rinse off any suds with precision!
  • Do not bath the dog if they have any mats in their coat. The water can entangle the hairs further!
  • Ear infections are quite common in dogs! Trapped water in the ear canals is a common culprit, harboring bacteria. Save plucking and detangling ear hairs to the pros, but ensure that you use a cotton round to pat excess moisture off when you bathe your dog.
  • A light mist can work for young puppies who need an introduction to the bathing process.
  • Flea baths: choose a shampoo that’s recommended by your vet. Otherwise, ensure your shampoo kills both adult fleas and flea eggs. Flea shampoos are quite drying, so make sure you condition the coat right after!

Trimming Nails

  • It’s actually painful for dogs if their nails are left too long! But it can be easy to cut the nail too short, leading to even more pain and even bleeding! Watch out for the quick. It’s a highly sensitive vein located in the widest part of the nail. It’s easier to spot under white nails than black nails since the quick is pink. But whether the nail is black or white, the quick is always located in the same place—before the curved, hook part of the nail. If you’re nervous about cutting it, it’s best to leave it to a professional groomer. Any anxiety will be sensed by your dog!
  • Don’t forget the dewclaw— it’s located partway up the inside of a dog’s legs. If left untrimmed, a dewclaw will continue to grow and curl back around into the dog’s foot, causing pain and infection. Trim it as short as possible without clipping the quick.
  • If you do trim the quick, apply styptic powder or gel to stop the bleeding.

Brushing Teeth

  • Just as brushing your own teeth cleans bacteria, plaque, and tartar to prevent gingivitis or gum infections, so too is it necessary for dogs. Look for long-handled toothbrushes with soft bristles to avoid irritating your dog’s gums.
  • Since dogs can’t spit, they ingest their toothpaste. Buy specialty dog toothpaste—human toothpaste contains fluoride, which is dangerous for dogs!
  • Brushing your pup’s teeth can be a daunting task. You could get bit if your dog doesn’t want you near its mouth! Try putting some toothpaste on a new chew toy—it’ll get the job done without sacrificing your digits!
  • Fun toothpaste flavors in chicken or beef can make the whole process easier.

Other Tips

  • Spot a tick? Put a drop of liquid soap to one end of a Q-Tip. Swab the tick a couple times, and lift it off. The tick should be stuck to the cotton end and come right out. No hassle!
  • Having a hard time getting your dog settled? Reward them with some homemade dog treats!
  • Sharpen your tools! The last thing you want is a snag or a painful, ragged cut of hair or nails.

Got any other grooming tips you’d like to share? Leave a comment!

Think you know a thing or two about dog grooming? Test yourself with this quiz!

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Join the discussion 35 Comments

  • Thanks for mentioning brushing the dog’s coat to help with natural oil production. My new Eskimo puppy needs to be groomed a lot so I need to find a groomer. I’ll be sure to find one that is affordable and can take care of my puppy.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Taylor,

      Thanks so much for commenting and for taking the time to read this article. We’re glad to hear that you found it useful! 🙂 We’re sure that whichever groomer you find to take care of your puppy will do an awesome job! xx

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Paul Langley says:

    It’s great that you mention dog grooming. We have two dogs that need to get groomed. It has been awhile. I’ll definitely make plans eventually!

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to read this article and leave your thoughts! 🙂 We’re sure your dogs will have a great time at the groomers, once they’re able to go. That reminds me – I need to book an appointment soon for my Corgi! Thanks for unintentionally reminding me! 😛

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Alam says:

    Hello!
    I am fascinated this informative write-up. You’ll find so numerous points mentioned here, I had never thought of before. These tips are just perfect. It will help me a lot while I will be grooming my dog. Thanks for the post, keep going great content like this.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Alam,

      Thanks for taking the time to read this article and share such kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the points mentioned in this blog to be so informative and useful. 🙂 Have you tried any of them on your dog yet? If so, we’d love to hear how it’s gone!

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Ashraful says:

    This is a great article filled with a lots of valuable content. Excellent and informative article! I am really pleased to have found the site that can tell me such a good tips about Dog grooming tips for new pet owners. Thanks for sharing these valuable information with us keep writing great content like this.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Ashraful,

      Thanks so much, we really appreciate that! It’s our pleasure to be able to provide helpful tips, advice, and resources to aspiring dog groomers and pet owners everywhere! <3

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Zoe Campos says:

    Thanks for letting me know that ear infection is actually considered common in dogs. However, I’m still worried that regular baths won’t help them get rid of these ear mites. Maybe it would be better to find a shop that offers grooming services for my Shih Tzu.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Zoe, thanks so much for reading. We’re glad to hear that you found this article helpful. We definitely agree – if you’re concerned about getting rid of ear mites and you feel that professional assistance would be beneficial, going to your local groomer is absolutely a good idea! 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Thanks so much for the kind words, we really appreciate them! We’re glad to hear that you found the information in this article to be useful. 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • I really like your tip about applying a conditioner right after using an anti-flea shampoo since they can be quite harsh and drying to the dog’s skin and coat. My sister adopted a labrador from a family friend but she hasn’t been able to bathe him yet since it’s her first time having a dog. I’ll mention these tips to her for when she learns how to do it, but in the meantime, I’m going to recommend looking for a mobile dog grooming service that can drive to their house to have the dog properly cleaned.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Angela,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on our article. We’re so happy to hear that you found it to be so beneficial, and we really hope the tips included help your sister and her new Labrador! <3

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Eve Mitchell says:

    I didn’t know that brushing your dog’s hair can lead to better blood circulation and oil production, that is a useful tip. My son recently got a Bernese mountain dog and is looking for an experienced groomer that will help to keep him healthy and clean. I will make sure to let him know that in addition to professional services, there are important things for him to be doing at home.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hi Eve, thank you so much for reading and leaving such a wonderful comment! <3 It's amazing how much good a simply brushing does, isn't it? That's very exciting that your son recently got a dog. Bernese Mountain dogs are such a wonderful breed! One of our staff members has a Bernese Mountain dog, and he's just the sweetest thing ever. We're happy to hear that this article was able to provide you with some useful tips to pass along to your son. 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Recently, I adopted a miniature schnauzer to accompany me in my apartment while I am in quarantine. It was really helpful when you said to use cotton rounds to remove excess moisture from my dog’s ears to help avoid ear infections. I’ll follow your advice and leave the ear hairs alone and look for a local dog groomer to do this in the coming days.

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hey Claire,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to read this article, and for leaving such a wonderful comment! Firstly, congratulations on the adoption of your Miniature Schnauzer! What’s its name? <3 We're glad you found the dog grooming tips in this blog post so beneficial! xx

      All the best,
      The QC Team

    • Sarah-Lynn Seguin says:

      Hey! Thanks for leaving this link, it looks very informative! Can’t wait to read it! 😀

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Wow, it never would have occurred to me that is important to avoid cutting your dog’s nails too short. I don’t have the best hands, so I feel like I would accidentally hurt my dog if I were to cut its nails. It seems like having a groomer handle things like this would be the most beneficial thing you can do for your dog.

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      I personally feel the same way, in that I’m always worried about cutting my Corgi’s nails too short by accident. While there are TONS of useful nail clipping tools out there – many with protective guards to help you avoid cutting the quick – having a groomer take care of nail clipping is also a totally viable option, and one that many new pet owners prefer. 🙂 Thanks so much for reading and comment, Henry!

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Tonya says:

    * Very useful and so peaceful blog for us. Such a good work and so good write up.

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      We’re so glad you think so, Tonya! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. Which of these dog grooming tips for new pet owners was YOUR favorite and why? 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • calvin says:

    Wow, Great Post!

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      Thanks so much for the kind words, Calvin! 🙂 We’re glad that you found these dog grooming tips for new pet owners so useful. Out of curiosity, which tip is your favorite? <3

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Krisha says:

    Brushing is the basic dog grooming that a first-time pet owner should learn. If you need a professional pet groomer you can visit our website to check our services offered.

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      Thanks so much for the lovely comment. We’re so happy to hear that you found this article so beneficial! Which dog grooming tip for new pet owners did YOU find the most helpful? 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • This is a nice post. It has a good tips here. Thank you for sharing.

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      Hi Tonya, thanks so much for taking the time to read our article and leave such a kind comment, we really appreciate it! We’re happy to hear that you found this article so informative. Out of curiosity, which dog grooming tip for new pet owners did you find the most beneficial? We’d love to know! 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Pet Vanity says:

    Great blog post.Helpful and informative tips. I like it thanks for sharing this information with us

  • Rahul says:

    Grooming a pet is also important. It’s great that you mentioned it in your article. These tips will eventually help a lot of pet lovers.

    • Sloane Seguin says:

      Hi Rahul,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to read our article, and for leaving such a great comment. We obviously couldn’t agree more – grooming a pet (and regularly, at that) is SO important for both their physical and mental health. Out of curiosity, which dog grooming tip for new pet owners (as discussed in this article) did you find the most useful and why? 🙂

      All the best,
      The QC Team

  • Pet Vanity says:

    Great blog post.Helpful and informative tips. I like it thanks for

    sharing this information with us

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