Dog grooming refers to the practice of maintaining the appearance of a dog for public showing or personal hygiene reasons. Grooming dogs includes things like shampooing, hair clipping, hair styling, powdering, nail clipping and teeth cleaning. Grooming is healthy for your dog and can be somewhat pleasing to the owner. It also helps reduce shedding and odor. Grooming further serves to reduce allergies for both the dog and their owner.
The health benefits derived from regular grooming are numerous. It keeps the dog’s coat glossy and the skin healthy. It also serves to improve circulation and helps keep the their coat free from fleas, ticks and other parasites.
The first step in grooming dogs is to find a clean and comfortable area with adequate lighting to use as a workspace. Being groomed must not be a traumatic experience for your dog. It’s also very important to purchase high quality pet grooming equipment and supplies.
Dog grooming and dog health go hand in hand. If you have a dogs that sheds a lot, regular grooming will speed up the shedding cycle and stop all those floating hair tufts. Dog grooming is not only healthy, it helps you to create a bond of trust and love with your dog. Pet grooming is an expression of your affection and if started early in your dog’s life will server to establish a regular routine that will contribute greatly to the future health and well-being of your pet.
Here’s a dog grooming tip; when trimming your dog’s coat, don’t forget about the hair around legs, ears and eyes. However, these areas are important to remember. Dogs should be bathed about once a week. Be sure to remove any tangles before starting a bath and don’t get water and soap in their ears or eyes. You can clean the ears with a damp cloth or use a dog ear cleaner that can be purchased at any pet store.
Clipping your dog’s nails once every month is enough to keep them in fine condition. However, be sure to use only good quality nail clippers. Trim each nail while be careful you don’t cut back too far as this may result in pain and potential infection. If you’re uncertain how far back to cut, just cut back to the point where the nail starts to curl and you should be okay.
Dental health is very important for dogs as well as humans. Even though you are having your dog’s teeth look at on your regular vet visits, you still need to take care of their teeth at home also. You should brush your dog’s teeth once a week with one of your old discarded toothbrushes. You can find special dog toothpaste at your local pet store. Don’t use your toothpaste because dogs do like the taste and will fight having their teeth brushed.
Regular dog grooming can become a integral and relaxing part of your life and your pet will love the extra attention. Regular grooming provides many positive health benefits and helps the dog to understand its place within the family social order. This leads to a healthy, happy and well adjusted pet who will appreciate your affection.

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The Lhasa Apso makes a wonderful pet, sometimes willful and some can be high-spirited but they are all loving and affectionate. Originating from Tibet, this is an ancient breed that was bred for over 2000 years by nobles and holy men and was considered a sacred animal and even used to guard the monasteries and temples. In the Western world, we can thank the Dalai Lama for this furry lapdog since he would often give them as gifts to foreign dignitaries who were visiting his country. The Lhasa Apso was first seen in Britain in the 1920s and made its way to the US by the 1930s.
Part of the American Kennel Club non sporting group, the Lhasa Apso was admitted to the AKC 1935 in the terrier group but then reassigned in 1959. By breed standards the dog weighs 13 and 15 pounds and stands 11 inches tall. Lhasa’s can be rather long lived with some living past 18 years of age.
This breed is characterized by its long coat which drapes over its entire body and hangs onto the floor making the dog look almost like a walking mop! The coat is very straight and heavy and even covers the dogs face as it hangs over the eyes and produces a beard and mustache as well. The Lhasa Apso has dark eyes and feathered ears and tail which should be carried over the dogs back. Most often seen in white, this breed also comes in smoke, slate, gold, cream, black, honey and brown.
The Lhasa Apso is intelligent, lively, friendly and assertive. They can be very devoted and affectionate to their owners but may be suspicious of strangers. Some can be rather willful but others are eager to please their owners and will do whatever they say. They can be a bit high spirited and they have a loud bark which can be rather persistent.
The Lhasa Apso is a healthy breed in general but might suffer from skin problems if their coat is not cared for properly. Some may have hip dysplasia in addition to eye problems and kidney problems. Rarely, these dogs may suffer from a bleeding ulcer.
These little dogs are very active indoors but can do well in an apartment as long as they walked regularly and given a chance to play and run. This is not a dog that needs a lot of exercise but every dog does need a walk at least once a day.
Due to the long coat, this breed does need grooming care and will have to have the coat trimmed and stripped. If they are not brush everyday the coat will become quite matted and unruly. The feet can also get matted easily and should be checked daily. This breed can be dry shampooed when necessary and their eyes and ears should be cleaned often. Despite the long code this breed is only an average shedder.

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You have several dogs that you love to groom, and you’re always on the lookout for new dog grooming tools that will make the process comfortable for both you and your dogs. However, believe it or not, the most important dog grooming tool is your hands.
The Bond Between a Dog and Its Owner
The bond between a dog and its owner is a unique relationship. Dogs are loyal and protective of their owners, and their owners in turn make sure that they take care of them too, by giving them food, toys, shelter, and by grooming them with the right dog grooming tools.
Many owners think that the right do grooming tools have to include such things as brushes, clippers, and scissors, and this is true. However, there is more to grooming that just those basic dog grooming tools. In order to successfully groom a dog, the owner has to build up that trust factor.
The trust factor should ideally be established between a dog and its owner when the dog is a puppy. By feeding and bathing the puppy from such an early age, the puppy begins to think of the owner as its “mother.” As such, the dog will trust its owner implicitly.
Dogs are hands-on animals, and the thing that they react to the most is touch. This is why hands are the most important dog grooming tools. If the owner grooms the dos with a heavy hand, the dog will associate that with the experience of being groomed. If the owner grooms the dog gently, the dog twill be most more amenable to the idea of being groomed.
Owners that are grooming their dogs should constantly pat them during the process, because unless the dog is used to being groomed, chances are that the dog will be stressed. Provide a relaxed atmosphere for the dog by shampooing it by gently massaging the shampoo into the dog’s coat.
Grooming can also be beneficial for the owner too. For example, if the owner has mild arthritis in the hands, the warm water and the massaging motions of applying the shampoo on the dog’s coat can actually be soothing. So, the next time an owner goes to groom their dog, they should remember that while it is important to have the necessary dog grooming tool, the most important dog grooming tool is their own hands.

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Mini was the first dog that I had owned. She had the familiar Lhasa Apso thick long coat draping her entire body down to the floor. She was a beautiful mixture of brown and white all over with a white feathered tale. I loved her eyes, which where of the deepest blue, although they where hard to see because they too where covered by thick hair. She appeared to be sporting long bangs. I think this is why she was prone to eye infections – her tear ducks would swell – usually clearing within several days. I loved bringing Mini home from the groomers with a bow holding a wisp of her hair at the top of her head. The Lhasa Apso requires much grooming. Therefore, you should consider the cost of regular grooming if you plan to own one.

Lhasa Apso’s are friendly, affectionate, intelligent, and spirited small dogs. Mini was easily housetrained and performed simple commands – sit, fetch, stay, etc. As a puppy she taught me an interesting lesson. We where playing tug of war with her rope toy. I was pulling on one end, as she vigorously pulled the other end with her teeth. All of a sudden she gave way and I noticed a tooth stuck on her end of the rope. I, not being familiar with what was happening, thought I had pulled too hard. I quickly called my dentist friend and she informed me that puppies – just like babies – lose their first set of teeth.

Lhasa Apso originated from Tibet and is named for the capital city of Lhasa. According to Wikipedia, the Lhasa Apso was bred originally to guard monasteries. The Lhasa Apso was expected to follow the intruder barking until his master arrived to check on the intruder. Also, they are believed to bring good luck to their owners. Mini was a fantastic watchdog and a precious companion. Her bark was quite deceiving because it sounded as if it belonged to a much larger dog.

If you are considering owning a Lhasa Apso they do well in apartment living. However, they are too nervous around children and therefore require supervision. They do need to be taken on daily walks for at least 20 minutes – dogs that do not have daily walks tend to display behavioral problems. The average life span of this breed is 15 years and they are generally a healthy dog. If you are planning to add a Lhasa Apso to your home please consider adopting one from a local shelter or a rescue group that specializes in this breed. Also, consider adopting an older dog, they are usually housetrained and are not readily adopted – they need love and a family too.

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Others may probably think that it is a dirty and an unwanted job to groom their dogs. They may be true in one sense, but you should learn to enjoy this task. When you groom and care for your dogs with the use of dog grooming supplies then you actually spend time with your pet dog building the bond between the two of you.

Right dog grooming supplies are keys in making your dog feel better

It is more like a bonding time for you and the dog. And your pet will not see the dog grooming supplies in your hand as a punishment and a boring time for him but rather he will see your dog grooming supplies and the time off as an important time for him to be loved, maintained and showered with attention.

So the next time you will be tasked to groom the family’s pet dog, see that as an opportunity for you and the dog to bond and a way as well for you to show how your pet dog is valued in the family.

Adopt a good grooming system with the use of top dog grooming supplies

Grooming the pet dog is not all about washing him and combing the hair. There are a lot of details that come into play as well, and some very specific dog grooming supplies should be in hand. With the right dog grooming supplies, then you get to ensure that your pet dog is not only clean, looking and feeling fresh but healthy as well.

These listed objectives can be brought about by the right and suggested good grooming system. If you are new in this kind of care for the pet dog with the use of dog grooming supplies, then let this be your little guide for you when you share your time with your dog.

The basic things that you can do to your dog with the use of dog grooming supplies are to ensure that you brush him out completely to take off dirt and to wash him. First thing is to brush out the dog where you need to remove the mats and the tangles. When these mats and tangles aren’t removed, then they will be harder to take off once these are already wet. There will be dog grooming products that you can use to make it possible. Bathing with the use of shampoo and other dog grooming supplies is critical. You need to ensure that before you proceed with bathing, all necessary dog grooming supplies that will be used in bathing should be within your reach. Examples of dog grooming supplies that you will need when bathing the dog include your shampoo, conditioner, rinsing hose and his towel.

Blow-dry and pedicure your dog too with dog grooming supplies

Blow-dry the dog completely right after bathing in order to avoid diseases. If you want to take a step further, you can pedicure the pet with the use of specific dog grooming supplies. Head trim may be done too with the use of other dog grooming supplies. In fact you can a lot for your dog; all you need to have is time and the right dog grooming supplies.

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These cheerful and intelligent little dogs make fine pets, but have long, flowing hair that demands regular grooming. All Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals are heavily illustrated with color photos and line art, and are filled with reliable, easy-to-understand information on pet care. The many titles in this series show and tell pet owners how to care for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, gerbils, hamsters, and virtually every other animal that is kept as a pet. The books give advice o (more…)

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DESCRIPTIONThe Lhasa Apso is identifiable by its long coat that reaches all the way to the floor.  The coat is heavy and double-coated, draping over the whole body and coming in the following colors: Gold, cream and honey (the most popular colors), however they also come in smoke, dark-grizzle, slate and a multi-color assortment of brown, white and black.  The color of the Lhasa Apso can change as it grows and matures.  Some have likened their appearance to a miniature version of the Old English sheepdog.  The coat itself, has a hard. heavy texture and feel, without silkiness.  The hair cascades over the body as well as the apple shaped head, finishing over its eyes.  Lhasa Apsos have dark a dark beard and moustache, with a medium length muzzle, without squaring.  The ears are feathered heavily and pendant in shape, whilst the eyes are deep set, dark brown in color and large (but not overly so).  They have a longer body than they are tall, with strong loins and well developed thighs.  Forequarters are straight and both forelegs and hind legs are covered with hair.  They have cat-like feet with thick pads and a tail that is well feathered and carried in a screw like fashion over the back.TEMPERAMENTTheir slightly ostentatious look, hides a hardy dog, full of character.  The Lhasa Apso is an assertive and intelligent breed, with a friendly and lively disposition, displaying a lot of affection for its masters.  They can be trained to a high obedience level, however unfortunately, due to their size, many owners neglect obedience training and do not reinforce their position as pack leaders, as a result this breed is susceptible to ´small dog syndrome.´  This can lead to a variety of unwanted and negative behaviors.  Having said this, if this dog is made aware of its place in the ´family pack´ and owners display alpha dog traits, they should make wonderful little pets.  When training a Lhasa Apso, motivational and positive reinforcement methods achieve the best results  The Lhasa Apso is a vocal dog, with a keen sense of hearing and so can make a good watchdog.  HEIGHT: Dogs 25-28cm (10-11 inches), Bitches 22-25cm (9-10 inches)WEIGHT: 5.9-6.8kg (13-15lbs)HEALTHLhasa Apsos can suffer from skin conditions if parasites are not removed from the thick, long coat and some dogs may suffer from hip dysplasia.  More rare issues include eye problems, kidney issues and bleeding ulcers.LIVING CONDITIONSThese dogs will do fine in an apartment, they are very active indoors, however their small size means that they will not require too much room to run about in and will not require a back garden or yard.EXERCISEA brisk daily walk is needed to keep this breed fit, both physically and mentally.  Although these dogs are very active indoors and play a lot, whilst this will burn some of their energy, it is important to understand that walking outside and not simply playing is an inherent need of all dogs.  It fulfills and instinctive requirement and can go a long way to help reduce unwanted behavior issues.LIFE EXPECTANCY: Average 15 years, however many have been known to survive to 18 yearsLITTER SIZE: Average of 4 puppiesGROOMINGThe Lhasa Apso´s coat is parted along the spine and falls straight on either side.  It doesn´t require stripping or trimming, however daily brushing is required when they are in full coat, avoiding matting.  Cutting the coat shorter can reduce the grooming requirements.  Dry shampoo when necessary.  Feet, ears and eyes should be checked and cleaned regularly.  Lhasa Apsos are average shedders.HISTORYThe Lhasa Apso is native to Tibet where its name is Abso Seng Kye, which translates as “Bark Lion Sentinel Dog.”  It finds its home in the region surrounding the sacred city of Lhasa.  Its keen hearing and vocal bark, where used as a second means of defense against intruders.  They were able to distinguish between friends and foe with astonishing accuracy and it was this perfected ability that lead to the breeding of Lhasa Apsos for almost 2000 years by Tibetan monks and nobles.  So revered were these little dogs that it was considered the vessel by which an owners soul was carried upon his or her death.  The first export of the Lhasa Apso came as a gift from the Dalai Lama and for many years it was close to impossible to purchase this breed, despite its fabled bringing of good luck.  The Lhasa Apso arrived on British shores in the 1920´s and in America in the 1930´s.  Suydam Cutting,a naturalist and traveler is considered the man solely responsible for the breeds popularity in the United States.  The Lhasa Apso was originally considered a terrier breed (1935), however it was reclassified in 1959 as part of the Non-Sporting Group.  The breed is now the most popular Tibetan breed in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Original article with pictures and more – Lhasa Apso

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