A dog is member of the family. In some ways dogs are the most likeable members of the family because they don't talk back and never come home late! A dog is always there, always ready to listen, and of course always ready for a walk.

Like people, dogs also get stressed and sometimes need a treat - an extra helping of food, and some extra bit of attention like grooming. But for some owners the one thing that they dislike is grooming their dog. But you need not despair, the beauty of dog grooming at home is that it is inexpensive and does not have to take too long.
Here is a five minute grooming check-list for your dog:

Ears

Check these weekly because if you don't it can lead to further complications and this means extra bills for medicine and stress for your dog. Particularly dogs with droop ears are susceptible to fungus, waxy ears, and ear mites.

Nails

Dogs can be reluctant to have their nails clipped, so starting the process at a very young age is a good idea. To begin with get your dog accustomed to you simply holding and stroking their paws. Then apply pressure on their paws and nails - lightly pinching their nails between your finger and thumb. Give them a treat for allowing this.

Talk to the vet about how to cut a dog's nails, and lightly trim a couple of nails a day. Just trim off the tips – not too much else you risk cutting too deep and frightening your dog off.

When cutting the nails talk gently to your dog in a soothing voice and let him go for a walk straight after. Gradually he should grow accustomed to this unpleasant procedure and learn to at least put up with it.

Brushing

Brushing dogs takes the longest but it is very important to brush dogs regularly. To avoid harming the dog do not press too hard with your wire slicker brush otherwise you will scrape the skin. Always brush against the lay of the coat. When grooming a dog with a tangled coat, work gently to avoid irritating the skin. Comb the outside of the tangle, gently progressing towards the skin, just as you would comb a child's snarled tresses. If the coat is severely tangled or matted, work in short sessions and praise the dog frequently for accepting the sometimes painful combing.

Bathing

Don’t worry, dogs only need bathing when they are dirty. Too frequent bathing dries out the dog skin and can lead to itching, bacterial skin infections.

Related links:
Dog grooming and cleansing products