equipment

Giving a dog a bath can be as simple as rinsing him down in a child’s swimming pool in the backyard during the summer, or as complex as a full-blown spa ritual, complete with bathing a harness and a bevy of fancy coat products designed to whiten, darken, brighten, do-tangle, shine, and leave your dog with a designer aroma to rival a fancy French perfume.  However, there are many ways to make bathing easier, and many ways in which bathing makes subsequent grooming sessions easier, too. 

Bathing Inventory Tools

Once your dog is completely brushed, combed, and tangle-free, he is ready for a bath.  Now you must get ready, too, and that means preparing all the necessary equipment and supplies so that you can reach what you need when you need it. lf you put that dog in the bathtub under running water and then have to go in search of shampoo or a scrub brush, we all know what will happen: a jump, a shake, and you will be a left with a soaked bathroom and a wet dog bounding around the house.

To wash your dog, you will need some basic supplies: shampoo, conditioner, sponge, scrub brush, bath mat, a hand-held sprayer (or large cup for rinsing), a plastic apron for you to avoid getting wet, a nylon collar and leash (if your dog has a tendency to bolt away), and finally, a heavy towel

Choosing A Shampoo

With so many shampoos on the market, it’s not easy to decide which to use.  Yet, for most breeds, a basic, all-purpose shampoo is fine.  If you want your shampoo to do more than clean, you might also consider a specialty shampoo.

* Accentuate your dog’s coat color by choosing a shampoo made for white, black or red coats.
* Shampoos designed to deliver extra conditioning to long or curly coats can make post-bath grooming even easier.
* For wire-coated dogs, look for a shampoo designed to preserve the crisp texture of your dog’s coat.
* Many dogs have sensitive skin or eyes.  A hypoallergenic shampoo can minimize sensitivity reactions to bathing.
* lf your dog already has a rash, allergies, itching, or other sensitive skin conditions, look for a medicated shampoo designed to treat your dog’s problem (your vet should be able to recommend a good medicated shampoo for your dog).
* Is it flea season?  Then consider a shampoo containing a gentle anti-flea ingredient such as pyrethrin or limonene, or any of several natural botanicals designed to repel fleas, such as neem oil.
* If your dog has sensitive eyes then consider a “tear-less” shampoo.

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The following is a list of more tools and equipment for grooming your dog:

Hydraulic grooming table (23″ X 36”) with tailgate in position 23″ x 47”): This table works great for grooming dogs of all sizes and weights.  It can be lowered to 29” from the floor and raised to 35 1/2” at its highest point.  This type of grooming table has an 11″ tailgate that can be folded away when not in use and ribbed rubber mat on the top.  It is especially useful when grooming very large or very heavy breeds.
Large pin brush: This brush is commonly used for regular brushing of long-coated large dogs.
Matting comb: Heavy comb with wide teeth preferred.  A matting comb will help in getting rid of mats from the coats of long-haired breeds.
Nail Clipper: The following are three types of nail clippers that are suitable for small, medium, and large breeds.  The scissors-type is recommended for small dogs.  The guillotine-type is used on medium-sized dogs.  And finally, the heavy duty, pliers-type, is best used for large breeds with strong, hard nails.
Oster Blades: These blades are designed for both the A5 and the A2 model clippers.  Each blade is numbered.  The higher the number, the more hair it removes.
Oster small animal clipper (A2 Model): A very good clipper to use, though it requires interchangeable heads which makes it a little harder to use due to the added inconvenience.
Oster Small animal clipper (A5 Model): A one-piece clipper with snap-on blades.  This clipper is highly recommended because it is the easiest to use and operate.
Oster spray lube: This spray product is used to cool and lubricate the blades.  Using the spray lube is necessary when clipping in order to prevent clipper burns.
Rubber brush: This brush is designed for use on few short-coated breeds.
Scissors: These types of scissors come in both large and small sizes, and some are designed for left-handed people.
Curved shears: This tool is used by some groomers to help achieve a rounded effect on top-knots and “pom-poms.”
Shedding blade: The shedding blade is used on dogs with excessive shedding.
Silk handkerchief: This is mainly used for polishing the coats of white short-haired breeds.
Small pin brush: This type of brush is used for brushing long-coated small dogs.
Stripping Knives: The fine stripping knife is used on the head, ears, and other sensitive areas. The coarse stripping knife is used on the other parts of the body.

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Certain tools are required to properly groom your dog. All dogs should have the basic supplies such as brush, comb, and scissors. However, long coats require different grooming tools than smooth coats, wire coats, and curly coats. The following is a list of tools you will need for grooming:

Boar’s Bristle Brush: This brush works great for removing the undercoat of long-coated breeds and also helps in getting rid of mats in the undercoat.
Bristle Brushes (soft, medium, and stiff): These brushes are used on different short-coated breeds, for regular brushing and to remove the undercoat of certain long-coated breeds.
Cage Dryer: This type of dryer is designed to fit on cages so that the dog may be dried inside the cage.
Chamois cloth: This cloth is used for polishing the coats of short-haired dogs.
Comb: The best comb is a regulation-size steel comb with both medium and fine teeth. This comb will do a good job on most breeds.
Duplex dresser: A stripping tool used on most Terriers and other breeds.
Floor dryer: This is a type of dryer that is generally used for fluff drying. Because of the long arm on this dryer it can be used to direct the air on the coat and dry the hair.
Grooming post and loop: The ideal grooming post should be one that is portable and can easily be attached to any size table. The loop is placed around the dog’s neck to ensure his safety.
Snap-on comb: This is a favorite among ”fast job groomers.” If slipped over a #15 blade, it will thus uniformly leave 5/8 inches of hair wherever used. This type of comb is available in six different sizes.
Grooming table (18′, x 34”): This standard size grooming table is usually a folding type and easy to carry and move to a different location. It is 30″ high and has ribbed rubber matting. This table is mostly used for grooming small dogs.
Grooming table (24″ x 36”): This is an average size grooming table, usually a folding type, and also easy to transport. This table is 30″ high and has ribbed rubber matting on the top. This table can be used for grooming various breed sizes.
High-speed floor dryer: This dryer is the same as the other floor dryers except that it has a high-speed motor attached for fluff drying long-coated breeds such as the Standard Poodle, Old English Sheepdog, and Afghan .
Hound Glove: The hound glove is used on the coats of various short-haired dogs in the hound family.

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