Understanding Your Dog

In This Chapter Going back in time to see how dogs became dogs Seeing how evolution affects your relationship with your pooch Helping your dog successfully learn Finding out why dogs behave the way they do You can offer your dog no greater gift than to understand her and her whole being. In other words,…

So you’re in the market for some supplies with which to start grooming your dog. This Appendix is the right place to look. It provides you with lists of Web sites where you can find information about grooming in general (and grooming education and certification specifically) and about where to find grooming products at good…

In This Chapter Making grooming easy for you Grooming your dog in comfort Settling into an enjoyable time for dog and groomer alike You may not believe it, but I’m here to tell you that grooming can be a fun time for you and your dog. You have plenty of tricks at your disposal, so…

In This Chapter Exploring what a dog show is all about Understanding how dog show preparations differ from pet grooming Discovering what grooming needs to happen at the show Grooming a dog for a dog show is a little like grooming your pet — but just a little. You have to know how to groom…

In This Chapter Being ready in case of a grooming emergency Sorting the major from the minor emergencies Dealing with common dog emergencies Emergencies can and do happen, even when you’re grooming your dog. I’m not talking about the horrible trim that the so-called professional groomer gave your dog; I’m talking about serious injuries. Although…

In This Chapter Investigating problems that can dull your dog’s coat Combating external and internal allergies Dealing with external and internal parasites Discovering hot spots and how to fix them Recognizing diseases and knowing when to ask your vet for help Not all problems with your dog’s skin and coat can be fixed with a…

In This Chapter Making foxtails and burrs a less prickly problem Handling really messy problems Removing sticky stuff from your dog’s coat Stopping the stink — the definitive answer to skunk spray Dogs get into some of the darnedest things. Stickers, burrs, foxtails, tar, and other substances are fairly typical of the stuff that gets…

In This Chapter Making grooming easy for you Getting around certain grooming problems Grooming is time-consuming — there’s no doubt about it. Lucky for you, I’ve got some handy tricks you can use to speed up the time you spend on grooming your dog. The tips that I give you in this chapter are little…