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How Much of My Dogs Grooming Can I Do Without Formal Training?

Mary Simpson
by Mary Simpson
Published:  July 9th, 2025

(photo credit: Zuzanna Paluch / shutterstock.com)


With two Schnoodles and a Miniature Schnauzer, grooming costs can take a big bite out of my budget. And like many pet owners with dogs in need of regular clipping, I not only considered the do-it-yourself option during COVID, but I jumped in with both feet. Yes, grooming kit and all, I clipped and shaved with guesswork guiding me, because I had no choice. The results? Rough to say the least, with my go-to response to other dog owners being “at least they’re cooler now”.


Of course, once quarantines were lifted, I was happy to let the professionals take over, but my foray into grooming did make me wonder if, by doing some of the “clean-up” work myself, I could extend the duration between those pricey haircuts. The easy stuff, like ear cleaning, bath and blow dry, nail trimming.


The truth is, with the right equipment, I can, and it starts with a good brushing. And we’re talking a serious clean-up with the sole goal being to remove tangles and the bits of debris your pooch has collected over the past week or so. Legs, ears, paws, torso, beak… it all gets a thorough once-over.


If you’re dealing with a double-coated dog or those with longer, heavier fur, you will want a de-shedding dog brush that can quickly break down tangles and matts. This option from Maxpower Planet is double-sided, has a nine-tooth rake to work through the matting and a 17-tooth side that helps thin out the hair and begin the de-shedding process.


Now, not all brushes are suitable for all dogs, and while the Maxpower Planet brush is perfect for heavy, dense fur, it’s not what you would use on smaller dogs with thinner coats. While you still want something effective at getting out the dirt and debris, using a double-sided pin brush with a wide-set pin side for detangling and a softer, bristle side to clean and ready your pet’s coat for the next step in your grooming journey, is the way to go. I love this hemp bristle option from Burt’s Bees because it’s not only lightweight but perfectly sized to work around the face, ears, legs, and underbelly without feeling cumbersome to you and invasive to your pet.


After a thorough brushing, it’s time for bathing, and you choosing the right products for this part of the process is important. Remember, dogs have 300 million olfactory glands compared to our 6 million, so reaching for your own heavily scented shampoos and conditioners is not only a poor choice in terms of your dog’s skin health (they have a higher pH level and harsher soaps can disrupt skin acid levels making it prone to dryness and infection) but the smell can be a heavy irritant that makes him resistant to future bath sessions.


While there are myriad options specifically formulated to meet a dog’s needs, this tearless dog shampoo from Burt’s Bees is one of the best. Made without chemical detergents, phthalates, parabens, sulphates, colorants and dyes, it’s also fragrance-free and has an easy-rinse, low-lather consistency that all dogs will appreciate because I’ve yet to meet a pooch that wants to sit in a bathtub any longer than necessary. Gentle, effective, and a great opportunity to keep the grooming process positive.

Now, this next part can make or break how successful your home-groom journey progresses. It’s the blow-dry process that can turn your dog into a show-worthy specimen… or not. The trick is not to resort to using your personal hand-held blow dryer but to invest in a dryer specifically designed for drying dogs. Options like this low-noise hand-held fur dryer from Shelandy are the way to go. Full, 2400-watt power gets the job done quickly with a powerful airflow that ranges up to 135 mph. Add a long, 7-foot hose that’s perfect for maneuvering around your dog, and four differently sized nozzles – including one with thick teeth for working through dense fur – means you can get into all those nooks and crannies that need a little extra attention.


If you’re like me and have a dog with dark-colored nails, trimming them can become the longest part of the grooming process because you can’t see the sensitive quicks. And with my dogs not liking their feet being touched to begin with, it’s always hard to tell if the flinches and yips are because of touching or that I’ve actually hurt them. Alas, it’s still a necessary part of keeping your dog’s feet healthy and pain-free, so finding a solution that you’re both cool with is a must-do. So, why not forego the clippers and opt for a dog nail grinder? They’re safe, simple to use and this option offers two speeds (low and high) so you can work at your pet’s preferred pace. Quiet-running with low-vibration, they’re the perfect way to keep nail length in check between grooms.


Let’s talk ears. Particularly long- and floppy-eared pooches who can be prone to yeast infections when air circulation is minimal and moisture builds. If your dog tends to have chronically smelly ears, using a moist pad to gently remove wax build up and the resulting residue will help reduce odors; however, opting for hypoallergenic dog ear wipes that are alcohol-free and textured for maximum effectiveness is the most effective option. When your pet has serious ear canal buildup, choose a gentle, veterinary-formulated ear cleaner that goes directly into his ear canal to help break down buildup and reduce odor.


And the cherry on top has to be that fresh-from-the-groomer scent your pooch is parading around at the end of the session. For a soft, scented finish, you can’t beat the instant impact of a simple spritz of pet cologne. This baby powder scent option from Bodhi is not only ideal for controlling dank dog odor between baths, but it also acts as a natural conditioner and detangler in between baths.


Now let’s talk massages!

WOW
Mary Simpson
Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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Last month, a pair of pooches from America, the world’s tallest and smallest dog, met up for a playdate. Reginald, a seven-year-old Great Dane from Idaho, and Pearl, a four-year-old chihuahua from Florida, are both Guinness World Record holders. Reggie is the tallest male dog in the world, measuring 3 ft 3 in (1.007 m) at the withers. But his new best friend Pearl holds the title of the world’s smallest dog, standing at just 3.59 in (9.14 cm). Pearl comes from a long line of short dogs. Her aunt Milly, a previous record holder in the same category, was also under 4 inches tall.Guinness arranged the two-day meetup between Pearl and Reginald at his home in Idaho Falls as part of its 70th-anniversary festivities. Pearl’s owner, Vanesa Sempler, held the world’s smallest pooch while Reggie sniffed her for the first time. Even though Pearl loves dogs, even bigger ones, Sempler admitted she was anxious because of Reggie’s size.“For me, (it) was a huge, pleasant surprise from day one because Reggie is like Pearl, in a bigger size. He is so gentle, so friendly,” she said. While Reggie was friendly and gentle towards Pearl, his perplexity about her tiny size was obvious. “He was like very cautious, like a little anxious,” said Reggie’s owner, Sam Johnson Reiss. “He was very careful, like he didn’t step on her or anything, or anything crazy. He was just very aware that she was there.”Once the pooches sniffed one another, they began to explore the house together and then went out into the backyard to run around. It’s hard to believe that Reggie was the runt of the litter, but that hasn’t stopped Sam from falling in love with the tiny, spotted Great Dane puppy. Sam, who had never owned a big dog before, enjoyed watching Reggie grow from a pint-sized puppy to a loving, gentle giant. “From the time I got him until he was about, I’d say a year and a half, he just grew, like, just non-stop growth. Everybody was like, he’s really tall. We’ve never met another dog that’s taller than him,” said Sam. Although Reggie is the tallest living male dog in the world, he’s still a puppy at heart. “Reginald’s personality is deceived by his name. It makes him seem more regal or proper, but he’s just a big baby.” Despite the huge size difference, Pearl and Reggie have a lot in common. “They have more similarities than differences,” said Sam, and Vanesa agreed, saying: “They are very similar in a lot of ways. Because he’s a baby!”“He acts like a human toddler. He’s super playful, very vocal, very much, he’ll tell you what he wants when he wants it.” Vanesa said Pearl is the same. “She’s really demanding. She’s strong and opinionated, and she can tell you what she wants.”There might have been a bit of possessiveness over toys and beds, but Reggie and Pearl had a great time during their two-day meetup. “I think she found a good friend,” said Vanesa. Once the dogs were tired from playing, Vanesa and Sam shared another moment bonding about their love for their pups. While it’s unclear whether Pearl and Reggie will meet again, their owners expect them to stay friends forever.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Chubby Rescue Cat Arrives at Shelter ‘Too Large’ for the Scale

As a volunteer in the rescue space, you see many things – the heartwarming reunions, the shy pets slowly coming out of their shells, and sometimes, the cases that really make you pause. When Big Bertha arrived at Jefferson County Humane Society in late February, she was definitely one of those cases. Even for a seasoned volunteer who has seen animals in various states of health, the sheer size of this sweet girl was startling! This wasn’t just a chunky feline; Bertha, with her petite frame and short legs, weighed in at a shocking 21 pounds – so large, in fact, that the standard cat scale at the shelter couldn’t even register her weight. They had to resort to the dog scale to get an initial reading. Upon arrival, it was clear that Bertha was facing many health issues directly linked to her size. The shelter’s vet team immediately got to work on creating a carefully managed weight loss plan that included specialized wound care and a gentle exercise regimen. In the early days of her workouts, she would be aided by a sling to support her movement, allowing her to burn calories without putting too much strain on her petite frame. The road to recovery was expected to be long, but the entire shelter team fell in love with Bertha, committing to do the work necessary to help her regain her health and quality of life. Bertha’s previous owner made the difficult decision to surrender her to the shelter, recognizing their inability to provide the necessary care, especially the extensive veterinary attention she clearly needed. “Her mouth was full of infected, loose, broken teeth,” explained Brandi DeNoon-Damewood, the development manager at the shelter. “Most kitties with teeth this bad are very thin from lack of appetite and pain with chewing. However, Bertha only ate soft/canned food that she could easily slurp down, and as her pain increased, she ate more and more – just like humans, kitties can become addicted to the happy feeling we get with a full belly. It is believed that she was a street kitty prior to her owner, which also helps shed a little light onto her food guarding and overeating. She may have gone days without any food whatsoever, and those days are forever carried with her throughout the rest of her life.” A significant step in Bertha’s journey was dental surgery shortly after her arrival. This addressed her painful mouth, not only for her comfort but also paved the way for a healthier relationship with food. Initially, Bertha struggled with breathing and mobility due to her weight, and she was understandably quiet and fearful. However, as the pounds began to come off, a beautiful transformation occurred. “She LOVES to ‘talk,’ and when she wants attention, she will call out for you to come over to her,” DeNoon-Damewood shared, noting that this vocalization was likely a learned behavior that she developed due to her limited mobility. “Her purrrrsonality has blossomed into a vibrant, social, loving kitty.” By the end of March, Bertha had reached a significant milestone, weighing in at 16 pounds. While she still had more weight to lose, this progress meant she was ready to take the next step in her journey – finding a forever home. At the beginning of April, she was adopted by a loving individual committed to continuing her weight loss journey and providing her with a lifetime of love and care. Bertha’s story is a powerful reminder of the complex factors that can lead to a pet being surrendered and the importance of shelters and rescue organizations for those in need. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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