1. Check the water temperature before spraying your dog down for his bath. You wouldn’t want to be shocked with scalding or frigid water and your dog doesn’t either.

2. Place a rubber mat in your bath tub so your pooch has traction when he is getting scrubbed down. It can sometimes be difficult to drag your dog into the tub because the dog views the tub as an unpleasant experience. Their nails cause them to slide and lose their balance on the slick surface. This is an unpleasant and sometimes frightening experience for your dog. The mat allows them to stand firmly and confidently and hopefully makes things easier for you as well.

3. Place cotton balls in your pooches’ ears before you turn the water on. Dogs hate to get water in their ears and no matter how careful you are it often finds its way in there somehow. This typically results in a violent shaking on the part of your dog sending water all over you, your floor and your coordinating bath towels.

4. Brush your dog before bath time. This helps to remove any mats before you get him wet and can’t get them out. But perhaps more importantly, it leaves less hair for you to clean out of your bathtub drain!

5. If your dog will not let you come near it with that dog toothbrush you bought then place some toothpaste on a wash rag and rub it over their teeth and gums. Do not use human toothpaste, it isn’t good for the dog and they hate the taste! You can buy meat and cheese flavored toothpaste that your dog will not be able to resist at your local pet superstore.

6. Keep a styptic stick on hand for those nail trimming accidents. Even the best groomer can nick a nail quick from time to time so use a styptic stick to stop the bleeding from the nail bed. If you do not have a styptic stick grab a box of baking soda from your fridge and hold your pet’s paw in it for a minute or so.

7. Use dog shampoo, not people shampoo. I know that most of us feel like Fluffy is a real live member of the family, but she is not a human being. Dog’s skin has different Ph levels than humans and our shampoos and conditioners have harsher chemicals than dog shampoos. Exceptions to this rule are all natural products like Aveeno Oatmeal Bath, which can sometimes be good for dogs with allergies.

8. When dealing with insect bites or itchy spots that your dog can’t seem to stop licking, try to soak her in a cool bath with black tea bags. The tannic acid in the tea will help to dry out the sores and help your dog heal more quickly. Boil 4 quarts of water and soak 8-10 tea bags in the water until it is room temperature then draw a cool bath for your dog and place the tea (bags and all) in the bath with her. You may apply the bags directly to the worst of the spots if you would like.

This article was submitted by the authors at pet-super-store - visit their site to find dog crates, dog doors and orthopedic dog beds.