Grooming Your Dog at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to brush, bathe, check for ticks, trim nails and clean ears at home, plus how often to do each and when to call a professional groomer in Nairobi.
Regular grooming at home keeps your dog comfortable and lets you catch problems early. It also builds trust between you and your dog. Here is a simple routine that works for most dogs, and when to leave it to a professional.
What you need
- A brush suited to the coat: a slicker brush for most coats, an undercoat rake for double coats like German Shepherds, a rubber mitt for short coats
- Dog shampoo (human shampoo is the wrong pH for dog skin)
- Two towels
- Nail clippers or a grinder made for dogs, and styptic powder in case you cut too short
- Cotton wool and a vet-recommended ear cleaner
- Tasty treats
Step 1: Brush first
Brush before every bath. Water tightens knots and mats, making them harder to remove.
- Short coats (Doberman, Boxer, many local dogs): a rubber mitt once a week.
- Double coats (German Shepherd, Husky, Malinois): an undercoat rake two or three times a week, and daily during heavy shedding.
- Long or curly coats: a slicker brush and comb several times a week, working right down to the skin.
Brush in the direction the hair grows, in short sessions, with treats along the way.
Step 2: Check for ticks
In Kenya, ticks are a year-round problem and can transmit serious illnesses. After walks, and while brushing, run your fingers over your dog’s whole body. Check:
- Inside and behind the ears
- Between the toes
- Around the neck and under the collar
- Armpits and groin
- Around the tail
If you find a tick, remove it with a tick tool or fine tweezers, gripping close to the skin and pulling steadily. Do not twist hard, burn it or smear it with oil. Keep your dog on a vet-recommended tick prevention product, and see a vet if your dog becomes lethargic, stops eating or has pale gums or dark urine.
Step 3: Bathe (only when needed)
Most dogs need a bath every few weeks, or when they are dirty or smelly. Too many baths can dry the skin.
- Use lukewarm water and a non-slip surface.
- Wet the coat thoroughly down to the skin, avoiding the eyes and ears.
- Lather with dog shampoo, then rinse until the water runs completely clear. Leftover shampoo causes itching.
- Towel dry well. On cool days in Nairobi, make sure your dog is fully dry before going outside or to sleep.
Step 4: Trim the nails
If you hear clicking on the floor, the nails are too long. Long nails are painful and change the way a dog walks.
- Trim a tiny bit at a time, every couple of weeks.
- On light nails you can see the pink quick; stay well clear of it. On dark nails, trim small slivers until you see a darker dot in the centre of the cut surface, then stop.
- If you cut the quick, apply styptic powder and stay calm.
If your dog fights nail trims, do one nail a day with lots of treats, or let a groomer do it while you work on handling.
Step 5: Clean the ears
Check ears weekly. They should be pale pink and not smelly. Wipe the visible part of the ear with cotton wool and ear cleaner. Never push cotton buds into the ear canal. Redness, a bad smell, dark discharge or head shaking mean a vet visit, not more cleaning.
Step 6: Teeth
Dental disease is very common in dogs. Brushing with a dog toothpaste a few times a week, or using vet-approved dental chews, helps. Never use human toothpaste.
A simple schedule
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Brushing | Weekly (short coats) to daily (long or shedding coats) |
| Tick check | After every walk, and while brushing |
| Bath | Every 4 to 8 weeks, or when dirty |
| Nails | Every 2 to 4 weeks |
| Ears | Weekly check |
| Teeth | Several times a week |
When to call a professional
Book a professional groom if your dog has mats close to the skin, a heavy shedding coat you cannot keep up with, or if your dog is anxious, snappy or simply too big to manage safely. Our dog grooming is done by people who are also trainers, so nervous dogs are handled calmly.
If grooming is a battle, the problem is often handling, not the coat. Building calm handling is part of our puppy training, and it is never too late to start with an adult dog.
Have a question about your own dog?
Every dog is different. Send us a message and a trainer will give you honest, practical advice.
Ask on WhatsAppThis guide is general information from G.A.P on Everything Dogs, not veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, injured or has eaten something toxic, contact a vet straight away.
