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10 Dog Grooming Hacks That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier

From dog supplements to DIY doggie shampoo, these ten dog grooming hacks will transform your at-home dog salon in no time.

By Kelsey LangePublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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Every dog owner could use a few tips and tricks when it comes to giving them the best at home grooming session. These dog grooming hacks will not only make your life as an owner easier, but make grooming more enjoyable for your pup.

From brushing before bathing to using cornstarch as a DIY dry shampoo, these tips are sure to transform your outlook on grooming from home. And, you'll have a very pretty (and happy) pooch as a result.

Brush THEN bathe.

A simple trick, but one of the most beneficial dog grooming hacks is to brush your pup before you get them clean. Though this adds one extra step to your process, because you'll want to brush them again to get any tangles out from the bath, it will still make your life much easier once you get to this step.

Brushing through the fur before you wash them will detangle the hair, make it easier to wash, and allow you to pinpoint matted hair you might just want to cut out before you even wash them. Just like you would brush your own hair before hopping in the shower, do the same for your pup.

You don't need to splurge on doggie shampoo.

Though the bottles might have an adorable little pup on the front of the shampoo, doggie shampoos are often overpriced, for no reason. As one of the best dog grooming hacks, you can make it yourself! A great money saver, you will only need to combine three ingredients to make this shampoo.

Two cups of warm water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap, and you're set. This combination just needs a little bit of shaking, and the bubbles will soon appear. Lather up your pup with a concoction in which you know exactly what's inside.

Cornstarch can be used as a DIY dry shampoo.

Similar to how we like to tame our greasiness, you can provide your pup with some dry shampoo between washes just like you do. And even better? It's another DIY project.

Cornstarch is all you need to rid the unwanted grease that might build up on your dog's fur. A great way to stop yourself from giving your dog too many baths, cornstarch is a miracle worker. And it doesn't just do that...

It can also be a fur whitener!

Cornstarch is great for many things, and we're sure you didn't think to use it as a fur whitener. Though this really only works for dogs who have white or light fur, cornstarch can be used to brighten the white markings on your pooch.

Just sprinkle the cornstarch onto the areas, and brush them out to get your results instantly. As one of the best dog grooming hacks, your pup will have a brand new coat in seconds.

Non-slip bath tub mats are a must.

If you wash your dog in the bathtub, you might struggle with some unwanted slippage. Something that might even scare off your dog, there is an easy fix for.

Non-slip bathtub mats will prevent this, and make bath time much more enjoyable. This way, when your dog first gets into the tub, panic does not ensue. Plus, they're inexpensive, and easy to apply. They work for toddlers as well, so no one bonks their head on the tub faucet.

Don't be afraid to give your dog some supplements.

No, don't just put some of your own supplement pills in your dog's bowl, but consider trying out some oils like fish oil or flaxseed oil to improve your dog's health, and coat.

As one of the best dog grooming hacks, salmon oil for dogs is a popular supplement, and it will give your dog a beautiful, shiny, and healthy coat in no time. Plus, it'll improve your dog's overall health as well, and who doesn't want that? Add it to your dog's daily kibble, or even add a few drops to their favorite chew toy, and you'll notice a difference just after a few intakes.

Coconut oil can moisturize paws.

Coconut oil can practically heal anything, can't it? Well, your pup's paws are no exception to this rule.

A dab of coconut oil applied to any dry patches on your dog such as rough paw pads or scaly noses will not only moisturizr the area but help to soothe and heal it. Plus, it tastes good, and is a quick and easy process to help your pup feel and look better. After grooming, this is a great last step.

A dog vacuum is a must-have.

Yeah, a normal vacuum will do the job for a while, but switching to a dog vacuum will make a world of a difference for your home. Vacuums that are meant to tackle that large amount of fur on your home's surfaces are well worth the investment, and they have a dual purpose.

You can also use a dog vacuum during grooming! Though it might take a bit of practice, you can use the attachments that come with your vacuum to get rid of the excess fur on your pup. Just be sure to change the bag and filter after using it.

As one of the best dog grooming hacks, this will make brushing and cleanup so much easier.

But for a cheaper option, rubber gloves will remove pet hair as well.

Now that we're on the topic of hair cleanup, you can also use rubber gloves if you're tired of using the vacuum. We're sure you've got a pair of those under your sink.

Just put them on, rub a little water on them, and rub your hands along the furniture that's a little too fuzzy for your liking. It will effortlessly pile up into a ball, and you'll be able to discard it with ease.

Finally, baby wipes are great for fur babies, too!

Baby wipes should be in your purse at all times even if you don't have a baby. A quick and easy solution to muddy paws, baby wipes will softly remove any unwanted dirt, without leaving their paws feeling uncomfortable.

Last, on our list of the best dog grooming hacks is this method, because you can't have enough help when it comes to cleaning up after your dog.

grooming
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About the Creator

Kelsey Lange

Passionate about writing, animals, makeup, movies, friends, family, learning, exercising, and laughing!

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