Are you thinking about getting a beautiful portrait of your pet? An artist by profession, Miri's paintings make a lasting keepsake of your furry or feathered friend. For more info, please visit Custom Pet Portraits by Miri at http://www.petportraitsbymiri.com/

2. Grooming your dog regularly is
an important part of keeping
him or her healthy.

3. Dogs vary widely in the amount
of grooming that their coat
requires, but all canines require
some basic care.

4. Taking care of these needs can
help prevent future problems.

5. Brushing

6. Brushing is important for your
dog's skin and coat health, as
well as for their comfort.

7. The type of brush that should
be used depends on the type
of coat your dog has. Combs
may also be more appropriate
for certain breeds.

8. It is important that you teach your
dog to like brushing so that regular
grooming doesn't become a battle.

9. When just starting out,
introduce the brush gently
and praise your dog softly for
allowing the process.

10. Be careful never to hurt your dog
accidentally with tools like slicker
brushes and de-shedding rakes.

11. If your dog already doesn't like
grooming, try giving a treat after
every few brush strokes.

12. The number of brush strokes
depends on how much your dog
dislikes being groomed.

13. Hopefully, after a while you will
be able to just give one treat
when the grooming is over.

14. Bathing

15. Some dogs go their whole lives
on only one or two baths. Some
dogs are bathed every day.
What is the best practice?

16. Generally, moderate bathing,
something like once a month or
four times a year is considered
best. However, gentle shampoos
can be used more often.

17. Always use a shampoo formulated
especially for pets. Their skin has
a different pH than ours, and
using the wrong shampoo can dry
out their skin and hair.

18. Pet stores usually have many options.

19. Dogs can be bathed outdoors if it
is warm enough, in the bathtub, or
in the sink.

20. Just like people, dogs tend to like
slightly warm water best. Don't
use hot or very cold water to
bathe your dog.

21. A handheld shower head can
be very useful for bathing
your dog indoors.

22. Nails

23. All dogs need to have their
nails clipped. If they
overgrow, they can cause the
dog pain by putting the feet at
an unnatural angle.

24. Some dogs are easy to do, but
a lot of dogs hate having this
done. Positive reinforcement
training can help these dogs
get over their fears.

25. Teeth

26. Teeth are a neglected part of
the body for most canines.

27. Because of this most canines
will have some degree of oral
disease by the time they are
three years old. However, this
is largely preventable.

28. The two main ways that your dog's
teeth can be kept clean are
through brushing and chewing.

29. You can brush your dog's teeth
with toothpaste from the pet
store, and this will help keep his or
her mouth in good shape.

30. It needs to be done regularly and
at least once a week.

31. Chewing is sometimes referred to
as "Nature's toothbrush."

32. Dogs that chew regularly keep
their teeth cleaner. Special chews
are made for this purpose, but
they don't need to be used.

33. Anything that is safe for your dog
to chew and that he or she likes
chewing will usually help.

34. Ears

35. Some people clean their dog's
ears regularly. Others don't
think it is necessary.

36. At the very least, you should take
a look and a sniff in your dog's
ears when you groom him or her.

37. This will help detect problems
such as infections or mites.

38. Are you thinking about getting a
beautiful portrait of your pet?

39. An artist by profession, Miri's
paintings make a lasting keepsake
of your furry or feathered friend.

40. For more info, please visit Custom
Pet Portraits by Miri at
www.petportraitsbymiri.com