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Dog Grooming Supplies

Breeding Business Wednesday 5 December 2018

Dog breeders are often grooming their own dogs. They visit professional pet groomers and salons only when a dog show is approaching. Grooming your dog is extremely easy and straightforward as long as you’ve got the right tools, as listed below.

Also, invest in a good dog bathtub and, as a responsible dog owner, a comprehensive dog first aid kit in order to properly look after your dog’s health rather than just his appearance.

Grooming Tables

grooming tables

The first item in any dog groomer’s shopping list is to get the best grooming table he or she can get for their budget. This does not mean the most expensive or fanciest table at all, instead, you want a grooming table that is adapted to the kind of works you will use it for. We have a comprehensive buying guide for the best dog grooming tables.

If you are a dog owner or a dog breeder using the table every month for a couple of hours, you may want to go with a small foldable grooming table. However, if you are replacing a table for your grooming salon, you will most definitely prefer lovely hydraulic grooming tables to help you avoid body fatigue, and restrain the pets for safer sessions.

We also have an article focusing on Flying Pig grooming tables from a great manufacturer who offers products ranging from the $100 foldable table to the $800 electric grooming table.

Dog Grooming Kits

dog grooming kit

A good dog grooming kit is packed with the must-have any pet parent should use to beautify their dog. There are some obvious items such as nail grinders, scissors, thinners, and brushes. Additionally, some include lightweight dog clippers and cleaning wipes.

Grooming kits are great for those who need a comprehensive set of grooming tools but do not have the time to hand pick each and every one product within it. Sure, if you attend dog shows you will prefer to select the best products individually, but if it is just for a grooming session every few weeks, a kit is perfect and more than enough.

Grooming Scissors

grooming scissors

There is no great groomer without a great leather pouch full of extra sharp dog grooming scissors and thinning shears. Round-tip, thick, heavy, limited edition colors; you name it, a groomer has it. Grooming scissors are ranging from very cheap all the way to very precious and expensive (several hundreds of dollars); it’s all about what you want to do with them.

When getting involved with dog grooming you need to know what types of dogs you will look after so you can fill your grooming pouch with the right equipment. Some dogs require particular types of scissors while others require more detail works with smaller scissors.

We’ve created a buying guide for grooming scissors, as well as reviewed the World’s best Kenchii grooming shears. Make sure you invest the right tools in terms of how functional they are but also in terms of ergonomic design to reduce wrist fatigue during long trimming sessions.

Dog Clippers

dog clippers

Grooming scissors are declining because dog clippers exist; and they are becoming very, very good. The best dog clippers are manufactured by the same brands equipping your favorite beauty salons and hairdressers: Andis, Wahl, Oster, etc. They don’t just sell regular clippers repackaged and rebranded for dog use! They are actually built to trim dogs the perfect way without any nuisance (heat, vibrations, noise…)

Dogs have a sensitive skin so pet clippers remain cooler even after extended periods of time, the clipper blades are very sharp in order for you to trim and go through the coarsest coats. Dogs can also get a little anxious so quietness is a key element in dog clippers while power must be delivered to cut through difficult coats. The Andis Super AGR+ Cordless Clippers are pretty amazing at that!

Because dogs are so different between themselves, pet clippers cater to different use cases; it’s not rare to see a professional groomer with several different clippers for different types of works. Two brands are leading the marketplace and we’ve also written a face-to-face review comparing Andis vs Wahl dog clippers.

Some dogs get very anxious when electric trimmers approach them, usually due to the noise and vibration, so we also reviewed the best silent dog clippers. If it’s your first time clipping your dog, check out these tips and take a look at our list of the different types of clippers.

If you only use dog clippers at home, check out our special review dedicated to home dog clippers – they are cheaper and definitely able to do even the most difficult trims for a lot less money. The only reason they are cost-effective is that they are dedicated to occasional use. For more frequent or even daily usage, use professional-grade hair trimmers.

Dog Dryers

dog dryer

Grooming always starts with a good wash and rinse; only then the drying process starts. The skin of a dog will get burnt if you use a regular handheld hair dryer so you must invest in the best dog dryer possible. There are three types of dog dryers and we list them below in the order of recommendation:

  1. Forced-Air Dog Dryers — cold air blasted at high velocity to blow water off a dog’s coat
  2. Low-Pressure Dog Dryers — heated air is blown at a low speed, also called a cage dryer
  3. Handheld Dog Dryers — quieter and weaker version of a human hairdryer

Because heat is such a problem and has already led to the death of dogs in some cases, the first category is the one you should look into as a reflex. Forced-air dog dryers are not just the safest dog dryers out there, they are also the most efficient at drying any type of coat. Thanks to their high pressure and incredible velocity, they will dry the worst double-coated dogs within minutes.

Low-pressure dryers are the second best option: they slowly diffuse heated air and dry the dog through this ambient hot air. You have probably seen these in some grooming salons where they are attached to cages. The only issue is that the groomer has to control the temperature at a regular interval to make sure the dog isn’t slowly burning.

Handheld dog dryers should only be purchased and used by the dog owners with an extremely limited budget since they aren’t efficient yet very dangerous. We do not recommend these at all and would even prefer a dry towel as an alternative.

Dog Nail Clippers

dog ear cleaning

Honestly, I’ve never bumped into somebody who enjoyed cutting his dog’s nails. We all usually await that dreaded ‘tok, tok, tok’ nail-tapping noise on the floor to get it done. Many dog owners visit their groomer or vet just to trim the nails, while others have decided that it wasn’t worth the visit so when it could be done at home using good dog nail clippersfor free!

Now, doing it yourself is a little scary at first. We want to clip the dog’s nails without cutting the quick. But hey, even if you do, it’s not that painful and it won’t bleed liters and liters, plus there are plenty of styptic powder to help with the mini wound.

If you aren’t comfortable with the cutting action of nail clippers, you can buy dog nail grinders. These are a little pricier (generally around the $30 mark) but there is no cutting involved. You just grind the excess nail away. It takes a few minutes and it gives a super slick result. Dogs don’t mind it either!

Dog Ear Cleaners

One of the most common conditions veterinarians see daily in dogs they examine is an ear infection caused by ear mites, yeast, bacteria or fungus. We’ve written a short and comprehensive guide to the best dog ear cleaners along with its dog ear cleaning guide.

dog ear cleaning

The shape of a dog ear is not straight like ours, therefore, using cotton buds would be useless because it cannot reach the end of the dog’s L-shaped ear canal. Most dog owners ignore the hygiene of their dog’s ears and start reacting when it is too late.

When done regularly, ear cleaning is extremely easy and takes a minute or two maximum. For the dog, this is totally pain-free even if it’s not necessarily a pleasant moment. But it is required if you want to avoid ear infections caused by ear mites, bacteria, and fungi.

Besides a few exceptions, dog ear cleaners are liquid drops to pour in your dog’s ears, to then massage in a circular motion and let be. It’s quick to do and can save you heavy vet bills.

Dog Toothpaste

dog toothpaste

Dental problems and gum diseases are at the very top of the conditions vets see daily; and here again, it is because dog owners and dog breeders simply cannot be bothered to spend a couple of minutes every day or two to brush their dog’s teeth. The best dog toothpaste will cost you less than $10 and it will last you for weeks.

Toothpaste for dogs comes in various styles: enzymatic, all-natural, spray, gum sensitive, etc. For the most excitable or anxious dogs out there, there even are brushless dog toothpaste. Brushing the outer side of your dog’s teeth is usually enough since your dog’s tongue will handle the inner side. That will fight bad bacteria accumulation, plaque buildup, and tartar control.

The bottom line is that you better start brushing your dog’s teeth from today onwards if you want to avoid periodontal issues appearing in a few years’ time. Bad breath, swollen gums, discolored and crooked teeth can all be avoided if you adopt the right routine from puppyhood!

Dog Colognes

dog cologne and deodorant

That beautiful scent you can smell on your dog when he or she leaves the groomer, you know? It’s like magic! Dog colognes and deodorants are widely used by groomers but we also recommend you to have a spray at home to use every few days.

There are two types of colognes for dogs:

  1. Cleaning Colognes — actively fight bad bacterias and germs to leave a fresh skin and coat behind
  2. Masking Deodorants — simply masks bad odors by the use of a stronger and nicer scent

Obviously, you should always focus on using an actively cleaning dog cologne or deodorant because it is overall much healthier than simply masking the dog’s bad smell. As per usual precautions, start by using the cologne on a small patch of your dog’s body just to make sure he or she reacts well.

Prices are usually low and remain under or around $10 for a bottle that will last you weeks, if not months.

Dog Wipes

best dog wipes

So easy to use and time-saving in a dog breeder’s daily routine, the best dog wipes you can buy will help you clean your dog’s skin, coat, teeth, ears, eyes, paws, and pretty much anything else. There is a type of dog wipes for most body parts and they do work. After all, a wipe is just a piece of cloth soaked in a solution that is formulated to perform a particular task (remove bad odors, break bacteria down, control tartar buildup, etc.)

Obviously, dog owners must remain careful when choosing and using wipes since some of them may be harsher than others. Indeed, some wipes are more of a daily product while others tend to be recommended curatively since their active compounds are much stronger.

Antibacterial dog wipes for dogs are so convenient and cost-effective that it would be crazy not to have a pouch at home. Most products available today are resealable and can be kept safely for months.

Medicated Dog Shampoos

medicated dog shampoo

Medicated dog shampoos are meant to soothe and relieve a dog’s itchy skin. Medicated shampoos contain active compounds that fight bacterias, fungi, viruses, worms, and even parasites. Whatever skin issue your dog has, once you or your vet find the cause, a medicated shampoo can clear the threat.

Finding the best antiparasitic and antiseborrheic dog shampoos is not an easy task but the good news is that they are widely available on online stores such as Chewy.com and Amazon. Prices are little higher compared to regular shampoos but the formulations and research put into them explain the price increase. Additionally, medicated shampoos are not meant to be used all the time – they are here to fix a medical skin-related issue.

Dog Flea Shampoos

flea tick lice shampoo for dogs

Dog flea shampoos are a curative treatment to rid a dog of all the fleas and ticks it is currently hosting. Flea, lice and tick shampoos are generally used to treat the problem on the dog but the pet owner must kill all larvae and adult parasites on furniture, floors, and beddings too.

Flea shampoos for dogs come in various strength and formulations. You can buy an organic and mild shampoo or go for a much stronger and astringent shampoo to quickly fix a spread that got out of hand. There is no best product as it depends on so many factors such as your dog’s skin sensitivity levels, how advanced the parasitic infection is, and how quickly you want to sort the issue.

Dog Flea Powders

kennel disinfectant

Every few months, it’s important to have a proper deep cleaning of your entire home and yard, including all dog areas, beddings, and kennels. This will take you a few hours on one day along with $30 but you will keep everything clean and free of parasites. Using a great dog flea powder is a must-do since ticks, lice and fleas are the most common parasites in home accommodating a pet.

The advantage of using powder is that the application is very quick and efficient while the long-lasting effects will allow the product to kill eggs and larvae for the next days and weeks to come. It’s an ideal cleaning supply for all dog owners and even more for dogs breeders.

From chemically-formulated powders that are very concentrated for a full-blast effect to the all-natural Diatomaceous Earth, there is a dog flea powder for all use cases. It’s a matter of taking twenty minutes reading our guide carefully and buying the right product (preventive or curative.)

Dog Flea Collars

dog flea collar

Beating fleas is tough and requires a very comprehensive effort to eradicate the problem. Pet parents must clean up the dog’s beddings, the living room’s rug, the sofa, and obviously, the dog’s coat. In order to prevent fleas from using your dog as a comfortable and feast-providing host, you may want to go back to the good old solutions. Spot-on flea drops and the cost-effective dog flea collars.

Without getting into too many details, flea and tick collars are very safe for dogs (not so much for cats). Modern flea collars (e.g. Seresto and Salibor) emit safe levels of insecticides and parasiticide for dogs and their pet parents. Most of them are also fine to use on grown-up pups, too. However, it is important to remember that dog flea and tick collars are preventive and not curative. Meaning, you should use them to avoid fleas and ticks rather than remove them once they are there.