Dog Grooming at Home: Brushing, Bathing and Nails
Dog grooming at home, following the ASPCA's grooming advice - brushing by coat type, bathing, nail trimming without hitting the quick, clippers and grinders, and what to leave to a groomer or vet.
AI illustration Most of grooming is not haircuts. It is brushing often enough that the coat never mats, bathing when the dog needs it, keeping the nails short, and looking the dog over while you do it. All of that can be done at home with a few tools. Full clips on poodle-type coats, hand-stripping, and badly matted coats are better left to a groomer.
This guide follows the ASPCA’s dog grooming tips for the routine.
What to Do at Home, and What Not To
At home: brushing and de-shedding, baths, nail trims, wiping ears, tidying paws.
With a groomer: breed clips on poodles, doodles, schnauzers and terriers; hand-stripping wire coats; shaving out a matted coat.
With the vet: anal glands, anything painful, any dog that has to be sedated to be handled, and skin that is red, bumpy, scabbed or constantly scratched.
Brushing
Brushing does more than any other part of grooming, and how often depends on the coat. The ASPCA’s guide:
| Coat | How often | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth, short | Weekly | Rubber brush, then a bristle brush |
| Short and dense | Weekly | Slicker brush, then a bristle brush |
| Long and silky | Daily | Slicker brush, then a bristle brush |
| Long and prone to mats | Daily | Slicker brush to tease out tangles, then a bristle brush |
Double-coated breeds such as Huskies and Goldens drop undercoat in quantity twice a year; a de-shedding tool or undercoat rake helps then. Silky coats such as the Yorkie’s and the Maltese’s need the daily routine. Curly and wool coats mat close to the skin where you cannot see it - comb right down to the skin, not just over the top.
A de-shedding tool with a metal edge, such as the FURminator, is for double coats, not an everyday brush. Choose the version for your dog’s size and coat length, and keep to the maker’s frequency.
Brushes for short coats, model by model. For a smooth or short, dense coat the ASPCA’s tools are a rubber brush or a slicker, then a bristle brush. Each is described from its maker’s product page, checked on 26 October 2026; we have not tested them, and there are no prices here: the Amazon link searches for the exact product, and we may earn a commission if you buy through it.
- Chris Christensen Natural Boar Bristle Brush: eight rows of 3/4 in natural boar bristles on a beechwood handle, which the maker says stimulates the skin and spreads natural oils through the coat for shine. Maker’s page · See on Amazon
- Chris Christensen Mark Slicker Brushes: the maker’s shortest-pin slickers, 12 mm stainless pins on a soft cushion, made for shorter coats on dogs and cats, in sizes from Tiny to Large. Maker’s page · See on Amazon
- Chris Christensen #000 Greyhound-Style Buttercomb: a fine/coarse comb for most dogs and cats, to check the coat after brushing. Maker’s page · See on Amazon
Mats. The ASPCA’s answer is prevention: a daily routine for coats that tangle, using a slicker to tease knots out gently. Do not cut mats out with scissors - skin is thin and lifts into the mat. A dog that is matted all over needs a groomer or vet to clip it.
Bathing
How often. The ASPCA suggests at least once every three months, more often for a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors or has skin problems. Beyond that it depends on the coat - our shampoo guide has more.
With what. A shampoo made for pets; the ASPCA notes that products for people may irritate a dog’s skin.
How.
- Brush first. Loose hair and tangles tighten when wet.
- Put a non-slip mat in the bath. A dog that slips will not want to come back.
- Wet the coat through with lukewarm water, keeping it out of eyes, ears and nose.
- Shampoo, then rinse until the water runs clear - residue left in the coat irritates the skin.
- Towel dry. If you use a dryer, keep it on a cool or low setting and keep it moving; a hot dryer held close can burn.
Dryers. A forced-air pet dryer blows water out of a thick coat without relying on heat. It is loud; introduce it gradually, from a distance, with food.
Nails
The ASPCA’s guide is to trim when the nails just about touch the ground as the dog walks. How often that is depends on the dog and the ground it walks on.
Finding the quick. The quick is the living part of the nail and bleeds if cut. On a pale nail you can see it as a pink core. On a dark nail, the ASPCA’s method is to cut a little at a time until you can see the beginning of a circle on the cut surface - then stop.
If it bleeds, press on styptic powder or corn starch.
Clippers or grinder. Clippers are quick. A grinder takes the nail down a little at a time, which some owners find easier to control, and makes noise and dust.
A pet nail grinder is a small rotary tool with sanding bands; choose one with a low-speed setting and a guard.
Getting a dog used to it. Handle the feet with no tools, with treats. Then touch the nails with the tool switched off; then switched on nearby; then one nail, and stop. Build up over days. If your dog fights nail trims, ask your vet or groomer to do them and to show you.
Ears and Eyes
The ASPCA’s rule for ears: wipe the part you can see with cotton or gauze dampened with ear cleaner, and never insert anything into the ear canal. Redness, smell, discharge or head-shaking is a vet visit - see our guide to cleaning a dog’s ears.
Clippers
For most dogs, clippers at home are for tidying: the hair between the pads, around the rear, a fringe out of the eyes. A full clip on a curly or wool coat takes practice and a calm dog.
Basics
- Clip a clean, dry, brushed coat.
- Move with the lie of the hair.
- Feel the blade often; a hot blade burns. Stop and let it cool.
- Keep the skin flat and the blade flat against it, especially in armpits, groin and around ears, where skin folds.
- Never clip a mat by forcing the blade under it.
Where to Groom
- Bath: a tub or shower with a non-slip mat and a hand-held spray.
- Brushing and nails: a stable surface at a comfortable height, with a non-slip mat, good light and treats within reach. Never leave a dog alone on a raised surface.
- A lick mat stuck to the wall keeps many dogs still.
While You Are There
Grooming is when you find things. The ASPCA advises seeing the vet for redness, bumps, rashes or scabs, or a dog that is scratching and licking excessively. Run your hands over the whole dog: lumps, sore spots, ticks, grass seeds between the toes, a nail growing into a pad.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I bathe my dog?
At least every three months, by the ASPCA’s advice, and more often if the dog gets dirty or has a skin condition your vet is treating.
Can I use human shampoo?
Use one made for pets. Products for people can irritate a dog’s skin.
Can I cut my dog’s hair at home?
Tidying, yes. A full clip on a poodle-type coat is a skill; many owners keep the coat brushed at home and leave the clip to a groomer.
What if my dog hates being groomed?
Go back to short, easy sessions with food, one small step at a time. For a dog that panics or snaps, involve your vet.
How do I deal with a heavy shedder?
Brush more often in the shedding seasons, use a de-shedding tool within its maker’s limits, and bathe and dry thoroughly.
How short should the nails be?
Short enough that they just clear the ground when the dog stands. Take a little off often.
What should I do if I cut the quick?
Press styptic powder or corn starch onto the nail until it stops.
Final Word
Brush on the schedule your dog’s coat needs, bathe with a pet shampoo and rinse well, take a little off the nails often, and look the dog over each time. Leave full clips, matted coats and anything painful to a groomer or your vet.
Related Reading
- Dog Shampoo by Coat Type
- Cleaning a Dog’s Ears
- Cat Brushes for Shedding: Slickers, Combs and the FURminator Last updated: October 2026.
