Not everyone likes to take their pet to the groomer, so here are some methods you can use at home!

best at home grooming tips for your pet

No one can have a pet without needing to do some sort of grooming, whether it is nail trims or baths. Even those of us who take our pets to the groomers regularly know that you’ll still need to do some maintenance in between. At home grooming doesn’t need to be stressful for you and your pet, so check out some of these methods that you can use at home.

1. Trim Nails Regularly

woman high fiving cat — Woman high fiving cat – Photo by Jonas Vincent via Unsplash

Nail trimming is important for both cats and dogs but for different reasons. Cats grow long, sharp nails and will be more likely to scratch you and your furniture. Dogs, conversely, can struggle to walk on hardwood floors and on concrete if their nails are too long. Cats and dogs can both suffer from long fur in their paw pads too.

Regular trims will help your pet know what to expect and will take less time than waiting long between trims. You will also reduce the possibility of your pet being in pain while you wait to cut their nails.

There are different types of nail trimmers, but the two most common that you will see on the market are clippers and drills. I would recommend testing out which method works best for you. Clippers are a little more difficult because you have to slide the nail into the clipper, but many pets do not like the sound of the drill.

2. Find A Brush that You and Your Pet Love

woman brushing dog — Woman brushing dog – Photo by Neakasa via Unsplash

Brushing is one of the easiest grooming methods that you can do at home. Brushing sessions can be short or long and serve as a form of bonding between you and your pet.

Brushing your cat or dog will:

Help with shedding
Prevent knots in animals with longer full
Keep your pet’s fur and skin healthy
Stimulate blood circulation
Remove more than just hair, like dirt and weeds

Much like with nail clipping, regular brushing will make the job easier each time you do it. Cats will do some of their own maintenance in between brushing sessions, but dogs are less likely to do so. There are many types of brushes to use, so do your research.

3. Start Young and Reward Often

woman with brown dog — Woman with brown dog – Photo by Kyle Mackie via Unsplash

Outside of what items you should be using to groom, one of the best methods for at-home grooming is to start training your pet young and reward them often. Many, but not all, people adopt their cats and dogs as kittens and puppies, so you should introduce bathing, nail trimming, and brushing as early as possible to your pet. Your pet will grow up knowing what you are doing when the brush or clippers come out, meaning there will be less stress.

Regardless of the age of your pet when you get them, you should also make grooming about rewards. Give your dog or cat their favorite treat after their nail trim or bath, so they know that there is a reward at the end. If your pet is particularly difficult, give them a treat every time you trim a nail or finish a paw.

Make grooming a positive experience for your cats and dogs to make it a little easier!

4. Have a Second Hand

person scratching cat chin — Person scratching cat skin – Photo by Yerlin Matu via Unsplash

While not everyone has the luxury of having someone to help when grooming, I do think it is an important aspect of at-home grooming.

If you live alone, invite someone over who your cat or dog is familiar with and comfortable around. Have their favorite person come into the room if you live with other people, whether that is your partner or one of your children. Brushing, for instance, could be a two-person job if your long-hair cat has a particular large knot that you need to get out to give them some relief. A larger dog could use someone distracting them or holding them to get through trimming their nails.

A second person on deck also means that you, in addition to your pet, are less likely to be hurt by your pet if they are stressed out.

5. Brush, Brush, Brush

brown dog licking nose — Brown dog licking nose – James Barker via Unsplash

You can brush your pet’s teeth at home, though I’m not sure this is one of the methods that you need to make use of regularly. Your cat or dog doesn’t need their teeth brushed twice a day like we do!

Brushing your pet’s teeth can be done with a toothbrush, just like you would use. Your pet is likely going to opt for toothpaste that tastes like beef or chicken instead of fresh mint, but the process is the same as what you do.

Let me let you on to a secret with this one though: use dental treats. There are many treats on the market for your cat or dog that are made with pet teeth cleaning in mind. This is the one grooming method that you can do at home that I think you can take the easy route to do!

6. Create a Routine

two dogs walking together — Two dogs walking together – Photo via Alvin Nee via Unsplash

I will leave you with my final tip: find a routine. Your cat and dog likely won’t know that you always give them a bath on the third Thursday of the month, but you can still create a routine that they know.

Let me provide two examples. First, whenever your dog goes out and gets muddy, you give them a bath and trim their nails. Maybe you only go to a lake that they can swim in and get dirty every two or three months. This is often enough that your dog will likely remember that they get a bath and then get a nail trim (and maybe their special treat!), so it’s not a shock when everything happens. For the second example, let’s say you have a cat that likes to sit on your lap while you watch television at night. Make it a habit to brush them every evening when they’re on your lap, even if it is only for a few months. Your cat will start to relate this relaxing time to their grooming session and make it less stressful.

Routines will look different for everyone, but if you’re focused on creating a routine, then you’ll be able to figure out what works for you and your pet.

Best At Home Grooming Tips for Your Pet