Dogs were created in all different sizes and shapes, colors and coat lengths, and they cannot care for themselves. They cannot brush their fur, clean their teeth, trim their nails or bathe themselves. Nor can they ask for help. We have to attend to these things ourselves on a regular basis.

All dogs needs to be brushed. It keeps shedding doggy odor under control, prevents tangles, and gives the coat a nice sheen. Short coated dogs like Dobermann Pinschers and Great Danes should be groomed with soft bristle brush once a week. Double coated dogs like German Shepards, Akitas are the hard-core shedders of the canine world. They need a brisk brushing with a slicker brush twice a week. Long-coated dogs like Afghans, Shih Tzus to name a few require a great deal of attention. Some of the soft, cottony coats tangle easily and require an hour or more of daily care to avoid matting. You will need several types of brushes and combs to maintain these coats.

Bathing Your Dog

Most of us have to bathe our dogs at one time or the other. One of the keys to successful bathing is to brush the dog thoroughly first. Never bathe dogs with tangles, as it will only make matters worse. Using a detangler spray can make getting the knots out easier for both of you. You can also have his hair trimmed or keep up with the brushing. Once he is brushed, you can begin the bath.

Ear Care

Dogs ears need routine care. Train your dog early to accept this grooming by making hair handling part of your praise. While you're petting your dog, pick up the ear flap, look inside, put it down and praise some more. Gently rub the inside of the ear ( never go farther than you can see). Practice this daily, and when the time comes to clean the ear, you will have no problems.

Nail Care

Cutting your dog's toenails need not be a wrestling match. The problem is that most of us do not handle our dog's feet and toes except when we plan a pedicure. Daily handling mixed with belly rubbing sessions will make almost any dog relaxed about having his feet handled. Go back and forth, rub his  belly, hold his puw, scratch his chest, gently grasp his toe, rub his belly some more. By linking something he enjoys to something he is not too sure about, you can improve his view of toenail cutting. Do this daily, as part of your normal routine, and he will lie with his feet happily in the air next pedicure time. When you try to cut his nails, don't try to get them cut all at once. Snip one, belly rub for a while, snip another. If you cut the nail too short, it is painful for the dog and can bleed profusely.

Flea Control

Fleas spend only 10 percent of their time feasting on your dog. The rest of the time, they quietly live their lives laying eggs in your house or yard. The general rule is for every flea you see on your dog, ten more are in your home. In order to control them, you have to kill them everywhere at once. The best flea-control products are powders, dips, or sprays for your dogs. Never mix different flea products together.