Have a Dog Spa Day - Right At Home!

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Ever wondered how you can create a Dog Spa experience for your dog at Home? I hope you answered "yes" or "woof", because it's a wonderful way to spoil your pooch.

Every so often Rover will really enjoy receiving the Spa treatment - that's what spoiled doggies want and deserve right? There is also no doubt that they enjoy your attention, so instead of taking them to an upscale dog salon, why not give them the royal bathtime treatment yourself?

Or on the other hand, Dog Spa day can be an option if you can't get an appointment at the groomer, but you're off on a trip or a date and really want Rover to look, feel and smell his best. Whatever the reason, you don't really need an excuse to give your best canine friend a day of extra special TLC - do you?

When your dogs come home fresh from the dog grooming spa, they smell and look great. That's what you're aiming to duplicate on Dog Spa day. Luckily you can now get the same results at home thanks to all the wonderful choices of grooming products that are available today.

So start out by stocking up a supply of the best dog grooming treatments you can find to set up your own at home Dog Spa. Look for specially formulated dog shampoos, conditioners, finishing sprays for detangling, combs, brushes and doggie towels - they're all out there readily available on the web.

Check out the Herbal and Botanical formulations as a starting point. If you have a dog that is prone to skin problems or allergies, try an organic dog shampoo. These are ph balanced for a dog's skin and contain gentle non-soap cleansers and anti-inflammatory ingredients.


However, don't be fooled by pretty packaging. There are also many "so-so" dog grooming products on the market. Some contain ingredients that can cause adverse skin reactions to a pampered pooch - the very opposite of what you want! Fancy labels can be misleading. Do read the ingredients when selecting bath time products for your dog day spa.

Look for natural cleansing agents and essential oils - both are soothing to a dog's skin and helpful in making the bath time a relaxing experience. And choose products suitable for your dog's coat and skin type, because each dog breed is unique - but you knew that didn't you!

So Let's Begin...

You might want to start the special event with a calming massage. If you've never given your dog a massage before, he is in for a real treat, but take it slowly until he gives you a happy face. Just to make sure of the techniques, check out some reliable dog massage books or videos and then there's your vet. You could even take a class especially designed to teach pet massage. Believe it or not, there really are certified massage therapists for animals too, you know!

Mood Enhancers!

To set the stage even further, you could try a little aromatherapy. Prepare the room by burning a candle with a fragrance known to have a relaxing effect, like Lavender. It is known for calming, relaxing muscles, lowering tension and promoting a very restful feeling. Plus lavender also acts as a deodorizer when included in doggie sprays, as well as an insect repellent. So you might want to put some in your dog's bedding for a nice after bath stay fresh touch.

Before the bath, give Rover a good brush to get out the loose hair and tangles. It's so much harder to get out "wet" tangles after the bath. The Zoom Groom is a great product to use before a bath and every day for that matter. The groomer has rubber fingers that gently massage while working like a magnet to remove loose hair. Two of them used together also work very well as shampooers giving your dog a stimulating sudsing.

Water, Water...not too hot, not too cold, but just right at the Dog Spa!

Prepare the bath water pretty much the way you'd like it yourself - at a warm temperature, but not too hot. A rubber bath mat is a good idea to help prevent slip-sliding - keeping your pet more stable.

Oh, and don't forget to put on your rain gear before you start..you didn't expect to stay dry on this dog spa adventure did you? Also, Rover's ears will need some cotton balls to keep out the soapy water. Dogs' ears are fragile and best cleaned separately and gently using cotton balls moistened with mineral oil, witch hazel or a specific doggie ear wash. (Stay away from swabs to be on the safe side).

After you've given your pooch a good sudsing, make sure to rinse him well and follow with a conditioner. At the end of it all wrap your pet in a doggie towel and give him a thorough rub down which he'll love, then finish off with the hair dryer on a low heat setting. If you plan to do Dog Spa day often, you might want to get a commercial pet dryer.

Dog Spa Day finale..

Comb and brush out Rover with a conditioning dog coat spray to keep the coat lustrous looking and healthy. In between Spa days, you can maintain that fresh look and smell with a heavenly lavender scented spritz that not only removes pet odors in a wink, but also remoisturizes the coat and skin and imparts a healthy shine.

And, you're done...

unless of course you have the expertise to handle a doggie pedicure - very classy!

Now that Rover is looking and smelling great, why not take him out on a date with your special someone!

Related Grooming Pages:

Dog Grooming Tools	Shampoos, Sprays & Conditioners
Organic Dog Shampoos	Paw Care
Dog Skin Allergies	Dealing With FLEAS
Treating Dog Hot Spots	Skunk Odor Removal

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