Grooming Tips and Links
Links to how to use a Dremel to grind your dogs nails:
I use a rechargeable battery grinder Dremel MiniMite 2-speed Model: 750-02 that can be purchased at Wal-mart or at Sears for less than $30.How to Grind Nails Using TTouch Methods
http://www.neholistic.com/articles/0098.htmDawn S. Garrett's Method (with photos!) (link is found on the lower left column)
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/index.html
Shampoo:
I use Bio-groom Protein and Lanolin (mixed 1 part Bio-groom to 4 parts Water); I seldom use a blue or purple shampoo because if you don't get all of the shampoo out your dog will have either blue or gray cast to it's coat.
I do use Original Dawn Dish Detergent if the dog's hocks are extremely dirty or stained. This can be use undiluted or can be mixed at the same ratio as the Bio-Groom.
There are other shampoo's on the market too. Occasionally I will use E-Z Groom Crystal White Shampoo... this is a green shampoo that is highly concentrated and needs to be mixed with water and heated for the enzymes to be effective. You can use Suave Apple Green Shampoo, again, it needs to be diluted. A word of caution... I don't use the Suave all the time, just occasionally, remember this is a shampoo for human's and the pH levels for dog vs. human shampoo is different.
Drying:
If you shampoo your dog yourself, be sure you use a dryer... the preferred is a dryer manufactured for dogs. if you are only going to be occasionally grooming your dog, use a human dryer with a cool setting. It is ALWAYS best to use a grooming table, or if one is not available some sort of table with a bath mat on it so that the dog won't slip off.
More tips coming soon!! Hopefully with photographs.