Pet grooming is an emerging skill in the pet industry, covering basic pet care, styling and trimming, and creative design techniques. Dog grooming originated as early as Roman times. From the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, many noble dog patterns appeared on oil paintings and hanging decorations, including Spanish hunting dogs, Bichon Frises, Poodles (detailed introduction), and more. By the early nineteenth century, the pet groomer profession had begun to take form. After entering the twentieth century, pet grooming gradually came into ordinary households and developed into the service model we see today. From initially trimming nails, plucking ear hair, and bathing, to creative styling and personalized dressing, and further to grooming health care, pet grooming has experienced a historical leap. This article briefly describes the basic requirements for pet dog hair care and other grooming knowledge, aiming to help everyone.
　　1. Dog Hair Care
　　The dog hair metabolism cycle is about 20 days. Bathing should follow this cycle; bathing too frequently or with too long an interval will affect hair growth and quality. Dog skin is weakly alkaline, so during bathing, choose weakly acidic bath liquids or mild, low-irritation shampoos to avoid allergic reactions and hair dryness. There are many bath liquids on the market for different hair colors and qualities, so owners can choose more specifically. When bathing pets, follow the order from back to front and top to bottom, starting by cleaning from the anus and finishing with the head to avoid discomfort or resistance from washing the head too early.
　　Daily grooming of the pet’s hair is very important. It not only reduces matting but also promotes blood circulation in the skin and accelerates hair follicle repair and growth. For curly-haired dogs with dense curls, mats often form behind the ears, underarms, and neck, requiring regular grooming with a steel needle comb; for soft-haired dogs with fragile and easily broken hair, use a wooden-handled needle comb and gently comb with wrist strength to minimize hair damage; for hard-haired breeds, use a shedding brush to remove undercoat and loose dead hair, leaving only the surface hard hair. For silky hair, anti-static hair care products and conditioners should be used during grooming to avoid damage to hair quality.

The hair color was not bright and smooth before the puppy hair was shaved off

　　2. Hair Trimming
　　There is no strict requirement regarding whether to trim the puppy hair; owners can choose according to their needs. If the owner is not satisfied with the quality of the puppy hair, it is usually possible to shave the puppy hair around three months of age, when the dog is healthy and in a warm season, to facilitate the growth of the desired hair. Pet hair trimming can reduce shedding and create various styles to make pets look more beautiful. However, hair plays an important protective role in summer — blocking direct sunlight. Therefore, when trimming dog hair, be sure to leave a certain length. If you want to shave it completely and regrow, remember to dress the dog when going out.

Although ugly after shaving puppy hair, it still has a bit of a lion feel

The hair gradually grows fuller one month after shaving puppy hair

Two months after shaving puppy hair, getting cuter and cuter

　　3. Other Grooming Knowledge
　　1. Paw care: Toes are important parts of a dog. For indoor dogs, nail length should be checked regularly, especially suspended nails, to avoid neglect. During trimming, avoid blood vessels and nail beds, and file smooth. Owners need to check and trim frequently. Trimming the fur on the paw pads is also important. For indoor pet dogs, fast-growing pad hair makes movement slippery and prone to falls, and when going out to play, it easily traps dirt and may cause paw inflammation.
　　2. Ear canal care: The ear canal’s structure is very delicate and complex and normally produces a lot of earwax. Long-haired, large-eared, and droopy-eared breeds have closed ear canals with poor ventilation, which are prime breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi, and parasites, causing otitis and ear mites, seriously affecting hearing. Therefore, ear canal care is very important. Basic care includes two tasks: plucking ear hair and cleaning the ear canal. The method is as follows: apply ear hair removal powder inside the ear canal, massage gently to spread evenly, manually pull exposed ear hair, gently pull inner ear hair with hemostatic forceps wrapped in clean degreased cotton balls, and slowly clean ear canal secretions. The powder helps anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, and dries the internal environment, preventing infections caused by hair removal.
　　3. Anal gland care: Anal glands are a pair of pear-shaped glands located approximately at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock around the dog's anus, each with an opening secreting anal gland fluid to lubricate defecation and serve as the dog's identity marker. The fluid turns black or dark brown over time and becomes foul-smelling. If not emptied for a long time, it can cause anal gland inflammation and cysts. Thus, basic pet care involves first emptying the accumulated anal gland fluid and then washing the anus area with bath liquid to remove residue and dirt, followed by a whole-body bath. The operation requires skill and appropriate strength to avoid causing the dog discomfort.