There are three main reasons why we groom dogs.
Firstly brushing a dog removes debris and disturbs the skins surface which releases the natural oil called sebum.
This keeps the dog's coat glossy and healthy too.
In the wild, the wolf will roll around on the floor in sand to produce the same effect.
As the vast majority of dogs actually quite like having their coats brushed, it is an ideal opportunity to carry out some important health checks on your pet.
Checking and cleaning around the eyes is a must for every dog.
This will ensure that there is nothing around that could penetrate the eye and cause severe discomfort or even blindness.
Your dog's ears are another area to keep clean to prevent infections.
At the same time claws including dew claws can be checked and cut where necessary.
If this is not maintained the dew claws can grow into the dog's skin and cause a lot of pain to the dog.
During the summer months many dogs pick up fleas or ticks, particularly when they walk through long grass.
These pests are a danger not only to the dog but also to other members of the family.
It therefore pays to check carefully.
Bad teeth and gums can be a real problem for your dog and the problem here is that they cannot tell you about it.
It is therefore very important to use the brushing period as a good time to check your dog's mouth.
There are special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs which can easily be obtained at your local pet shop.
Thirdly grooming your dog is both a comfort to your dog and a good chance to show that in touching your dog all over, you not only bond with him or her, but show dominance and reassert your position as the Alpha leader of your pack family As we have said, brushing is both an essential and pleasant episode in any dog's life.
Brushing though is only half the story.
To ensure that your dog is happy fit and comfortable he or she should be properly washed and groomed on a regular basis.
In today's hectic world and there are many constraints on people's time.
Also the high cost of fuel and in addition the inconvenience of taking your dog to the grooming parlour make it far better (and far less stress for your pet) if the groomer comes to you.