Grooming
Learning how to brush your Basset Hound is a simple way to strengthen the bond between you and your pet in addition to the other benefits that come with grooming. Regular grooming sessions keep your dog’s coat clean and healthy and minimize shedding. Consistent dog brushing also allows you to check for cuts, bumps, or other skin problems that may need attention.
Proper grooming requires the right brush for your dog’s coat, because the Basset Hound has a short dense coat a good quality Bristle Brush will last for the lifetime of your puppy. These brushes come in a wide variety of styles and can be used on any type of coat. Longer, widely-spaced bristles are better for dogs with longer coats, while shorter, tightly-packed bristles are made for short-haired dogs and is the best type for a Basset Hound.
You can brush your dog either on the floor or a grooming table although the floor is better. Have him lay down or use a lead and collar for more control. If he squirms too much, place your knee on the leash close to the collar to hold him in place and keep your hands free, he will soon relax and enjoy the process.
Start at the front and brush the fur in the direction of growth. Choose one side and brush your dog from his head back to his tail. Work with small sections repeat the process on the other side. Continue at the rear and brush fur in the direction of growth, repeat this several times, your puppy will soon love this exercise.
Ideally, you’ll want to brush your dog every day to start. For a puppy especially, this will get him used to being groomed so you can avoid brushing-related behavior problems in the future.
How often you brush your dog after he’s used to it will depend on you, you can stick with once a day, but Basset Hounds only need to be brushed once a week.
If you fit dog brushing into your daily routine, you’ll keep your dog’s coat clean and healthy and build his trust in you.
Bathing Your Basset Hound
The frequency with which your Basset Hound needs a bath depends on how dirty he gets. Generally, the fewer baths a dog gets, the better. In the past, dogs were bathed to control fleas and other parasites but today, topical preventatives handle that. Bathing strips the skin of natural oils and frequent baths can cause dry, itchy skin which may lead to scratching and subsequent infection. Another reason to avoid the soap and water is risk of chill. To minimize dry skin, bath water should be lukewarm and the suds rinsed thoroughly from the coat. Avoid lathering the head to prevent getting suds in the eyes or ears. Simply wipe the facial area with a damp cloth. Eyes and ears should be cleaned separately according to instructions from your veterinarian or groomer. At the end of the bath, be sure to dry inside ears with a soft cloth. To keep the dog from shaking water everywhere before the bath is over, try lathering his neck area last. Lastly remember to support the full length of your Basset while getting him in and out of the bath.
Proper grooming requires the right brush for your dog’s coat, because the Basset Hound has a short dense coat a good quality Bristle Brush will last for the lifetime of your puppy. These brushes come in a wide variety of styles and can be used on any type of coat. Longer, widely-spaced bristles are better for dogs with longer coats, while shorter, tightly-packed bristles are made for short-haired dogs and is the best type for a Basset Hound.
You can brush your dog either on the floor or a grooming table although the floor is better. Have him lay down or use a lead and collar for more control. If he squirms too much, place your knee on the leash close to the collar to hold him in place and keep your hands free, he will soon relax and enjoy the process.
Start at the front and brush the fur in the direction of growth. Choose one side and brush your dog from his head back to his tail. Work with small sections repeat the process on the other side. Continue at the rear and brush fur in the direction of growth, repeat this several times, your puppy will soon love this exercise.
Ideally, you’ll want to brush your dog every day to start. For a puppy especially, this will get him used to being groomed so you can avoid brushing-related behavior problems in the future.
How often you brush your dog after he’s used to it will depend on you, you can stick with once a day, but Basset Hounds only need to be brushed once a week.
If you fit dog brushing into your daily routine, you’ll keep your dog’s coat clean and healthy and build his trust in you.
Bathing Your Basset Hound
The frequency with which your Basset Hound needs a bath depends on how dirty he gets. Generally, the fewer baths a dog gets, the better. In the past, dogs were bathed to control fleas and other parasites but today, topical preventatives handle that. Bathing strips the skin of natural oils and frequent baths can cause dry, itchy skin which may lead to scratching and subsequent infection. Another reason to avoid the soap and water is risk of chill. To minimize dry skin, bath water should be lukewarm and the suds rinsed thoroughly from the coat. Avoid lathering the head to prevent getting suds in the eyes or ears. Simply wipe the facial area with a damp cloth. Eyes and ears should be cleaned separately according to instructions from your veterinarian or groomer. At the end of the bath, be sure to dry inside ears with a soft cloth. To keep the dog from shaking water everywhere before the bath is over, try lathering his neck area last. Lastly remember to support the full length of your Basset while getting him in and out of the bath.
Working together with the
KENNEL CLUB
for a better tomorrow
KENNEL CLUB
for a better tomorrow
Official site of the Basset Hound Health Group
The Basset Hound Health Group - is run under the auspices of all 8 UK based Basset Hound Breed Clubs
The Basset Hound Health Group - is run under the auspices of all 8 UK based Basset Hound Breed Clubs
