The holiday season is almost here, and many dog parents are making grooming appointments for their CBFs (canine best friends) so they will look (and hopefully smell) nice for photos and visitors. It’s all well and good to want your pup to look his very best for Santa, but bathing and grooming shouldn’t be reserved for holidays and other special occasions. It’s important to keep your dog clean and tidy all year long.

Granted, some dogs don’t need to be bathed or brushed as often as others. For example, if your pup is a short-coated couch potato whose outdoor adventures almost always involve a leash and a sidewalk, he probably won’t need a bath or brushing as often as a Golden Retriever in full coat who lives in the country and regularly encounters mud, burs, and water. The other thing to take into account is how much your dog sheds. Is he a breed that sheds very little, like a Poodle? Or is he a heavy seasonal shedder, like a Malamute?

If he regularly sheds enough hair to create another dog, frequent brushing helps to remove dead hair and debris from his coat and keeps it from landing on your furniture and carpeting. (Yay–less vacuuming!) Make sure you have the right type of brush for your dog’s coat. If he has a thick double coat, you will need a brush designed to work through heavy fur without pulling too much out. (There is a tool on the market called the Furminator that is made especially for long- or thick-coated heavy shedders. We bought one some years ago for our Golden Retriever, who has fur like sheep wool, but found that if we weren’t careful, the Furminator would turn our fuzzball into a giant Mexican Hairless. We don’t use the Furminator any more.) If your dog has a short, smooth coat, a brush with softer, shorter bristles will do the trick.

Besides removing dead hair and debris, regularly brushing your dog gives you the opportunity to run your hands over his body and note anything unusual, like lumps, bumps, or sore spots that may require a trip to your veterinarian for further evaluation. I know of at least one dog parent who found a suspicious lump while brushing her dog and had it checked by the vet. It turned out to be cancerous, but was caught early enough to cure. And there’s your ounce of prevention…

You should always brush your dog before bathing him. Mats are a lot harder to comb out of wet fur than dry.

If you’re planning on saving a little money by bathing your dog yourself, you may be in for more work than you planned (unless this isn’t your first time doing this, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.) Please bear in mind that many dogs don’t like baths, even if they’re from a water-loving breed. (My Golden Retriever, Cosmo, is a prime example. Although he loves swimming, he is a very reluctant bather.) Also, a small dog will be much easier to handle than a larger one. You may be able to fit him in your laundry tub, which will alleviate back strain. If your dog is a larger fellow, you’ll likely have to wash him in your bathtub. Make sure that the bottom of the tub is slip-proof. If you don’t have a slip-proof surface, place a rubber mat or an old towel on the bottom. Your dog will feel more secure and will be less likely to panic if his feet aren’t sliding out from underneath him.

Next, assemble your equipment. Use a shampoo formulated for your dog’s coat and skin type. DO NOT use shampoo made for humans as these types are too acidic and will upset the dog’s ph balance. NEVER use any kind of a household cleaner on your pet. These chemicals may be absorbed through your dog’s skin and kill him. Next, prepare the water. It should be lukewarm. Before you put your dog in the tub, gently place a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water from entering the ear canals and providing breeding grounds for infection. Then you may place the dog in the tub. Using a hose sprayer will make it much easier to wet the dog completely and also to get all the shampoo out of his fur. Wash him in sections, starting with the face, which should be cleaned with a washcloth. Don’t forget the undersides of the ears.

Next, use a hose sprayer to wet down the rest of the dog. (Believe me, as someone who has done both, using a sprayer is a gazillion times easier than filling and refilling a pitcher with water from the faucet.) once the dog’s fur is thoroughly wet, begin working the shampoo through his coat to his skin. Don’t forget to wash everything–feet, belly, tail, etc. Then rinse thoroughly, squeezing the fur to ensure all lather is gone. Grab a towel and begin drying him. He will want to shake. This can make a major mess, so what I do is hold up the towel between myself and the dog and let him shake. The towel keeps me (and the walls) from getting drenched. Once he’s not dripping, then you can let him out of the tub and remove the cotton from his ears. You will want to keep him inside until he’s dry; otherwise, he’ll be tempted to roll in the nearest dirt he can find–and you’ll have to start all over again. If you wish to blow-dry him, use a dryer made for dogs. A ‘human’ blow-dryer gets too hot and could burn his skin.

As long as you’re cleaning the rest of him, you should include brushing his teeth. Many dog parents don’t consider this an important part of their dog’s hygiene, but chew on this: many dogs will have periodontal disease by age 2 unless the teeth are regularly cleaned. Not only does periodontal disease lead to possible tooth loss, the infection can enter the dog’s bloodstream and be life-threatening. On a more pleasant note, regular brushing will keep his teeth bright and his breath fresher–especially important if your dog is a kisser. You can use either a baby toothbrush or a doggie toothbrush.

The brushes we use are made for dogs and actually have 4 sets of bristles on the heads, so we can brush the entire tooth’s surface–top, sides, and in-between–at once. You can find these at any pet-supply store. Also, you’ll need a toothpaste formulated for dogs. DO NOT use ‘human’ toothpaste!! Fluoride is poisonous to dogs, and you won’t be able to keep him from swallowing any of it. If you’ve never brushed your dog’s teeth before, it’s a good idea to get him used to having your fingers in his mouth as well as becoming accustomed to the toothbrush and toothpaste. This may take a few days; start out by gently lifting your dog’s lip and rubbing your finger along the teeth and gumline. Once he will easily accept you doing this, then let him try a little toothpaste.

Doggie toothpastes are availabe in yummy flavors like chicken and panut butter, so hopefully your dog will view this as a treat. Once he seems like he’s used to the taste and texture, try putting a little toothpaste on the brush and gently brushing a few teeth, keeping the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline. It may take a few days before he will let you brush all of his teeth at once, but be patient. If you notice a little bleeding at the gumline, this is normal. You may be brushing a bit too hard, so ease up and see if that helps. If there is a lot of bleeding, periodontal disease may be present, which requires veterinary treatment. As you’re brushing, speak to him in a positive, cheerful voice, letting him know what a good boy he is. When you’re finished, reward him with a treat or some special attention.

Bathing and grooming your dog can be a big hassle–but having the right equipment, a positive attitude, and a lot of patience will go long way to making the whole experience more pleasant–and bonding–for both you and your dog.