How to Groom Your Dog at Home: A Simple Step-by-Step Routine
You don't need a salon visit every week to keep your dog clean, healthy and good-smelling. With a few basic tools and 20–30 minutes, you can groom your dog at home. Regular grooming also helps you spot ticks, skin problems and lumps early, and most dogs come to enjoy the attention. Here's a simple routine that works for most breeds in Indian homes.
What you need
- A brush suited to your dog's coat: a slicker brush for long or double coats, a bristle brush or rubber mitt for short coats
- A wide-toothed comb for tangles
- A gentle dog shampoo and conditioner. Human shampoo is too harsh for a dog's skin.
- Two towels, and a hair dryer on the cool setting if your dog tolerates it
- Dog nail clippers or a nail grinder
- Cotton pads for cleaning ears
- Paw balm
- Treats. Lots of treats.
Our Bath Time Duo (5-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner) covers the basics. For extra care, the Spa Day Kit adds Oatmeal Shampoo for sensitive skin and Dogs Perfume for a fresh finish.
Step-by-step at-home grooming routine
Step 1: Brush first (5–10 minutes)
Always brush before a bath. Water tightens tangles and mats, so they're much harder to remove afterwards. Brush in the direction the hair grows, working from head to tail. Use the comb gently on tangles behind the ears, under the legs and around the tail. While brushing, feel for ticks, bumps, cuts or red patches.
Step 2: Check and clean the ears
Look inside the ears. Healthy ears are light pink with little or no smell. Wipe the visible part of the ear with a cotton pad. Never push anything deep into the ear canal. Redness, a bad smell, dark discharge or lots of scratching mean it's time for a vet visit.
Step 3: Bath time
- Use lukewarm water, never hot. In winter, bathe in the warmest part of the day and keep the room warm.
- Wet the coat fully, down to the skin, avoiding the face.
- Lather the shampoo into the coat, massaging it into the skin for a minute or two. Pay attention to the neck, armpits, belly and paws.
- Rinse thoroughly. Leftover shampoo is a common cause of itching and flaky skin.
- Apply conditioner, especially on long or curly coats, leave it for a few minutes, then rinse again.
- Clean the face with a damp cloth instead of pouring water over the head.
If ticks are a worry in your area, use Pawbara Anti-Tick Shampoo, or the Tick Shield Kit with Anti-Tick Spray for in-between protection.
Step 4: Dry completely
Towel-dry by pressing and squeezing rather than rubbing hard, which causes tangles. Then use a dryer on the cool or low setting, kept moving and away from the face. A damp coat, especially a thick one, can lead to bad smells and skin infections, so make sure your dog is dry right down to the skin.
Step 5: Trim the nails
If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor, they're too long. Trim only the tip of each nail and avoid the quick, the pink area inside that has blood vessels. On dark nails, take off tiny bits at a time. If your dog is very nervous, ask your groomer or vet to do it, or do one paw a day.
Step 6: Paw care
Check between the toes for thorns, ticks or redness. Trim long hair between the pads so your dog doesn't slip on tiles. Finish with a thin layer of paw balm, such as Pawbara Goat Milk Paw Balm, to keep pads soft and protect them from hot roads and dry weather.
Step 7: Final brush and finishing touch
Give a final brush once your dog is dry. For a fresh scent that lasts, spray a little Pawbara Dogs Perfume on the back and sides, away from the face. Then give a treat and lots of praise.
How often should you do each step?
- Brushing: 2–3 times a week for short coats; daily for long or double coats (Golden Retriever, Husky, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso)
- Bath: every 3–4 weeks for most dogs, or as needed. See our guide on how often to bathe your dog.
- Quick refresh between baths: Pawbara Dry Bath Spray, especially in winter. Read our dry bath guide.
- Ears: check weekly
- Nails: every 3–4 weeks
- Paws: wipe after walks; balm 2–3 times a week
Tips to make grooming stress-free
- Start short. Five calm minutes is better than a 30-minute struggle.
- Groom after a walk, when your dog is tired and relaxed.
- Use a non-slip mat in the bathroom so your dog feels steady.
- Reward calm behaviour with treats throughout, not just at the end.
- Puppies can start with gentle brushing and touching paws and ears early, so grooming feels normal as they grow.
When to see a professional groomer or vet
Book a professional if your dog has heavy matting, needs a haircut, or won't let you near their nails. See your vet if you notice hair loss, red or broken skin, a strong smell from the skin or ears, or constant scratching. Our guide on choosing the right shampoo can also help if your dog has sensitive skin.
Grooming at home is bonding time
A regular grooming routine keeps your dog clean and comfortable, and gives you time together. Start small, keep it positive, and build the routine one step at a time.