Why Bother With One?
Introducing a nighttime routine for your dog is great for a variety of reasons. With this routine, we have helped her maintain clean teeth, a shiny coat, and become desensitized to touch around her feet and mouth. This has made going to the vet and groomer easy for her because she is used to being touched and moved around. So much of your dog’s health relies on the upkeep of things they can’t do themselves like cleaning their teeth or ears. The following routine does not need to be done daily, but I would recommend doing it as often as you can.
1. Cleaning Paws
Start off a nighttime routine for your dog with their paws. I have her jump in the shower and clean each of her paws with her usual shampoo. I use a small amount of shampoo per paw to make sure they get soapy and clean! I prefer using a shampoo that prioritizes hydration like the one listed below:
2. Nails
Once her paws are nice and clean I check to see if she has any nails that need to be shortened. Tapa, my chocolate lab, has pretty weak nails and they often chip or split, so I keep an eye on them to make sure I grind off any pieces that cause her discomfort. I love using a nail grinder with a light in it because it leaves the guesswork out of trimming nails. When she was just a puppy I accidentally cut too much of her nail off and if you’ve ever done that you know how terrible it is. I cried the rest of the day and never touched a pair of clippers again. I like using the below model, I’ve been using it for a few months and the grinder still works great, plus its easy to use and charge.
Casfuy 6-Speed Dog Nail Grinder
3. Paw Treatment
My pup suffers from cracked paws so I need to prioritize moisturizing them! My tried and true product for her has been coconut oil. Since it’s natural and organic it’s okay if she licks it, and it works well in relieving her cracked paws. I’m going to make it my mission one day to create high-quality lick-proof dog moisturizing socks because it can be pretty challenging for the product to soak in before she licks it off. I recommend playing a game with your pup or giving copious amounts of belly rubs to distract them. You can also make them one of my kong recipes to keep them distracted.
Tip** If your dog has any dry spots on their fur you can also use coconut oil!
Viva Naturals Organic Coconut Oil
4. Teeth
Healthy teeth are a requirement for a healthy pet! I brush tapas teeth on an almost daily basis and she constantly gets compliments for having such beautiful white teeth. In the beginning, she would try to chew the toothbrush but be patient with your pet and see what works best for them. At the moment we are using a standard toothbrush and a dog mint-flavored toothpaste.
As part of her training, I let her enjoy the teeth-brushing process by stopping and letting her lick the toothpaste off the brush when she gets distracted. Finding a toothpaste your dog enjoys is key here!!