Top 10 Must-Have Dog Grooming Tools for At-Home Grooming

Taking your pup to the groomer can be hard to fit into your schedule and budget. Many dogs get stressed in these environments as well. So it might be a better option to invest in dog grooming tools for at-home grooming!

Getting your dog back to smelling and looking great doesn’t need to be challenging or annoying. Keep reading to learn about the must-have dog grooming tools you should have at home!

Woman cleaning a brown dog's ears.

1. Shower Head Attachment

Waterpik PPR-252 Pet Wand Pro Shower Sprayer Attachment, 2.5 GPM, for Fast and Easy at Home Dog Cleaning, Blue/Grey

When you get your dog groomed, they typically have a bathing stall or tub that’s specifically for dogs. But you don’t need this fancy bathing station to get the job done.

You can turn your tub or sink into a bathing station with an easy-to-use shower head attachment! Most dog shower attachments are also compatible with hoses if you’d rather wash your dog outside.

Many people typically opt for buckets to dump water onto their dogs for at-home bathing. But, this method can take forever and might even scare your dog more. Using a sprayer attachment works wonders at washing off all the shampoo and thoroughly wetting your dog’s fur.

Your dog should also be calmer since these dog grooming tools are gentle and generally quiet.


2. Grooming Clippers/Scissors

HASHIMOTO Curved Scissors For Dog Grooming,6.5 inches,Design For Professional Groomer.

Grooming clippers or grooming scissors are helpful dog grooming tools in keeping your dog’s coat free of any matting. They’re notably handy for long-haired breeds and curly-haired breeds. Without using these two products, the dog’s fur can get knotted and filled with all kinds of gross debris.

Long hair can also cause vision issues, as it blocks your pup’s eyes. Your dog’s tears will also cause the hair to knot and mat near their eyes, creating dirty, itchy buildup. Clippers and scissors will help cut down your dog’s coat before it can reach this nasty stage. You’ll need to ensure you keep up with it as their coat grows.

These two dog grooming tools are also great for sanitary shaves or trims. This type of shaving will prevent any urine or feces from getting lodged in your dog’s fur.


3. Slicker Brush

A slicker brush is an essential dog grooming tool for medium and long-haired dogs. It’s especially great at detangling curly-haired breeds.

This type of brush has long, wire bristles that will get deep into your dog’s undercoat. It should be your first line of action when you see matted areas before you head to the clippers.

Since the wire bristles on these brushes are rather long, they can get into the undercoat. By gently brushing through your dog’s fur, it’ll get any loose hairs out which will make their coat less dense. On top of that, you can expect to get any trapped debris out of their coat.

This is a good dog grooming tool to use after baths and for general maintenance between baths.


4. Nail Grinder or Nail Clippers

Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder Upgraded - Professional 2-Speed Electric Rechargeable Pet Nail Trimmer Painless Paws Grooming & Smoothing for Small Medium Large Dogs & Cats (Dark Blue)

Dog grooming isn’t solely about your dog’s fur coat! Their nails need to get cut down as well to prevent future injuries. Dog owners usually take their furry friends to the vet or a groomer for nail trimmings. But, many dogs dislike it and get very nervous during the nail-cutting process.

So, picking up a nail grinder or some nail clippers to do this at home might be best! Remember that the dog grooming tool you should pick depends on your dog’s tolerance.

Nail grinders are similar to nail files in the fact that they use a sandpaper-like piece to file down nails. But it typically uses batteries or electricity to rotate the grinding piece instead of physically moving it back and forth. Think of it as a miniature sander.

A nail grinder is a great dog grooming tool for minimizing sharp edges and giving nails a dull feel. However, due to its mechanical abilities, it does create a sound that can be off-putting for some dogs. So, if your dog gets spooked by noises, this might not be a good choice.

Your other option would be a good pair of dog nail clippers, which might be more tolerable for skittish dogs. However, you have to be a little more careful with clippers, as you don’t want to cut your dog’s quicks. These little pockets of blood vessels and nerves can be very painful if you cut them open.

You can usually see the quicks shine through your dog’s nails naturally or with a flashlight. So, don’t clip those areas. The best way to clip a dog’s nails is a little at a time and at a diagonal angle. And if you do hit the quick by accident, a styptic powder or simple corn starch can stop the bleeding!


5. A Soothing Shampoo

Burt's Bees for Dogs Oatmeal Dog Shampoo | With Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey | Moisturizing & Nourishing, Cruelty Free, Sulfate & Paraben Free, pH Balanced for Dogs - Made in USA, 16 Oz

Grooming is never complete without a good bath! A soothing dog shampoo will do just the trick at scrubbing the dirt away and keeping your dog’s skin moisturized.

Dog shampoos help give your pet’s fur a beautiful shine and silky smooth softness. And they’ll of course smell much better than they did before their bath.

Oatmeal-based shampoos are a great dog grooming tool for dogs with sensitive skin or dandruff. They aren’t harsh and will replenish any lost moisture. But you can use any dog shampoo you’d like if your dog isn’t sensitive.


6. Bath Brush

Sometimes your hands don’t do a good enough job of getting deep into your dog’s fur. When grooming at home, you want to ensure you’re getting every piece of dirt and debris out. Scrubbing out any built-up oils is essential as well. And a bath brush can aid in doing this!

Silicone bath brushes have short, rubber bristles that lift dirt and loose hairs from your furry friend’s coat. They’re excellent dog grooming tools to make bath time faster, and your dog will think he’s just getting a massage!

It’s perfect for shedding dogs, especially in the springtime when they’re getting rid of their winter coat. No more clumps of hair rolling around on your floors like tumbleweeds! Or there will be fewer of them, especially if you groom every month.


7. Grooming Glove

Grooming gloves are another helpful dog grooming tool for maintenance in between baths. They’re similar to bath brushes in the sense that they’re silicon with bristles. They’re similar to bath brushes but work best when your dog’s fur is dry.

Instead of scrubbing, use simple petting motions to loosen your dog’s fur, pulling up any dead hairs. The glove also covers a larger surface area, allowing more hair to get pulled up with each swipe. All the hair will typically clump up on the glove like a matted fur ball.

Peel it off and keep brushing until the amount of fur on the glove decreases. This dog grooming tool works best with long-haired dogs since their coat is more likely to get matted. But short-haired dogs can benefit from it too, as it’ll loosen their undercoats.

These gloves won’t hurt your dog, and they’ll merely think they’re getting some loving pets from you!


8. Microfiber Dog Towel

Dog Gone Smart Shammy Dog Towels For Drying Dogs - Heavy Duty Soft Microfiber Bath Towel - Super Absorbent, Quick Drying, & Machine Washable - Must Have Dog & Cat Bathing Supplies | Blue 13x31"

Unless you don’t mind letting your dog run around dripping water everywhere, you’ll need a microfiber dog towel! This dog grooming tool has plenty of soft fibers that will soak up the water from bath time. Dog-specific towels usually have little pockets for your hands, making the drying process much easier with squirmy pups.

Microfiber towels have thinner fibers than your typical bath towel, so there are much more of them. More tightly knit fibers mean a larger absorbent surface area.

Microfiber material also dries much faster than other fabrics, so the towel won’t stay sopping wet for long. They can be a great addition to dog beach trips besides solely being a helpful dog grooming tool!


9. Pet Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Vet’s Best Dog Toothbrush and Enzymatic Toothpaste Set - Teeth Cleaning and Fresh Breath Kit with Dental Care Guide - Vet Formulated

Most people don’t consider brushing their dog’s teeth as part of the grooming process. But, it is essential in keeping up with their hygiene. Groomers usually count this in their services when you drop your dog off. To do it at home, a simple pet toothbrush and toothpaste kit will do the trick!

Oral hygiene for dogs is just as important as it is for humans. Without any intervention, your dog will most likely get a bad case of periodontal disease. This can lead to infections in their mouths and even tooth decay and loss. Don’t forget about the high vet bills to fix these problems!

About 80% of dogs over three years old have periodontal disease! It is inevitable for most breeds, as you can’t scrub away every bit of bacteria.

Preventative care like brushing their teeth can lessen plaque and bacteria and slow the progression of the disease. So, a simple toothbrush and toothpaste are some dog grooming tools that can do wonders for your pet’s health!


10. Pet Ear Cleanser With Nozzle

Thoroughly cleaning your furry friend’s ears should also be on your grooming list to help prevent future infections. Pet ear cleansers with nozzles can help you with this task.

Your dog will always have bacteria and debris in their ears because they’re constantly bouncing around and going outside. Sometimes they can shake debris out, but bacteria will remain until you clean it out.

After washing your dog, it’s also possible that water got into their ears. If that water stays trapped, it provides an inviting environment for bacteria to grow.

A quick squeeze of some ear-cleaning solution in your dog’s ears can easily wash all that nasty stuff out. It’s the perfect dog grooming tool to keep their ears squeaky clean and works as preventative care for ear infections.

Most of these solutions have a drying effect too. So, they can help dry out any water inside your pup’s ears after bathing.


Why You Need Pet-Specific Tools and Products

Dog grooming tools like toothbrushes help your pet stay health.
Only use dental products made for dogs.

You should never use human products on dogs. Animals have their own microbiome that can get disrupted if we use human products on them. Our products also contain ingredients that might be okay for us but can be toxic to our pets.

Things like human shampoo can strip your dog’s coat of its protective oils, leaving him prone to infections. Ingesting human toothpaste can make your dog sick, especially if it contains xylitol (a sugar substitute that’s toxic to dogs).

Dog grooming tools are also better to use on your dog than human ones because they tend to be gentler. Pet-specific tools and products make grooming faster and easier, providing an overall calmer experience.


Start Grooming With Ease

Long-haired black dog lying down with grooming scissors nearby.

Grooming is essential to your fur baby’s health, but you don’t always need to take them to a groomer. At-home grooming can help you save some money and keep your dog stress-free in its home environment.

Luckily, you can do this task yourself by simply purchasing some must-have dog grooming tools! A clean dog is a happy dog.

Want to know more about grooming your canine companion? Check out our Dog Grooming post for useful tips and tricks!

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