If you're like most dog owners, you not only want to look good but you also want your canine companion to look good too. The key to having a dog that looks good is to make sure that he is clean, healthy, and properly groomed. However, professional dog grooming can be quite expensive. In fact, the typical groomer charges a whopping $25 or more to wash, dry and cut the fur of a small Poodle. I don't know about you but that is a lot of money for such a small dog. Heck, for me to go to the beauty shop costs only $30 for a full service style. So, what can a concerned dog owner do? You can groom your dog yourself and save a ton! In this brief article, I'll teach you how to successfully groom your precious dog.

First of all, you have to purchase the right supplies. Here are some things you'll need:

- The right dog shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for your dog. For instance, if you have a white dog and want to keep his coat shiny and bright then you should purchase shampoo and conditioner specifically for white haired dogs. On the same token, puppies should have tear-free puppy shampoo.

? Dog comb and brush (A mason or slicker brush works great for long haired dogs).

- Electric clippers and clipper blades for dogs

- Doggie nail clippers

- Doggie toothpaste

- Doggie treats

- Towels, cotton balls, alcohol or other drying agents to ensure that your dog doesn't get an ear infection.

Second, groom your dog about once a week. If you have a puppy, start grooming him while he is young so that he gets used to the grooming process. During your grooming session, carefully evaluate your dog to ensure that he's healthy. For instance, you should check his ears for signs of infection, evaluate him for lumps, check his limbs, paws, and other body parts.

Third, trim your dog's nails while making sure that they are long enough to touch the ground when he is walking. To trim his nails, you must put him in a comfortable position and then extend each nail while looking for the quick (the part of the nail that gets darker). Be extremely careful not to trim close to the quick. With darker nails, it will be harder to see the quick so make sure that you use adequate light.

Fourth, comb and brush out your dog from the top of your dog's head all the way to the tail. If you come across any mats, you can gently comb them out. If they are too bad, you may have to shave him or have them removed by a professional. Either way, you'll need to comb him thoroughly before washing.

Fifth, you should shampoo him with your favorite doggie shampoo. To do so, put cotton in his ears to make sure that you don't get water or soap inside his ear canal. If you have a long haired dogs or one that is prone to ear infections, you may want to put in a prescribed drying agent which you'll put inside his ears to help dry out any left over moisture. Next, you'll put your dog in a shallow tub and add warm water. Carefully put on the shampoo and keep the water and shampoo out of his eyes. You'll then gently lather him up, rinse him off and then put on conditioner and repeat the entire process. During rinsing, make sure that no residue remains which will prevent dry, flaky or irritated skin.

Sixth, dry him off with a warm towel or a blow dryer. If you use a blow dryer, use a low heat setting so that you don't burn him. Also, steer clear of his eyes and use your brush and comb while drying him off.

Once he's dry, brush his teeth. To do so, put a bit of doggie toothpaste in his mouth, run your fingers along his gums and then repeat gently with the doggie toothbrush being careful not to brush too vigorously. Work the teeth and the gum lines.

Last but not least, give your dog a yummy treat for surviving his home grooming procedure. This will reward him for his participation and help him look forward to these types of grooming sessions in the future.

In conclusion, you can professionally groom your dog at home. You simply have to be willing to take your time and have the right supplies. Once you do this, you'll have the best looking dog on the block and a wad full of cash as well from all the money you saved from doing it yourself.