Lhasa Apso Grooming Tools

After we decided to get a Lhasa Apso, I put some effort into learning more about this dog breed because I knew very little about them. One critical thing I learned is that keeping a Lhasa Apso means a lot of grooming, and so I did further research on grooming a Lhasa Apso and the tools needed for the grooming processes. Although professional dog groomers have become popular, it is of that utmost importance that prospective Lhasa Apso owners know how to groom their pets, and of course, the right tools to use.

What are some Lhasa Apso grooming tools? Combs, Brushes, Clippers, Scissors, Dog toothpaste, Conditioner, and Soap are some of the necessary Lhasa Apso grooming tools. There are other essential grooming tools but having them depends on your choice to go for professional grooming or groom yourself.

A vital part of caring for Lhasa Apso’s is grooming; unlike most other dogs, they have to be groomed at very regular intervals and with great consistency. Lhasa Apsos are dogs that require more care than most, and if you are not motivated adequately as a pet owner, you might find it a little challenging to keep them.

Lhasa Apsos have lots of peculiar characteristics, and one of these is their long hair; the hair tangles and mats easily if not taken care of. Apart from their hair, Lhasa Apso teeth should be cleaned regularly to prevent specific dental issues and keep them in good condition. Furthermore, you want to take care of the nails, the ears and you want to bathe as often as required.

In grooming these dogs, however, you should be very careful when it comes to the tools you use. Using the wrong tools and care products may affect your pets adversely. So, if you will be grooming your pets yourself, make sure you pay attention to the specific tools and product that should be used for each step in grooming your dog. For example, when it comes to hair trimming, you have to know what clipper blade size to use for different body parts.

It also goes beyond taking care of their hair, you have to bathe them, brush their teeth, clip their nails and clean their ears. In doing all these, use only the specified tools and products; do not improvise in any way if you don’t want to harm your pet.

11 Basic Lhasa Apso Grooming Tools

There is a certain sense of joy and fulfillment when you groom your pets yourself, and this is not untrue for a Lhasa Apso. These fantastic dogs, however, require a little effort than most; which is why some people prefer a professional groomer’s service. If you choose to groom your dog by yourself, these are some of the tools and products you will need:

Grooming Table

It is not compulsory you have one, but it certainly makes it easier for you and the dog. With a grooming table, you won’t have to bend down or sit on the floor when taking care of your dog. A folding table is perfect for this purpose, the essence is just to have an elevated platform where you can place your dog while grooming, and feel more comfortable doing it. The general rule is to have a table dedicated to the grooming of your Lhasa Apso. (Check out this Chewy or Amazon link for the latest pricing on all your Lhasa’s grooming tools)

Combs and Brushes

These are tools you have to use daily to prevent matting and tangling. Combing and Brushing are just some of the many primary cares of Lhasa Apsos, and it depends on the length of your dog’s hair. Short hair can be brushed a few days every week, but if your dog has long hair or hair that gets easily tangled, you should endeavor to brush it every day. (Read my comb and brush review and recommended products)

Dogs generally have dead skin and other loose materials in their hair; the first thing you should do is to use a rubber brush to loosen these with a rubber brush
Use a bristle brush to remove loose hair
In the case of very long hair or plenty tangles, you can make use of a slicker brush to remove them

When using a brush on your Lhasa Apso, start from the front and brush slowly and gently towards the tail; this won’t allow much hair to get caught in the brush. Lhasa Apsos have hair all over them, so you have to switch between different types of brushes and combs for different body parts. Use a small comb to comb the hair around the ear, and if hair isn’t much, you can totally ignore it.

You may notice tangled hair during combing, do not force the hair to untangle, that can be very painful for your dog; instead, use a detangler to untangle the hair and continue with the combing and brushing process. Also, do not attempt to cut out matted hair, you may end up wounding your dog.

Detangler

This is a special spray that is used to eliminate matted hair. Mats can generally be avoided by regular brushing and combing, but if you find out that your Lhasa Apso has matted hair, you should go ahead with and use a detangler; it comes in a spray bottle, and you can just spray on the matted area. Some people choose to cut matted hair off; however, this can be painful for the dogs and to avoid this using a detangler is the best thing to do. After you apply the detangler, wait for a couple of minutes and then go ahead to untangle the hair with your hand; where you find it difficult to disentangle with your hand, use a slicker brush to do so.

Clippers

If you feel comfortable clipping your dog’s hair, you should do it with care and precision. When cutting the body hair, use a size 5 clipper blade and trim from the back to the sides. Additionally, you will have to trim the facial hair because they have a lot of that and if not trimmed; it threatens to block the dog’s vision. Use a size 10 clipper blade for the facial hair and trim the cheeks, the forehead, the chin, and also behind the ears.

When using a clipper, you should use quiet ones; some pets do not feel comfortable with the sound they make, so before you buy one, get references from other pet owners or a professional groomer as to which clipper you should buy.

Scissors

Scissors are especially important to trim the more sensitive body parts of a Lhasa Apso; certain areas around the face, the tail, the ears, and legs are best trimmed with the aid of scissors. (Read my nail product reviews and recommended products)

Always use small scissors (not bigger than six inches) to avoid cutting your dog by mistake
For the feet area, you can use curved scissors to trim the hair on the feet
When using a pair of scissors on the tail, be careful not to cut the tail; feel the extent of the hair on the tail with one hand, and trim with the other

Shampoo and Conditioner

There are several shampoos that you can use when bathing your dog, some pet owners even use human shampoo for their dogs, but this is not really advisable; Lhasa Apso skin is different from human skin, and so are the products that have been designed for them. The important things to know when choosing a shampoo for your Lhasa Apso are:

Choose a shampoo that is PH neutral
It is preferable to go for a shampoo that has been explicitly made for Lhasa Apso
Avoid shampoos that have strong fragrances

Suitable conditioners should be used when bathing Lhasa Apsos to prevent hair from tangling; Lhasa Apso hair can tangle easily when bathing.

Towel or Hairdryer

After bathing, you should dry your dog as soon as possible; this is important because you don’t want your dog to catch a cold, and you can use either a towel or a hairdryer for this. When using a dryer, make sure it is not to hot as they have sensitive skin that should be protected as much as possible.

Toothbrush

This is not an overly sensitive tool to pick; you just have to go with anyone your dog appears to be more comfortable with. You can choose either a regular dog toothbrush or a finger toothbrush. A dog toothbrush looks like an ordinary human toothbrush, but it comes with a shorter handle while a finger toothbrush is a small toothbrush with a little space to fit your finger in. The important thing is to be careful when using one so as not to injure your dog’s gum.

Toothpaste

Always use dog toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth, and not any other type of toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is carefully formulated for a dog’s dental conditions and should not be replaced at any time with human toothpaste or any other kind of toothpaste.

Nail Clippers

Lhasa Apso nails also have to be trimmed with care. There are generally two types of nail clippers for dogs, and they are identified by size; we have the large nail clippers and the small nail clippers. The large nail clippers as you can guess are for large dogs, and since Lhasa Apsos are generally small in size, the most suitable nail clippers are the small ones. You do not need nail clippers every day; you should only cut the nails when they are long enough.

Otic Solution

Cleaning your dog’s ears is necessary. The cleaner usually comes in a spray bottle, so that you can spray the solution into the ears and then clean them out. spend more time indoors, you can use the solution only when you bathe your dog. Do not spray too much into your dog’s ears, just a little squirt will do, and make sure you clean the ears out after spraying with cotton.

Professional Groomers or Self Grooming?

It is a common fact that Lhasa Apos require a lot of care, and so many people wonder if they should groom their pets by themselves or take them to professional groomers. What you should know as a pet owner is that no matter how efficient a professional groomer is, there are still specific steps you have to take to take care of your pets. While you can consult with a groomer for occasional grooming, you should be able to carry out the daily and event the weekly care of your dogs. Things like brushing and combing should be done daily and cannot be left to a professional groomer.

If you feel grooming a Lhasa Apso is too much for you and you want to keep one, then you have to visit a professional groomer regularly. These dogs have to be bathed every two weeks, they have to have their teeth cleaned and their hair routinely cut; using a professional groomer may become expensive, however, if you have the money or if you don’t have the time to groom regularly, you should find a suitable groomer.

The best thing is to ask around and get references from other pet owners. It is imperative you do this because you don’t want your dog handled by an inexperienced or amateur groomer; this can adversely affect the dog’s health and behavior in general. The choice is ultimately yours, but you have to ensure excellent care for your Lhasa Apso either way.

Why you should groom your Lhasa Apso properly

It may sound funny, but how you groom your Lhasa Apso ultimately affects the behavior. There have been several cases where Lhasa Apsos have developed strange practices, and in such cases, these behaviors were traced back to the dogs’ training and grooming. Lhasa Apsos are royal dogs, they behave like royalty, and they expect to be treated like royalty. To prevent them from developing these weird behaviors, take care of them as regularly as you should.

Another reason why you should groom your Lhasa Apsos well is to keep them in good health. The simple fact that they come with a lot of hair means that they have to be groomed regularly, if not they will undoubtedly develop health issues. If you don’t cut their hair regularly, you risk them getting their sight blocked by overflowing hair, and if you don’t bathe them regularly, they stand the risk of skin infection.

Furthermore, certain infections can only be noticed when grooming; dental infections and skin infections can only be seen close up. When you leave your Lhasa Apso grooming, you may not be able to recognize the early symptoms of these infections until it becomes late. Simply put, to get the best out your Lhasa Apso, ensure regular grooming, either by yourself or by a professional groomer.