Professional Diploma in Dog Care, Grooming

and Nutrition

So, you like dogs?

Module 1 Lesson 1

Summary Notes
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Contents

3 Introduction

3 Lesson outcomes

3 The importance of professional dog

grooming

4 Different dog breeds & their health

issues

9 Dog’s Anatomy & interesting facts

10 Conclusion

10 Additional resources

11 References

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Lesson outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Understand the overall importance of professional dog grooming

• Identify the various dog breeds from around the world and some breeds common health issues
• Gain knowledge on the basics of a dog’s anatomy

Practical lesson outcome : You should understand the basic overview of a being a dog groomer and be able to identify
the basics of a dogs anatomy.

Introduction
Dog grooming has to do with the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as cutting and styling of a dog’s coat to
improve their physical appearance and eliminated any health issues that may arise from having a dirty coat. A dog
groomer is a person who has a passion for dogs and earns a living by providing the above-mentioned services.

The importance of professional dog grooming

What are the benefits of getting a dog groomed by a professional?
We all love to look good and smell good - and so do dogs. Regular grooming does not only improve the overall appearance
of the dog but holds many other benefits when groomed by a professional.

Here are some benefits:

• Healthy and safe grooming - Your pup can end up with cuts, skin irritation or injuries if an inexperience person
grooms them. A professional knows how to handle a dog during grooming. Professionals knows and to conduct a
pre-grooming assessment, by feeling for any lumps, wounds, thorns, or skin problems which they can report to
the owner. By early detection, the dog’s owner can seek medical advice before it gets serious

• Improves hygiene and smell - No one likes to cuddle a smelly dog and professional groomers know the best
product to use on your pup to remove that smell without causing skin irritation. With regular brushing and correct
brushing techniques one removes the dead skin and matts that does wonders to a dog’s coat and overall
appearance of the dog

• Check and treats fleas and ticks - The benefit of going to a groomer is that they can detect flea and flea eggs and
treat the situation immediately with the right products. Removal of ticks can also be tricky. If you do not remove a
tick the correct way the head of the tick can break off and stick to the dog's skin which could lead to tick bite fever
(Biliary). In extreme cases of tick bite fever, dogs may suffer seizures

• Less shedding - Healthy and properly bushed coats tend to shed less

• Easy nail trimming - Most dog owners dread cutting their dogs nails because they are afraid they might hurt
them, but if it is not done regularly the nails can grow too long and cause discomfort for the dog when walking.
Professionals know the correct method and length to cut a dog’s nails. We will discuss the nail clipping method in
more detail in Module 2

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What are the pros and cons of being a dog groomer?

The dog industry is definably growing in comparison with the growing demand for skilled dog groomers. Here are some
advantages of being a dog groomer:

• Be your own boss: You can be your own boss which makes you the decision-maker. You can decide the setup and
layout of your business, set your price structure, and determine your own workload by appointment scheduling,
and determining how many hours you would like to work per day
• Room to be creative: Similar to hairdressers, you get the opportunity to be creative and create your own
hairstyle and experiment with the latest trends
• Easy entry: Dog grooming is an easy entry to a career because grooming does not require a lengthy and costly
university degree. But I will advise you to attend a course like this one and gain practical experience before
opening your own business
• Work with dogs: The best advantage of all is you get to work with dogs all day long

Disadvantages of being a dog groomer:

• Demanding work: The job is very demanding and physical work. Your work will include a lot of bending, lifting,
and standing for long hours while grooming
• Stick to an appointment: Once you have decided on your preferred routine, you need to stick with it. This will
require being ready to start work when your 1st appointment arrives and being able to stick to an estimated time
so that your customers are not kept waiting for the collection of their dog. We will discuss time management
towards the end of Module 2
• Long hours: A groomer can have long working hours due to their growing clientele, which is a good thing, but it
can sometimes get tricky to try and fit every client in for an appointment
• Breed temperaments: You will be working with a variety of dog breeds and their temperaments. It is important
to have knowledge of breed characteristics, breed tendencies and psychology so that you can handle a nervous or
aggressive dog

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Different dog breeds

Popular dog breeds from around the world
Have you ever wondered where your favourite dog breeds come from? By using the following dog illustration drawings
from Lili Chin’s poster series called “Dogs of the world” you will get to know all the different fluffy faces and learn some
interesting facts of some of the most popular breeds.

American dog breeds

Have a look at the illustrated image of the variety of
American dog breeds. The most commonly known
American breeds is the Boston Terrier and the American
Pitbull. Both breeds have short coats and are low
maintenance and easy to groom. Other American dog
breeds includes:

Asian dog breeds

Asia is responsible for a lot of dog breeds we love so dearly
including the Pug, Shar Pei, Shih-tzu, Pekingese and even
the Chow Chow. We can all agree that the Pug’s squished-
up face is irresistible and that is why the Pug is one of the
most popular dogs in Asia. Did you know that the pug is
one of the oldest breeds that flourished 400 BC. Like the
Boston Terrier, the Pug possess a short coat but sheds all
year round. They are also known as the clown of the
canine world due to their great sense of humour and loves
to show off.
Other Asian dog breeds include:

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Canadian dog breeds

Canada is home to one of the world’s most popular dog
breed which is the Labrador Retriever. The Labrador
Retriever is a medium-large breed with a short hair coat
and comes in three distinct colours, yellow, black, and
chocolate. They intend to shed a small amount of hair all
year long, but the shedding increases twice a year during
molting season. They are friendly, intelligent dogs and
falls under the Sporting group which we will discuss in
lesson 2.
Other Canadian dogs include:

Other breeds from around the world derive from the following destinations.

Australia:
*Dingo (Dingoes are rarely kept as companion pets, but it
is legal in the states of New South Wales and Western
Australia to keep a pet dingo without a permit. Best will be
to rase a Dingo from a litter no older than 8 weeks.)

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Germany:
*I would suggest you do some research on unfamiliar
breeds to expand your overall knowledge of dog
breeds from around the world. Not only will you gain
more knowledge, but you will learn key traits of breeds
that will assist you as a professional dog groomer

Belgium: Netherlands:

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United Kingdom: France:

Ireland & Russia: Latin America & the Mediterranean:

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Whales & Scotland:

Did you know?

The Bulldog takes the crown for the most popular dog breed in the world, according to Google Trends data –
narrowly beating the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever.

Crazy fun facts about dogs around the world:

• The pug was first bred in ancient China as a companion for royal family members

• Rhodesian Ridgeback who is a decedent from Africa was used to keep lions at bay while hunting

• Poodle’s fancy hair cut has a purpose. Since they were originally bred to retrieve ducks and other birds from the
freezing water for the hunters, they needed the protection from their coats but if the coat got too wet it would
weigh them down, so the hunters would strategically shear their hair in a certain pattern to protect their vital
areas from cold waters

• An Alaskan Malamute is the oldest sled dog and was used to hunt bears

• The Australian Shepard’s actually comes from America where they were used to herd livestock in the Rocky
Mountains because they were unaffected by the altitude

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Dog breeds and their health issues:
I have introduced you to a variety of dog breeds and we will now discuss common health issues that certain dog breeds
suffer from. With this knowledge, you can inform clients about these health issues or help them decide on the correct dog
breed.
Siberian Husky:
The Siberian has various autoimmune disorders, many of
which affect the skin which could lead to soars and hair
loss. One immune condition affects both the skin and the
eyes and can lead to eye problems like glaucoma and
cataracts.
Pug:
Those big, bulging eyes of a Pug is a risk for eye problems.
A common eye problem of a Pug is its eye could pop out
from its socket when in an accident or fighting with
another dog. In such a situation cover the eye with a damp
cloth and take the dog to the nearest veterinarian. The vet
will place the eye back in its socket. Restored vision is
uncertain, it will all depend on the severity of the incident.
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Bulldog:
The Bulldog suffers from respiratory problems. The Bull
Dog’s small nostrils elongated soft palette and narrow
trachea would probably cause them to snore and could
even become a life-threatening situation when the Bull
Dog is overheating or overtired.
Poodle:
Various dogs suffer from a severe eye disease called
Glaucoma and the fluffy Poodle is not an exception.
Glaucoma is a buildup of fluid in the eye, which causes
pressure, pain and eventually blindness. If the disease is
detected at an early stage, then it could be treated with
medication. But in severe case, surgery or even removal of
the eye will be needed.
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Rottweiler:
Larger dog breeds tend to have problems with their joints
for example the Rottweiler and German Shepard. The
Rottweiler is prone to various joint problems like hip
dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and arthritis.
Labrador Retriever:
It is not only humans that battles with their weight, dogs
can also suffer from being overweight or have diabetes.
Any dog breed can be overweight if fed to much and the
wrong type of food, but the Labrador Retriever is
especially prone to become overweight. Labs need
vigorous daily exercise.
Shih Tzu:
Wobbly kneecaps, or patellar luxation, are common health
issue in toy breeds like Shih Tzu. In patellar luxation, the
kneecap occasionally pops out of place, causing the dog
to hobble or limp.
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German Shepard:
Like his Rottweiler friend the German Shepard suffers
from hip dysplasia which is when the joint's ball and
socket don't fit together properly, which causes pain,
arthritis, and problems walking.
Miniature Schnauzer:
Our little bearded friend, the Miniature Schnauzers seem
to be at a higher risk for Diabetes. If your dog drinks a lot
of water like he has just run a marathon and suddenly
start having accidents in the house, he could have
diabetes. But seek the medical advice of a veterinarian
first before you jump to conclusions.
Boxer:
The Boxer is prone to lymph nodes cancer or skin cancer.
Remember most of these health issues are treatable when
diagnosed at an early stage and treated by professional.
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Dachshund:
Because of their long bodies, Dachshunds are at higher
risk for back injuries and spinal disk problems. By keeping
a Dachshund at a healthy weight will reduce the risk of
back problems, heavyweight places strain on a back.
Prevent them from jumping off furniture to avoid back
injuries.
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Cocker Spaniel:
Dogs with floppy, fluffy ears intend to get ear infections
like the Cocker Spaniel. The floppy, furry ears block the
fresh air to reach the ear canal so that the moisture can
dry out. When the ear canal is very damp for a long period
ear infections can occur. To reduce ear infection, clean
your dog’s ears with a ball of cotton wool and ear cleaning
product that you can purchase at your local vet. Or you
could ask your groomer to shave the hair on the inside of
your dog's ear to make the ear lighter and more
breathable.
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Dog’s Anatomy
Identifying the basics of a dog’s anatomy
It is important to know what goes were of a dog to avoid injuries and for early detection of any health issues.

Basic dog Anatomy consists out of:

1) Hock - The hock can be found on the back legs located below the knee

2) Docked Tail or tail. In the past, people use to dock a dog’s tail to improve speed, avoid rabies, strengthen the back
and prevent injuries while fighting. Modern times tail docking is done either to prevent diseases, therapeutic,
cosmetic purposes or to prevent injury

3) Rump (or croup) - The rump is the rear end of the dog where the pelvis bone is located

4) Flank - The flanks or also known as FOF (Fold of the Flank) is a thin piece of skin that connects the dog's upper
rear leg to his body. This is a risky area when grooming and can get easily nicked

5) Pinna - The pinna is the only visible part of the ear made of cartilage and covered by skin and fur

6) Forehead(braincase) - The forehead starts from between the muzzle and eyebrows to the back of the skull. Similar
to ours

7) Muzzle – The muzzle exists out of the upper and lower jaws

8) Chin - The chin is located blow the muzzle

9) Cheek - The cheek is the skin alongside the muzzle

10) Shoulder -The shoulder is the top section of the foreleg

11) Chest - The chest is situated below the neck and above the top section of the shoulder

12) Forearm - The long bone that runs after the elbow on the foreleg is the forearm

13) Elbow - Is located just below the chest on the back of the foreleg

14) Stifle/ Knee - Is the joint that sits on the front of the hind leg in line with the abdomen

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Interesting facts of a dog’s anatomy

If you thought you knew all there is to know about a dog’s anatomy, then you have another thing coming:

• Dogs have 1700 tastebuds on the tip of their tongue enabling them to taste sour, sweet, bitter and salt whereas
humans have 10 000 tastebuds on their tongue
• Dogs are not colour blind but they cannot perceive the colours red or green or shades containing either of those
colours, such as pink, purple, and orange. Dogs are also unable to perceive subtle changes in a colour's brightness
or shade
• Dogs only have sweat glands on their nose and paw pads
• A dog has a 250-degree vision compared to the humans that have a 180-degree vision
• Dogs require 12 hours of sleep daily
• A dog’s pregnancy last 63 days
• A dog has 39 pairs of chromosomes where humans have 23
• An adult dog has 42 teeth
• A dog can hear 4 times as far as a human can
• Internal Warmth – The average body temperature of a dog is 38° C to 39.2° C

Requirements
If you wish to practice the techniques that will be introduced in this course, then you would need a few items/tools. These
are completely optional.

For brushing, bathing and drying you will need:

• Medium-tooth comb
• A Slicker Brush
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Conditioner
• Towels
• Handheld hair dryer

For grooming you will require:

• Dog nail clipper

• Dog electric clipper with blades and combs
• Scissors
• Thinning Scissors

*Kindly note: This does not have to be the best or most expensive equipment - as long as it gets the job done.

Conclusion
By having an understanding of what it entails of being a dog groomer it allows you the opportunity to determine if dog
grooming is a potential career path for your of if it will stay a passionate hobby. But by improving your knowledge of the
variety of dog breed as well as the basics of a dog’s anatomy it may lead to other career choices. The dog industry is
definitely growing and offers endless opportunity to explore and develop a new career.

Additional resources
• Animal doppelgangers photo library: https://bit.ly/3hPRu2J

• All-purpose dog anatomy game: https://bit.ly/3mzTyzp

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References
• Groomer, D., 2020. What Does A Dog Groomer Do? ‐ Careerexplorer. [online] Careerexplorer.com.
Available at: <https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/dog-groomer/>.
• Doggiedrawings.net. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.doggiedrawings.net/dow>.
• DogTime. 2020. Dogtime | Dog Breeds, Pet Adoption, Pet Insurance, Pet Food, And Expert Pet Advice For
Dog Lovers. [online] Available at: <https://dogtime.com/>.
• Didyouknowpets.com. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://didyouknowpets.com/popular-asian-dog-
breeds/>.
• Bored Panda. 2020. 77 Celebrity Doppelganger Animals. [online] Available at:
<https://www.boredpanda.com/celebrity-look-alikes-
animals/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic>.
• EntirelyPets Blog. 2020. 11 Health Benefits Of Good Dog Grooming | Entirelypets Blog. [online] Available
at: <https://blog.entirelypets.com/informative/health/11-health-benefits-of-good-dog-grooming/>.
• Wag The Dog UK. 2020. 5 Benefits Of Professional Dog Grooming - Wag The Dog UK. [online] Available at:
<https://www.wagthedoguk.com/2018/05/24/5-benefits-professional-dog-grooming/>.
• 3 Million Dogs. 2020. 15 Facts About The Canine Anatomy You Probably Didn't Know | 3 Million Dogs.
[online] Available at: <https://3milliondogs.com/dogbook/15-facts-about-the-canine-anatomy-you-
probably-didnt-know/>.
• dummies. 2020. Dog Anatomy From Head To Tail - Dummies. [online] Available at:
<https://www.dummies.com/pets/dogs/dog-anatomy-from-head-to-tail/>.
• Doggroomingcoursesonline.com. 2020. How To Become A Groomer: Pros And Cons Of Being A Dog
Groomer. [online] Available at: <https://www.doggroomingcoursesonline.com/dog-groomer-career/>.
• Etolen, N., 2020. Crazy Facts About Dogs Around The World - Dogvills. [online] DogVills. Available at:
<https://www.dogvills.com/crazy-facts-dogs-around-world/>.

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