An important part of keeping your dog in good condition is by making sure they have healthy skin and a healthy coat. The amount of care your dog needs will vary but all dogs should have a good grooming regime.

You can find many places that offer a variety of grooming services for fair prices. A local pet store should be able to point you in the direction of a reputable private pet grooming parlour, or your local veterinary practice may provide a grooming service. The staff at a grooming centre will be well trained, professional and familiar with the needs of your particular breed of dog. They will also take care of cleaning your dog's ears and cutting their nails.

D.I.Y. grooming

You may choose to groom your own dog, or do most of the work yourself with the occasional trip to the professionals. This is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your dog, especially as most dogs love the attention they get with a good brushing.

A healthy coat will be soft and relatively smooth even on short or wired hair breeds. The coat should be shiny, but not greasy and shouldn't have a strong odour. A dog with an unhealthy coat will have dry and brittle hair with lots of loose hair in the coat. The coat itself may also be greasy or have a dusty appearance. Other signs of an unhealthy coat include bald spots and a bad oily smell.

Brush regularly

Brushing is the most important part of grooming a dog. Long- haired breeds will need to be brushed twice a week, while dogs that are prone to shedding, or have thick undercoats, should be brushed once a week. Even short- haired breeds will benefit from regular grooming to remove loose hair.