Here you can learn how to groom an American Eskimo dog at home, without spending money on expensive grooming services, helping you at the same time to build up a stronger bond with your dog.
Pre-Work
Trim or grind nails at least every four to six weeks to maintain a healthy foot structure. Swab the ears clean with a mild ear cleaning solution.
Quickly blow out the American Eskimo dog’s coat with a high-velocity dryer to effectively lift dirt and debris away from the skin and loosen coat. Brush out or remove any matting found in the longer coated areas.
If the tangles are loose enough so that water can fully penetrate them, remove them after bathing and drying. If water cannot penetrate, remove the mat or tangle prior to bathing.
Brushing the Coat
Line brush, working in sections, until the dog is entirely tangle-free. When finished, there should be little, if any, fur still being removed with a firm slicker brush. Double-check the work with a wide-toothed comb and your hands.
Go over the entire body, feeling for any inconsistencies in the density levels of the coat. If an area seems moist to the touch or fuller than the rest of the coat, rework the area with the appropriate tool.
Mats, tangles and excessive coat are easily trapped in the following areas: behind the ears, around the ruff, the thigh area, the undercarriage and the tail. Give extra attention to these areas before finishing the groom.
Feet and Hocks
Trim the pads with blades ranging from a #15 to a #40. Use a very light touch to clean the pads of long hair. If there is long fur between the toes, brush it back so the fur stands up and away from the foot.
With thinning shears, trim off the excess to create a neat and very natural looking foot with well-arched toes. Tidy the outside edge of the foot, if needed, with small detailing shears. If the hocks have longer coat, trim lightly with thinning shears to show a neat, clean area.
A #4F blade used in reverse works well for trimming the tops of the feet and the hocks on small to larger dogs that are light to moderately coated. With very heavy-coated or giant dogs, handle the top of the feet and hocks using hand-trimming techniques instead of a clipper.
Sanitary Area
If the American Eskimo dog has a sanitation problem under the tail, lightly trim this area with thinning shears. Only clear enough coat to accomplish the goal and keep it looking very natural. Trimming of the groin area is not recommended unless there is a sanitary problem.
If the groin needs to be trimmed, do so very lightly and try to leave the fur long enough so that the harsh coat does not prickle the skin, causing the dog to lick at the irritation.
Detail Finish
Removal of muzzle whiskers is optional, based on client preference. For added shine, finish with a fine mist of coat polish on the body coat. Application of bows and mild cologne is optional.
Suggested Tools and Equipment
- Nail Trimmers
- Styptic Powder
- Ear Cleaning Solution
- Cotton Balls
- Clippers
- #40 and #15 Blades for Pads
- #4F for Feet and Hocks (optional)
- Slicker Brush
- Wide-Toothed Comb
- Rubber Curry
- Undercoat Rake
- Dematting Tools
- High Velocity Dryer
- Small Detailing Shears
- Curved Shears
- Thinning Shears
Breed Facts and Characteristics
Country of Origin: United States
Height at Shoulders: 9″-19″
Coat Length/Type: Combination/Heavy
Color: All white with some cream or biscuit allowed
Correct grooming procedure: Bathe and Brush Out/Minor Trimming
Common pet grooming practices: Bathe and Brush Out/ Minor Trimming
The Goal: The coat should be light and stand off the dog. As the dog moves, the coat should bounce and float with it. You should be able to sink a wide-toothed comb to the skin and pull it freely out to the end of the hair shaft.
