You can do most dog grooming at home: brushing, baths, nails, ears, teeth and a light tidy. Haircuts with clippers are possible too, but they're the step where beginners get into trouble. This step-by-step guide is the order our groomers use in the salon, simplified for home, with what you need, how long each step takes, and the signs that a job belongs with a professional groomer instead.
Get an at-home routine made for your dog's coat in the free 1-min quizStart the Pawfile quiz →- Order: brush and comb, nails, ears, bath, dry, brush again, tidy, teeth.
- Always brush before the bath. Water tightens mats.
- Time: 45 to 90 minutes for a full home groom; split it into two short sessions if your dog gets restless.
- Beginner rule: no scissors near the skin, and don't shave a double coat.
- Book a groomer for tight mats, full haircuts on curly or doodle coats, and any dog that panics or bites.
What you need to groom a dog at home
- A brush for the coat type: slicker brush for curly, long and double coats; rubber glove or bristle brush for short coats; undercoat rake for heavy shedders. Our guide to the best brush for your dog matches brush to coat.
- A metal comb to check your brushing reached the skin.
- Nail clippers or a nail grinder and styptic powder in case you nick the quick.
- Dog shampoo (never human shampoo), towels and a non-slip mat for the tub or shower.
- Dog ear cleaner, cotton pads, dog toothpaste and a finger brush or soft toothbrush.
- Treats or a lick mat to keep it calm and positive.
- Optional: a grooming table or any non-slip surface at waist height, and quiet clippers with guard combs if you plan to trim.
Home grooming tools from the Pawradise shop: Self-cleaning slicker brush · Steel comb set · Quiet nail grinder
Mango's guides: a happy coat between grooms
Printable PDF guides from our groomers, with Mango as your coach. Instant download after checkout, anywhere in the US. English and Spanish editions included.
- Mango's Starter Kit: Brushing Guide + Calendar · $19.99 (Brushing Guide + Calendar, save $2.99)
- Mango's Between-Visits Brushing Guide · $14.99 (the brushing step, done right)
- Mango's Grooming Calendar & Checklists · $7.99 (when to do each job)
How to groom a dog at home, step by step
1. Brush and comb (10 to 30 minutes)
Brush in sections, working from the skin out, not just the top layer. Lift the hair with one hand and brush below it (line brushing). Spend extra time behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and on the back legs. Then run a metal comb through: if it snags, that spot isn't done. Don't bathe a matted dog; water turns small tangles into tight felt. Our guide on how to get mats out of dog hair shows what you can safely work out and what needs shaving by a groomer.
2. Nails (5 to 10 minutes)
Trim a little at a time, just the tip, at a slight angle. On light nails you can see the pink quick; on dark nails take tiny slices and stop when you see a dark dot in the center. A grinder is easier for nervous owners because it removes less at once. Most dogs need nails done every 3 to 4 weeks (see how often to trim dog nails).
3. Ears (2 minutes)
Wipe the visible part of the ear with a cotton pad and dog ear cleaner. Never push cotton swabs into the canal. Redness, a strong smell, dark discharge or head shaking is a vet visit, not a grooming job.
4. Bath (15 to 20 minutes)
Use lukewarm water, wet the coat all the way to the skin, lather with dog shampoo, keep it out of the eyes, and rinse until the water runs clear. Leftover shampoo is the most common cause of itching after a home bath. Full walkthrough: how to bathe a dog at home, and for timing, how often to bathe your dog.
5. Dry completely (10 to 30 minutes)
Towel-dry by pressing, not rubbing. Then use a blow dryer on cool or low heat, keeping it moving, while you brush. Damp undercoat and damp curly coats mat and can cause hot spots, especially in humid weather.
6. Brush again and tidy (10 to 20 minutes)
Once dry, brush and comb through again. Then do the small tidy jobs: hair between the paw pads (clippers or blunt-tip scissors pointed away from the skin), the sanitary area, and hair over the eyes. Keep it to trims you can see clearly.
7. Teeth (2 minutes)
Finish with a quick tooth brushing using dog toothpaste only. Human toothpaste can contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Our guide on how to brush a dog's teeth has a two-week plan to get them used to it.
How to groom a dog at home with clippers
- Start with a clean, dry, fully brushed coat. Clippers jam and pull on dirty or matted hair.
- Use a guard comb and go with the direction of hair growth for an even, safe length. Start longer than you think; you can always go shorter.
- Keep the skin flat around elbows, armpits, belly and the sanitary area, where skin folds can get caught.
- Check the blade temperature every few minutes with the back of your hand. Hot blades burn skin.
- Don't shave double-coated breeds (Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and similar). The coat may grow back patchy and it protects them from heat and sun. See can you shave a double-coated dog?
For a full haircut on a doodle, Poodle or other curly coat, look at types of dog haircuts first so you know the length you're going for, and expect the first try to be a learning cut.
At-home grooming by coat type
Easiest coat to groom at home. Rubber glove brush once or twice a week, bath every 4 to 8 weeks, nails monthly. No haircuts needed.
Undercoat rake and slicker 2 to 3 times a week, daily in shedding season. Home baths are fine if you dry completely. Never shave. A professional deshed every 6 to 8 weeks helps a lot.
Line brush to the skin 3 or more times a week. You can keep up with brushing, baths and face, feet and sanitary tidies at home; most owners book the full haircut every 4 to 6 weeks.
Brush daily or every other day and wipe the face. A short puppy cut makes home care much easier.
Brush and comb the beard and legs weekly. Clipping softens the coat; hand-stripping keeps the texture and is usually done by a groomer.
Not sure which coat your dog has? The dog coat types guide explains each one, or take the free quiz.
When to stop and call a groomer
- Mats close to the skin or a coat that feels like felt.
- Your dog growls, snaps, shakes or tries to escape. Start with our tips for dogs that hate grooming and keep sessions short.
- Nails so long the quick has grown out, or you can't see where to cut.
- A full breed haircut you've never done before, especially on a doodle before a holiday or event.
- Anything that looks like a skin, ear or eye problem; that one is for your vet.
Make it a routine, not a marathon
The dogs that are easiest to groom at home are the ones groomed a little, often. Five minutes of brushing most days and a full home groom every few weeks keeps mats, nails and smells from building up. Our grooming schedule by breed shows how often each job comes around for your dog.
Get an at-home routine made for your dog's coat in the free 1-min quizStart the Pawfile quiz →At-home dog grooming FAQ
Can I groom my dog at home?
Yes. Most owners can handle brushing, baths, nails, ears, teeth and small tidies at home. Full haircuts on curly, doodle and long coats, tight mats, and dogs that panic during grooming are usually better left to a professional groomer.
What order do you groom a dog in?
Brush and comb first, then nails and ears, then bathe, dry completely, brush again, do small tidies, and finish with the teeth. Brushing before the bath matters most, because water tightens mats.
How do you groom a dog at home for beginners?
Start with brushing and nails only, in short sessions with treats. Add baths once your dog is relaxed, and leave clippers until you're comfortable. Use guard combs, go with the hair growth, and never point scissors toward the skin.
How long does it take to groom a dog at home?
About 45 to 90 minutes for a full home groom, depending on size and coat. Splitting it into two shorter sessions is fine and often easier on the dog.
Do you bathe a dog before or after cutting its hair?
Brush first, then bathe and dry, then clip. Clippers glide better through clean, dry, brushed hair and the cut comes out more even.
How much does professional grooming cost compared to doing it at home?
It varies by size, coat and area, while home grooming mainly costs the tools. See what affects dog grooming prices. New to our Boca Raton salon? Get $10 off your first groom with code PAWFILE10.
This guide is general grooming information, not veterinary advice. If you notice lumps, wounds, hair loss, ear pain or constant itching, see your vet. More Pawfile guides.