[katelin]

I bathe every week and do all the grooming at that time. I put them in a laundry room sink that is deep and use a spray hose that attaches to my sink faucet. The old-fashioned rubber kind. the spray is gentle and not so frightening to them and you can avoid the face. To wash their head I hold both ears closed with one hand and gently spray the top of the head, avoiding letting the water run into their eyes or nose. I use my fingers to gently wipe water across the bridge of the nose and under the eyes.

Brush their teeth with C.E.T. toothpaste which you can get at your vet. It is liver flavored and they seem to like it. It leaves a little film on the teeth which fights bacteria. If you brush at night before bed and after the last meal, it is just like kids brushing before bed and they have several hours bacteria-free. There is a brush you can get at Petco that is 3-sided. That way you brush each side of the tooth with every swipe. And when they are not cooperating that can be useful.

C.E.T. also makes a chewy that helps with the bacteria when you can't brush. But I'm not sure how young you can use it, and you shouldn't use it more than once a week. Any brushing is helpful, whatever you can do. But some dogs have a real problem with plaque and should be brushed every day to avoid professional cleanings that have to be done under anesthetic and are very expensive.

Good luck!!