Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-338) and index.

What good grooming is all about -- Big hairy deal : discovering why grooming is important -- Considering the necessary investment -- Familiarizing yourself with your dog's coat -- Having the proper tools on hand -- Coaching your canine to be groomed -- Taking note : keeping a grooming diary -- Knowing when to call a pro -- Becoming a pro yourself -- Inside and out : what affects a dog's coat and grooming -- Anatomy of the dog : the hipbone's connected to the ... -- Considering factors that influence a dog's appearance -- exploring the importance of nutrition -- Prepping for the prettying -- Gearing up -- Purchasing your supplies -- Setting aside a grooming space -- Organizing your accoutrements -- Training your dog for grooming -- Refining your dog's grooming manners -- Getting your dog to help you reach the right places -- Establishing a grooming routine -- Dealing with difficult dogs -- Making your dog look good : the basics -- Mastering brushing and bathing basics -- Brushing and combing basics -- Rub-a-dub-dub : washing your dog -- Caring for your canine's teeth, toes, ears, face, and ahem, other areas -- Toe (nail) tapping -- Do you hear what I hear? -- unclogging anal sacs -- Pearly whites -- Tooth brushing -- The eyes have it : keeping your dog's eyes shiny and bright -- Face time -- Giving your dog a great 'do : clipping basics -- Deciding whether to clip your dog -- Getting acquainted with your tools -- Getting down to clipping business -- Grooming by coat type : beyond the basics -- Spiffing up short- and medium-coated breeds -- Introducing the wash-and-wear breeds -- Brushing -- Bathing -- Preparing for show -- Warming up to double-coated breeds -- Introducing the big hairy deal : double-coated breeds -- Brushing -- Bathing -- Preparing for show -- Clarifying the corded breed's coif -- Introducing the corded breeds -- Brushing -- Keeping cords clean -- Preparing for show -- Shaping up the clipped breeds -- Taking a little off the top : introducing the clipped breeds -- Brushing basics -- Bathing -- Clipping -- Preparing for show -- Beautifying the stripped breeds -- Introducing the stripped breeds -- Brushing -- Bathing -- Stripping your dog -- Preparing for show -- Tidying the tresses of the long-haired breeds -- Introducing the long-haired breeds -- Brushing -- Bathing -- Clipping -- Preparing for show -- Poodles : a breed apart -- Brushing -- Bathing -- Clipping -- Preparing for show -- Grooming specialties -- Getting the sticky and stinky stuff out -- Taking a walk on the prickly side -- Shedding the slick and sticky stuff -- Surviving stinky skunk odor -- Dealing with downright dangerous chemical poisons -- The skinny on hairy health issues -- Canine cuteness more than just skin deep -- Allergies -- Coat funk -- Collar rot -- Cushing's disease -- Fleas, ticks, lice, and mites -- Cooling down those hot spots -- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism -- Internal parasites -- Lick granulomas -- Sebaceous adentitis -- Ringworm -- Seborrhea -- Tumors and cysts -- Zinc responsive dermatosis -- Grooming emergencies : knowing doggie first aid -- Preparing for a grooming emergency -- Handling minor grooming snafus -- Doggie 911 -- It's showtime! Grooming a dog for the ring -- Brushing up on dog show basics -- Grooming for the show -- Putting on the finishing touches at the show -- Going pro : starting a dog grooming business -- Deciding whether professional grooming is right for you -- Training -- Getting down to business -- Setting up shop -- Satisfying your first customers -- Ten popular myths about grooming dogs -- Never bathe your dog unless he is really dirty -- Certain breeds are hypoallergenic -- Lamb and rice is a good food for coats -- Tomato juice gets rid of skunk odor -- Dogs naturally have bad breath -- Raw egg is good for your dog's coat -- Never, ever shave your dog's coat -- Garlic and brewer's yeast get rid of fleas -- Never use human shampoo on dogs -- A dog's saliva has fewer germs than a human's -- Ten timesaving grooming tips -- Use no-rinse shampoo for touchups -- Keep a rubber basin handy for quick cleanups -- Grind rather than clip your dog's nails -- Brush regularly to keep Fido's breath fresh and teeth clean -- Employ snoods and hoods to keep clean -- Keep your pooch in a pet cut -- Add beautiful shine to your dog's coat -- Enjoy a refreshing blast -- Perform a quick hair pickup -- Substitute in a pinch -- Ten best ways to make grooming a pleasant experience -- Getting into a grooming routine -- Starting out small and building up -- Taking your time while grooming -- Using the right equipment -- Controlling the situation at all times -- Sparing yourself the agony : ergonomics -- Making your dog comfortable -- Showing your dog that grooming is fun -- Procrastination = grooming nightmare -- Don't worry, be happy : keeping it upbeat -- Grooming resources -- Grooming your own dog -- Grooming for yourself and others -- Grooming supplies -- Grooming and dog-related magazines.