Proper foot care will keep your doggie dancing and help prevent unnecessary pain and infection later on. Most dogs don't like to have their feet handled, so go slowly--one paw at a time--and make foot handling a part of playtime.

Remove mats of hair from between the toes and pads of dogs with hairy feet; if ignored, the mats can become as hard as rocks. Then, using scissors, trim the hair between the pads and between the toes so it is level with the dog's foot.

Regular exercise on a hard surface may keep a dog's nails worn down. However, most domestic dogs will need to have their nails clipped every few weeks. If your dog has dewclaws (the smaller claw on the back of each leg, higher than the paws), those always will need clipping. If the nails or dewclaws are allowed to grow, they may curl inward into the skin and cause a painful infection.

Use nail clippers designed specifically for dogs. One type, known as the guillotine style, has a round opening for the dog's nail and a blade that slides across to clip the nail. Another type works like a pair of scissors. This type puts less pressure on the nail and is more comfortable for the dog. Make sure the blades are sharp.

Trim only the "hook" end of the nail. Clipping a nail to short can be painful and may cause bleeding. Frequent trimming of a small amount of nail always is better than waiting until the nail is long. Never trim into the quick -- the live portion of the nail.

Ear care generally is the easiest grooming task. Unless your dog has ear problems or spends time hunting and swimming, ear cleaning needs to be done only every few weeks--at bath time is best.

Clean the outermost area of your dog's ears with a cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with water or baby oil. To clean further inside the ears and soften and remove wax, use an ear-cleaning solution.

Warm the bottle of solution between your palms, then squirt the prescribed amount into your dog's ear canal. Gently massage the base of his ear. Remove any dirt or wax with a dry cotton ball.

Dental care is one of the fastest-growing areas of veterinary medicine. Simple routine care on your part can help keep your dog's teeth clean. A good diet of our foods--especially dry food--is the way to start. For snacks, try one of our biscuits or healthy extras. Their texture is designed to help scrape away plaque.

Brush your dog's teeth at least once a week. Using a canine toothbrush, cleaning tool, gauze or a fingertip sleeve (made especially for brushing pets' teeth) and canine toothpaste or gel, rub the outsides of your dog's teeth and gum line.

Most dogs need to have their teeth professionally cleaned by their veterinarian every year or so. Debris, tartar and bacteria under the gum line can cause major dental problems if left unattended. Only a veterinarian is equipped for this type of dental cleaning. In most cases, dogs get a short acting general anesthetic, followed by an antibiotic treatment.

While dry dog food may keep your dogs teeth cleaner then a wet prepared food, it’s a myth to think that’s enough to keep their teeth clean. While there are pros and cons to feeding a raw diet, do give your dog a raw knucklebone from the butcher once a week. A raw, meaty beef or soup bone (not cooked as a cooked bone can splinter) will have your dog gnawing and chewing for hours, which will help scrape the tarter off their teeth naturally.