You want everything clean and beautiful for the holidays. But as you prepare your family and home for holiday guests, don't forget the family pet.

Dogs, in particular, are social animals and will want to participate in family gatherings so you want to be sure that they are nice to be near. That means finding time in your holiday preparations to give your pet a thorough grooming.

• Brush and comb. Begin with a good brushing to get rid of loose hair. If your pet has long hair, take time to carefully comb out any tangles. A conditioning and untangling spray can help make the process more comfortable for your pet. After systematically brushing through the coat, use a professional steel-pinned comb to make sure that all the knots and shedding hair have been removed.
• Shampoo and condition. Your pet can't look and smell his or her best without a bath. Don't be tempted to use your own hair care products on your pet. Animal's skin has a different people from human's skin, so choose products specially formulated for pets. Always follow the shampoo with a conditioning rinse or moisturizing treatment. Towel dry thoroughly, then separate the hair by brushing and combing to speed drying down to the skin. If you use a standard home hair dryer, be aware that it is very easy to burn your pet. Hold it well away from the skin and use a cool setting.
• Nails. No grooming is complete without a manicure. Use only a proper nail clipping tool specifically made for your pet, and take off a small amount at a time. Stay well away from the "quick", the point at which there is blood flow. Be prepared with a styptic product in case you do clip into the blood vessel.
• Finishing touch. Add a special holiday collar and your pet is ready for company! Choose attire that doesn't restrict your pet's movement in any way and that won't cover his eyes. Also, choose items that won't get in the way when your pet needs to relieve himself. Best Friends Pet Resorts offer a selection of both fun and functional for holiday dress-up. For ideas, see Great Holiday Gift Ideas.

Expect the entire process to take a couple of hours. If you can't find time in between all of the cookie-baking, gift-wrapping, and party-going, you may to turn you pet over to a professional dog groomer. For a groomer near year, visit the Our Center section of this website.

It takes a bit of time and effort, but a holiday makeover can be well worth the effort for you and your pet.