1. Bathing and brushing your dog is vital even if it does not have that much hair. It removes dead skin cells, dirt, oils, and helps keep a healthy skin and coat. 
Your groomer's shop has the equipment to do this job much more efficiently than in your own bathtub.

 

2. Brushing your dog is not as easy as it may seem. Even if your pet lets you brush it all over, most people only brush halfway through the coat. Proper brushing involves getting to the root near the skin without causing brush burn. Ask your groomer what type of brush is best and the most efficient way to brush. He or she will be happy to help. The furminator is great for shedding dogs. Average toothed combs are good to determine if the coat is brushed well and free of mats.

 

3. Nail trimming should be done regularly to prevent injury to your pet and yourself. Nail filing is best but introduce it slowly. 

Forcing your pet will only make it worse the next time you do it. Your groomer most likely will do walk-in nail trims fairly cheaply. Just ask.

 

4. Ear cleaning should also be done regularly and is easy to do. Soak a cotton ball in alcohol (not the kind you drink), squeeze out the excess, and swab the ears.

If you are swabbing out small black clumps, it's likely your dog may have an ear infection or mites. Check with your vet to determine the problem.

 

5. Your groomer or vet should be expressing your dog's anal glands. It's important and if not done could lead to serious problems. Make sure you ask to see if it's included in the services. Otherwise, your dog may try to do it his/herself and it'll probably be on your carpet. Have you seen your dog drag his hind end across the carpet? That's likely what he/she is trying to do.