HOW FIDO BECAME A PANTENE MODEL....

Turn your pooch into the glorious, glimmering four-legged goddess it was born to be!

Okay, so your fur baby might not have the pedigree of Sir Winston the 8th at Crufts but that doesn't mean he (or she) has can't look like a silky, soft *swosh swosh* Pantene model.

Here are 5 easy steps to turn your Fido into Fabio!

1. IF YOU HAVE A PUPPY, START YOUNG!

• De-sensitize puppies to showers and baths by getting them used to water a young age.

• Wash them once a week with 'just water' - praise them before, during and after.

2. MAINTAIN HEALTHY SKIN AND COAT WITH DIET

• People always ask how our dog's coat is so shiny -- the secret, for us, is a very healthy diet (BPA free Wellness, Halo or Rockstar) and weekly homemade salmon skin treats.

• This may seem silly but plastic feed and water bowls can contain toxins like BPA that leach into pup's food and water -- these toxins are unhealthy your pup's liver and endocrine system so always use stainless steel or tempered glass bowls.

• Homemade pup treats are so much healthier than 95% of what you'll find on the market. Salty treats can be hard for your pup's thyroid and sweet treats are a no-no for their pancreas but you'll often find salty and sweet treats in brands like Pedigree. If budget is an issue, you'll be amazed how little it costs to make super healthy homemade biscuits that your fur baby will love.

3. IF YOU PUP HAS SKIN ALLERGIES

• Make sure your pup's bedding is made of natural fibers. Dog beds are often sprayed with chemicals like fire retardants and anti-mold and mite sprays. These are mildly toxic and can irritate your pups skin and even effect their delicate immune systems.

• Test your pup for food allergies to see if something in their diet might be causing dermatitis and/or rashes.

• Use an extra-mild soap free of SLSs, like an eco baby soap, so your pups skin is safe from any further irritation.

4. PRE-BATH PREP

• For best results, brush your pups coat thoroughly to remove mats with a dematting brush before your pup gets wet. If you don't, mats can get even worse and you may be forced to cut them out.

• Inspect your pup for any ticks or infections. Inspect paws, nails and ears.

• Set-up a zen-like, spa atmosphere in your bathroom, be it bath-tub or shower, the most important thing is that your pup feels at ease and you show no signs of tension.

• Use the power of treats and constantly reward, pet and praise your fur baby.

5. BABY SHAMPOO & COCO CONDITION

• We used to use BioSilk Pet Shampoo and it is truly a wonderful product but now that we've become more ingredient saavy we've made the resolution to stay away from harmful chemicals found in so many dog (and human) shampoos. You really do have to do your homework!

• For our pup, we use one of the cleanest baby shampoos we've found on the market: Weleda Baby Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash -- it is totally free of chemicals, gentle on the skin and its ingredients are 100% pup friendly. One dab lifts dirt, the almond oil prevents dryness, it is tear-free and your pup's coat will look amazing after!

• Finally, I use coconut oil as an all-natural conditioner. Think of it as a finishing gloss that makes your pup look amazing, moisturised and polished.

Beautiful fur doesn't always happen over night. For some pups you'll need to feed them superfoods high in natural omega oils (like Salmon) for a few weeks before you see that beautiful gloss build up. For others who are super-fabulous nutrition warriors, well, a little Weleda and Coco love is all you'll need! Swoosh, swoosh darlings!