It\u2019s time to talk about coats. Not the winter-warmer kind, but your dog\u2019s kind. Has your dog got a coat that\u2019s so thick they actually like to lie in snow? Or have you got a rough and curly coat to deal with? A delicate one that\u2019s peach-soft just like their ears? Or long-haired and like a shampoo ad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dog\u2019s coats are unique. And giving them a good grooming is an essential part of looking after them. So it\u2019s good to know how to do it – and how often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some dogs, a calming and bonding grooming session with you is not an option when there\u2019s stuff to do and things to sniff. Sometimes it just takes a bit of practice. And sometimes, you\u2019ve just got to hand it to the professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequency matters – what\u2019s so good about dog grooming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A regular grooming session gives you the chance to check over your dog. As you get to know the shape of your dog, you can look out for signs of ticks, wounds, dirty ears and eyes as well as checking their body condition (i.e. are they turning into a chunky monkey or losing weight?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to the professionals, their toolkit isn\u2019t going to look like yours. Professionals use a range of equipment to trim, clip, rake, detangle, brush, comb, stimulate the skin and remove debris. But for the home groomer, you\u2019ll need a comb, brush, scissors, detangling spray, ear and eye wipes, plus a grooming rug or mat so you don\u2019t ruin your floors…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brushes<\/strong>: there are three main ones to choose from – slicker brushes, bristle brushes and wire pin brushes. Bristle brushes can be used on most types of coats, medium to long coats and curly coats benefit from wire pin brushes. Slicker brushes smooth aren\u2019t just for getting a great shine on (as the name suggests). They\u2019re awesome at getting out tons of dead hair and undercoat, too – especially in thicker coats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rakes<\/strong>: Rakes are great for double coated dogs – designed to penetrate through the overcoat and remove debris and loose hairs from the undercoat. They can also help with detangling knots and matted sections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Combs: <\/strong>Use combs on small, specific areas to gently tease out matts and tangles and around sensitive areas like ears and the mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip!: Check the teeth length to make sure it\u2019s effective for your dog\u2019s size and where you want to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shedding tools:<\/strong> Get grooming gloves for soft coats and de-shedders for coarser or longer haired dogs. These will gently remove the dead hairs from the undercoat and leave behind the healthy growing overcoat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good to know: It just takes a couple of short sessions to see a huge improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n