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Tools for Combing and Brushing Your Dog

How Important is Brushing and Combing Your Dog's Hair?

Brushing and combing your dog's hair is a critical part of your dog's grooming regimen. This particular grooming requirement helps maintain a healthy coat. Brushing and combing the hair allows you to keep your dog's coat from being tangled, removes excess hair and promotes oil stimulation within their coat. This is why getting proper advice is essential. 

It is also important to know that every dog is different and so is their coat type. Some dogs shed more than others so understanding more about their coat makes it easier to distribute the amount of time needed for brushing and/or combing. 

How Do You Brush and Comb Your Dog's Hair? 

While many may believe that only brushing is necessary for any dog, combing your dog's hair is essential to the process as well. While brushing only helps with the top layer of your dog's coat, combing gets through the roots of your dog's coat which leads to their skin. 

When brushing you want to start with a slicker brush. These brushes are specifically made for dogs and designed to properly move through their coat. Once you are finished brushing your dog's hair, following up with a stainless steel pin comb is also recommended for combing through your dog's coat. 

Not all dogs need to be combed because some dogs can carry a very flat coat that may only require brushing. Double-coated breeds such as Husky’s and Poodles definitely require both brushing and combing; whereas, flat-coated breeds such as Labrador Retrievers and Italian Greyhounds only require a brush. 

When brushing and combing you want to be gentle and be under good lighting. The sensitive areas you must be careful with are armpits, ears, tail, mouth and around their eyes. These areas are more likely to be more susceptible to injury if handled too roughly. 

Since every dog's coat differs some may require more remedies that may help to get through their coat. Wet brushing and using leave-in-conditioner can help you work through some matted and tangled hair. Using your fingers to break through the hair may also ease some of the hair pulling tension. 

When Should You Brush and Comb Your Dog's Hair? 

  • Every week to every two weeks
  • When you notice your dog shedding more hair throughout your home and on clothes
  • When you notice tangles and clumps of hair fused together within the coat 
  • Immediately after a bath, after coming out of the rain, salt pool or ocean. 

What are the Benefits of Brushing and Combing Your Dog's Hair?

  • Minimizes tangled and matted hair
  • Reduces coat shedding 
  • May discover bumps and lumps on their skin 
  • Makes it easier to detect fleas and ticks
  • Promotes a healthy coat
  • Builds a trusting relationship between you and your dog
  • Stimulates the natural oils in their coat 
  • Your dog becomes accustomed to a comfortable pampering process 
  • Keeps your dog looking good

What If Your Dog Isn't Cooperating? 

 

Although you may try very hard to keep them combed and brushed, you may notice that your dog is not as easygoing with the process as you’d hope. Some dogs may wiggle constantly, resist or bite. You don’t want to cause them pain if you are unsure what to do in this matter so you may find that bringing them to a professional groomer may be the best option to help keep them successfully combed and brushed.

Having your dog consistently combed and brushed is an important key to their healthy lifestyle.  Go to Bark ATL Services or call (404) 688-2275 for more information and to book an appointment to get your dog properly groomed.  

Learn More

I hope that you have found this blog helpful.  If you would like to know more about other grooming techniques, check out my latest blogs for Bark ATL: 

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