Brushing basics for every coat
Date:
Little and often wins.
Regular brushing keeps the coat clean, spreads the natural oils and lets you spot problems early. Most dogs come to love it.
- 01
Know the coat. Short coats shed but rarely tangle, double coats hide a soft undercoat, wiry coats need stripping, and long coats knot behind the ears and under the legs.
- 02
The right brush. A rubber mitt suits short coats, an undercoat rake suits double coats, and a slicker brush with a wide comb suits long and curly coats.
- 03
Little and often. Five minutes a few times a week beats an hour once a month, for you and for your dog.
- 04
Work with the hair. Brush the way the hair grows, in short and gentle strokes. Hold the hair near the skin while you tease out a knot, so it never pulls.
- 05
Check skin and ears. As you go, look for redness, lumps, ticks, grass seeds and dirty ears, and ask your vet about anything new.
- 06
Finish with a treat. End every session on a happy note, so the brush means good things are coming.
If a knot is tight against the skin, leave it for a groomer rather than reaching for the scissors.