12/12/2021
Let's talk at home care! Some of the most important care you can do for your dog is maintaining their coat. The easiest way to maintain a coat is by brushing! All dogs can benefit from daily brushing, especially thick coated dogs or dogs with curly hair. Breeds such as doodles, poodles, Bichons, German shepherds, pyrenees, and many many more!
Learning to properly brush your dog can take some time, and we are here to help! The first step is making sure you have the proper tools. The following pictures are of most common tools you will use while maintaining your dog's coat.
The first picture is of a slicker brush and it is the first brush you should use when taking care of your dogs coat. This brush is one you will use daily to remove undercoat, break up small mats, and keep your dogs hair detangled and healthy. When brushing you want to focus on getting all the way down to the skin, which is where the mats and undercoat live. The most productive technique to use is called 'line brushing'. Line brushing is when you pull the hair back and brush down so that you can get down to the skin (second picture taken from the Rocky Mountain Labrodoodles page).
The third picture is of a double-sided comb that you will use once you have finished using the slicker. You should first go through the coat with the wide set of teeth from the skin out to the ends of the hair in search of any tangles or mats. Once you've gone through with a wide set, finish with the fine set. If you find any tangles try to work them out with your slicker brush. For stubborn tangles or mats you can use biosilk, a great detangler that helps loosen up the knotted hair.
When brushing, focus on the legs, tail, ears, and neck. These are the areas of most friction and where your dog will mat up the fastest.
Daily brushing is a necessity for most dogs and if done properly can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your pet! We at South Lebanon PetSmart are here to help if you have any questions and we can't wait to see your pups in the salon 🥰
