A Guide to Brushing Your Dog
Regular brushing and combing helps keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy and looking good to achieve full benefits. You will need to brush all the hair and not just the top coat. Brushing will usually loosen and remove dead hair and stimulates your dog’s skin. Always make sure your dog is secure if on a table with the appropriate grooming aid ie: Happy Strap or comfortable on the floor. Regular brushing can relax the dog and can become a special time to share between owner and pet. A coat free of mats, tangles and dead hair makes the pet feel good.
Why should you brush your dog?
For any dog, brushing is a necessary part of a healthy grooming routine: it will remove dead hair and skin cells, distribute oils from your dog’s skin, and can also help remove the animal’s seasonal coat. Regular brushing will help to maintain a knot free coat and prevent mats.
What age should you start to brush your dog?
A puppy can be introduced to brushing from as early age as possible and should be brushed daily, but each session must be a short and pleasant experience. Positively introducing grooming allows the pup to build a nice association with brushes and more. Let the puppy sit or lie down on his/her side while you brush gently. Brush the hair in the opposite direction of hair growth at first, and then follow by brushing it in the direction of hair growth. Continuously praise your puppy whilst you brush.
Is a brushing routine the same for all dogs?
Depending on the length of the coat but here are a few - There are too many breeds to mention
Shorter-haired dogs: ie Boxers, Labs, Greyhounds, and Weimaraners, don’t need to be brushed as frequently since their hair cannot tangle or mat. Brush their coat at least a couple of times a month - with the appropriate brush, not a slicker brush
Curly coated dogs - Bichon Frise, Bedlington, Doodles, Poodles, Water spaniels and more - 3 times per week minimum
Double coat: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain, Chow Chow, Collie, German Shepherd, Husky, Leonberger, Old English Sheepdog, Pomeranian, Saint Bernard, Spitz and more - 2 - 3 times per week
- Always using a good slicker brush which removes loose hairs from the outer coat and any debris trapped in the under coat
- Start from the back of the dog at the lowest point ie lower or upper thigh and work up and forwards, lifting the hair up brush very gently using the grooming rake or pin brush to brush it back into place.
