Coat Care Quick Tips
It's important to learn how to care for your dog's specific type of coat.
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- The wire-pin brush is designed for breeds with medium to long or curly hair.
- Bristle brushes are used for any coat length. Long, widely spaced bristles are for long hair; short, closely space bristles are for short hair. Softer bristles are best for silky hair, and stiffer bristles for coarse hair.
- Remove mats and large amounts of dead hair with a slicker brush.
- Rubber currycombs or mitts are ideal for brushing short, smooth coats.
- After brushing, use a fine-tooth comb for short or silky hair, or a wide-tooth comb for coarse hair.
- The rake is used to detangle and remove mats, as well as to pull off large amounts of hair during the shedding season.
- The mat splitter cuts out tangles.
For a dog with a double coat, first brush against the direction of hair growth to make sure you're getting the woolly undercoat, which has a tendency to mat. Finish off by brushing the outercoat in the direction that the hair naturally falls.
The short, smooth coat of breeds such as the Great Dane, Doberman and boxer are easy to brush. A regular brushing with this rubber currycomb is about all a Great Dane needs to keep a healthy sheen. You can also perform a damp-cloth brushing, which picks up both excess hair and dirt.
A curly coat, such as that of the standard poodle, needs a lot of shaping and care. Dead hair can mat it down, so be sure to remove the old to make room for the new. A professional groomer is your best ally to help keep this type of coat clean, clipped and healthy.
Removing Mats or Burrs
Knots, tangles and burrs are par for the course during outdoor romps, especially those off the beaten path. Mats that pull on the skin and become even tighter when wet can form when a dog licks or scratches himself. To remedy the problem, use a special tool, the mat splitter, to cut off matted and tangled clumps of fur and to remove burrs wedged into the undercoat. To avoid nicking the skin, only cut out a mat with scissors if you can slide a comb between the mat and the skin; then carefully cut over the comb. Otherwise, seek the help of a professional groomer.
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