Dogs
Brushing
However, if your loveable ball of fur has a tail and tongue but little else to be seen, don’t despair. Brushing your dog doesn’t have to be a trial. Just make sure that you start when you have lots of time to take it slowly and patiently, and have lots of treats on hand.
Starting At The Face
It’s a good idea to start at the front and work backwards to ensure you don’t miss any section. Their faces and ears are very sensitive, and will need a very soft brush or cloth such as Tender Care Soft Slicker Brush. No one wants to be poked in the eye with a hairbrush.
If they have longer facial hair such as a fringe or beard, use a wide toothed comb such as Pet One Course PinComb and place your fingers over the base of the hair to prevent any tugging. Using a leave in conditioner can help ease the process enormously. A good tip is to soak a wash cloth in a detangler like Ivory Coat, and then use it with your fingers to massage the knots out.
Moving On
Move down to the ruffs of fur around your dog’s neck, shoulders and chest. Perfect for burying your face in, hair is often longer here than the rest of the coat. Brush gently with the grain to remove any knots. Then brush against the way the fur lies to remove dead hair and dirt one there aren’t any tangles. Finally, brush down into place again. Use a bristle brush such as Pet One Combination Brush.
Legs, Tummy and More
Feathers on the legs will often get tangled and full of burs and seeds from where they’ve been exploring. Use a comb or matt splitter such as JW Matt Removal, and plenty of detangler. Hairy tails will also often need detangling. Use a comb, and then finish with a brush to smoothen and shine.
The tummy and between the legs need more sensitive treatment. Use a soft brush and don’t tug on any tangles. A grooming mitt such as the one from Show Master can make things easier.
Finishing Up
You can finish the process by using a dog perfume or leave in shine and conditioning treatment, to make them smell wonderful – try the range from Fuzzyard. If you’re really stuck it might be a good idea to use a groomer initially, and then continue with upkeep yourself later. If your dog needs clipping off before he can be fully dematted, it’s not the end of the world. Hair always grows back, and he’ll feel a lot more comfortable.