Regular brushing keeps your dog’s coat healthy and clean by distributing the natural oils in your four-legged’s fur and skin. It also helps remove excess hair to reduce shedding, and limits the number of lint rollers required to keep around the house to salvage your clothes and furniture. The recommended brushing frequency depends on the type of coat your pup has.

How Often Should You Brush a Dog's Coat

It’s a good idea to brush your dogs after they go swimming, before and after a bath, and during shedding season. Long haired dogs and breeds with short, wiry hair should be brushed weekly. Short haired dogs don’t have to worry about their fur matting or tangling and can be brushed every few weeks. Although most dogs love being brushed, if your dog is wary of grooming choose a time when they are calm to brush them. A gorgeous coat goes beyond grooming, nutrition is also very important to your pet’s appearance. Specially formulated meal enhancers will help your pup’s coat shine like a diamond.

The Right Kind of Brush to Use on Your Dog

Just as different styles of human hair require different grooming tools, you need to use the right brush for your dog’s hair type!

Long Haired

Pin brushes work best for long haired breeds because its bristles grip the undercoat and remove loose hairs without hurting your dog. When brushing, always start close to the skin and brush away from it. Use a comb to tease out any mats.

Short Haired

Rubber brushes and grooming gloves are perfect for short haired dogs. They help bring dirt and loose hair to the surface, and your dog will think you are simply petting them rather than grooming. You can also use a conventional brush, short coats benefit from a stiff natural-bristle brush or a soft slicker brush. Finish the process with a soft-bristle brush, which helps distribute your dog’s natural oils.

Wiry Dogs

Wire haired dogs require a slicker brush, followed by a brush down with a metal comb. You only need to brush these pups once every few days, and you can use a stripping knife to remove the dead hair in the undercoat.

Dog Brushing Tips

When brushing a dog, you should keep these tips in mind:

  • Brush down and out, away from the dog’s skin. Always brush in the direction the coat grows; it’s uncomfortable for your pup when they are brushed backwards.
  • Be gentle. If you brush too hard or you may damage your dog’s coat by pulling and stretching hairs until they tangle and break
  • If you have a dog with a thick undercoat or a breed that is prone to shedding, you may want to use a deshedding tool at home to remove any excess hair prior to brushing.
  • Before brushing with a regular grooming brush, remove mats with a dematting comb. Use gentle, picking motions to break up the mat. Don’t cut mats from your pet’s fur.

Don’t forget to reward them with yummy treats when they are done with their “salon appointment”!