The Dos and Don'ts Method Always angle the FURminator and brush from head to tail including your dog's stomach in the same direction the fur is growing. Don't brush your dog's fur from tail to head or bottom to top. Pulling against the grain can hurt your dog.
Go with the grain. When clipping the coat, go with the hair, not against it. Cutting against the grain of the hair can result in cuts and burns on the dog's skin.
Brush in the direction of hair growth. Don't use too much pressure so that it hurts your dog's skin; instead, apply firm strokes that will help remove dead hairs. Then use a shedding blade to grab dead hairs all over the coat. Shedding blades are an excellent way to help reduce shedding and prevent mats.
Dog Coat Care – Brushing Basics
When brushing your pooch, be sure to brush the hair in the opposite direction of hair growth first, and then follow by brushing in the exact direction of hair growth.
Begin by finding a time when your dog is the most calm and relaxed. If they're a ball of energy in the morning, brush their teeth when they've mellowed out at night. Every time you brush your dog's teeth, you should be brushing them around the same time of day at least three times each week.
Most dogs enjoy being gently brushed—regularly brushing your dog will strengthen your bond with it while helping it maintain a healthy and clean coat.
Dogs are happier after grooming due to the many health benefits and overall cleanliness that it provides. Grooming also provides an opportunity to be social with other dogs and groomers. Although some dogs may feel down after grooming, this quickly goes away and they truly appreciate the benefits of grooming.
Brush frequently.
The more often you brush your dog, the more hair you will remove to avoid excess shedding. During the shedding seasons of fall and spring, brush your dog at least twice a week—more if you have time.
You should brush your dog every couple of days no matter the length of his coat. Sometimes your brushing can have a specific purpose, such as removing hair mats or helping your dog shed his seasonal coat, but most often you'll be doing general-purpose brushing or combing. Choose the right brush.
It's best to brush your dog's fur before bathing them. This will remove any loose fur and debris from the coat, and also makes sure that any mats or tangles are brushed out, as these will be more difficult to remove when wet.
Both sides help remove debris or loose hair, and break up tangles.
Brushing your dog after their bath will help remove any extra dead fur and detangle their coat. As you get more comfortable with blow-drying, you can start brushing while drying to save time — but it does take practice!
Dogs, like humans, also release endorphins and oxytocin through methods of touch, so rubbing a dog's belly can help with bonding and affection. Ultimately, dogs like belly rubs because they feel good!
In addition to shedding year round, most dogs usually shed more in the spring and fall. During spring, dogs lose hair to lighten their outer coat in preparation for summer. And in fall, they shed to make way for a warmer new undercoat for winter.
Brush Your Dog
Regular, even daily, brushing is the most effective way to keep your home hair-free. Brushing will also make your dog's coat softer, cleaner, and less likely to shed.
Some canine medical conditions can cause excess shedding. Parasites, fungal infections, stress, and even sunburn are some of the more common problems that will cause your dog to have excessive hair loss. Hormonal issues due to thyroid imbalance can lead to inflamed skin and brittle hair as well.
Groomers use non-slip surfaces. To help dogs stand still and steady, groomers invest in special non-slip padding for appropriate surfaces such as grooming tables or bathtubs. It helps prevent fatigue which makes for a calm dog.
On the other hand, dogs typically rub against furniture because they are enjoying the feeling or find relief from a medical condition, such as an ear or eye infection or allergies.
If your dog's skin and coat health begin to deteriorate, you're overgrooming them. Brushing them too much will deplete them of their natural hair oils, making their coat dry and brittle.
The worst time to brush your dog's coat is right after a bath while their hair is wet. Because brushing your dog when his hair is wet can be quite painful, while also creating more tangles and knots. That's why you should always brush dogs before you bathe them and then just let it all dry naturally afterward.
"Most dogs do not like the most common human pat, which is the pat, pat, pat on the head, but prefer a chest rub or a tickle under the chin," she says.
Without brushing, plaque can build up, putting your dog at risk for bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. It can also cause painful infections. Severe infection can spread, causing life-threatening conditions.
Brushing them every day for at least 15 minutes during their coat blow will help speed up the process, keep them comfortable, and stop the furballs from falling out all around your home.