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. Make sure the water is around the same temperature as the dog's body.
Unlike people, who get haircuts with wet hair, always start with a dry, clean dog, Benesch said, and only use the tips of sharp shears to trim your dog's feet, face and tail, which will prevent you from cutting your dog if she moves suddenly.
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.
Regular grooming relaxes the dog who's used to it, and it becomes a special time that you can both share. A coat free of mats, burrs and tangles and skin free of fleas and ticks are as comfortable to your dog as fresh, clean clothes are to you. It makes you feel good, and the effect is the same for your pet.
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.
Don't Forget the Post-Bath Brushing!
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!
Brushing your dog
If your dog has an undercoat, regular brushing can help keep them cooler—it prevents this downy hair from getting impacted against the skin to promote the flow of air. This up-close experience can also help you spot anything unusual on or about your dog's skin, like lumps, or parasites.
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.
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.
Frequency of Brushing
Smooth, short-coated dogs can generally be brushed once every few weeks to remove loose hair. While short, dense-furred dogs should usually be brushed once a week. Long-coated or double-coated dogs must be brushed weekly to prevent mats and to remove tangles.
Generally speaking, a healthy dog with a short, smooth coat and no skin problems doesn't need to be bathed often. In most cases, dog baths are more for the benefit of their pet parents than for the dogs themselves. Even so, it's a good idea to bathe your pooch at least once every two to three months.
If you haven't started brushing your dog's teeth, there is no need to worry. You can always start this habit as long as your pet's teeth are healthy. While the ideal time to start is when your dog is young, you can begin now.
On average, most dogs only need to be bathed on a monthly basis. You can bathe them less frequently, but it is not recommended to bathe any less frequently than every three months. You can also bathe them more frequently, but it is not recommended to bathe any more frequently than every other week.
Wash the dog. Give your dog a bath and let him dry thoroughly before you clip him. Avoid clipping a dirty dog if at all possible. The dirt will clog the clippers and make your job difficult.
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.
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.
Some dogs become anxious about brushings. This could be because they have anxiety or because they find new experiences scary. It's also possible that your dog has a past, or a history of abuse, you don't know about.
Stop brushing when you can no longer pinch out a tuft of hair, says Bird. Avoid brush burn. Your precious pooch and feline friend need gentle care. Don't press the bristles of any brush hard against your pet's tender skin or tug at knots or tangles.
In general, it's wise to bathe your dog early in the day — especially if they have thick fur — so they'll be dry before their evening walk. Adapt to the animal's lifestyle: If you have a dog that lives outside, you can still give them a good cleaning, even when it is too cold to bathe a dog outdoors.
Use detangler spray before and after grooming to help remove knots, tangles, and mats easily and painlessly. Pay special attention to the areas that commonly present mats and tangles (neck, chest and hindquarters).
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. Use long gentle strokes.
Here's the test: Stroke your dog's coat against the direction of the fur — if you see a patch of skin, your guy's a single-coat; if you spot the hallmark short layer of dense, fluffy fur, then you've got yourself a double-coated dog. Double-coated dog breeds include (but aren't limited to): Akita. Australian Shepherd.
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.
De shedding is the physical removal of a dog's loose undercoat. The idea is to remove the hair before it lands on your furniture and clothes, but it also makes your dog more comfortable. Groomers use multiple tools and methods to de-shed dogs depending on their coat type.