Almost all breeds of dogs require regular brushing, whether it’s to keep up with shedding, mats, or packed undercoat.
 
The first step in keeping your dogs coat healthy is knowing what kind of brush to use. Keep in mind that regardless of which brush you are using, always brush gently to keep from scraping your dogs skin.
 
Breeds such as Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Malteses don’t shed; their hair grows and thus becomes knotted pretty easily. These breeds should be brushed a couple times a week, with special attention on their bellies and legs where mats tend to form. Use a slicker brush to go through your dogs coat and remove any tangles. You can check to make sure all the tangles are out with a fine tooth comb, if the comb gets stuck anywhere go back over that area with the slicker brush.
 
For breeds that have lots of shedding and undercoat like Golden Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dogs you will need a slicker brush and a rake. Go over the entire body with the slicker brush, then go over the entire body with the rake, paying special attention to the belly, chest and rear legs. The rake works great in getting out the loose undercoat. These breeds should be brushed about once a week, more during the Spring and Fall when they are shedding more.
 
For dogs that shed but don’t have as much undercoat, such as Labs, use a slicker brush and a shedding blade. Go over with the slicker brush first, then use the shedding blade in a circular motion so remove loose fur. Depending on how thick your Labs coat is, you may also want to use a rake. Some breeds such as Dobermans and Vizslas require very little brushing, but if you notice some shedding you can use a rubber curry in a circular motion to remove the loose coat.
 
If you have any questions about brushing your dog at home please feel free to ask me. We do sell some of the brushes mentioned above in our store, and we also do brush outs in our grooming van by appointment.