Dog hair grooming isn’t about having your pet’s fur feel soft and nice to pet. Proper hair grooming is important for your dog’s health, as improperly groomed coats can lead to:
- Uncomfortable, matted fur
- Poor blood circulation
- Unhealthy hair growth
- Sebaceous cysts
- Skin sores
Taking good care of your pet requires you to groom them properly. Every dog’s hair is different and requires particular methods. Keep reading to learn some tips on how to groom your dog’s coat.
Long and/or Thick Coat
Long coats and dogs with thick fur require regular brushing. You should be brushing or combing a dog with a thick or long coat multiple times per week.
Consistent brushing will prevent the fur from getting matted or tangled. It will also prevent excessive shedding. The best brush to use for these dogs would be a pin brush.
Bathing is also necessary to clean any dirt or debris that’s caught in the coat. A nice smelling dog is an added bonus to this!
You might also have to clip the hair on the dog’s face and/or feet if you notice it getting too long. Carefully use grooming clippers and avoid clipping the skin by mistake. Professional groomers will be able to do this easily and safely.
Smooth Coat
Smooth coats are made up of short, smooth hair. It’s what you see on dogs like Chihuahuas, boxers, beagles and bulldogs.
These coats require far less maintenance than long coats. Because there is far less hair and the coat is so close to the skin, you’ll need to use different brushes on this type of coat.
Use a bristle brush to avoid hurting or irritating your dog’s skin. Brushing will help evenly spread natural oils and will rid the coat of dirt and loose hair. This only needs to be done occasionally, along with an occasional bath.
Wiry Coat
You can find wiry coats on most terriers and on the otterhound. A wiry coated dog has a thick undercoat along with wiry hairs poking through that are bristly and rough.
These coats require a dog hair grooming technique called plucking or stripping, along with brushing and bathing.
Plucking involves what you would think it involves: plucking out wild, old, or unruly hairs. This will stimulate new hair growth and thin out an overgrown coat. This can be done by hand or with a stripping comb/brush.
Wiry coats can get overgrown and matted, as they don’t shed. Proper grooming is essential to prevent matting. If the hair is tangled or matted, you can use a detangling shampoo along with a brushing regimen.
Wrapping Up: Dog Hair Grooming Tips
These are just a few simple tips for some of the most common dog coats. However, this just scratches the surface of the many types of dog coats and the information on dog grooming.
Hiring professionals who are knowledgeable on all types of dog coats and grooming techniques is often the best choice. Contact us if you have any questions or if you’d like to set up a grooming appointment for your pet.
