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Brushing removes dead hair from the coat
before it mats, stimulates the skin and evenly distributes
the natural oils over the coat. This allows the individual
hairs to lie more smoothly, look shinier and repel dirt.
Try to spend just a few minutes every day or so brushing
the coat instead of waiting until the coat is tangled
then trying to demat it. You and your pet will be happier
for it.
Puppies and brushes
Puppies, are constantly shedding their puppy coat. They
should get used to being groomed and handled as soon as
they come into the home. If your puppy just "won't
hold still long enough" to be brushed, groom in short
sessions and just brush a small section at a time until
the puppy gets used to being brushed. Talk to him softly
and treat him gently. And as with all pets, remember to
praise him quietly if he's still. End the brushing session
on a positive note, like when he's being still.
What should your grooming session consist of?
-
Remove all mats before bathing
your pet.
Getting a tangled, matted coat wet will cause the coat
to mat up even more. Water tends to tighten the mat,
shampoo gets caught in the mat and is hard to rinse
out, drying shrinks it into an even tighter knot.
You can make the brushing and dematting process easier
on yourself and your pet if you dampen the coat before
brushing with a coat conditioner or tangle remover.
Brushing a dry coat will cause static electricity that
will damage and break off the ends of the hair. Spray
the coat well with the conditioner and allow it to sit
on the dog for several minutes -- or apply it to each
layer as you brush. These are especially helpful when
working with dogs with long, flowing coats, such as
the Maltese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier and
Yorkshire Terrier.
-
Brush your pet's hair layer
by layer so that it pulls the least on the skin.
Hold the unbrushed hair down, just above the section
of hair you want to brush. This allows you to brush
layer by layer, working in the direction of the hair
growth. If you find a knot of hair, hold the hair at
the base of the mat so that it doesn't pull on the pet's
skin as much.
Watch your pet's body language as you brush and demat.
No pet enjoys having their skin tugged at. Try to brush
a little more gently if your pet shows discomfort. Brush
burn is the result of applying excessive force when
brushing the coat, and can be caused when hair is tugged
too aggressively, or from brush bristles harshly scraping
the skin. This abrasiveness causes the skin of the pet
to become irritated, and could lead to dermatitis. So
be firm, yet gentle, when brushing your pet.
-
Brush the head last.
Pets tend to object less to those things they can't
see. The head is a sensitive area for many pets, and
you want to keep the pet comfortable as long as possible.
Therefore, starting at the rear is less stressful on
the pet.
-
Combing: The final step in
brushing.
The final step in brushing is to go through the coat
using a fine/medium toothed comb, checking for any mats
that may still be in the coat.
Poodles and other "non-shedding" breeds
Most people believe that Poodles do not shed. This, however,
is a myth, because Poodles do shed their dead hair just
as most breeds do. Poodles have a dense undercoat that is
course and curly. The dead hair actually gets caught in
the undercoat and is unable to fall out through the coat.
This causes the coat to mat easily if dead hair is not removed
frequently by brushing.
Puppy Paradise grooming services
Need help with brushing? Don't worry! Stop by the grooming
department at a Puppy Paradiseand talk to one of our professional
groomers. They'll be glad to answer any questions you have
about grooming your dog. Or bring your puppy by just to
say "Hi" and get acquainted with the grooming
environment. If you prefer to let the pros handle the grooming,
then you can make an appointment to get your friend all
spruced up and looking great in no time.
Click
here for our grooming services
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