Grooming and caring for your dog needs to be a pleasurable and satisfying event for both dog and owner. Choose an area which is comfortable for both of you, a chair for you, and a bench or table (depending on dogs size) to place the dog on should be adequate. Place the dog on the bench or table while encouraging him and telling him that everything is going to be alright. Keep assuring him that he's going to receive a real treat, not a nightmare.
When grooming and caring for your dog be sure to introduce the grooming tools slowly, allowing him to sniff and inspect each item. It is essential that he understands and learns to connect the grooming tools with an enjoyable event. Go slow and easy the first few sessions and manage the grooming session with tenderness and understanding, and your dog or pup will learn to enjoy being brushed and combed as much as you enjoy the benefits of a well groomed dog. Bungle the task and you will likely be searching for your dog when you get out the grooming tools the next time.
Whenever grooming and caring for your dog, move the brush both with and against the flow of the coat. Brushing in both directions will assist in removing all the dead hair while also stimulating the dog's skin. Using the correct bristle length on your brush will assure you gain the maximum benefits from your grooming session. You will need a long bristled brush if your dog has long hair such as a Golden Retriever, and a short bristled brush for short or medium haired dogs like a German Sheppard.
If you want to use a comb when grooming and caring for your dog you will need a wide spaced comb for wirehaired, medium, or long haired dogs, and a fine tooth comb for short haired dogs. In addition to a good brushing, you can use a flannel towel or cloth to really bring out the sheen in your dog's coat. Professional grooming gloves are also available at most pet shops or supply stores.
Knotted or matted hair:
Medium or long haired dogs pose a bite more work than their short haired
friends. By preference we have owned Golden Retrievers, and several Setter
breeds for years and from pure necessity have had to learn the tricks to
getting out all sorts of bristly and sticky objects when grooming and caring
for dogs with long feathers. Not only is this matted hair unattractive it
can bind and pinch the dog which has to be very irritating to say nothing
about uncomfortable.
When the hair becomes matted try to slowly comb the mats out, slow and gentle is the key to removing these mats. Catch the tangled hair with one hand then slowly comb the mat. You may need to cut the mat out if it is tangled to tightly. It is always advisable when grooming and caring for your dog to use blunted scissors and especially if you are grooming a puppy.
Pups are very energetic and like to constantly be wiggling around so be extra careful and the blunt ended scissors will make sure you don't jab or stab your pup. Simply pull the matted hair away and cautiously trim the mat as far from the skin as possible. Never yank or pull the mat; it hurts, just ask anyone with long hair if you doubt it. There are several good commercial sprays available which help to get tangles free with a brush so trimming is not necessary.
How To Groom Your Dog Or Puppy At Home
