The Right Brush for your Dog

As a dog owner chances are you have found your dog’s hair all over your home. You have probably wondered exactly how it could get into every little nook and cranny of your home without you noticing. That may be why you bring your dog into Doggie DoLittle for grooming but a regular brushing of your dog can help to control most of this loose fur. It is important to know what kind of brush you need for your dog and we can help you out with that.

Short-haired

If you own a short-haired dog like a pug, greyhound, Jack Russell or a Boston Terrier a bristle brush will be what you want. These brushes have groups of tightly packed bristles to remove loose hair and to stimulate your dog’s skin leading to a shiny coat. These are ideal for short-haired dogs and in some cases may be all that is needed.

Medium to long-haired

The most common brushes available are slicker brushes, or brushes that have short and fine wires placed closely together that trap loose hair. The wires are angled and in most cases capped to protect your dog’s skin. These come in many different shapes and sizes and are best with medium to long-haired dogs or curly-haired dogs like Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels and St. Bernards but can work with any dog. When using one of these it is best to do it gently with as little force as needed, especially with short-haired dogs.

Thick coats

For dogs with thick coats like huskies, Pomeranians, German Shepherds, Malamutes and Chow Chows a rake works best. Rakes are designed to penetrate the top coat to remove loose hair and dead undercoat hair near the skin with rows of tightly placed pins. For these breeds cleaning the undercoat is a necessity as it tends to trap loose debris during shedding season. This helps to prevent matting and excessive clumps of hair that you are probably all too familiar with.

Any dog

If you just want to pick up loose hair a shedding blade may work best. These are horseshoe shaped combs with small teeth. It picks up loose hair quickly and efficiently as it is moved across the coat leaving the coat smooth and shiny. One side usually features coarse teeth and the other side features finer teeth making it effective with any dog.
Curry brushes can work with any dog. Rubber nubs acts like a magnet to remove loose hair and the skin is massaged by the soft pins. This helps to promote blood flow and to spread natural oils. These come in many different shapes and sizes and some are completely rubber making them incredibly durable.
Pin brushes are commonly used by people but can also be used with dogs as well. These brushes have a loose arrangement of flexible wires capped with rubber heads and are good at picking up loose hair but that is about all it does. These brushes are good for finishing a grooming session on dogs with longer coats. Some of these brushes are also double-sided with a bristle brush on the other side.

Combs

It would also be a good idea to purchase a flea comb as well. These are one-size-fits-all so any of them can be used with any dog. They catch fleas and their debris in the hair and is usually how fleas are confirmed. If your dog is itching or scratching one area more than usual they may have fleas and the quicker you move the sooner their suffering will be alleviated. Other combs are available as well like moulting combs and grooming combs and are ideal for removing knots of fur.
There is no substitute for a professional grooming session at Doggie DoLittle but there is a lot that to be gained just by brushing your dog at home. Having the right tools can make all the difference. We stock numerous tools in our store and we can help you pick out the right tool for your canine companion so that you hopefully will not be finding clumps of fur in nooks and crannies of the house that you did not know existed.

References:
https://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/dog-care/the-art-of-grooming-your-dog/A0134.html
https://www.hartz.com/choosing-the-right-brush-for-your-dog/
https://www.chewy.com/safari-dual-sided-shedding-blade-dog/dp/155270
https://www.mypetwarehouse.com.au/my-pet-blog/pet-care/dog/choosing-the-best-brush-for-your-dog

I have three dogs at home. Even after losing a series or winning a series, they treat me the same way.-Mahendra Singh Dhoni