Grooming Practice Number One: Brushing!

Part 2 of a 4 part series on the basics of grooming upkeep for any dog.
You can read part 1 about how I got my grooming start HERE
Part 3 about ear care HERE
And part 4 about nail trimming HERE

It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about a long-haired dog or a short-haired dog, brushing is super important!!

A good brushing removes dirt and debris between baths. Brushing also promotes the stimulation of all those healthy oils in the skin. These oils get distributed through out the coat when the fur or hair is brushed regularly.

And, if you’ve got a dog with any length to her coat, brushing is mandatory to keep knots and mats at bay.

Brushing can quickly become a favorite bonding time between a dog and his person. The key component to make sure our dogs love a good brushing is: consistency

Brush weekly. At least. 

Treat your dog to a spa night as the two of you cozy up on the sofa, binge some great Netflix shows and gently (gently no pulling or aggressiveness allowed) brush through your dog’s coat. 

It becomes obvious pretty quickly, the time with her person and the stimulation of the brush on her coat will put your pup into a meditative state in no time.

Brushing time may only last 5 minutes in the beginning. But stick with it and soon your dog will not only tolerate the brush, he’ll look forward to Netflix night with you on the sofa!

Be thorough. But don’t overthink the dog brushing routine.

Take your time, think of the brush as an extension of your arm and use calming, relaxed strokes. Don’t think of the brushing time as a chore that must be completed. Instead focus on the one-on-one time between human and dog.

Missy Tip: do you have more than one dog? Regular brushing time insures each dog gets her individual time and attention with you, the love of her life, on a consistent basis. 

Yes, there are absolutely more advanced brushing techniques for long-haired dogs. There are even specific brushing techniques for removing excess hair on dogs that shed. 

But right now, we’re just dealing with the basics. 

A little bit of brushing in the beginning... and then you choose how far you want to go for your future.

My personal favorite all purpose style of brush is the pin brush.

I love a pin brush with long soft pins. These brushes are similar to the style of brush I use on my own hair (the same style you probably use too!). 

Just based on the fact I’ve been using this style of brush for as long as I’ve had hair to brush, this brush is pretty easy for me to pick up and use on my dogs.

Even though Wallace is corded, he still  has a regular brushing routine. The pin brush with the softest bristles I can find is my go-to brush for him. I want to stimulate the oils in his skin and remove excess debris from his coat, but I do not want a brush that will tear at or through his gorgeous cords.

Probably the most common brush is the slicker brush.

But don’t be fooled by the aggressive look and feel of the slicker brush. This brush is meant to be used gently. (there’s that word again… it’s like we’ve got a theme going here, amiright?!)

Practice brushing a slicker on your own forearm. Don’t dig in. Don’t tear at your skin. Get a feel for what is comfortable on your own arm before you go ripping through your best dog friend’s coat. Nothing ruins a great Netflix binge night like pulling hair or scratching the skin on your dog.

Take it easy and enjoy the bonding time!

I recommend a regular brushing routine. Once a week is often plenty for both long and short coated dogs. But you know your dog and you see his fur every day. If your dog needs more or less brushing, make the choice that is in the best interest of your pup!

For more specifics on brushing technique, check out this article from Dogs 101

And be sure to check back on Friday when we take on part 2 of the 4 part grooming series:

Grooming Tip Number Two: All About The Ears