Still in Progress - Please bare with me. Thanks!

Brushing

     Hey everyone! I am here to help as much as possible with education, explanation and demonstration. I'm constantly learning and trying new things so I will update this when new information arises. Introduce brushing as soon as possible with puppies or newly adopted dogs. The entire process will allow you to bond, gain trust, look for any cuts, scratches, irritations, bumps, possible parasites, ear issues etc. Overlooked, minor issues can lead to an uncomfortable pup, expensive vet bills and possible health risks. 

Line Brushing

     The idea behind Line Brushing is about sectioning the hair, starting at the bottom, to clear a path for the hair and brush to go through gently. Randomly dragging a brush from the top to bottom tears through the hair while yanking on their skin.  This would make your pup quite uncomfortable, and is one of the reasons why dogs can dislike being brushed. So regardless of where you start just make sure it is at the bottom. I like to proportion the dog into sections. So for ears, start at the bottom with your hand underneath the ear to provide protection against the brush. Ears are very easily torn if brushed too aggressively. Make sure you get behind the ear as it is one of the most common areas to mat. For legs, start at the foot going all the way around and then slowly make your way up the leg. For their face start around the chin and jaw gently moving your way up. Be careful brushing the tail making sure your hand is guarding the bone. Start at the longest part as you would with your own hair (if its long) and work your way up to wear it grows. 

Combing 

     After you can fully brush your pups coat through with the slicker brush it's time to follow up and finish with your comb. The toughest part about maintaining a long coat is making sure you are brushing all the way down to the skin. Use the same Line Brushing technique as before. 

Coat Types & Corresponding Brushes 

     Different types of coats require different types of brushes. Here are the most common ones I come across.

     1. Double Coat

Ex: Labrador and Golden Retriever, German and Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Great Pyrenees

Brushes Recommended: Slicker, Undercoat Rake, Greyhound Comb.

     2. Single Coat

Ex: Maltese, Dachsunds, Yorkshire Terrier, 

Brushes Recommended: Slicker, Rubber Curry & Greyhound Comb

     3. Wired Coat

Ex: Airedale Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Schnauzer 

Brushes Recommended: Slicker & Greyhound Comb

 
   4. Curly Coat

Ex: Poodle, Doodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise

Brushes Recommended: Slicker & Greyhound Comb

   
 5. Wavy Coat

Brushes Recommended: Slicker & Greyhound Comb

Anatomy of a Matt 

     I know matting can feel like a mystery so let's break it down! 

     The video with the brown Doodle (1) shows the importance of making sure you are 

Used with permission. Click arrows on bottom right to enlarge. 

Slicker Brush 

Click on Amazon links to view items. 

     This brush has coated tips at the end of the pins.  If you are feeling uncomfortable or worried about possibly scraping your dogs skin this brush can really help. The pins are still long allowing for more coat to be pulled in to the brush. I use this type of brush on faces and anywhere there may be sensitivities. 

     If you are comfortable with brushing, and/or able to be gentle, then these are for you! The long pins, again, help get through more coat and reach closer to the skin. Still BE CAREFUL as these do not have coated tips on the end of the pins. If you are too firm it's possible to scrape the skin and cause brush burn. This can make your pup reluctant to engage in the brushing process. The same way they would be hesitant at the next nail trim if they had been quicked (cut too short causing bleeding) at the one prior. 

     I recommend this comb because it has a sturdier handle and longer pins making the process a lot easier! I use this exact one on almost every dog. The larger size helps go through more hair, saves your hands and wrists, allows you to find hidden tangles and easily get all the way down to the skin.