How to be a brilliant groomer for your furball and vanish knotted hair forever.

Walking and playing with your pet is fun stuff, but sometimes you must do the "boring" stuff too. 

As the owner, you are in charge of a dog's happiness, well-being, and safety. This is not just about feeding them or dog training. 

When someone gets a new dog, they might rush out and buy a dog's bed, dog training collar, and lead/leash, but they might not think a brush is as essential… but it can be. 

What is grooming

Grooming is brushing and trimming your dog's coat to ensure it stays in good condition and doesn't cause harm to your pooch. 

How often should I groom my dog?

How long is a piece of string?

It depends on the breed of dog and their lifestyle. 

• Breed: Dogs with short, smooth coats will require less brushing than dogs with long hair or double-coated breeds. 
• Lifestyle: working dogs or dogs that spend much time in dense forests or hiking will probably need more brushing than dogs that are mainly walked on paths in an inner-city. 

So, the answer is as often as required, really, and you are better off grooming them too often rather than not enough. 

A good rule of thumb is when you brush them, if you notice tangles or the coat looks disheveled and dull… then you have probably waited too long. 

Is the dog training required?

Yes. 

Your aim of owning a dog is to look after their mental and physical health. 

If done incorrectly, brushing could cause your dog to become scared and anxious. 

Therefore, it is essential you do your research so you know how to groom your dog properly and you make sure it is a positive experience. 

Like with all dog training, consistency and patience are required. Here is a rough guideline to follow:

• Handling: Get them used to being handled and touched all over their body. Then get them used to where they will be brushed, like are you going to do it in the garden, or on a table in the kitchen. Pick a spot where you are going to do your brushing and trimming and stick to it. Routine is an important learning tool for dogs. 
• Brush: Once they are used to been handled and where they are going to be brushed. Get them used to the brush you are going to use. Let them sniff it, and once they are comfortable, slowly and gently touch parts of their body with it. You could start by using the back of the brush first, then brush only with the hair's direction, then you can progress with brushing against the hair as this is more effective with loosening knots. 
• Time: If the doggo starts getting stressed or bored, stop the session and return to it later. Aim to increase the time up until you gradually can brush the whole body in one go. 
• Praise: Dogs love positive attention and treats. So, use that to your advantage. Your dog should associate grooming with positive things so that they do not get fearful or overwhelmed. 

What brushed to use

This depends on the type of dog you have. 

Always get a suitable brush for the dog you have. Never use a meeting that you have lying around from owning a different breed previously. 

It should be pretty apparent from the product descriptions if the brush is suitable for your dog or not. 

A greyhound may require a soft grooming glove, whereas a Husky needs a hardier brush with longer bristles. 

Brushes should last a long time, but if you notice any wear and tear, you should replace it. This prevents potentially harming your dog or causing discomfort. 

There are many decisions to make before getting a puppy or a rescue dog, and one area that can be missed is GROOMING.

It would help if you researched how that breed needs to be groomed and how long it will take.

If you are not prepared to put that level of work in, then get a breed that suits the level of effort you want to put in.

If you find brushing dogs super dull, look for breeds like a Whippet and not a German Shepherd.