Dog Brush Information
Daily brushing or combing helps clean dirt and loose hair from your dog's coat. It also spreads the skin's oil through the hair, which helps the coat stay clean and shiny. Every brush or comb on the market is useful for a particular kind of coat. When you purchase a brush or comb, keep in mind your dog's coat type. Is he long-, short- or medium-haired? Does he have a thick undercoat? Some brushes are more suitable for long or short coats, and some are useful for both. Also consider your dog's skin type. If your dog has sensitive, or easily damaged skin, choose a brush with soft bristles.
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Brushes for Long-haired Dogs
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Slicker brushes have fine wire pins attached to a flat base. The ends of the pins are bent at the ends for easy removal of loose hair and mats. These brushes come in a variety of sizes and pin stiffnesses, and work well on long or curly coats.
Pin brushes are oval-shaped with long metal bristles, which are coated with plastic. They have a flexible rubber base, which makes them easier to handle. These brushes are great for long, wavy or curly hair, and the plastic coating ensures they won't scratch or irritate your dog's skin.
Brushes for Medium-coated Dogs
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Porcupine brushes have a combination of long and short bristles. These brushes remove loose hair and debris. They are best used on medium to short hair and also work well for wiry-haired coats.
Combination bristle/pin brushes are used for removing loose hair, dirt and mats. The bristle side works for areas of short hair, and the pin side will penetrate long hair and undercoats. This brush is good for medium- to long-haired dogs.
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Brushes for Short-haired Dogs
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Bristle brushes have long, thick bristles and are good for removing surface dust and dirt.
Zoom Groom brushes are small, plastic brushes that collect loose hair and are easily cleaned. The Zoom Groom is designed for wet or dry grooming.
Rubber grooming gloves are designed to remove loose hair from short coats. The brush is applied in a circular motion, to massage loose hair out. The grooming glove is also great for bath time.
Combs
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Combs are useful for detangling long hair, pulling out loose hair from any coat, removing fleas and other debris, and for trimming and styling. There are several comb types to choose from, each with its own use. These combs work well on all lengths of coat:
The standard metal comb has wide teeth at one end and finely spaced teeth at the other end. This comb is good for detangling hair.
The dematting comb has sharp teeth for splitting and working out mats. Be cautious when using this comb, the teeth are sharp and could injure your dog's skin.
An undercoat rake has long, thick teeth designed to penetrate thick undercoats. It works well for detangling and dematting.
Shedding combs have long and short teeth that remove loose hair. They are shaped in a loop with a wooden or plastic handle and are very easy to use and clean.
Flea combs have very fine and widely spaced teeth. This comb is for removal of fleas and ticks from your dogs coat.
Other Grooming
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There are many other areas of grooming for your dog. Toenail clipping, ear care, tooth care, tear stain removal, bathing and trimming are just a few. Your dog may only need a quick bath and brush, or a bath and a hair trim. If you and your dog enjoy grooming, check out your library or online for tips and techniques on safe grooming. If you have a difficult or easily frightened dog, a professional groomer may be a safer option.
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References
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- Photo Credit naughty dog image by MichMac from Fotolia.com
