How to Use a Slicker Brush on Your Dog

Dogs need to brushed, just like you brush your own hair. Slicker brushes are perfect for long-haired breeds, even if they don't shed!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large slicker brush
• Small slicker brush
• A dog
• A helper, if necessary

1. Smaller slicker brushes are used for around the toes, legs, face, and tail. Larger slicker brushes are perfect for the rest of the body.

2. Begin brushing your dog's back close to the base of the tail.

3. Going with the grain of your dog's hair, use a scooping motion to brush each portion of hair. Your whole arm should remain relatively stationary while your forearm turns 90 degrees. The curved end of the bristles should be pointing back toward his tail.

4. Work your way up toward the neck. Put down the large slicker brush when you have brushed all of the flat areas of your dog's body.

5. Using a smaller slicker brush, use the same techniques to brush the more curvacious areas of your dog: tail, legs, toes, and neck area. The face should not require much, if any, brushing.

6. Use a metal dog comb to clean out the hair that you have collected, whenever necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Slicker brushes are primarily for long-haired breeds. Examples are Bichons and German Shepherd.
• Use a slicker brush to control shedding and to eliminate matting of the fur.
• Do not use long brush strokes as you would on longer human hair.
• Do not brush too hard. The bristles are made of metal and will scratch your dog's skin.