How to Groom Long-Haired Dogs

Regular grooming aids in removing dirt and dead hair and prevents matting of your dog's long hair. Mats, if not taken care of, can cause skin irritation and may get to the point of having to shave all of the hair off. Taking care of your dog's coat is easy as long as you keep up with the maintenance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Flat steel tooth comb
• Dematting comb

1. Use a slicker brush to brush out the hair. Find slicker brushes at your local pet store; they have a rectangular head and many short wire bristles. On long hair start at the end of the hair and work your way up.

2. Hold the hair down at the base when you brush so you're not pulling on the skin. If you hit a tangled knot hold the hair behind the knot and work it out slowly.

3. Work out knots that a slicker brush won't get with a flat steel comb with teeth that are spaced far apart.

4. Break through a severely matted knot with a dematting comb. This a comb with sharp blades that will cut through the mat. Be patient and work the mat out slowly. You can also take scissors and cut the mat vertically and then brush out.

Tips & Warnings

• For mats that don't break up easily and you don't want to shave the hair off use a dematting gel. Find dematting gels at specialty grooming stores or online. Break the mat first with a mat breaker, apply a small amount of gel and work into the mat. Use a steel tooth comb to slowly work out the rest of the tangles.
• If the dog is whining, you are hurting him. Don't yank on a knot, dog's are sensitive just like you.
• If the dog you're grooming is acting aggressive he may bite, so put a muzzle on him before going any further.