Things You'll Need:
- Scissors
- Spray bottle with 1/2 water, 1/2 conditioner
- Detangler
- Dog bristle brush
- Dog spiny brush
- Dog treats
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Step 1
Spray the coat with the water and conditioner mix. Keep this bottle close by, as you will probably need it again.
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Step 2
Use the spiny brush to work out most of the easier tangles. You should be able to pull the spiny brush through the relatively untangled areas of the coat fairly easily. If you encounter a problem, reapply the conditioner and work on the knot by holding it above the tangle to prevent pulling. If the conditioner alone does not help, attack with the detangler as well. If you still cannot get the knot out, move on.
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Step 3
If your dog has sensitive skin, use canine hair products instead of human ones.Reapply the conditioner after you have gone over the entire coat once. There will probably still be some tangles and snarls in the coat, often in the legs and chest of the dog. She may not like being sprayed in these areas, so spritz her down with conditioner all over, then squirt some in your hand and work it through the knotted fur in the problem areas.
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Step 4
Tackle the remaining knots using the spiny brush. Adding more conditioner may loosen these hard knots and make them easier to work free.
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Step 5
Clip out any remaining mats. If you cannot loosen a knot or the fur is so matted together with dirt or other grime, just cut the mat out. The untangling process for this type of knot will be far too hard and painful for you or your dog.
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Step 6
Regardless of how you dry your dog off, you will need to touch up your work as he dries.Brush the dog all over with the bristle brush. This will smooth down his hair and remove any small tangles that may have been overlooked or worked themselves back in as you brushed. Blow or air dry your dog, depending on his breed and your personal preference.
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Step 7
Reward your dog with treats and praise. This will help her to not dread this necessary part of grooming.
