How do I brush my dog at home?

By Ivy Reno on March 25, 2020

Since Custom Pet Grooming and other grooming salons in Michigan are closed for at least the next few weeks, I’ve put together some tips and advice on how to brush your dog at home. Check out my recommendations on brushes, and some common questions and answers below.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO BRUSH MY DOG?
It’s important to brush your dog’s coat on a regular basis, and how often depends on their coat type and activity level:

• For short haired dogs, brushing every few days, or once a week is usually sufficient
• Any breed that requires regular clipping should be brushed every few days
• Higher maintenance coats such as Poodles/Doodles (these coats are especially prone to matting) should be brushed daily
• Double-coated breeds (Husky, Great Pyrenees, Sheltie, Golden Retriever) is best to brush daily
• If you keep up with it, it should only take a few minutes a day
• Dogs should be brushed after swimming and getting wet; their hair mats up very easily after they get wet, especially their legs
• It helps to brush them out thoroughly before and after a bath

WHAT TECHNIQUE SHOULD I USE TO BRUSH?
Now that you know how often your dog needs a good brushing, make sure you’ve got the right technique. Here are a few guidelines to help you out:

• Brush down and out, away from the dog’s skin. Make sure to always brush in the direction the coat grows and don’t brush backwards
• Be gentle and careful especially with sensitive areas with shorter hair. Brushing too hard can cause brush burn or irritation. When untangling snarls, slowly brush and comb it out like you would a child’s hair
• If you encounter mats, use a slicker brush and comb, or a dematting rake to get through. Removing mats can be painful, so be very careful.
• I don’t advise using scissors to cut out mats, often people pull the mat away from the skin which makes it very easy to cut the skin
• Try to avoid matting in the first place to avoid discomfort, skin issues, and other risks
• Avoid brushing hair when it’s wet, it can be uncomfortable for the dog and isn’t as effective

WHAT TYPE OF BRUSH SHOULD I USE?
The type of brush depends on what type of coat your pet has. Check out these products to find out what is right for your dog.

Common long-haired breeds: Shih Tzu, Maltese, Poodles, Doodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise

Common medium-haired breeds: Brittany Spaniel, Long Haired Chihuahua, Cairn Terrier

Common double coated breeds: Husky, Golden Retriever, Pomeranian, Sheltie, Collie, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd

Common short-haired breeds: Boxers, Boston Terriers, Vizlas, Dobermans, Great Dane, Pit Bulls, Greyhounds, Pugs, Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Hounds

• This type of brush is great for many hair types, including medium-haired, long-haired, and double coated
• Not great for very short haired dogs (Boxers, Pit Bulls, Greyhound)
• Avoid use around areas with thin hair, such as the belly, sanitary areas
• Brush from base of fur and out, gently working out any tangles and removing excess hair and undercoat
• Can be used in combination with a comb for detangling

• Can be used in combination with a slicker brush to remove both small and large tangles and mats. It’s best to alternate back and forth between.
• Awesome for dogs with thick hair, and dogs with long hair
• Great for longer haired areas where a slicker brush cannot get down to the skin
• Great for brushing out dogs with long hair on their ears and tail
• Can be used in combination with a slicker brush to remove undercoat on thick, double coated dogs

• This dematting rake should be used for more intense tangles and matting, and only used with a combination of a slicker brush and comb are unable to remove the tangles
• It’s essentially a blade that cuts through the mat, so keep this in mind and use with caution. Also be careful when removing hair from this tool
• If you’re unsure or uncomfortable using this tool, I would just stick with a slicker brush and comb

• Works especially well on short and medium haired dogs that shed
• Very gentle and soft, very low chance of brush burn
• Dogs often grow to love this brush
• Not very effective on long-haired dogs, or dogs that don’t shed
• Great for use in combination with a FURminator brush

• Works especially well on short and medium haired dogs that shed
• Be gentle with this tool, it should remove lots of hair without too much pressure
• Don’t use the FURminator excessively in one area. You risk hitting the skin more often and causing irritation
• Don’t use around areas in sensitive areas with little to no hair, such as stomach, lower legs and genital areas
• Great to use in combination with Zoom Groom
• This item is a bit pricier, but it works very well. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Zoom Groom works perfectly fine on its own

I hope these tips help! Check out our socials for more information and feel free to comment below or contact us with any questions you may have.

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