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A dog's brush: how to brush and care for the coat?

Dog brush

Smooth or tousled, in many colors, fluffy or silky, long or short - the coat is undoubtedly the pride of any animal.

In order for the hair to be an ornament, it should be properly cared for, especially in the transitional period, when the seasons change.

In spring, there is an intensive exchange of hair, from winter to summer, and in autumn - from summer to winter, this process is called molting.

Dog hair
- Wirehaired dogs
- Shorthair dogs
- Long-haired dogs
Why caring for a dog's coat is important?
Dog brush
- wire brush
- Pudlówka
- Dog rubber brush
- Other types of brushes
- Furminator for a dog
- Dog trimmer
Dog brush price
How often to brush your dog?
Supplements for your dog for coat

Dog hair

The dog's hair cover (ie. "Coat ") consists of bristly, top-coat hair (they are long, protect against getting wet, can be spiked when the animal gets scared or wants to scare a rival) and an undercoat (the hair is shorter, dense, down, creates an insulating layer and protect against cold).

Each top coat is surrounded by a tuft of undercoat hair.

Thus, the statement that some dogs have hair and not fur is wrong - after all, hair consists of hair.

Dog fur varies from breed to breed, and often also from genetics.

The short coat is dominant, so if two dogs with different coat lengths cross, it is very likely that the puppies will be short-haired.

Some breeds have representatives with short and long hair, for example:

Weimaraners,
collie,
Caucasian Shepherds.

Scottish shepherd collie

There are several main types of hair, but there are of course dogs with a mixed hair type.

Wirehaired dogs

Wirehaired dogs have a short undercoat that is very dense.

The outer coat is spiky and its length may vary depending on the race. Most often they are hard, they can undulate or twist.

This type of hair requires regular trimming, however, one should have a great deal of skill to do it correctly. The use of special brushes or combs for trimming is essential.

In the case of wirehair dogs haircut is not recommended.

Rough-haired breeds can be represented by, for example:

fox terriers,
kromfohrlanders,
wirehaired dachshunds.

Shorthair dogs

Short-haired dogs lose their hair very intensively during the moulting period.

Its length does not exceed 5 cm. Their coat is a combination of smooth and coarse topcoats, their undercoat is fine.

Keepers of representatives of short-haired breeds should comb the dead hair regularly, and after combing it - additionally, the pet should be brushed.

They are suitable for such dogs too scraper, with rubber balls to protect against skin damage.

Examples of short-haired breeds include:

German Shorthair Shepherd,
Labrador,
shorthair dachshund,
rhodesian ridgeback.

Rhodesian ridgeback

Long-haired dogs

Longhair dogs have long topcoats. Their undercoat can be dense, then the dogs appear fluffy (such as the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Spitz).

It can also be a bit rarer (such as in an Afghan, Maltese or Yorkshire Terrier) - the hair of such dogs gives the impression of being silky smooth.

The length of the hair is more than 5 centimeters. The long-haired breeds also include, for example:

Pekingese,
shih-tzu,
cocker spaniel,
golden retrivera.

Shih-tzu

Why caring for a dog's coat is important?

Why is it worth taking care of a dog's coat?

Neglecting the care of the coat is not only aesthetically pleasing, but may result in serious complications.

The felted pieces of hair adhere tightly to the body, creating a thick insulation layer.

The skin at the felting points is irritated, the hair is taut, the dog has a pulling feeling and becomes interested in a certain part of the body, licks it and bites it out.

A little bit of moisture is enough to get into the felted area and it causes severe chafing.

If overlooked by the caregiver, it may develop into purulent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, wounds may deepen and become entangled by bacteria.

Needless to say, how unpleasant it is for your pet.

Additionally, such fragments of felt are a hotbed of dirt and bacteria, as well as an excellent hiding place for external parasites.

The places predisposed to create felt knots are especially groin, the area of the thighs and lower limbs, however, in the absence of regular care treatments - they can appear anywhere.

What to do when a tangling is found on your pet's body?

Try to comb it gently.

Special preparations and conditioners that help to untangle the hair can be helpful.

Excision is a last resort as it may take months for the hair coat to grow back evenly, however when pyoderma rash occurs, excision of the tuft is necessary to heal the diseased tissue.

Dog brush

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, in order for the hair to be an ornament, it should be properly cared for.

There are many and varied devices and gadgets that make this task easier. The most popular are brushes for dogs.

They should be used from the first months of a puppy's life to get them used to grooming. It is worth combining brushing with stroking and playing so that the dog perceives it as something pleasant or as a reward.

There are several types of dog brushes. The most delicate are those with bristles.

This type of brush gently removes dead hair from the body, and also allows you to remove dust and dirt.

The length of the bristles and their density should be adapted to the type of coat of your pet - the thicker, more fluffy it is, the longer the bristles in the brush should be.

The bristles used for the production of the brush can be natural and synthetic, it also differs in softness:

for dogs with a silky coat (such as Yorkshire Terriers or Afghan Greyhounds), soft brushes are best to smooth the coat,
for short-haired dogs, slightly harder brushes with dense bristles will be suitable.

wire brush

Wire brushes are used to detangle the dog's hair. They cope with both dense and sparse undercoat.

In the case of this type of brushes, the length of the pins should also be matched to the density of the coat. The pins should be made of steel or brass and they should also be rounded at the ends.

There are also dog brushes with rubber or caoutchouc caps - check that they do not fall off and that they are tightly attached to the pins. Brushes whose protective caps have fallen off should no longer be used as they may irritate the skin.

Most often, the pins are mounted on a rubber or rubber cushion, this allows the pins to adapt to the shape of the dog's body.

Pudlówka

Another type of brushes are "boxes ". They look a bit like wire brushes, but the pins they are made of are much thinner and curved at the ends.

Such a structure allows for very effective deShedding of the undercoat.

It is perfect for breeds that have a dense undercoat. The use of this type of brushes for dogs is very important during the molting period.

However, they are not recommended for dogs with poor undercoat as they may pull out the topcoat.

We use the box only in the direction of the hair, it should not be used "against the grain ".

Dog rubber brush

Rubber brushes work great on short-haired dogs with a small amount of undercoat, such as Dobermans.

They remove dead hair without irritating the skin.

Other types of brushes

Dog comb

Of course, in pet stores you will find many brush modifications, such as double-sided brushes, or brushes in the mold gloves for combing dog hair.

Dog comb it is also an important element of caring for the good condition of its hair.

When choosing the perfect comb, be sure to choose one that has smooth, rounded teeth so that they don't hurt your dog's skin.

A comb for a dog should be solidly made, those with a non-slip handle are very comfortable.

The length of the teeth should also be adapted to the thickness of the coat, a comb with short teeth will be ideal for short-haired dogs, and a comb with long hair - the teeth should be definitely longer.

The most convenient are combs with metal teeth - they are easy to maintain hygiene and durable.

Furminator for a dog

The furminator is necessary for thorough combing of the fur.

It is a type of comb or brush with short, dense, metal teeth.

The furminator only removes dead hair from the undercoat, does not detangle the hair, leaves the topcoat unchanged.

It does not irritate the skin, does not pull out the hair, and its use is not unpleasant for a combed dog.

It is especially worth using in dogs that have a thick undercoat that is prone to knots or is shedding.

Of course, you should adjust its size to the size of the dog, as well as to the length of its hair. Furminator is not recommended for dogs that have a poorly developed undercoat.

Dog trimmer

Trimmer is slightly different from coachman.

First of all, the trimmer not only removes excess undercoat, but can also shorten the hair, remove topcoat hair and thus shape the entire coat.

Trimmers are perfect for wirehaired breeds and terriers. Traditional trimmers are somewhat reminiscent of a razor.

In order to perform the trimming procedure accurately, it is worth getting a trimmer with short teeth (for delicate areas such as the groin, inside of the thighs) and with long teeth (for all areas where the hair is thick and strong).

Hook trimmers, they resemble a rake and are perfect for removing excess undercoat. Interestingly, the trimming procedure can be performed with your fingers.

Special toe caps are available with silicone or rubber tabs that make it easier to pull out the dead undercoat.

However, it is not the most pleasant for a dog, and it is also very time-consuming, which is why the head is most often trimmed this way. If you do not have experience in trimming, it is best to entrust your pet to the experienced hands of a groomer.

Dog brush price

As I have already mentioned, the type of accessories used for the care of the coat is selected based on the type of coat of the pet.

A perfect brush, comb or comb should be functional, adjusted to the size of the pet, should also not cause damage to the skin, comb out the dead hair without tearing or tearing out the top hair.

Of course, the economic aspect is equally important.

The prices of hair care devices vary, but most often they go hand in hand with the quality of workmanship. I think it is worth investing in better-quality equipment that will serve you for years than having new, poor-quality equipment every season.

The prices of the simplest brushes or combs for dogs start from a dozen or so zlotys. Behind drainer we will pay approx 40 - 70 PLN.

How often to brush your dog?

In the period of increased molting, it is worth taking special care in carrying out beauty treatments.

For many owners, changing the coat is very troublesome, there are fragments of hair and lint everywhere.

Moulting especially affects dogs with an intensely developed undercoat, such as German Shepherds or Siberian Huskies.

You can improve this process by brushing your dog more often than usual.

Furminators and brushes are very helpful in this period, and depending on the needs, brushing can be carried out even every day.

What is the correct order in which to use accessories, with proper care of a dog's coat?

This is a very important question as the order is of great importance.

You should not use a vacuum cleaner on hair that is not pre-combed, and the use of a soft bristle brush will not help with matted hair.

Therefore, you should first use a comb or a brush with a wide tooth spacing to pre-comb the hair and remove coarse debris, for example pieces of sticks or plants, tangled in the hair.
Then use a slightly denser weave brush to remove dust, dust and some dead hair from the hair. In dogs with an intensely developed undercoat, use a box or furminator after the initial combing of the hair. Remember to do everything gently, without tugging or pulling.
Finally, a soft bristle brush is a good idea to smooth out your matted hair and add shine to it.

The coat should also be thoroughly combed before each bath.

Tangled hair, which gets additionally wet, will be very difficult to comb after drying your pet.

Supplements for your dog for coat

Supplements for dog hair

In conclusion, I will add a few words about supplementation. Even the dog's guardian who is most involved in combing will not make the coat shine if the pet has mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

Please remember that increased hair loss does not have to be caused by shedding, but may be a symptom of zinc, vitamin A and E deficiency.

In order to improve the appearance of the coat, it is worth asking your doctor about the possibility of including appropriate supplements in the diet.