All dogs and cats
require some grooming; but the amount and frequency depends on the breed you
have selected. There is a wide range of grooming utensils available to assist
you, from basic brushes to specialized equipment. The following is a brief
description of some of the basics:
Pin brush: Slightly flexible pins with rounded ends on a rubber back. Good for medium,
long and silky coats to remove loose hairs and small tangles.
Slicker brush:
One-way hooked pins on a rubber backing. Ends are not blunted so caution should
be taken not to damage the skin. Excellent for removing loose hair on all coat
types, but will not penetrate very dense coats.
Combs:
Metal or plastic non-flexible combs with various spaces between the teeth. Good
for long, silky or dense hair coats, can help break up tangles and small matts
and remove loose hair.
Hound gloves:
Fit over the hand and have either short plastic projections or short bristles.
They are designed to help remove loose hair and distribute oils in short coated
breeds.
Zoom grooms
or curry brushes: Made from flexible
plastic and have large blunt projections. They work with static electricity to
remove loose hair, and can be used to massage in shampoo during bathing, they
work very well on short and silky coats but have no penetrating ability for
dense coats.
Bristle brushes:
Dense, flexible bristles that work well to remove loose hair and dirt on
short hair, but have no penetrating ability.
Dematting combs:
Used more safely than scissors to remove small matts. The teeth have a
blunt and sharp edge to cut away the matt while leaving untangled hair behind.
The use of scissors should be left to professionals due to the risk of unjury.
What type of coat does my
pet have?
Short, smooth coat:
This is the easiest to care for, requiring only the occasional bath and rubdown
with a hound glove, curry brush, or bristle brush. Examples include the Boxer,
Chihuahua, Dalmation, Doberman and short haired cats
Double coat:
These animals have a dense undercoat covered by longer guard hairs, and require
a significant amount of grooming. The hair can be short or long. Examples
include the Malamute, Samoyed, Husky, Akita, Sheltie, Shepherd, Retriever and Rottweiler as well as Persian and Himalayan
cats. Bathing should be infrequent as
moisture is held against the skin and can lead to irritation. Tools for longer
coats would include a pin and slicker brush, metal comb, and possibly a dematting comb. Daily brushing is ideal, but weekly will usually do. Shorter
coats should have a thorough brushing at least twice monthly, with the tool of
choice being the slicker brush followed by use of a hound glove.
Curly coats:
Include popular breeds such as the Poodle and Bichon Frise. These breeds tend
not to shed, but their coats grow continually and will require a trip to the
groomer for a bath and haircut every 4 - 6 weeks. To prevent tangles and matts
a slicker brush and metal comb should be used twice weekly.
Long or silky coats:
Categorized as either flat or straight and include breeds such as the Afghan
Hound, Cocker Spaniel, Irish setter, Maltese, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier as
well as medium-haired cats. These breeds tend to get tangled hair that can lead
to matts, and require a serious commitment to regular brushing. Breeds such as
the Cocker Spaniel should be clipped regularly. A bristle brush or hound glove
may be used on the body for some breeds, while others will require a pin or
slicker brush. Metal combs work well for silky ‘feathers’ on ears and legs.
Brushing should be done at least weekly. Conditioners should be used after
bathing.
Wire-haired:
These breeds require specialized tools for ‘stripping’ the coat – check with your groomer.
