Canine Grooming

Dog Grooming 101- Equipment

by Linda Washington


Whether your dog has short hair or long hair or even no hair, you will have to groom it. There are various tools to help you in this task. They come in all sizes and shapes. Some are very specific. Some you will need, others are not suitable for your purpose or, more importantly, to your dog. Below is a list of only the basic equipment. It includes brushes, combs, clippers and scissors.


Slicker Brush

This is the most basic of brushes. It consists of many thin wire bristles. It comes in different sizes, including small ones for toy dogs. Its purpose is to remove dead hair from short, medium and long double-coats. It is important to adopt a specific technique. Only then can you avoid “slicker burn.”


A variation of the slicker brush is the Rubber Slicker. You use it on the coats of wiry, fine and smooth haired dogs.

Natural Bristle Brush and Pin Brush

The bristles of this brush are, as implied, natural. It is suitable to most coat types. It is especially beneficial for brushing long straight coats and silky fine coats. It may be more apropos for dogs with sensitive skin. Sometimes one side of a bristle brush features a pin brush. This is best for thick coats.


Combs

Combs come in a vast array of types and sizes. A metal-tooth comb is an all-purpose type. It may be wide-toothed or narrow. The wider teeth are best for curly double coats and long coats. A narrow-tooth comb is best for smooth and wiry coats.There are also specialist combs. There are long poodle combs, rat-tailed combs and Spaniel-stripping combs. The last of the three features very fine teeth, closely spaced. There are also flea combs.

Grooming Mitt

A grooming mitt is a pimply or bumpy glove. It is made from rubber. A Grooming Mitt is for removing hair or mud. This is particularly true for short, smooth coats. It is also good for loosening shedding hair.


Clippers

Nail clippers are required for show dogs. Your pet may also need his or her nails clipped for a variety of reasons. They may be too long. They may be making too much noise as they clop across the floor. They can be too sharp. Whatever the reason, take great care when you clip toe nails. Never cut them to the quick. Look at illustrations, read how to and ask the experts before you do it yourself. Do note it is easier to trim white nails than dark nails. While cutting too short is rarely dangerous, it does hurt your dog. It also means problems in future nail clipping sessions.


There are several types of nail clippers. They come in guillotine style, curved scissors style and straight scissors style. You can also purchase scissors style with a safety guard. The guillotine type is popular since the blade is replaceable. You need to sharpen the scissor type. This entails finding someone who can do so or endeavor to do so with the proper tools.


There are other grooming tools you can purchase and employ. Check your local pet store or grooming salon. Talking to someone in the business, for instance, a groomer or show dog owner, will provide you with basic information. You can also find out what equipment you need and how to use it by reading authoritative books or reading articles online.

Article provided by Linda Washington of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-clothes, look for limited time specials on toys for dogs online.


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