Although your dog may shed their hair throughout the year, it is Springtime when the frequency of lost hair increases as they start losing their winter coats. The amount of hair shed depends on several factors including health, age and breed type.
As most of this shedding is going to occur in the home it is a good idea to tackle the problem early on by starting a grooming routine, which will minimise the amount that ends up knotted in the carpet and rolling like tumbleweed around the house!
Brushing also has the health benefits of distributing the natural oils produced by the hair follicles, through the coat so that it looks glossy and healthy. Not only will your pet look wonderful, regular grooming is the perfect opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
BRUSHING BASICS
Long haired breeds such as Border collies, German shepherds and spaniels will need more attention as they are naturally more prone to tangling. Our essentials pet grooming set is a perfect starter kit containing everything you need to start a grooming routine at home.
- Groom through the hair close to the skin with a slicker brush and continue brushing away down the length of the hair.
- Very carefully tease out any matts with a grooming comb. Larger matts may be carefully broken up to untangle the hair using a dematting comb or carefully clipped out of the coat.
- Coat rakes are very efficient at removing undercoats and dead hair – these are available in a range of different sizes to suit the type and density of hair.
Shorter coated and wiry breeds such as terriers, dachshunds and pointers would benefit from a thorough combing with a slicker brush followed by a combination metal comb to remove the loosened hair. A stripping knife can then be used to tidy up and remove any of the dead undercoat, remembering to carefully work out any matts first.
WHICH TYPE OF COAT RAKE?
- The softer (finer) the coat – choose a rake with a higher the number of blades
- The denser (coarser) the coat – choose a rake with less blades
- The longer the coat - it is better to use a rake with more blades
- Very short coats - use a rake with blades fitted with the smallest gaps between blades
- Very long and or matted coats - start with low number of blades and finish with high blade numbers.
WHAT IS A ‘BLOWING COAT’?
Those fortunate enough to have one of the very beautiful double coated breeds such as the Bernese mountain dog, Newfoundland, husky, Leonberger, chow chow and Japanese akita will appreciate that their luxurious coat which is a joy to behold for most of the year will require a period of intense grooming when the times comes for them to “blow” their coat.
The blowing of the coat will occur with the changing of the seasons and commonly creates a monstrous amount of hair. So, how do you deal with the undercoat explosion? The only answer is to brush and don’t stop brushing until all the loose hair is removed. Brush as often as possible, ideally once a day at least until the shedding is complete.
Rakes are very useful as they successfully and gently remove the fluffy undercoat whilst leaving the outer, guard hairs intact and undamaged. Bathing also helps hasten the end of the shedding process, we recommend the organic, additive and paraben free shampoo’s from Wild Wash.
All dogs shed hair but this varies from breed to breed – there is no such thing as a completely non-shedding dog! The downside to a low shedding breed is that they are prone to matting unless the owner is very attentive and regularly grooms and clips the hair. Breeds such as Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, water dogs and poodles are easily maintained with a home grooming clipping set. But even these breeds need a certain amount of elbow grease to get the best results. Before clipping use a high quality shampoo, thoroughly rinse out and blow dry if possible.
Make sure your clipper blades are sharp and your clipper is regularly serviced and working effectively. A dulled blade will make the task a lot harder and will not give as good a finish. Between strokes with the clipper blade, back comb and fluff the coat up with a slicker brush. Aim to take three strikes through the coat with the clippers – to remove bulk, achieve the desired length and gain a smart, even finish.
TOP TIPS:
- Choose a brush or rake suitable to the size of the dog.
- Start at the shoulders and work down the length of the body, always brushing in the direction of the hair growth.
-
Slicker brushes with ball pins are ideal for soft coats, sensitive skin and puppies. The rounded edges of the pins are more gentle on your dogs skin and the curved shape ensures the pins work deep into the coat.
- Pay particular attention to areas where the hair grows thickest over the hips and lower back.
- Whilst grooming keep an eye out for lumps and bumps, fleas and hair mats. Our flea comb and Wildwash flea spray are excellent for removing fleas and their larvae and keeping biting insects away.
- Brush your pet outdoors if possible and leave hair for any nesting birds.
