Dog Grooming Made Easy – Quick and Simple Tips for Hair Brushing Your Pet
June 22, 2011 
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Dog grooming can be a frustrating and time consuming chore for you and your furry friend. Here are 6 tips to keep your home free of pet hair and your dog healthy and happy.
1. When choosing a dog or cat, keep in mind that animals with long or silky coats will require regular daily grooming. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Bedlington Terriers, do not shed at all, but do need to be clipped on a regular basis. Smooth-coated cats and dogs are the easiest to groom. All you need is a comb or a grooming mitt.
2. Regular grooming is easiest when you get your pet accustomed to brushing from an early age. You can do this in one of two ways: using brushing as a therapeutic tool or make it a game. Either way, grooming becomes an opportunity to bond with your pet as well as a simple way to keep your home from being overrun with pet hair. It’s also a good time to check for fleas and ticks.
3. If you choose to make brushing a game, your goal is to get your pet excited about being brushed so that eventually just seeing the brush will bring your pet running to you. Start with short sessions. With brush in hand, ask in a happy voice, “Do you want to get brushed?” Stroke your pet with the brush and then say, “Good boy!” Repeat the stroking a few times and use the word “brush” to help your pet associate it with the activity. Gradually lengthen the sessions.
4. Alternatively, you might opt to use brushing as a therapeutic tool, particularly if your pet is not used to regular grooming. Wait until your pet is in a comfortable, relaxed state and then alternate stroking with your hand and stroking with the brush. Speak in calm, soothing tones to reassure the animal. If your pet gets agitated, stop brushing, revert to stroking with your hand, and try again another day.
5. Before brushing, run your hands through your pet’s coat from back to front to massage the skin and loosen dead hairs. This massage will help to stimulate and distribute natural oils in the skin, which gives a healthy shine to the coat. Then use the type of grooming that is best suited to your pet which can be a brush, comb or mitt to brush your pet from head to tail. Don’t forget to brush the underbelly and also between toes and pads which can collect small stones, chewing gum and other debris. To avoid scraping your pets’ skin, try not to press too hard with a wire slicker brush.
6. If you come across matted hair, first hold the matt close to the skin. Next insert the end tooth of the comb into the matt and try working the matt loose. If you find this isn’t possible you might want to cut out a matt so you don’t cause your pet any unnecessary discomfort. After your pet is matt-free, comb down to the skin. Remember to comb or brush your dog against the lay of the coat.
Dog grooming really can be an enjoyable experience. A little prevention can go a long way and it also saves you time cleaning fur off your household furniture and carpets.
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