Dog grooming hacks

As dog owners, I think we’re all used to having a piece of them with us, and around our homes, even if they’re not around. Yes, we’re talking about fur. No matter how hard you might try, it ends up in places you didn’t even know it could reach. That’s because our dogs moult to keep their coats healthy but sometimes they need help to stay groomed.

Here are some top tips, owner hacks and expert advice when it comes to grooming your pooch and keeping your home as fur-free as possible.

Why do dogs moult?

First things first, we need to know why dogs lose their hair.

Shedding occurs when a dog loses dead or damaged fur to help make room for new, healthy hair to grow. The amount a dog will shed varies depending on their breed and health with some shedding all year round, others shed seasonally in summer while some might not shed much at all.

Regardless of when and how much, we need to give our canine companions a lending paw when it comes to grooming and tidying up after them, too!

Brushing

Brushing your dog’s fur will remove any dead hairs or debris and help loosen matted clumps to keep their coat healthy by stimulating blood circulation near the surface of their skin and distributing the natural oils in their fur.  

Regularly brushing your dog gives you the opportunity to check for any injuries or unwanted pests like ticks and fleas. It’s also a great chance to bond with your pooch so don’t miss the chance to spend some quality time with your dog.

Here are our top tips on brushing your canine companion.

Make sure you have the right brush

We know this sounds obvious but making sure you have the right brush for your dog’s coat will make things much easier when it comes to actually brushing them.

Slicker brush

This type of brush works with all coat types. It has a flat or curved head with rows of thin wire pins and is designed to make brushing easy, fast and painless by helping to remove dirt, loosen dead hair and help detangle.

Pin brush

A lot like the slicker brush, but its wire pins are tipped with plastic or rubber. It’s made for longer coat types as it helps get rid of tangles and matted fur, keeping your dog’s coat free from dirt and pests like fleas and ticks.

Bristle brush

This brush is typically used for dogs with short, smooth or wiry coats that shed often as the natural bristles help remove loose hair and stimulate the skin.

Shedding blade

A shedding blade is a horseshoe-shaped comb with small, harmless teeth. It’s designed to strip loose hairs on flat, short or combination coats.

Undercoat rake

This tool has many small, sharp, curved blades set close together to help remove the undercoat to leave a dog’s fur shiny and healthy. With a variety of tooth widths available, an undercoat rake is suitable for a wide range of breeds.

Brush before bathing

Giving your dog a quick brush and detangling their hair before you give them a bath will help make things a lot easier once they’re out of it and their fur needs a comb again. You will have prevented any mats from getting worse from the scrubbing so hopefully, their post-wash brush will be a breeze!

Give them a special treat

If you struggle to get your dog to stay still when you try to brush them why not give them a long-lasting treat to help keep them busy as you combat their fur? Tough chews like Yakers (made from a mix of skimmed Yak and cow milk) can help provide the distraction you might need to concentrate on the task at hand.

Bathing

Giving your dog regular baths is an important part of grooming as they help keep them clean after their adventures. But, how hard can it be to bathe a dog? Sometimes, it’s harder than you might think. Here are our hacks to help with washing your pooch!

Exercise before their bath

Having a steady dog will make washing them a lot easier! Taking your pooch for a walk or having a quick game of fetch before their bath will help tire them out and keep them still when you need them to be.

Non-slip bathmat

If you wash your dog in a bath, you might find that sometimes they slip which can scare them at a time you need them to be calm and comfortable.

Non-slip bathtub mats will help prevent this and make bath time much more enjoyable for your dog and a little less wet for you!

Peanut butter wall

Smearing some dog-friendly peanut butter on the wall of your bath or on the tiles next to it (depending on the height of your pooch) is a perfect distraction to keep fidgety dogs still during bath time.

Pet hair cleaning hacks

Window squeegee

Surprisingly, a window squeegee is the perfect tool to help lift all the hair (and other bits) from carpets, sofas and other fabric furniture thanks to its rubber blade. Even after hoovering, you might be surprised as to what you manage to collect with the squeegee!

Rubber gloves

If you don’t have any fancy tools for helping rid your rugs of fur then don’t fret, all you need is a pair of rubber gloves. No, really. Just put them on, get them wet and rub your hands along the surfaces that you’d like to de-hair.

Hair roller

There are various pet hair remover rollers that provide an effective way to help keep your home, clothes and furniture fur-free! Reusable and easy to use, these offer a more sustainable option when it comes to picking up pet hair. 

Do you have any grooming hacks when it comes to your pooch? Why not share your top tips on our Facebook page or with our Twitter followers?