Grooming Short and Long-Haired Dogs

Whether you’re the owner of a glamorous pup with a high-maintenance coat or a regular bundle of fluff, grooming is an essential activity for every dog.

Beyond keeping them looking at their best and most beautiful selves, there’s a whole range of other benefits to grooming your dog. Read on for more information and advice on how to groom a dog.

The benefits of dog grooming

Grooming your dog will help to keep their coat clean and in the best possible condition.

Dog grooming can remove dead hairs, help to distribute natural oils, and keep skin healthy.

Brushing your dog’s hair has even been proven to reduce stress in your pet. Once used to the process, they’ll find it really relaxing! That doesn’t just go for your dog, it has also been scientifically shown that dog grooming can reduce stress and lower blood pressure in owners as well. Feeling anxious? Pick up a brush!

Also It is also a perfect opportunity to check the condition of their coat and run your hands along their body to check for weight gain. If you do this every time you groom your dog, you will become familiar with them and so quickly spot any changes before they become too much of an issue.

Dog grooming: Starting Off

1. Start early! Puppy grooming is essential to help your dog get used to being handled and groomed. This can start as soon as you bring your puppy home. 
2. Most breeders will have already introduced their puppies to being groomed so ask them what products and equipment they have used.
3. Start by just letting them investigate any grooming brushes or equipment so they are familiar with them. Don’t let them play with them or chew them however – as that can lead to them thinking of grooming as a fun game!
4. When they are tired and relaxed, you quietly can run the brush over their coat so they get used to the feeling.
5. Gradually you can extend brushing to all over their body and their legs using treats and quiet praise to reward them.
6. Keep early grooming session short and always stop before they get bored, fidgety or fed up! 

Dog Grooming: Top Tips!

1. How often to groom your dog really depends on breed, coat condition, and your dog’s temperament. If you find lots of hairs coming off as you stroke your dog, it’s time for a grooming.
2. If you’ve a pup that’s keen to splash in puddles and roll in the grass then you’ve likely got more grooming to do.
3. For truly short-haired dogs, some can go up to a month without the need for grooming but a weekly wipe over will let you check for any lumps, bumps or injuries.
4. For more medium-haired dogs, grooming is suggested around once a week.
5. For long-haired dogs, groom your dog daily for tangle-free hair. Make sure you get right down to the skin however – especially with dogs with a soft undercoat.
6. Dogs with non-shedding coats, such as poodles, still need grooming to prevent matting and tangles.
7. When you’re grooming your dog, consider adding extra elements into their hygiene routine to help with their general health. Don’t forget about your dog’s teeth: getting your pet used to regular tooth brushing can make all the different in their dental health.
8. Use the opportunity to perform other simple health checks: look inside their mouth and ears; examine their paws, toes and nails; run your hands over their body to check their coat condition and general weight.
9. If your dog is new to grooming, repeat brushing several times a day on their backs and places they love to be stroked. After a week or so you can move on to more sensitive areas like the belly, tail and ears.

How to groom a dog with short hair

Grooming short-haired dogs doesn’t need to be a long and complex process. Unless you are bathing them, there are only a few simple stages.

Follow these simple steps for how to groom a short-haired dog:

1. Gather the equipment you’re going to be using. For short-haired dogs, this is generally a dog grooming brush or rubber grooming mitt and for very short coats, a cloth. 
2. First, use the brush or grooming mitt to loosen any dirt or dead undercoat.
3. Always brush in the direction that hairs lie to avoid causing your dog discomfort.
4. If necessary you can then use a slightly stiffer bristle brush to remove any dead hairs or dirt.
5. For very sleek-coated dogs, you can use the cloth to give them a last wipe over.

Read our guide to puppy grooming for more advice on getting puppies used to the process.

How to groom a dog with long hair

Grooming long-haired dogs can take a little more time and patience, but to keep those lovely locks in good condition, follow these easy steps:

1. To start with, just run your fingers through your dog’s coat to find any matts or tangles, and gently loosen any matted hair. Using a brush or comb first thing could be too painful. 
2. When you have untangled as much as possible with your fingers, use a pinhead brush to comb through and untangle hair, taking care in sensitive areas. 
3. A detangling spray can help the brush slide through the hair more easily – but if you think this could help your dog, ask a professional groomer’s advice on which products they recommend.
4. Work in areas rather than trying to groom your dog all at once. Focus on spots where they have thicker fur and matting and brush gently but repeatedly.
5. Brush forwards then backwards to bring out the natural shine in silky coats and loosen thick undercoats.
6. Keep removing the hair from the brush and go back over areas where lots of hair is coming out, but be careful not to make your dog’s skin sore with excessive brushing.

For more dog grooming guides, read our guide on how to clean a dog’s ears, next.