Preventing Matts in Your Dog: Grooming Advice

Long coated dog breeds are difficult to take care of. There is plenty of work involved in keeping a healthy coat.

The fine silky coat of breeds like Lhasa Apsos, Yorkies, Shih Tzus, Maltese, and other similar hair types need to be brushed daily—or at least every other day—in order to keep their coats long.

Other breeds like Australian shepherds, Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Great Pyrenees American Eskimo, or dogs with thick undercoats and long outer coats need to be brushed on a slightly less regular basis.

Starting to brush your dog when you first get her/him is the best way to go. In starting young you can introduce your dog to the brush and they can become good friends!

The tools you will need for the fine silky coat breeds are a soft slicker brush, greyhound comb, small matt breaker, and some detangler spray.

For the bigger dogs with the thick undercoat and long outer coat you will need a soft slicker brush, greyhound comb, large undercoat rake, large undercoat/matt breaker brush, “Furminator” brush, and detangler spray.

On both types of hair we do what is called line brushing. You always start at the bottom of the back legs working up to the thigh.

Lift the hair up with one hand until you see a seam at the skin. Take the appropriate brush and get down against the skin and pull through the hair and away from the body. Move your hand up a little bit and repeat the process.

After the back legs are done, move to the front legs working from the bottom up to the shoulder. Then move on to the butt area working towards the neck. Then do the head and move on to the tail.

It is very important to make sure you start at the skin when brushing because that is where matts hide.

Your dogs coat may look tangle-free, but underneath the long soft hair are matts forming against his/her skin.

Be a compassionate dog owner and regularly groom your best friend. They will thank you for it with lots of doggy love!

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