• Brushing/combing: Getting out the knots!
  • A lot depends on the type of coat you are dealing with. For drop coats such as Maltese and Yorkies, always work knots out with your fingers before brushing them out. Work from the bottom of the knot upwards and separate each strand of hair, never pull! If you want to grow a long coat, it is advisable not to cut the hair. You can use a good spray conditioner such as Pure Paws Ultra Conditioning Spray (allow it to sit on the knot for a minute) before working out the knot. If you are working with wet hair, be extra careful not to pull as you can stretch and weaken the hair by pulling while its wet.
  • A technique the works on many types of coats, in particular rough coated breeds such as Border Collies and Shelties, is called "line brushing." The groomer will part the hair in rows, working away from the base of the coat to work out knots and add volume.
• Bathing: Unlike humans, dogs do not require frequent bathing, but a lot depends on the type of coat you are dealing with. For example, a show Shih Tzu may need to bathed on an every other day basis to keep the coat clean. Long coats need extra work and bathing because the dirt collected on the coat can cause it to break. Conversely, you would not want to over bath a Peke or any hard coated terrier as that would ruin the texture and quality of the coat. Short-haired breeds usually require less grooming, so for them bathing is usually only on an "as needed" basis (read: when they find something yummy and stinky to roll in).

Does your dog hate baths? Sometimes, you can train your pet to view bath time as an enjoyable experience. Don't drag your dog into the bathroom; make a fun game out of it with nice rewards for doing so. Once he's in the bathroom, avoid any type of negative reinforcement and heavily reward anything your dog does to comply with bath time. Bring high value (something your dog REALLY enjoys) treats with you for bath time and randomly reward your dog for behaving nicely. Speak to him in an upbeat, happy voice. Do everything you can to show him that getting a bath is not punishment, but an opportunity for extra loving and pampering!

• Trimming: At home or at the dog salon?
• Nail Trimming - a great device to have is a nail grinder. It makes trimming nails so much easier for both man and beast once you get the hang of it, it becomes a simple, weekly procedure. Just be sure not to grind the nail beyond where the nail "bends" and always be certain never to get hair caught in the rotating grinder! You can push a paw through an old pair of pantyhose to guard the hair from the grinder. The nails will poke out but the hair will be safe behind the hose's net.
  
• Products: Because of the unique makeup of a dog's skin, you should avoid using human bathing products on your dogs. The pH in dog shampoos is different from that of human products, and your dog's skin can get very dry and uncomfortable if incorrect products are used. Try Pure Paws products! Used by dog show handlers around the world, they are the finest in cosmetic grade ingredients designed to grow coat and create incredible shine. A full line of products to suit every grooming need and coat type, available at Mighty Mite Dog Gear!

Brushing/combing- Always brush first, then comb. The correct equipment makes all of the difference. I am a professional groomer and if a dog is really tangled or the coat is a mess, I will often use 5 or 6 different tools to get the coat demitted. If the dog has undercoat (the kind that sheds out in chunks), buy a slicker brush and an undercoat rake. If the coat is longer you may benefit more from a slicker brush and a poodle comb (the kind of rake that has teeth that spin as they go through the coat to prevent hang ups). I always final check for mats with a metal toothed comb. Always get mats out before you bathe because bathing can cause the mats to tighten and become worse. Some professional demitting sprays can also work wonders, and I always use a coat conditioner.