How to brush your long-haired pup!

As professional dog groomers, we’re often asked how to brush and keep dogs tangle-free.

Here is our step-by-step guide to help you with a proper brushing technique. 

Many people make the mistake of only brushing the topmost layer of hair instead of entirely down to the skin. This leads to a coat fairly fluffed at the top but tangled towards the roots. The simplest solution to this problem is ‘line brushing.’ This technique involves separating the coat and brushing in separate sections, revealing a line of skin as you go. This ensures that you are brushing down to the root across all areas.

To line brush, choose an area of the coat, hold back the hair with your non-dominant hand to reveal the skin underneath, and brush with your dominant hand.

As you brush the small, manageable section, slowly move your non-dominant hand up, releasing more hair into your brushing path. Gradually work your way up the coat, brushing while moving upward.

Once completed, use your comb to ensure the coat is tangle-free.

Be careful not to over-brush any areas, as this can lead to ‘brush burn’—irritation caused by the brush's bristles. Pay special attention to friction areas such as armpits, under the collar, legs, and ears.

The frequency of your brushing depends on your dog’s breed, coat type, coat length, and lifestyle. The more time you devote to brushing, based on these factors, the better. The important thing to remember is to remain proactive about brushing and not allow mats to form in the first place. The more the coat is allowed to tangle, the more time-consuming and potentially harmful it becomes to brush it out. Creating a habit of only brushing when tangles and mats form can lead your dog to associate brushing with discomfort.

If you have any questions, your friends at Le Pawsh are here to help!