Coat Maintenance
Choose the Right Tools
Greyhound Comb
A greyhound stainless steel comb with fine teeth is used to identify stubborn tangles.
Slicker Brush
Invest in a good slicker brush for removing loose hair and preventing matting.
Inspect the Coat
Before brushing, carefully inspect your dog's coat for mats, tangles, or foreign objects. Address any issues before starting the grooming process.
Brushing Technique
Use the slicker brush in small sections, working from the head towards the tail. Hold the hair close to the skin to avoid pulling and brush in the direction of hair growth. Pay extra attention to potential trouble spots such as behind the ears, under the armpits, around the tail and on the paws.
Please view this video to understand the reason why a greyhound stainless steel comb needs to move through the coat without catching on matting in order to style your dog to your desired length.
Dealing with Tangles
If you encounter tangles, use the slicker brush to gently work them out, starting from the tips and moving towards the base. For stubborn tangles, use the comb to carefully untangle, ensuring you reach the skin without causing discomfort.
Be Mindful of the Grooming Time
A complete brush-out should take around 20 minutes. Be patient and gentle to avoid stressing your dog during the process.
Grooming Frequency
Depending on your dog's breed and coat type, consider professional grooming every few weeks. Adjust the length of your dog's coat to make daily brushing more manageable.
Positive Reinforcement
Reward your dog with treats and positive reinforcement throughout the grooming session to create a positive association.
Maintaining a Consistent Grooming Routine
Ensure your dog's comfort and a mat-free coat by establishing a regular grooming routine. This is crucial, especially for breeds prone to matting. A little effort in consistent brushing goes a long way in promoting a healthy, well-groomed appearance for your furry friend.
News Articles About Matting
Wooly Coat
Breeds such as the Bichon Frise, Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo.
Hair longer than 1cm needs to be brushed through at least 4 times a week. Hair longer than 3cm should be brushed through every day.
These breeds are the most likely to mat. Always remember, severe matting can cause many serious complications, so with these breeds it is imperative to have a planned grooming schedule.
The majority of breeds with this hair type should have a visit to the salon every 4 to 6 weeks, with only exceptionally short hair cuts being able to leave it to 8 weeks until they return.
We have many wooly coat clients on regular maintenance grooms every 4 weeks for a Bath, Brush and Fluff Dry with light tidying up, returning in another 4 weeks to have a Full Groom where we style their full body haircut.
Professional groom every 4 to 6 weeks.
Silky Coat
Breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese and Cocker Spaniel.
Dogs with silky coats can either be single coated as per the Yorkshire Terrier or double coated like the Cocker Spaniel. Both of these coat types share the characteristic of continuous growth and shed twice a year. Silky coats can be difficult to maintain and require daily brushing.
The length of time between trips to the salon is all about the length of the hair. If you like to have a very short cut on your dog then you may be able to come in for a groom every 8 to 12 weeks. However, any dog that leaves the salon with more than 3cm of hair should be booked back in within at least 6 weeks if matting and tangling are to be avoided.
Professional groom every 6 to 12 weeks.
Double Coat
Breeds such as the Corgi, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd.
Shorter double coats such as the Corgi have a straight top coat up to an 3cm long with a thick downy undercoat. They are seasonal shedders who should visit the salon to de-shed all that dead hair and liven up that coat. We recommend a professional groom every 12 weeks.
Longer double coats such as the Golden Retriever and German Shepherd are examples of dogs with a long double coat that often can become tangled and matted. With a coat length of up to 6cm these dogs require regular brushing and de-shedding. Most have long feathers on their feet, legs, bellies, bottoms and ears that will require trimming work to bring them back into perfect shape. We recommend professional groom every 8 weeks.
Smooth Coat
Breeds such as the Bull Dog, Frenchie, Pug and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Occasional bathing with quality shampoos and a thorough de-shedding treatment to remove the dead hair.
Professional groom every 12 weeks.