When one thinks about brushing a dog, the obvious reasons for it may come to mind:  mat prevention and dead coat removal.  Which is 100% correct!  But brushing a dog with the correct brush and in the right direction does much more for the health and wellness of your pet than you may realize.

Brushing helps with circulation

Using the right brush with the lay of the coat (direction of the hair) can help promote circulation, which can increase the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the skin.

Brushing helps your dog stay cooler

By “opening up” a coat with correct brushing techniques that aerate the coat all the way to the pet’s skin, your pet should be much cooler and more comfortable.  We’ll talk about the differences in brushing techniques for single vs. double-coated breeds a little later, but for our double-coats, proper brushing is the correct way to help those breeds regulate their temperature properly.

With over 200 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, not to mention the seemingly infinite amount of mixes in the world, this may seem like a daunting question.  No worries, we’ll break it down.

Know your dog’s coat type

The amount of brushing required to keep your pet in tip top shape will really depend on the coat type.  If you have a smooth or short coated breed, like a Greyhound or a Labrador Retriever, your brushing requirements will be less than if you own a long-haired Maltese or a furry Newfoundland.  The two main factors that differentiate between low-maintenance and high-maintenance breeds in terms of coat care are the length of the coat and the density of the coat.

To check out your dog’s coat type, you can visit AKC.org, type in the breed’s name in the breed list (or, for your mixes, as close to a known breed as you can), and then scroll down to your breed’s Traits and Characteristics.  Under the Physical tab, you’ll be able to see your pet’s coat type as designated by the AKC.

Now that you know your pet’s coat type, we can get a little more specific regarding the frequency and the type of brush you should be using.

Different brushes should be used for different coat types, although there are some intersections, and some breeds require multiple types of brushes to get the job done right.

We’re going to go through the recommended brushing regimen for each coat type as listed by the AKC, including recommended frequency and type of brushe(s).  For more information on any of these brushes, you can read our article on Types of Pet Brushes (Need article).  And remember, each pet is a little different and even between the same breed or litter, coats can vary.  Use the following guidelines as a good starting point but modify your regimen to fit your pet’s particular needs.

Hairless Breeds

Don’t laugh, we have to talk about our hairless breeds and brushing!  Now, because these breeds have no or little hair, the focus is to gently stimulate the skin and distribute natural oils.  And if you do have a hairless breed with some hair (think Powder Puff Chinese Crested), brush those hairy parts the same way as a Silky coat below.

Hairless Breed Brush Type:  Soft Boars Hair Bristle Brush

Some Hairless Breeds that you may know!: Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli

Wavy Coats

Wavy Coat Brush Type:  Pin Brush (for show dogs)

and Slicker Brush (for most pets)

Rough Coats

Rough Coat Brush Type: Slicker Brush

Slicker Brush

Curly Coats

Curly Coat Brush Type:  Pin Brush (for show dogs) and Slicker Brush (for most pets)

Pin Brush

Wiry Coat Brush Type:  Slicker Brush

Silky Coats

Brushing helps stimulate new coat growth

By stimulating the hair follicles, you can promote new, healthy coat growth.

Brushing prevents matting

Regular brushing will help prevent hair and fur from getting “stuck” together, otherwise called matting.  Matting can affect both single and double-coated breeds, although how the matting forms is different depending on coat type.  Left unmanaged, matting can become a health concern for many dogs and can be painful to remove, making regular brushing a critical part of your pet’s wellness regimen.

Silky Coat Brush Type:  Pin Brush (for show dogs) and Slicker Brush (for most pets)

Pin Brush

Brushing helps distribute natural oils

Using the right brush will help distribute natural oils to promote a healthy, shiny coat.

Hairless Breed Brushing Frequency:  Infrequent

De-shedding requirements:  Not Applicable

Wavy coats can come in different lengths, so the frequency of brushing needs to be adjusted to the length of your particular pet.  The important thing to remember is that you want to keep the hair separated and free of matting, as well as help remove any dead coat.  In addition to brushing, it’s always advised to check your brush work with a metal comb.

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length

Pin Brush

De-shedding requirements:  Medium. Wavy coated dogs can definitely shed, but the shedding can usually be managed with basic, regular brushing.

Slicker Brush

Some familiar Wavy Coat breeds:  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Briard, Border Collie

Our rough coated breeds can get pretty hairy, and many of them have a thick double layer, so brushing to remove excess undercoat as well as keep the hair separated and mat free is our focus.  Remember to check each area of brushing with a comb to make sure that all areas are combing through easily.

Wiry Coats

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length and thickness

De-shedding Requirements: Medium to High.  Some of the pups in this category are going to be shedding considerable undercoat, especially as seasons change.  Be prepared with thorough brushing and combing on a regular basis to encourage dead coat to shed into your brush (not into your house!) 

Some familiar breeds in the Rough category:  Chow Chow, Bouvier de Flandres, Collie

Groomers get all excited when talking about Curly Coats, since coats with tight curls are what Groomers can sculpt and style more than any other coat type.  Curly coats are often single coated, meaning that they have no undercoat to shed.  Will you see some hair in your home with a Curly Coated breed?  A little bit.  But because these coats are very susceptible to tangling and matting, any dead coat should be removed during the regular brushing sessions you’ll need with these pups, especially if they are left in a longer hairstyle. And as with most of the coat types, always check your brush work with a metal comb. 

Slicker Brush

Some familiar Curly Coat breeds:  Poodle, Bichon Frise, Bedlington Terrier

Depending on the breed and the time of year, the amount of dead coat that is shed varies.  For double-coated breeds, the coat usually starts shedding in Spring and Fall, which requires owners to “kick it up” with the brushing to make sure that the coat is free of any dead fur that can get stuck and become a problem.  For single-coated breeds, regular brushing is required year-round because these types of coats continue to grow and can start tangling easily.  And even though single-coated breeds are not considered “shedding” dogs due to their lack of undercoat, they still benefit from having dead topcoat brushed out on a regular basis.

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length

De-shedding requirements:  Low to None.

Wiry coats are quite special in the dog grooming world, since they are handled differently than other coats.  The correct way to groom a wiry coat is usually through a process called hand stripping or plucking, where dead topcoat is removed to reveal the silky undercoat underneath.  But even though this makes our wiry coated breeds unique, they still need to get brushed on a regular basis to keep them tangle free and to help remove dead coat on an on-going basis. 

Corded Coats

Smooth Coats

Boars Hair

Double Coats

Double Coat Brush Type:  Slicker Brush, regular pin and long pin

Regular Pin

Brushing removes dead coat

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length

De-shedding requirements:  Low to Medium.

Know some of these Wire Coated breeds?  Border Terrier, Brussells Griffon, Giant Schnauzer

Our silky coated babies have hair that closest resembles our own human hair.  You can imagine what would happen if we stopped brushing our hair for weeks at a time!  Now, our silky breeds have luxurious, long locks, but many owners prefer to keep their silky coated pups in a shorter length or even in a puppy cut.  But whichever style you are choosing for your pup, brushing regularly is the best way to keep their hair silky, shiny, and healthy.

Some familiar Silky breeds:  Maltese, Afgan Hound, Havanese

Brushing Frequency:  N/A

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length

De-shedding requirements:  Low to None.

Is this a trick category, you ask?  Well, kind of.  If you have a full corded pup (think full-body dreadlocks), there is no need to brush.  But if you’re keeping your corded breed in a puppy cut or a custom style other than cording, then you’ll want to follow the guidelines listed for Curly coats.

Corded Coat Brush Type:  N/A

De-shedding requirements:  N/A

Long Pin

Some familiar Corded Coat breeds:  Puli, Komondor

Rubber Brush

Don’t let the name fool you.  Just because pups in the Smooth category have short hair, it doesn’t mean that they don’t benefit from regular brushing!  In fact, these types of dogs can actually shed a substantial amount, so make sure to make brushing part of your regular routine.  And because we’re using gentle bristles or rubber nubs, this type of “brushing” is really more of a massage – and who doesn’t love a good massage!?

Smooth Coat Brush Type:  Rubber Brush or Boars Hair Bristle Brush

Have you seen these Smooth coated breeds?  Doberman Pinscher, Greyhound, American Staffordshire Terrier

Some final thoughts on brushing your pup

Watch videos about it…

Brushing Frequency:  Weekly to Bi-Monthly

De-shedding requirements:  Can be substantial, depending on breed.  Using a rubber brush helps pull out any dead coat.

So, the definition of Double Coated breeds, although pretty straightforward in essence, can actually be a bit confusing.  This is because many breeds that are part of other coat type categories also have two coats, a topcoat and undercoat, and by pure definition are double coated (think Wiry coats, Wavy coats, and others).  However, the pups that fit into the official Double Coated category are those with *substantial* undercoat.  We are talking thick undercoat that contributes greatly to the overall structure of the coat.   And with this substantial undercoat, we have substantial brushing ahead of us!  But no worries, with the right tools and regular attention, brushing your Double-Coated breed can be a breeze!  The key is to stay on top of it, and always check your brush work with a metal comb!

Brushing Frequency:  Daily to Weekly, depending on coat length and thickness

De-shedding requirements:  Medium to High.

How cute are these double-coated breeds?  Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Pomeranian

Slicker Brush

Now that we have the right tools and we know how to use them, the final consideration when talking about brushing your pet is to make sure to make your brushing sessions positive for both of you.  Brushing your pet is truly a bonding experience, and with positive reinforcement and patience, you’ll do wonderfully.    

#DogBrushing #DesheddingTips #HowToBrushADog #DogGrooming #DogDeshedding #DogCoatCare #BestDogBrush #ReduceDogShedding #DogGroomingAtHome #DogFurCare #HealthyDogCoat #SheddingSolutions #DogDeSheddingTools #DogBrushingTips #DogShedding