The Right Dog Grooming Equipment

There are literally hundreds of styles of dog grooming equipment available at pet grooming supply stores and online. This article does not begin to cover them all, but will simply supply you with the information needed to get started with the basic grooming tools that are right for you and your dog.

Brushes usually come in three categories, bristle, wire-pin and slicker brushes. Bristle brushes are very versatile. Wire pin brushes come with or without rubber tips on bristles, and they work best on wooly coats. Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles and are used mostly on dogs with dense undercoat, and not on smooth coated breeds. Undercoat rakes are perfect for getting to the inner layer of your long haired dog.

There are many types of dog grooming combs, and each has a specific purpose. They may be fine-, medium-, or coarse-toothed or a combination of these. Fine tooth combs are generally for long coats. Medium tooth combs are all-purpose and can therefore be used on a variety of breeds. Coarse combs are great for heavy coats as well as for getting out those pesky mats that can sneak up on you rather quickly with certain breeds (like the long hairs on the legs and tail of my Golden Retriever) if you’re not grooming regularly as you should be.

Curry combs are made of rubber and are use to massage the skin of any breed, bringing up the essential oils that serve to nourish and protect the skin and coat. They are also used to remove dead hair from short coated breeds.

For many dog breeds, brushes and combs may not be enough to handle the matting that can occur if your grooming regime gets off track. Using a de-matting tool will often do the trick. Mat splitters break up the large mats into smaller size mats which are then easier to work with using your fingers, comb and brush. They are essential tools for professional groomers and come in various styles. As with any tool of this type, make certain you understand how to use a mat splitter safely before using it on your dog to prevent injury You can find this grooming tool at most grooming supply stores.

Dog toenail clippers are an indispensable part of your dog grooming arsenal. It's important to learn how to trim your dog's nails safely. There are two basic types of nail clippers: the guillotine style clipper, and the standard scissors style nail clipper. These models come in different sizes and both work well. Just choose the style that you are comfortable using.. When the nail cutter no longer cuts easily, its time to replace it.

Of course if you want the trimming and styling of a professional groomer, than you will need to take your dog to a pet salon. A knowledgeable, professional pet groomer will be able to give you advice on not just how to groom your pet, but on how to care for your pet as well. But you should still groom your dog regularly in between visits for the optimum health of your dog.

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