{"id":13840,"date":"2022-05-03T06:00:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T06:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=13840"},"modified":"2022-05-03T06:00:16","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T06:00:16","slug":"your-guide-to-fantastic-fur-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=13840","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Fantastic Fur"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

The post Your Guide to Fantastic Fur<\/a> by Wendy Newell<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n

Your dog\u2019s coat type tells you how much to brush, comb or bathe it. Her lifestyle \u2014 couch potato or a canine athlete \u2014 dictates the rest. No matter your dog\u2019s fur type, we\u2019ve got tips that help with all dogs. We gathered up some professional groomers and got them to spill their secrets to help make your dog the envy of the dog park.<\/p>\n

Brushing\/Combing<\/h3>\n

There are a variety of different coat types: short, medium or long, also single or double coat, and the coat can be wiry, curly, rough, silky, smooth, corded or hairless. And don\u2019t think a hairless breed makes grooming easier, as it often requires more baths. Getting the right grooming tools and knowing the right way to use them on your dog\u2019s coat type is key. Here are some tips that can get you brushing in the right direction.<\/p>\n

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  1. Catherine Juarez, owner of Bubbles & Barks dog grooming salon in Passaic, New Jersey, says that fur-type dogs (like German Shepherd Dogs, Labs and Huskies) \u201cwill need a curry brush, undercoat rake, slicker brush and comb.\u201d While hair types (Poodles, Yorkies, Shih Tzu, etc.) will need \u201ca slicker brush or pin brush, and a comb.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Don\u2019t just brush or comb your dog\u2019s top hair. Groomer Kimberly Rines, owner of The Grooming Shack in Duluth, Minnesota, says, \u201cComb your dog in layers, so you are getting all the way to the skin.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. When brushing or combing, \u201cwatch out for friction zones \u00ad\u2014 underarms, groin, behind the ears and under the collar \u2014 as skin tends to be more sensitive and knots are more common,\u201d advises Stephanie Zikmann, founder of The Holistic Grooming Academy in Scotland, United Kingdom.<\/li>\n
  4. Always dry and brush your dog out after getting wet from a bath, swimming or the weather,\u201d says Brandie Gitzendanner, owner of The Paw Spa Elite in Oklahoma City and Mustang, Oklahoma. \u201cAllowing your dog to air dry without combing and drying can lead to matting.\u201d<\/li>\n
  5. \u201cComb!\u201d says Elly Linam, owner of Elly Scissorhands Dog Grooming LLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. \u201cAfter you brush your dog\u2019s coat, make sure to comb it to catch any small mats that are hiding. Greyhound-style combs work great for this.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Need more help? There is an easy-to-understand video on YouTube in which Andis Grooming Educator Diane Betelak walks you through it, titled Proper Brushing and Combing Techniques<\/em> and created by professional grooming company Andis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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    Bathing<\/h3>\n
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    \u00a9AlinaMD | Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    How often you bathe your dog depends on her coat and on her lifestyle. Typically, a dog can be washed about once a month, but keep a close eye on her coat\u2019s oil or dryness so you don\u2019t offset her coat\u2019s natural balance. Dogs with oily skin and hairless breeds need to be bathed more often. Beyond the basics, here are some bathing secrets from groomers.<\/p>\n

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    1. \u201cUse an exfoliating mitt! \u201csays Stephanie Z. \u201cThis helps to lather up shampoo and clean a dirty coat efficiently. It is also a great way to carefully shampoo and rinse a dog\u2019s face without getting any soapy residue in the eyes\u201d<\/li>\n
    2. \u201cKeep rinsing!\u201d advises Stephanie Wilson of W\u00fcf Pet Spa in Cincinnati, Ohio. \u201cIf you think you rinsed out all the shampoo and conditioner, rinse more. It\u2019s crazy how easy it is to leave product in the coat.\u201d<\/li>\n
    3. \u201cUse conditioner,\u201d Catherine says. \u201cConditioner helps to replenish the oils that have been stripped out by shampoo.\u201d<\/li>\n
    4. \u201cDrying the coat takes a few steps,\u201d explains Liana Carver, a groomer at Roch & Gertrude Pet Spa in Pasadena, California. \u201cFirst towel to soak up dripping water. A second towel is to dry the coat as much as possible. Comb out to make sure there are no tangles before moving to the dryer. If your pup is OK with it, comb while using the dryer.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Looking for more advice? Check out Tips and Techniques for Bathing Your Dog<\/em><\/a> by Dogster\u2019s sister publication Whole Dog Journal at whole-dog-journal.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Shh! Other groomer secrets<\/h3>\n

      It\u2019s not all shampoo and brushing. Here are some other simple secrets you may not be in the know about.<\/p>\n

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      1. \u201cDon\u2019t leave collars and harnesses on 24\/7,\u201d says Stephanie W. \u201cIf you need to, rolled leather collars or silk are less likely to cause friction matting.\u201d<\/li>\n
      2. Brandie reminds us to grab the cornstarch. \u201cIt is good for loosening mats that aren\u2019t too tight. Just sprinkle and work it into the matted area and then brush out.\u201d<\/li>\n
      3. And dry completely! \u201cMany pet parents will towel dry their dogs and let their dogs air dry,\u201d says Nadia Lee, owner of 4 Legged Tribe in Lomita, California. \u201cDamp plus wet coat will lead to a \u2018wet dog smell,\u2019 and pet owners will not be able to execute a salon styled \u2018blow out\u2019 look.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Single- and double-coated tips<\/h3>\n
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        \u00a9AlinaMD | Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        A dog with a double coat has two coats: an outer coat and an inner coat. Elly explains, \u201cA double-coated dog\u2019s coats act as insulation in both hot and cold weather. It keeps them cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

        The outer coat is longer than the inner coat, doesn\u2019t shed as much as the inner coat, and it\u2019s the coat you see that shows the dog\u2019s color. The inner coat is close to the skin and soft, which you feel by parting your dog\u2019s fur. Many popular dog breeds have double coats: Labs, German Shepherd Dogs, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. Brush up on these expert tips for dogs with single and double coats.<\/p>\n

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        1. A double-coated dog with fur should never be clipped, says Liana. \u201cDoing so can ruin the guard coat \u2014 outer layer coat. You risk it growing back patchy, change in texture or it may not grow back at all.\u201d<\/li>\n
        2. Brandie tells us that the second coat does tend to release in cycles. \u201cThis undercoat should be blown out with a force dryer or brushed out to prevent an impacted coat. Impacted coats can hold in moisture that sits on the skin causing irritation, hot spots and infection.\u201d<\/li>\n
        3. Single coated dogs do not have undercoat. \u201cThis coat tends to mat easier and requires more brushing to maintain proper coat health,\u201d says Stephanie W. Popular dog breeds with single coats are Dachshunds, Greyhounds, Poodles and Chihuahuas.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Hair vs. fur<\/h3>\n

          When it comes to dog hair versus dog fur, what is the difference? Our groomers solve this mystery for us.<\/p>\n

          \u201cDog hair is like human hair,\u201d Elly explains. \u201cIt keeps growing and must be cut. Dog fur does not continually grow and will shed out at the end of its growth cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

          Kimberly adds, \u201cDogs with hair don\u2019t shed like a pup with fur. They require regular grooming to manage the length and health of the coat, while dogs with fur tend to shed more and have periods of time when they \u2018blow\u2019 their coat. This means all the dead fur from the season comes out and, depending on the breed, it can be quite a bit!\u201d<\/p>\n

          Owner + groomer = fab healthy fur<\/h3>\n

          Grooming is an essential part of dogs\u2019 overall health. \u201cThroughout my years of experience talking to pet parents, they all want the same thing for their dogs. They want to be able to help better their dogs\u2019 lives,\u201d says Nadia. \u201cGroomers are here to help achieve this goal with pet parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

          In Between Professional Grooming<\/h3>\n

          My pup enjoys wiggling around in a well dug-up dirt patch, which means he is always filthy. His BFF and groomer is Elaine Moyers, who splits her time between Louise\u2019s Dog and Cat Grooming in La Habra, California, and her studio in Yucaipa, California. She shares some simple tips of what I can be doing in between visits.<\/p>\n