Tools for Home Grooming
Maintaining your pet’s coat in between professional grooming improves the experience of grooming for your pets and improves the health and appearance of their coats. It takes time and commitment to learn proper technique and outcomes, but it is much easier if you have the right tools for the job!
1. Flat slicker brush – This tool detangles and de-matts long haired and curly haired dog breeds. For your pet’s safety and comfort, make sure that you don’t use the brush directly on their skin. When detangling, start at the tips of the hair and work towards the base of their coat. If the brush is pulling their skin, you can pinch the base of the hair with your fingers as you de-matt.
2. Curved slicker brush – This tool works like a flat slicker brush but has the mechanical advantage of longer pins and a curve to power through stubborn mats. I choose this brush when dogs have very thick or long hair, or large areas of matting. Because it “digs in” more when you’re brushing, it is even more important to be vigilant about not making direct contact with your pet’s skin.
3. Curry brush – This is a tool that’s great for de-shedding short-haired dog breeds and is the only brush that works on a wet coat. It can really improve the quality a bath. Once your dog is wet, use the curry brush to massage the shampoo into the coat. You’ll notice loads of hair coming off as you massage, and the water and shampoo penetrating the coat! Rinse well, and you’ll have a much less hairy dog on your hands after a bath!
4. Greyhound comb – This is an essential tool for all long haired and curly coated dogs (and works great on cats!). No brush-out is complete until you can run your comb through your dog’s coat- from base to tip. It can be used to find hidden areas of matting and break up stubborn mats. Work back and forth between your slicker and your comb as you brush, and you’ll be doing professional-level de-matting in no time!
5. Double-sided flexible slicker – This slicker is great for big brush-outs, because it contours to your pet’s skin, making it more comfortable than traditional slicker brushes. Because it lacks rigidity, it doesn’t work as well on stubborn mats, but it is a great tool for long haired dogs or double coated dogs.
6. “The Furminator” (not pictured) – Nothing beats a Furminator for coaxing undercoat and shedding fur from a dog! It is a powerhouse of a tool and can cause injury to a dog if it is not used correctly, including causing cuts and brush “burn.” It should not be used on wet or damp hair. If you’re thinking of picking one up for home use, we suggest watching some tutorials online before you dig in!
Except for the Furminator tool, Club Pet Too sells all the tools described above for the convenience of our customers. We also carry a selection of shampoos and conditioners. Our experienced groomers and bathers are happy to make recommendations on products for your specific pets and demonstrate best practices for using the tools we recommend.
