Pet Grooming: Proper Brushing

One part of pet grooming is brushing. There is no need to worry about this though. Most pets will gladly let you brush them and give them attention. Animals like to be clean and have a hard time managing their fur on their own. For that reason, it is part of the pet owner’s responsibility to properly brush the animal’s fur. This should be done at least once a week, but it is better if it is done two to three times per week. Before you think it is too much of a chore to deal with, consider how to properly brush your pet first.

Brushing should be done before you give your pet a bath or trim his hair. The goal of brushing is to remove any knots. When fur is not brushed, it will become matted, which pulls on the skin of the animal until he bites the entire thing off, leaving a patch of missing fur. This is painful for him. All it takes is a little time on your part.

First, get together the right tools. For those animals that have a thick or long coat of fur, first use a comb with wider teeth on it to brush through it. If there is a knot, do not pull hard on it, but work it out slowly and gently. In some cases, you may need to cut them. You will also need a brush that has a more dense amount of teeth on it to get down to the skin and to give a complete brushing. You should have a pair of scissors near by too.

Begin by sitting down with your pet near you. Talk encouragingly to the animal to let him know that you are not punishing them. You will want them to relax as well and a soothing voice can do wonders here. Once the animal is relaxed, begin with the wider toothed comb and work through the fur. You will want to insure that you cover the whole body, but start with the back. Do not push hard and always go in the direction of the fur to start. This will help it to feel more comfortable. From here, work your way around the animal. Repeat this with the smaller toothed brush afterwards.

In many cases, the pet will roll over and let you do his belly too. It feels good!