Image taken from www.supportingcareers.ie
Monday, February 24, 2014
Good day and welcome everyone!
This is Sharda with a wonderful newsletter about the needed dog grooming tools for your dog!
Here we go!
Grooming is an essential element of the care of a dog.
Every single owner should have a basic working knowledge of how to groom their dogs because it makes an awful lot of difference to not only how a dog looks but also to how he or she feels.
A clean and well groomed dog is generally happier than a dirty and matted dog for a number of reasons.
Firstly, groomed dogs have had personal attention from their owners and so are more contented as a result.
They are also more secure in their position within a family as a result of the care and the bond that has been forged between owner and dog.
Furthermore, well groomed dogs are often healthier because any health issues that arise can be spotted quickly and easily.
All of the above aside, it is an owner’s responsibility to look after a dog as well as possible and the basics of grooming do not require much effort to learn. However, you need to have a good basic knowledge of grooming tools and how they can be used to improve the overall appearance of your dogs.
There are numerous grooming tools available right now and the majority can be found in all good pet stores, with all of them being readily available online. Most of them are incredibly affordable so it is possible to invest in good tools no matter what your budget.
However, a tip before you start. As with anything else these days, you get what you pay for. If you invest in quality grooming tools then they will last longer and work much better than the cheaper ones. Furthermore, if you take the time to look after them properly then they will take care of your dog.
You need at least the basics for grooming your dog, meaning a brush, comb, scissors and nail clippers. However, from the list below, you will be better able to assess exactly what you need for your dog. This is especially applicable given the fact that you will need different tools for the different types of coat:
Boar’s Bristle Brush – A boar’s bristle brush is not necessarily something that most owners have heard of but is generally used for removing the undercoat during shedding and when there are loose hairs. It can really help to remove matting and is generally associated with the grooming of long coated breeds.
Bristle Brush – Available in soft, medium, and stiff formats, bristle brushes are ideal for use with short coats. However, they can also be used on the undercoat of long coated breeds as well. Bristle brushes are ideal for regular brushing as they will not damage the skin.
Large Pin Brush – Ideal for regular brushing, the large pin brush should be used on long coated breeds and especially the larger breeds that come under that category. It should not be used on smooth coats because of the risk of damage.
Small Pin Brush – A smaller version of the large pin brush, it does exactly the same job but is more suited to smaller breeds within the long coated category.
Rubber Brush – The rubber brush is gentle on the skin and is not designed for coats with tangles. As such, it is designed for smooth and medium coated breeds.
Slicker Brush – The slicker brush is perfect for all breeds of dog, no matter what type of coat they have. It is designed to release dirt from all types of hair and is good for use with the undercoat as well as the guard hair.
It will also help to pull loose hairs away from the coat but is not necessarily the best tool to use during shedding. Instead, it is better for regular use as part of a weekly routine.
Chamois Cloth – A chamois cloth is commonly associated with cleaning a car rather than a dog but it is perfect for use on smooth coated dogs because it can be used to polish the coats and really bring out a healthy shine without causing any harm to your dog.
Comb – Unlike the brushes available, there are very few combs to choose from and many experts simply recommend a regulation size steel comb. The comb should ideally have both fine and medium teeth for removing tangles and removing stray hairs that the brush has left behind. This comb is ideal for use with all coat types and thus all breeds.
De-Matting Comb – This is another comb that you may want to consider using but only with long coated breeds. It has wide teeth and is primarily used for removing matting rather than tangles.
Duplex Dresser – This is a relatively little known tool that is used primarily on terriers and similar breeds that have thick and often wiry coats. It is a stripping tool but it has razor blades incorporated into the design and, as such, it can be dangerous.
You should only ever use this tool if you have been taught to do so under strict supervision from a fully qualified professional.
Cage Dryer – A cage dryer is just what the name suggests. It is a tool that is attached to a cage if you choose that method of drying for your dog. It can easily be used at home to ensure that your dog can dry in comfort in his or her cage.
Floor Dryer – Another dryer option for home grooming of all breeds, this fluff drying tool has a long arm and thus the air can easily be directed at the coat. As such, it makes the drying of the undercoat and the guard hair much easier to accomplish if you want to do a thorough job.
However, a few dogs may not be comfortable with this method of drying so assess him or her prior to use.
Hand Held Dryer – A hand held dryer is basically a hairdryer and so is readily available to everyone. A good model is affordable and can be used to dry most breeds of dog providing that bathing is only occasional because it can damage the fur if used on a regular basis. This should only ever be used on a cool or warm setting.
High Speed Floor Dryer – Similar to the regular floor dryer, the only difference is the fact that it is much more efficient and thus can dry your dog’s hair quicker as a result. It incorporates a high speed motor and can fluff dry breeds that are considered to be long coated.
Electric Clipper Blades – Electric clipper blades are effectively those made for clippers that are classified as A5 and A2. The blades are individually numbered for your reference with the higher numbers being designated as closer cuts and thus shorter hair.
Electric Clipper – Clippers are used to clip hair and there are models out there that are designed specifically for small animals. For example, the Oster A5 Clipper has been specifically designed for use with small animals and is a one piece clipper that comes complete with snap-on blades.
Many expert groomers recommend this model because it is relatively quiet, easy to handle and even easier to operate.
There is another model that may be of use. The Oster A2 Model is also a good model to use but is a little more awkward because it requires interchangeable heads. As such, you have to change them yourself and this makes it more inconvenient to use, especially if you do not have a lot of time on your hands.
Electric Clipper Snap On Comb – The snap on comb is excellent when used for grooming. Each snap on comb can quickly and easily be fitted over the clipper blade to help guide you when clipping your dog.
It can help you to speed up the whole clipping process because it effectively ensures that all hair cut with the blade is of a uniform length and thus helps you to avoid accidents. The snap on comb comes in six different sizes so you can choose the one that will best suit your dog during the slipping process.
Electric Clipper Spray Lube – As essential when grooming using clippers, this spray is a coolant that can help to lubricate the blades and cool then down when you want to prevent burning your dog. It is a fast and effective way of cooling the blade so that your grooming session can resume uninterrupted.
Grooming Post & Loop – This is one of the most underrated grooming tools out there because few owners believe that they need it. A grooming post should effectively be portable so that you can move it depending on where you want to groom your dog.
It should also be easily attached to any table that you choose to use. The loop that is attached to the post should be placed around your dog’s neck to make sure that he or she is safe during the grooming process.
Grooming Table – The grooming table commonly comes in two sizes – 18′ x 34” and 24″ x 36”. The former is the standard size of grooming table and is more often than not a table that folds so it can be moved to another location as and when you want to.
At around 30″ high, it is fitted with ribbed rubber matting to ensure that your dog is completely safe during grooming.
However, this table is generally used for small dogs because some of the larger dogs will not fit comfortably on it. The 24″ x 36”on the other hand is designed to take large dogs as well as small dogs. This is also fitted with ribbed rubber matting, can be folded and transported wherever you need it to be. This is the average size of all tables out there.
Hound Glove Or Hound Mitt – This glove is designed to help cleanse and brush the coats of smooth coated dogs and can also be used on some medium coated dogs. It is ideal for quick grooming and is highly effective.
Hydraulic Grooming Table – The hydraulic grooming table is the best possible grooming table out there. It is 23″ X 36” with a tailgate in position if you choose to make it 23″ x 47”.
It can be lowered or raised depending on the size of your dog and your own height to ensure that you do not have to bend too much to groom your dog. As such, it is comfortable at between 29” and 35 ½”. The 11″ tailgate can easily be folded away but is there for your convenience and is fantastically easy to use.
There is, of course, the ribbed rubber mat in place as well. The table is designed with large breeds in mind so if your dog is large, heavy or both then you should consider this. It is specialist equipment and so is a little expensive.
Nail Clipper – This is an essential piece of equipment for grooming your dog. There are three different sizes of nail clippers available – small, medium and large. Each type corresponds with the size of the dog you are grooming.
You can choose the scissors clippers, which are suitable primarily for small dogs. The guillotine clippers are primarily designed for use on medium dogs. The heavy duty clippers that resemble pliers are those for use with large dogs given that this size is well known for its strong and resistant nails.
Scissors – There are scissors that are designed for various sizes of dogs but they are pretty standard issue. They all have sharp blades and so you should buy them with the size of your own dog in mind in addition to considering left-handed scissors if you need them.
Curved Shears – Curved shears are used by professional groomers for fancy elements of grooming your dog, such as giving him or her a rounded effect on top-knots. These are mainly used for showing but you can find a use for these at home because they come in handy when trimming the coat around the feet.
Thinning Shears – Thinning shears are used primarily for use when you are clipping the hair in awkward places, such as around the eyes and ears. It is essential to use these shears to stop infections that are primarily caused by hair.
Shedding Blade – The shedding blade is a specialist tool that is used when a dog is shedding. It will remove the hairs shed in one swift motion to help prevent the build up of hair and thus increase of mess around your home.
Silk Handkerchief – Yes, a silk handkerchief is used during dog grooming. It is a professional tool that is used to polish the coats of certain breeds, primarily the white short coated breeds.
Stripping Knives – A stripping knife is used to do as the name suggests, strip hair. There are two types of knife – a fine knife that is used on sensitive areas of the body like the ears and head, and a coarse knife that can be used all over the body.
Styptic Powder – This is an essential substance to have on standby when clipping your dog’s nails. Nails that are clipped too short will bleed so this powder is essential if you want to stop the bleeding quickly and accelerate the healing process.
You will have noticed that various types of coat are mentioned above and you may not be clear as to which category your dog falls into. If this is the case then go to Chapter Six. There are numerous types of coat and various information you need to know before you start grooming your dog and the information in that chapter will be able to help you.
All of the above information relates directly to the tools and dog grooming supplies that you can use to groom your dog but there is no mention of shampoo and other such tools there. However, you will need a good shampoo in order to correctly bathe your dog and ensure that all dirt is removed from his or her coat.
I hope you learned a lot from today’s dog grooming newsletter.
Warmly,
Sharda Baker